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Possibles bag patterns

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Joined
Oct 5, 2019
Messages
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Location
Orange county new York.
Anyone have patterns for making a possible bag, the one for the day hunt not the bigger one that would be kept on a horse or something.

I made a simple bag a few years ago as a test, made from old truck tarp but it's synthetic. I'd like to make the same thing either from canvas or leather, I figure I'll just tare it apart and trace and cut new pieces.

but to me thinking are there any patterns out there for cheap or free for making bags, I need to see about the materials. I had a canvas bag as a kid and I really liked it, I think Wal-Mart had some canvas tho I'd have to see if it will work good for a bag. For leather I never know how to order it, I don't know what's a good thickness of were to get some cheap.

I see the turkey foot trading has pig skins, I'd think there thinner the cow leather tho. Any other info on making the bags would help like sowing and what tread to use and ext.
 
I second your request! I would like to do some projects during the covid winter....

I do know that linen tread was commonly used. Linen thread is obtainable and not too outrageous. You can wax it to get it to slide through the leather easier. Now having said this - full disclaimer, I am not a leather artisan at all. Willin and able to learn somthin.... Thanks
 
I second your request! I would like to do some projects during the covid winter....

I do know that linen tread was commonly used. Linen thread is obtainable and not too outrageous. You can wax it to get it to slide through the leather easier. Now having said this - full disclaimer, I am not a leather artisan at all. Willin and able to learn somthin.... Thanks
The turkey foot place has 20# hemp twine, I wonder if that would work for sowing. They make hemp straping I think the 1.5" and 2" would work for a strap for the bag .
 
I second your request! I would like to do some projects during the covid winter....

I do know that linen tread was commonly used. Linen thread is obtainable and not too outrageous. You can wax it to get it to slide through the leather easier. Now having said this - full disclaimer, I am not a leather artisan at all. Willin and able to learn somthin.... Thanks
I play around with some leather here and there, and have for years on stuff like bags, knife sheath, etc.... My favorite thread to use is the sinew as it comes waxed, is super strong and easier to use. An awl and a roll of sinew can take a guy a long way in building leather goddies.
 
Here is a try at making a Lemuel Lyman pouch (circa mid 18th Century). It is nice and small and reasonably easy to make.
Wuar-NMJl-Qje-Zkbf-y-EL8v-Q.jpg

pb-C-EOx-RSu-Sxr-WK9-WB8l-EQ.jpg

fullsizeoutput-27fc.jpg


The pattern is drawn on 1" squares. The area above the "dot-dash" to the "dash-dash" can be used in one of two ways. 1) folded under and sewn or 2) separate piece from thinner leather and folded as an edging as can be seen in the first photo.

Closure is a simple pewter button as is the attachment of the strap on the back side. Or, belt loops could be attached.
More information on the Lemuel Lyman pouch can be obtain via the internet after a simple search via Bing or whatever search engine you use.
 
You may be surprised at the expense of tooling up, supplying up, and amassing the materials to make a leather bag but it can be a rewarding project. TC Albert has written a great book on making bags and it includes multiple patterns. I highly recommend it.

As far as patterns are concerned, you can make your own easily. If you get the book, the making of a pattern will be easy to understand.
 
Are you looking to make a shot pouch or a "possibles bag," for miscellaneous stuff?

Full thickness pig leather is fine for a shot pouch, I've used the oil finished distressed pig leather from Tandy a few times. It does seem to stretch a lot more in one direct than the other. The pig hide splits will not be sturdy enough.
For a general purpose "possibles bag" I would use heavy linen or trade wool, as this is likely to be bigger than a shot pouch and thus leather may get too heavy.

The hemp twine is not meant for sewing. Linen thread is available many places. Tandy has hemp thread, "Carriage" is the brand I believe. Don't forget a small piece of beeswax to wax your thread.

Go to the ALR forum and look up the "Every man a cordwainer" topics/threads by the Cap Gun Kid. He gives some excellent pointers throughout the series, with other masters like James Roger's chiming in too.
 
Are you looking to make a shot pouch or a "possibles bag," for miscellaneous stuff?

Full thickness pig leather is fine for a shot pouch, I've used the oil finished distressed pig leather from Tandy a few times. It does seem to stretch a lot more in one direct than the other. The pig hide splits will not be sturdy enough.
For a general purpose "possibles bag" I would use heavy linen or trade wool, as this is likely to be bigger than a shot pouch and thus leather may get too heavy.

The hemp twine is not meant for sewing. Linen thread is available many places. Tandy has hemp thread, "Carriage" is the brand I believe. Don't forget a small piece of beeswax to wax your thread.

Go to the ALR forum and look up the "Every man a cordwainer" topics/threads by the Cap Gun Kid. He gives some excellent pointers throughout the series, with other masters like James Roger's chiming in too.
Is the shot pouch smaller then a possibles bag and does it have a strap to. I make a little leather pouch to hold my bird shot, maybe holds 15 shots worth.

for a bag for all the stuff to use my smoothbore I'm thinking something 8"x8" or 10"x10" will be plenty big enough.
 
A shot pouch might be anywhere from 6"x8" to 8x10, give or take an inch. A pouch for a rifle often being smaller than one for a smoothbore, but they did tend to be on the small side as they are a, shot pouch, carrying what is needed to, make the shot....
Patch material/wadding, round balls, powder measure if not swinging from the horn nor strap, a spare flint or two, maybe a tin of lube, maybe a turn screw, ball screw, and patch/tow worm.
The shot pouch could be belt worn or have a shoulder strap, might just depend on how much stuff you need.

Possibles bag is for all the other miscellaneous stuff we drag around.

Shot pouches,
20171106_152034.jpg20171106_153226.jpg20200413_153242.jpg
Same bag with redone flap
20191218_175317.jpg
Simpler,
20200226_001649.jpg20200212_201615.jpg20200212_201701.jpg

"Possibles bags," (if we must call something that) pics will have to wait, I must have deleted them off my phone after the last time I shared them.
 
Here is a try at making a Lemuel Lyman pouch (circa mid 18th Century). It is nice and small and reasonably easy to make.
Wuar-NMJl-Qje-Zkbf-y-EL8v-Q.jpg

pb-C-EOx-RSu-Sxr-WK9-WB8l-EQ.jpg

fullsizeoutput-27fc.jpg


The pattern is drawn on 1" squares. The area above the "dot-dash" to the "dash-dash" can be used in one of two ways. 1) folded under and sewn or 2) separate piece from thinner leather and folded as an edging as can be seen in the first photo.

Closure is a simple pewter button as is the attachment of the strap on the back side. Or, belt loops could be attached.
More information on the Lemuel Lyman pouch can be obtain via the internet after a simple search via Bing or whatever search engine you use.
That reminds me more of the so called "early Virginia attributed," bag published by, I think, Wallace Gussler, than of the Lemual Lyman bag. It is a very nice rendition though.
The Lyman was a belt pouch wider than it was tall, with a center divider that doubled as a welt for the seams on the sides.
 
Anyone have patterns for making a possible bag, the one for the day hunt not the bigger one that would be kept on a horse or something.

I made a simple bag a few years ago as a test, made from old truck tarp but it's synthetic. I'd like to make the same thing either from canvas or leather, I figure I'll just tare it apart and trace and cut new pieces.

but to me thinking are there any patterns out there for cheap or free for making bags, I need to see about the materials. I had a canvas bag as a kid and I really liked it, I think Wal-Mart had some canvas tho I'd have to see if it will work good for a bag. For leather I never know how to order it, I don't know what's a good thickness of were to get some cheap.

I see the turkey foot trading has pig skins, I'd think there thinner the cow leather tho. Any other info on making the bags would help like sowing and what tread to use and ext.
Troyfairweather:
My recommendation would be to use 4-5 oz. Oil tanned leather. Click on the following link, TheleatherstoreCo it's an Etsy store. Talk to Brad Trakel. He owns the tannery and has great leathers at very reasonable prices. My second recommendation would be to get about 3 sq. ft. of it for your bag. You can get nice woven strap at Hobby Lobby.com fairly cheap. You'll want to look for "Cotton Belting." This is only my $0.02. I'm sure there are others here who will dispute these opinions. But this has worked for me. Just trying to help.
Good luck with your project. Post pics. when you're done.
God bless:
Two Feathers
 
BROKENNOCK is correct. The pouch is my remake of the Wallace Gussler Early Virginia shot pouch. I got confusssed, my old age you know. The pouch is a nice hunting pouch when you do not need a lot of "gear" for a hunt. The "Gussler" pouch also had a divider that served as a welt. Thanks for the correction.
Simonbeans
 
If all you need will fit in it, maybe just some components for a few shots with round ball or shot, the Lyman bag, belt pouch, is a popular option, and pictures of the original (dated to the 1750's if I remember correctly) are available. And, many similar belt pouches are seen in period paintings.
Here is my interpretation of it,
Lyman bag 1st try 026 finished .jpgLyman bag 1st try 025 finished.jpg20200508_083219.jpgLyman bag 1st try 010.jpgthe pic with the green plastic sticking out of it was taken during the final phase of construction. Those are heavy duty plastic bags full of bird shot to wet mold the bag.

Here is some pics of the original,
Lyman1755a.jpgLyman1755b.jpg
It is pretty small. I carry my deer and turkey tags in the rear section along with a tiny pen to fill them out, and a small brass compass. In the front I have a small emergency fire kit, small flint and steel, a few slivers of fat wood, and a small piece of jute rope that has had the fire retardant washed out of it.
 
Troyfairweather:
My recommendation would be to use 4-5 oz. Oil tanned leather. Click on the following link, TheleatherstoreCo it's an Etsy store. Talk to Brad Trakel. He owns the tannery and has great leathers at very reasonable prices. My second recommendation would be to get about 3 sq. ft. of it for your bag. You can get nice woven strap at Hobby Lobby.com fairly cheap. You'll want to look for "Cotton Belting." This is only my $0.02. I'm sure there are others here who will dispute these opinions. But this has worked for me. Just trying to help.
Good luck with your project. Post pics. when you're done.
God bless:
Two Feathers
Thank you.
 
A shot pouch might be anywhere from 6"x8" to 8x10, give or take an inch. A pouch for a rifle often being smaller than one for a smoothbore, but they did tend to be on the small side as they are a, shot pouch, carrying what is needed to, make the shot....
Patch material/wadding, round balls, powder measure if not swinging from the horn nor strap, a spare flint or two, maybe a tin of lube, maybe a turn screw, ball screw, and patch/tow worm.
The shot pouch could be belt worn or have a shoulder strap, might just depend on how much stuff you need.

Possibles bag is for all the other miscellaneous stuff we drag around.

Shot pouches,
View attachment 44679View attachment 44680View attachment 44682
Same bag with redone flap
View attachment 44681
Simpler,
View attachment 44683View attachment 44684View attachment 44685

"Possibles bags," (if we must call something that) pics will have to wait, I must have deleted them off my phone after the last time I shared them.

"Possibles bags" or general equipage bags,
20200821_111452.jpg20200821_111557.jpg20200821_111618.jpg20200821_111635.jpg20200821_111726.jpg20200821_111806.jpg
might contain lunch, tin cups (2 sizes), full fire kit, extra socks, tools for fixing gun or other issues, sharpening stone, map?, tobacco and pipe, small period fishing kit. Items may very depending on outing and weather. The leather bag I made mostly to carry turkey calls and some odds and ends that get taken out and put away often, and as a "dump pouch" for little "treasures" I may find randomly while I'm out.
 
Making a pattern isn't that hard. You only have to draw half of it anyway. Maintaining a centerline is a big key. Fold your heavy paper or light, thin, cardboard in half. I think it's best to fold it so the fold will go from the top to the bottom of the item rather than side to side. Draw a shape and size you'd like for half a bag, cut it out and unfold it. There is a whole panel with the fold down the center. do this for each piece. Folding the new piece of material over the center line of the 1st piece so your centers will line up later and everything is kept to the same scale.

get the idea?
 
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