I've begun to teach myself how to use a sewing machine and have made a few simple items, musettes and tool rolls, playing with waxed cotton.
what suggestions for step up projects?
id like to make some frame bags eventually but need to get some practice in with zips!
Fork protectors for when the bikes are piled up or being transported is up another notch.
Simple enough project easily made from used materials. I used an old fleece jumper for the inner, a bit of mouse eaten old Karimat for the padding and a leaky cheap dry bag for the outer. Velcro straps to secure them.
Next step up would be something cylindrical. I cut my teeth making chalk bags for myself and fellow climbers. Again all made out of used materials.
great idea, thanksÂ
I've got a pattern for a chalk bucket i want to give a try
yes!
Before I made my frame bag, I practiced by making... a frame bag. I used bits, including a zip, of a freebie conference bag and various other scraps. Random colours, none of it was waterproof and it was too small, but it was a good way to try out some techniques before the real thing with proper materials, and it would have been functional for a kids bike (I gave it away somehow).
Have a look at some of the projects on bikepacking.com under #myobg
I made wallets for the kids which they show as a simple how to and it uses a zip. Also shows stuff sacks, stem bags, frame bags.
https://bikepacking.com/page/2/?s=myobg
I made a feed bag for a first cycling sewing project.
I have a roll top Alp kit bar bag that looks simple enough to try
Mostly I just fix stuff. Functionally, not neatly. Patches in jeans and fixing some ripped riding trousers have been this month's projects.
Two weeks in the Alps when it rained every day saw me fixing my waterproof jacket and trousers every other day. Brought my hand sewing on very quickly.
I could of just bought new stuff, but after crashing and shredding something most days that would have felt outrageous.
I found piping hard to do, edge of seat covers. Circular stitching is another, takes lots of practise so it doesnt all pucker.
With piping, you can get either foam or plastic, and a kind of lightweight rope type stuff, for the piping core, and plastic would probably be best to give the luggage or pannier or whatever the ability to hold its form and shape.
Maybe also try doing two sections together so it is flat stitched,, and then putting waterproof seam tape over it. That will at least give you an idea on hot hot your iron needs to be and any problems you might encounter when it comes to seam sealing any luggage you make.
One last thing is that a simple domestic machine might not have to oomph to get through multiple layers of for example cordura or leather. With some jobs you can be trying to stitch through 4 layers in one go, and the machine needs the power to do that.
Years ago my mates landlady offered me an old Hitachi industrial machine that was taking up space in the place he was renting. All in one thing with the table it probably weighed 2 hundredweight and i declined. Wish i hadn't. That would have stitched through anything.
Yes, a flat bed industrial sewing machine along with the domestic type would be good.
I use upholstery zipping, it's more robust and comes on a roll, meaning you can use as little or as much as you need. The zip heads get threaded on separately, (I thread about 20 zip heads on at a time).
It's all about practise and possibly making a dummy out of leftover fabric, before going for the real bag.
Also I make piping separately, then sew this onto the finished article, more time consuming, but it gives a better finish.
I can let you know how to join piping if you send me a message, as many youtube videos seem to be made by people who don't really know how to sew.
I found it very useful to reverse engineer commercial product and analyse how they are constructed and manufactured.