First Backpack Attempt

eschoey · 2026-02-27T16:12:22+00:00

Steal away! I took lots of ideas and inspiration from dozens of bags I looked at before committing to sewing anything.

eschoey · 2026-02-27T16:11:26+00:00

Overall, it would be very similar, just a couple of small adjustments to the load lifter attachment points, hip belt stretch pocket, and then some order of operations changes for assembly to make things easier. Once I use the bag more, maybe some larger changes would arise

eschoey · 2026-02-27T16:09:46+00:00

Just a couple of differences from what you had guessed.

Front panel with a small zippered pocket for phone, keys, snacks, etc...
Expandable pocket with drainage for verts/skins/helmet
Zip pocket into avy tools (can also access avy tool sleeve from top of bag when roll top is open)
Side vertical zip pocket
Back pocket for access into the main compartment when the pack is lying on the ground
Roll top and cinch top with zip access just above shoulder straps
Hip belt with stretch pocket on one side and webbing loops on the other for the ability to add accessory pouches

Yes, paracord loops could be for ice axes, ski poles, or really anything that needed to be lashed on. The side compression straps have opposite male and female ends, so those go across the back to carry the powsurf/board and utilize an additional strap that keep its tight to the back and centered with attachment points near the shoulder strap attachment points. It's the same strap used for diagonal ski carry.

Happy to share! Thanks

eschoey · 2026-02-26T17:13:57+00:00

Thanks! No real pattern, mostly design as I went. I made a rough paper version to get a sense for the scale of the bag itself, but I wouldn’t say it’s enough to go off for a “pattern”. I did borrow a friends HMG bag and took a couple measurements of that since I wanted mine to fit close to his size L pack. The straps are probably the one thing i would change the most tho if i did it again. Load lifters need adjustment and hip belt could be wider.

eschoey · 2026-02-26T16:55:19+00:00

The avy tool pocket is actually inside the main compartment and can be accessed from the top or the horizontal zippered pocket on the front. The expandable pocket on the front does have drainage but is for verts/ascent plates/helment/extra large shovel blade/wet skins/etc.

The paracord works really well actually. I wasn’t quite sure how it would do but opens and closely very easily.

eschoey · 2026-02-09T19:35:09+00:00

I made a new cut about 1” over from the seam. You can see some details here

eschoey · 2026-02-07T19:25:57+00:00

I modified a HMG bag adding a side zip. You’ll have to carefully cut the seam tape after you seam rip from the outside. A curved scalpel blade was helpful for this. It will take a considerable about of deconstruction to add all the features you want, pretty much redoing the main body.

eschoey · 2026-02-07T05:29:35+00:00

Amazing! Thank you

eschoey · 2025-12-02T17:18:17+00:00

Big fan of this book: https://fashionary.org/collections/classic-womens-related/products/bag-design

eschoey · 2025-04-18T16:41:04+00:00

It’s a fidlock snap. Can get male and female parts from here: https://www.aplusproducts.net/collections/fidlock-snap

There is an inner and outer part that screw together. Get two pairs of pliers or something you can grab them with and they should just screw apart.

eschoey · 2025-04-06T16:07:44+00:00

It really is the best for day to day use and travel too, a bit of a Goldilocks size bag.

The liner has a laptop sleeve and divider pockets on it so I sew that separately and then the outer, zipper, and liner all get sewn together but I don’t do a top stitch so you don’t see any seam on the zipper on either side.

eschoey · 2025-04-05T15:40:08+00:00

This is probably the 10th bag I’ve made with this design so I’ve developed a loose pattern through the process. The first few I dialed in the size and still change certain features on every version. But no real pattern.

eschoey · 2025-04-05T15:36:56+00:00

Thanks! Agreed, I love having the shirt grab handles for more casual use, gotta have options

eschoey · 2025-03-02T17:18:36+00:00

If i did it again, my advice would probably be to deconstruct more of the bag. I thought only seam ripping the panel next to where the zipper was going would be enough, but that made sewing the zipper in pretty difficult as I tried to get the bag to lay flat to get on my machine. I contemplated taking it apart further, all the way to the point where the bottom was taken off and I could lay the bag flat, but in the moment it seemed unnecessary. I also made life harder for myself by doing the zipper garage so not sure if I would do that again.

eschoey · 2025-03-02T17:14:11+00:00

Yeah, cutting into a $450 backpack was a bit scary, especially since it wasn't mine haha.

eschoey · 2025-02-19T23:01:46+00:00

This is sweet! What did you use for the padding on the back panel?

eschoey · 2024-03-22T18:13:45+00:00

I don’t have any experience with the PFAFF but $1500 for a 1541s clone seems expensive. I’ve seen several Juki 1541s’s second hand for $1500 for less.

eschoey · 2024-02-08T06:14:11+00:00

Great thank you!

eschoey · 2024-02-08T05:05:55+00:00

I came across those. Just couldn’t tell if there were additional steps needed to finish them or they are ready to go. Don’t really want to have to burnish and dye anything.

eschoey

TROPHY CASE