Massive top tube bag

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benconnolli
Posts: 283
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2018 10:17 am

Massive top tube bag

Post by benconnolli »

Made a top tube bag. Indeed it was an enjoyable process. Satisfyingly tricky at points and well considered.

Had this fabric for 6 months now. I've doodled and daydreamed many ideas for how to best utilise the xpac and cordura fabric I had. Keeping on procrastinating from actually doing anything.

Browsing Etsy and I found a pattern for a top tube bag. Store is called prickly gorse if anyone is interested.

Pattern doesn't tell me anything I couldn't already work out, but it took away enough of a barrier in order to take the project off the ground. Would definitely recommend the pattern and accompanying guide for anyone new to outdoor sewing. The guide is extensive and well compiled. It effectively saved me from making silly order of assembly errors.

This is my first time using a rotary cutter and it was revolutionary. So much better than scissors.

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Cut it out, tented the webbing, attached the zip, decided it was wonky, unpicked it, top stitched the base and zipper panels together.

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The tricky bit was always going to be sewing round the curves and this indeed was the case. Try as I might I could not get the pattern pieces to align. Settled upon adding an extra cheat piece in. It was the usual battle to force fabric round the tight corners.

Gave it the flipperoo and we were sorted.
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Bearlegged
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Re: Massive top tube bag

Post by Bearlegged »

Nice one Ben!
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thenorthwind
Posts: 2609
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2016 6:07 pm
Location: Newcastle

Re: Massive top tube bag

Post by thenorthwind »

Looks great! :-bd

I've not got a rotary cutter, but may well try one - the cutting out bit takes a lot more time than you think.
redefined_cycles
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Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2016 8:19 am
Location: Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

Re: Massive top tube bag

Post by redefined_cycles »

Nice one Ben. You should work for Alpkit :-bd
redefined_cycles
Posts: 9373
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2016 8:19 am
Location: Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

Re: Massive top tube bag

Post by redefined_cycles »

*or Rockgeist.
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sean_iow
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Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:08 pm
Location: Isle of Wight

Re: Massive top tube bag

Post by sean_iow »

Nice work :-bd sorting the order of construction is the key to making stuff. I was saying to a friend the other day that sewing gear is just like fabricating in sheet metal but with a sewing machine instead of a welder, once you've worked out the sizes, order of construction and cut the parts you've done the hard part.

Rotary cutters are great, but I do find that as I mainly cut ripstop that as it gets blunt it fails to cut the threads forming the ripstop weave and just cuts the main fabric. Replacement blades are cheap enough. I must try resharpening them.
Adventure without risk is Disneyland - Bikemonger
benconnolli
Posts: 283
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2018 10:17 am

Re: Massive top tube bag

Post by benconnolli »

Cheers all. It's definitely jazzing me up to do more odd shaped bike bags. Will keep you updated :-bd
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Alpinum
Posts: 2635
Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2014 5:38 pm

Re: Massive top tube bag

Post by Alpinum »

Nice job :-bd
thenorthwind wrote: Mon Feb 26, 2024 4:59 pm Looks great! :-bd

I've not got a rotary cutter, but may well try one - the cutting out bit takes a lot more time than you think.
Oh yes. A rotary cutter makes a huge difference. I use it with a tailor ruler (about 15 x 60 cm) and cutting mat (60 x 60 cm or so).
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