This is a bag I designed for my own use and I have been using it for a couple of years now. My ideal bag includes a handle, an easy tuck lock, a front pocket, and an inner pocket for the liner. I also wanted to give it some characters so I went with the forest theme. It has all the elements I want for a bag and I am thrilled with the result.
Check out the video to make it: https://youtu.be/lpJr7AbI3iw
Print out the patterns.
Patterns are available here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/vrncleather/e/171330
Make them into templates. I used construction papers to make them by simply gluing the pattern printing papers to the construction papers and then cutting them into individual pieces. The benefit of doing so is to have something more solid to use on the leather.
I used vegetable-tanned leather for the front pocket and part of the handle. Natural vegetable-tanned leather allows you to dye and stamp to customize the look.
Cut a piece slightly larger than the template for the front pocket. Then trace the outline to the leather.
I used these clear stamps of leaves first. Be careful once the leather takes the ink there is no way back.
I made a mixture of green and yellow dye with alcohol. The ratio is one part of dye to one part of alcohol.
Spray some water over the area to let the leather absorb some water so that it doesn't take the dye in too fast which causes unevenness.
Apply the dye. Here I was testing out some other methods of dyeing. Did not work very well. I still prefer to use wool swabs.
After applying the dye I used leather conditioner to nourish the leather as the dye dries out leather. I use neetsfoot oil now for this step.
Wait for the leather to dry overnight. Then apply a coat of leather finisher.
Tada!
Cut it to size.
Install the bottom part of the tuck lock. Use the template to trace the position.
I used pigskin for the liner. Roughly cut out a piece.
Glue the front pocket to the liner.
Trim off the excess.
Tada!
Bevel the edges.
Then burnish them.
Sew the opening part of the pocket.
Moving on, we are going to work on the bag. I used oil-tanned leather.
Trace the outline for the front pocket on the front panel.
Glue the pocket on.
Then sew it up.
I wanted to build some dimensions for the color. I used deeper color dye to the edges of the pocket. I did another coat of leather finisher on top afterward.
Next, we will make the gusset. First, we need the D-ring attachment. I used edge paint in the section that will be folded.
Place the D-ring in the middle of the strip.
Fold the attachment in half. We need a total of 4 of these.
Mark the guidelines.
Glue the attachments on.
Sew them up.
Glue the base on top of the sides.
Sew only the middle part.
Form the corner of the gusset into an L shape.
Then use the front panel template to mark the curve line.
Fold the edges of the gusset to prepare for assembling.
Let's make the handle now. We have this piece of leather that wraps around the handle.
This long strap piece will be the base for the handle that will also have the D-ring attachments connected to it.
Place the D-ring in the long strap and fold the end of the strap to the middle of it.
Wrap the middle section with the rectangle piece.
Overlap the stitching lines together.
Glue it up.
The top.
Sew it up.
Then attach it to the lid.
On the back of the handle, I attached a piece of stiffener to strengthen it.
I used the same pigskin as for the front pocket for the lid liner. Glue only the flap part.
Trim off the excess then sew it up.
Glue the liner on when the lid is curved in the shape. This will prevent wrinkles on the liner.
Trim off the excess.
The structure is how the lid would look as it's closed.
Finish all the edges.
Attach the lid to the back panel.
Sew it up~
Glue the gusset to the front panel first, then to the back panel.
Like so.
Sew it all up.
Install the other half of the tuck lock. Position it as the lock is in use.
Tada!
I used black canvas fabric for the liner. I simply cut a piece of a long rectangle and then fold it in half.
Glue the liner along the opening edge.
To make the shoulder straps, we will have one long strap and one short one. On one end of each one, install a snap hook.
Install a roller buckle on the short strap.
And punch buckle holes on the long strap.
Put the shoulder straps on. Then the bag is finished.
