designing a bag
posted on by Lee Cattarin
begin by testing
the first step in any design is small tests. For leatherwork, this usually means working with paper - cheaper than leather, but with some of the same inflexibility.
build up from basic facts
my grommets, laid out on paper, spaced out cleanly at 1/2” away from edges and 1” apart. My tablet is ~10”x8”. I started with these facts.
template, template, template
don’t measure out the same spacing any more than you have to. Templating is your friend for both ease of use and regularity.
mind the order of your work
the corners should be stitched before lacing in order to get into tight spaces easily. Grommets are set most easily before the work is 3-dimensional. It’s cleanest to cut before grommets are installed so as to work on a smooth and level surface. Hold all this in your mind when choosing your next move, and ensure you don’t step on your own toes.
consider v2
even if you won’t be making one, what would you do differently? Where does your design fail? Where does it succeed?
take notes
easier said than done.