Whether you're hiking, biking, or just popping out for a coffee, this hard-wearing roll-top rucksack is the ideal way to carry around all your essentials.
It's got that pared-back aesthetic down, and as it's water resistant, it's totally practical too. Plus, this is such a simple make, beginners can easily whizz it up in a weekend.
This project is a great introduction to learn how to sew with heavier weight fabrics - just make sure you fit your sewing machine with a needle that can handle that extra bulk.
Take your time when sewing through the layered sections because these areas will be super thick, and use a 1cm (3/8") seam allowance unless otherwise stated.
MATERIALS
■ 50cm (19 3/4") waxed cotton fabric
■ 50cm (19 3/4") cotton lining fabric
■ 2.8m (110 1/4") webbing, 4cm (1 5/8") wide
■ 40cm (15 3/4") webbing, 2.5cm (1") wide
■ Two slide adjusters, 4cm (1 5/8") wide
■ One slide adjuster, 2.5cm (1") wide
■ One side release buckle, 2.5cm (1") wide
■ Plastic sewing clips
1. Cut two 56 x 38cm (22 x 15") pieces from the waxed cotton outer fabric and two 56 x 38cm (22 x 15") pieces from the cotton lining fabric. From the 4cm (1 5/8") wide webbing, cut a 2.13m (84") piece for the main bag straps, a 38cm (15") piece for the stabiliser, and two 12.5cm (5") pieces for the slide adjusters. From the 2.5cm (1") wide webbing, cut a 25cm (10") length for the top part of the buckle, and a 12.5cm (5") length for the bottom part of the buckle.
2. Lay out the outer and lining fabric pieces with the short edges at the top and bottom, then cut an 8 x 8cm (3 1/8 x3 1/8") square from the bottom corner on each piece. These notches will help form the bottom of the bag.
3. To make the strap adjuster tabs, thread one 4cm (1 5/8") wide slide adjuster onto each 12.5 x 4cm (5 x 1 5/8") piece of webbing. Push the adjuster down to the centre of each webbing strip, then fold each strip in half with wrong sides (WS) together, aligning the short edges. Sew 0.5cm (1/4") in from the open short edges on each piece.
4. Fold the 2.13m (84") piece of webbing in half along the length to find the centre. Next, fold and clip or pin the webbing in half along the width, 9cm (3 5/8") out from either side of the centre point. Sew in place close to the open edges of the webbing, creating an 18cm (7 1/8") long flat section - this will be the handle on the main bag strap.
5. For the strap buckle, thread the 2.5cm (1") wide slide adjuster onto the 25cm (10") piece of webbing, then thread on the top part of the buckle - the part with the prongs. Thread the same end of the webbing back through the underside of the slide adjuster, then fold the end to the WS by 1cm (3/8") and clip in place. Sew across the end 0.5cm (1/4") in from the fold to stop the buckle from sliding off.
6. Take the bottom part of the buckle - the part the prongs clip into - and the 12.5 x 2.5cm (5 x 1") piece of webbing. Thread one end of the webbing through the gap at the bottom of the buckle by roughly 3cm (1 1/4"), then fold that end to the WS by 1cm (3/8"). Sew across the webbing 0.5cm (1/4") in from the fold to secure the buckle in place.
7. Place an outer fabric piece right side (RS) up and position it as per the Step 8 image. Lay the main bag strap across the right-hand side, using the image as a guide to placement, and centring the handle. The top of the handle should sit 2.5cm (1") in from the edge - the top of the bag - and the sewn edge of the handle should face the fabric. Lay the 38cm (15") piece of webbing vertically over the main bag strap, 10cm (4") in from the top of the bag, then pin and clip both pieces in place.
8. Pin the 25cm (10") piece of webbing with the slide adjuster from Step 5 horizontally under the main bag strap, running under the centre of the handle, and with the raw edge tucked under the 38cm (15") piece of webbing. Finally, pin or clip the slide adjuster tabs from Step 3 to the top and bottom long edges - the sides of the bag - 2.5cm (1") in from each of the notched corners.
9. Sew along both long edges of the 38cm (15") piece of webbing to secure the handle and buckle in place, then sew the slide adjuster tabs 0.5cm (1/4") in from either edge. Sew just inside the rectangle formed where the buckle end and the 25cm (10") piece of webbing meet, then sew a cross shape diagonally through the rectangle to reinforce the buckle section. This piece will form the back of the bag.
10. Lay out the remaining outer fabric piece - the bag front. Take the bottom buckle from Step 6, fold the raw short edge of the webbing to the WS by 2.5cm (1"), then pin it 29cm (11 1/2") down from the top of the bag and 19cm (7 1/2") in from either side, with the buckle facing the top of the bag. Sew the webbing in a rectangle shape, just inside the three edges, staying below the buckle. Then, sew a cross diagonally through the rectangle as per Step 9.
11. Place the outer fabric bag front and back RS together, aligning the edges. Tuck the fastenings and straps inside, then sew the two long edges and short bottom edge, leaving the top edges and corner notches open. Sewing back and forth, especially at the edges, helps strengthen the stitches.
12. Bring the raw edges at the corner notches together, aligning the side and bottom seams as shown. Clip and sew to create the boxed bottom, then turn the bag through to the RS. Push out the corners using a knitting needle or similar, then repeat Steps 11-12 with the lining fabric pieces, leaving these WS out.
13. Fold the top of the bag outer to the WS by 1cm (3/8") and clip or pin in place, then press the bag lining to the WS by 1cm (3/8"). The bag outer can't be pressed, as the heat will melt the wax coating.
14. Tuck the bag lining into the bag outer, WS together and aligning the side seams. Clip or pin around the top edge, matching the edges, then top stitch - sew from the outside - using a 0.5cm (1/4") seam allowance. Make sure the top thread matches the colour of the outer fabric and the bobbin thread matches the lining fabric.
15. Thread the ends of the bag straps through the slider clips on either side of the base of bag. To finish, fold the short ends of the bag straps to the WS by roughly 1cm (3/8") and sew.
0 comment:
Post a Comment