I’ve begun to prefer tote bags to backpacks for days when I’m not walking far enough for the ergonomic benefits of backpacks to become necessary. After trying and failing to find a tote bag that matched my preferences closely enough, I decided to make my own.
I was already interested in bag design, and I’ve been learning to use Gabrielle’s sewing machine to mend and alter clothes, so this seemed like a good opportunity to try my hand at it. I also recently moved from a house with a garage into an apartment without space for woodworking, and I’ve been missing the ability to work on physical projects like the Meadow Desk.
A test run
First I needed to choose a material. I have a camera bag and a jacket made from waxed canvas, and I like the feel of that and the way it patinas, so that’s what I decided to use.
I ordered a couple yards online, along with samples of other fabrics that I had considered.
For the design, I was interested in trying out CAD software for sewing patterns. I found Seamly2D, which seemed like the most complete open-source option. To be honest though, I didn’t last long in it after realizing how simple the pattern for my first bag would be.
The design of this test bag was incredibly simple: just a rectangle folded in half, sewn along the edges, and folded over around the rim.
Sewing this bag was pretty straightforward, but not without problems. I got sloppy with the straps and accidentally sewed one on inside-out and left a twist in the other, but still ended up with a reasonably functional bag!
The purpose of this first bag was for me to quickly get my hands dirty and learn what non-obvious things I’d need to consider when designing and constructing my next one, and to that end, this was a success!
Coffee dying
I wanted the fabric to be just a shade darker than it was, and I’d heard of people dying things with coffee, so I gave that a try. I did a test with clippings of my sample fabrics. I ground some coffee beans as finely as my grinder was able to, and brewed a bowl of coffee by dumping the grounds directly into a bowl of hot water. After letting this brew for a few minutes, I submerged the test samples.
I tested with some waxed canvas, and some regular cotton canvas. Unsurprisingly, the non-waxed canvas took the dye a bit better. I would have preferred the waxed canvas even darker, but it was dark enough to satisfy me.
After that test, I cut out the pattern for my next bag and straps and dyed that the same way I dyed the test samples.
Making the real bag
After spending some time using that first test bag, I decided on three main improvements I’d like to make in the design of the next one:
- I wanted a small inner pocket for easier access to my phone, keys, and wallet.
- I wanted the inside of the bag to be lined with a different material for improved durability, feel, and visual appeal.
- I wanted it to have some depth, rather than being completely flat.
With those changes, the design was a bit more complicated, but still simple enough that I stuck with pen and paper rather than trying Seamly2D again.
I’m still a beginner seamster, but with the practice from the first bag, I was more confident, fast, and accurate with this one.
I’m happy with how this came out! I used nylon ripstop for the inner lining, and I like the way that the materials contrast. I haven’t spent much time using the bag yet, but the extra depth and pocket have already made it much more practical for regular use.
What’s next?
I’m already thinking about what I’d improve in future tote bags. There are things I admire about other tote bags I’ve looked at:
- The inset zipper and adjustable shoulder strap from Baggu’s Duck Bags
- The laptop sleeve clasp and extra pockets from Klättermusen’s Nagelfar
- The water bottle storage and luggage pass-through strap from Alpaka’s Bravo Tote
- The reinforced bottom from 1733’s Pocket Tote
- The curves on Crumpler’s bags, like the Crumpler Tad
I’d like to incorporate some of those features while maintaining the look of a simple canvas tote.