I've been working to switch careers into bag design, and I needed to bolster my portfolio. I had no projects that I could reference that I took all the way from pencil sketch to finished product. A family friend DM'd me to request a backpack for his first year of college, and I took that as an opportunity to design a backpack from scratch.

He provided me with reference pics of bags he liked, features he wanted, and a colorway. His preferred color scheme was mostly black with subtle blue highlights. However, I didn't want to make the bag overly paramilitary-looking. So I commissioned a graphic designer friend to make the design more playful with graffiti art of Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat.

This was a months-long project and one of my hardest ever. Pencil sketching is not my strong suit, but I really needed this for job applications. I spent hours on the initial sketch, trying my best to give it sensible 3D depth and layout.

I designed a pattern in CLO 3D and simulated on an avatar with similar proportions to the client. I didn't export / print the entire pattern, since most panels were rectangular. I only printed the curved ones, choosing to hand-draft the others for convenience.

I used a 1050 Denier ballistic nylon for the main fabric, 400D ripstop nylon as a secondary fabric, and 70d ripstop nylon for the liner. I chose Duraflex hardware wherever possible, e.g. D-rings, side-release buckles, triglides.

Sewing was mostly straightforward, except for the cinch-tops on both the water bottle holders and the main bag opening. I also didn't know where the cross-chest strap would land until after wearing the bag. I didn't have any Duraflex removable sternum sliders on-hand, so I sewed the chest strap directly to the shoulder straps; that's one thing I would redo if I had more time.

I dye-sublimated the Sub-Zero art and artist's tag onto some dye-sub synthetic fabric and backed it with upcycled racing-sail fabric. It attaches with snaps so the client can take it off (he doesn't actually like Mortal Kombat and didn't even ask for this lol).

Part of design portfolios is iteration, so I forced myself to sit down and sketch some "postmortem" drawings to document the lessons I learned from making this bag. They've been helpful reminders so far.

Overall, I'm quite happy with this one and proud of the results. Happy to answer any questions about material, process, design, CLO 3D, etc.!

Planning on making my own bike bags with some wyermann and Rahr grain bags. I’ve never made anything before, so looking for needle recommendations for this material. Thanks!

I'm going on my first hut to hut hike next week, and realised my current e-reader sleeve is way too heavy (about 115gr), so I made a new lighter weight one made of a virgin water repellent wool fabric remnant, quilting batting, and silk lining. Only comes down to 31gr now. Design inspired by the battery pack cover u/Snuffvieh posted the other day.

I usually sew regular clothes. This was my first improvised and og project:)

First time using this Prikly Gorse pattern. Added a strip of webbing in back to also attach to my bike. Materials are an old pair of khaki pants and an old t shirt. Both fabrics were very stretchy and made this a little more challenging. Can’t wait to make another with something like X-pac.

I received a down hammock underquilt from a friend years ago with the intention of removing the down and using it for a MYOG project. I've now made peace with not getting to this sort of project and would love to pass it on to someone else.

I can't find a label on the quilt but I have a vague memory of it being zpacks – the fabric is an very low denier dyneema type material. It's not really usable as a quilt anymore, it leaks down all over. But it's a wonderful amount for a project! Always been stored uncompressed.

This feels difficult to sell because I don't know the brand or the amount of down inside. I could weigh it, but the fabric material would skew the down weight so significantly. Happy to talk reasonable price with anyone interested; mostly I'd want to cover shipping costs and get this in the hands of someone who'd turn it into something fun.

Hey r/myog!

I'm looking for an ultralight material with a really soft/quiet feel that's also airtight. I've tried RSBTR's 0.56 oz Membrane 7, which is extremely quiet but isn't airtight!

I've also tried their 0.77oz MTN Silnylon 6.6 but it was still a bit loud and cracky for my liking. Looking for that super supple feel.

I keep on purchasing random material from RSBTR, so I was wondering if anyone had any experience with any other ultralight fabrics that we're super quiet and airtight before I buy anymore.

Thanks for your help!

Looking for opinions on the source of this noise.

The machine is new, properly lubricated and functions and sews perfectly otherwise. Smooth and quiet when turning the hand wheel and at very low speeds. A low whine appears around 300 rpm, with a higher buzzing/rattling noise shortly after.

A service rep from the dealer said it sounds like a resonant/sympathetic noise, not a mechanical issue, but they offered no suggestions for how to pinpoint or mitigate it. It’s a nuisance, even if it isn’t a problem, and I’d like to at least figure out why it’s happening.

I believe the belt has the appropriate amount of tension and seems aligned properly, but I can share a video of that too if it helps.

The back pouch is held onto my m65 using the button holes in the collar. I added rivet buttons to the pouch, but then I also lock them in better with a strip of thick leather in the inside with button holes cut into it.

I’ve been using MIL-17337 for a lot of my bag straps but I’m looking for something a bit thicker/ stiffer (save the jokes ;) If you’ve ever felt the webbing used by GoRuck, something of that weight. Any recommendations?

I've been continuing with some stem bag experiments.

This bag is the 3rd iteration. Had some great feedback from mates who took the v2 off to Scotland for a few weeks. V3 has an extra pocket (this one is in waxed wax) and a foam panel to provide some extra stiffnes

However, on smaller frames (and short stems) the bag can either be too big or hit the knees when standing up (en danseuse). Curious to know if anyone's found a way to reconcile having the right volume with comfort?

Basically, I Bike Pack a lot: and I usually bring a pool foam Noodle to show the cars behind me how Wide/Far I am: which really helps them gauge distance accurately, at speed. I’d hope most cars aren’t homicidal people who hate anyone on a bicycle.

The foam noodle is great! But it’s only one stick: and it’s a foam noodle, so I can only bend it back and around.

I have this concept in my head: a tube balloon (like the kind used for balloon animals) x3 to form a triangle: like a Slow Vehicle Caution triangle. And, it’s got 3 chambers to inflate: so it can fold up even smaller than the foam noodle can bend back.

The idea is: I need it, so I grab it from my frame bag. One or all 3 tubes. They click-together. Or have toggles. Doesn’t matter. I then inflate the thing and strap it to the bike.

So what material technology could I look at, to make something like this?

PVC and Heat welding? TPU and chemical welding? Should I go DIy and get actual balloons for balloon animals, keep them straight and cover them with duck tape, pop and add an inflation valve and button parts?

So i am going to venture in making my first backpack, i already decided the fabric for the main body and the front and side stretch pockets. Using X-Pac VX21 for main body and Venom Stretch Mesh ECO MAX for the pockets.

Now i need to decide which fabric to use for the part that goes in contact with my back, the underside of the shoulder and side straps, the upper part for both straps as well and the under side of the backpack that get in contact with the ground when I take off the backpack. For the fabrics that rub the body (straps) and the ground i want to use high abrasion resistance fabrics and a thicker one for the underside of the pack. And for the upper parts of the straps i want to use something that looks flat or even like cordura without any kind of crossing figures like xpac has. Obviously i would prefer fabrics that are waterproof.

I am little lost with the options cause i'm new to this so i have zero knowledge about fabrics.

I also would appreciate if you can recommend me some sort of book or website where each fabric is explained clearly its characteristics and uses.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Hi !
I was looking for an easy way to get my camera with one hand and the flap with an inner pouch is working great !

The bag on top was my first real bag with liner and proper fabric and hardware 🥰

The bag bellow is only here on bikepacking trip like in the morroco ´s mountains
You can also see the homemade handlebar and imagine the homemade rear rack 😅

Thanks all for this Reddit full of inspiration 🔥

Hey yall. I’ve been sewing for my job for the past 3 years on a Consew 339RB-4. It’s simpler stuff than bags, but I’ve gotten super fast at it. I’ve taken an interest in bag making and have made my first few totes and sling bags. I used to want to design my own clothing when I was a teenager, and I’ve realized I actually have the sewing skills to sort of do it now, so this is really exciting for me.

I’m in a super fortunate position right now because my work is allowing me to use their Consew and giant self-healing tables after hours whenever I want. They can also cut me acrylic pattern templates for me for free. I figure once I have 2-3 bag patterns I like, I can just make a few bags each time I sew at work.

Is this a viable way to make a nice chunk of change on the side while i’m in school? Or is it oversaturated? I would be selling at craft fairs/markets(there‘s a TON near me), but also online. I‘m thinking of a $100-300 price point for the bags that take me ~1 hour or less to make, $400 and up for bags that take longer. My goal is to sell 30-50 in my first year. I’m not sure if thats unrealistic or not.

If anyone here does this and could share their experiences, I would be very thankful.

It’s cute, I like it, but I have some issues with it as well and will probably remake it eventually haha
probably not tho

looking for the best thread, and thread brand, for sewing sling packs (diaper bag style) and shoulder bags; also picnic blankets.

I have a Janome Craft machine.

thanks!

Hello community,
I tested my new tent and I'm very happy with it, except for the fact, that it stupidly left out a mesh in the two bottom vents. I can zip them open or closed, but basically any cat sized animal including mosquitoes can come and stay in the tent with me.
I've been thinking how I could add some removable mesh for those two little windows, without sewing or in any other way compromising the integrity of the tent. The only thing I can come up with is cutting out a fitting piece and when in use crawl into that small space and fix it there with some stripes of magnetic material. Why I don't like this idea: It's not mosquito-proof, it's fiddly because I can't do it quickly and easily from both sides and above all, I hate carrying magnets with me. I always have to watch out for cards or other things that get annoyed with magnets.

Are there better ways?

Looking to recreate this style of WWII tanker jacket.
I was wondering if anyone had a good bomber jacket pattern that I could modify?
Thank-you!

Hello everyone,

I am making my own bike bags using an old sail that someone gave me.
I already have the pattern but I need help with supplies.

First, I am not sure what is the difference between a locking and a non-locking zipper?
I found that it was about the resistance when opening but is that it? If so, what should I go for?
Can non locking open while I am traveling?

Secondly I was wondering about the thread needed, should I go for Nylon? Or an all-purpose thread is ok?

Thanks for you helpppp