Jump to content
Kevdbry

Tandy Messenger Bag Kit instructions

Recommended Posts

Good morning fellow leather folk, I've got a slight issue.  About 2 yrs ago I purchased a kit from Tandy, the horizontal messenger bag.  Since then I've moved and I recently found it and want to put it together for personal use.  But, the kit is missing the instructions.  I don't want to wing it and get it wrong.  I've called Tandy but that was a dead end.  Anyone have any idea where I can find the instructions??  Google hasn't help either.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!!  

Edited by Northmount
add info to title

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am fairly sure I have the instructions for that bag. Is this it?

https://tandyleather.ca/collections/kits/products/messenger-bag-kit-vertical

Edit: okay, you said horizontal, not vertical...but looking at the two bags, i THINK the instructions would be similar.

https://www.amazon.ca/HORIZONTAL-MESSENGER-BAG-LEATHER-TANDY/dp/B00GUTKUJQ

Edited by Sheilajeanne

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

There's a video online for the vertical kit, but it's so sped up, don't know if it would be any help. Also, the narrator talks about how helpful and easy to follow the printed instructions were...:rolleyes2:  

 

Edited by Sheilajeanne

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
52 minutes ago, Sheilajeanne said:

I am fairly sure I have the instructions for that bag. Is this it?

https://tandyleather.ca/collections/kits/products/messenger-bag-kit-vertical

Edit: okay, you said horizontal, not vertical...but looking at the two bags, i THINK the instructions would be similar.

https://www.amazon.ca/HORIZONTAL-MESSENGER-BAG-LEATHER-TANDY/dp/B00GUTKUJQ

Does the vertical bag have the same internal configuration??

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The vertical bag had a pocket on the outside (front of the bag) and on the back, but the inside was open. Here's some pictures of mine - I lined the inside with pigskin, and whipstiched the edge of the front pocket to hide a skivving accident! 

For assembling most bags, you usually put the bottom layers together first. Then attach the straps to the gussets, and stitch the gussets in place*. The flap can go on at pretty much any time in the assembly.

Those bottom layers were a b***h to sew because there were so many, and you had to make sure you got them in the correct order! If I were ever doing a similar bag, I'd eliminate at least one of the pockets, or make it so the pocket wasn't one of the layers at the bottom. When I was putting the gussets in place, I was sewing through FIVE layers of leather! :helpsmilie:

  • * With the straps being sewn in, I probably could have done it after I assembled the bag. But if you're using rivets, it would be easier to do it before! (I actually don't remember if I did it before or after, I just remember doing a lot of cursing when sewing the gussets!) Make SURE you tack the layers together before sewing. That will help reduce the amount of swearing! :censored2:

 

Celtic bag interior.JPG

Celtic bag edges.jpg

Celtic horse bags.jpg

Edited by Sheilajeanne

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Beautiful work!!  In the horizontal bag, there are 5 internal panels.  3 are center stitched together and all 5 are to be stitched into the gusset.  I'm just not sure which pieces are stitched to the front or back of the gusset.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you! It was my first time trying to line a bag, and it was really a challenge. Also, the dye didn't want to go on evenly on the front panel, so I had to apply numerous coats, while trying to protect the Celtic design in the center.

Yeah, without pictures of an assembled bag, that would be hard to figure out. Maybe there's someone out there who's actually done this same bag who can help.

If you posted pictures of the pieces of the bag, that might help too... I mean, there's only so many ways something like that can go together!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...