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| How would you design a sling bag? |
Of particular interest to me are thinner designs (to be worn closer
against the body) that might appeal more to guys not used to carrying such an
item.
Let's establish what exactly I'm talking about. A sling bag to me is something
that can be slung over your shoulder and worn as a handsfree bag.
Perhaps we should call these "boob bags."
Shown here is an example. By no means am I critiquing this designer's (AllSewPetite) creation. It looks to be a perfectly well constructed item – albeit rather
large – but as I am just not a fan of the style or how
they're commonly being "worn," I shall not cover similar bags in this
discussion.
(By the way, unless indicated otherwise, all of the images shown here were taken from listings on Etsy. I've endeavoured to include the information for the designers in the screen grabs, so if you're interested in the patterns, you can go search for them.)
(By the way, unless indicated otherwise, all of the images shown here were taken from listings on Etsy. I've endeavoured to include the information for the designers in the screen grabs, so if you're interested in the patterns, you can go search for them.)
Before I start, let me clarify that I have no experience with the work of any of these designers except for the last one. The patterns I'm featuring here are not endorsements; they just happen to have drawn my attention for the purposes of writing up this blog post.
Four for Da Dudes
These first few bags have a distinct masculine vibe. They vary quite a bit in
size, however, and while I can't speak for all guys, I know my guy
prefers a more compact "murse" — ha, ha!
There is a YouTube video accompanying this pattern that can be
freely accessed.
While this bag certainly looks sporty, I'm not sure those two pockets on top would be the most useful for hubby. And of course, he'd like the whole thing to be way smaller.
These next two designs are by HeavyBoyPattern; the designer is Russian. (The brand doesn't really show up on a basic
Google search, so if you're interested, you should go directly to
Etsy and look it up there.) The pattern consists simply of the
templates and a YouTube video. I was able to view the video for free,
so if the designs appeal to you, you can evaluate the sewing process before
buying, which is certainly advantageous.
While this bag certainly looks sporty, I'm not sure those two pockets on top would be the most useful for hubby. And of course, he'd like the whole thing to be way smaller.
The first one here is a leather sling, with a zippered 3D pocket on top. (Is
there an actual name for this type of pocket that I don't know about?
Enlighten me, please.) Two other zippers provide access to the main compartment
and to a flat pocket on the front panel.
It's not as big as the first one, but still not small. I personally love the
oval shape. Speaking of shape...
I believe this one is smaller than previous one by the same designer.
I want to highlight this one specifically because it has that "tab" detailing
on the front. While I think the secured tab was unique when it first appeared
and is still stylish as a design feature, in actual use, it would aggravate me to no
end. (Again, my personal opinion only.) To have to snap, unbuckle, twist or
undo that closure to get to that part of the bag – which includes not just the
open section, but also the zippered pocket – is a huge inconvenience that I
wouldn't want to deal with.
Design number three is working for me: it's got an asymmetrical, angular,
yet rounded shape. (It's meant to conjure up a bottle.) It looks to be thin
enough to be worn against the body – front or back – without creating
undesirable bulk.
I would strongly recommend, before choosing to make a sling bag that incorporates this
feature, to consider whether the end user is a "style"
person or a "practical" person.
Four Thin Ones for Anyone
These next sling bags all have an intriguing style element that would be
handy for travel: they're all fairly flat. Unisex by design, these can be
worn underneath jackets for the utmost in security. And as for wearing a
bag across the chest, at least with these versions, they're thinner and
will not create as much additional bulk.
This rectangular sling is a compact choice. At 11.5" x 6.5", it will allow
someone to carry just the essentials in two compartments. The pocket on
the front is limited to holding flat items, but the main pocket looks to
be somewhat "gusseted" to store more. (Both are zippered.)
The strap attachment along the bottom of the bag can be clipped to either
corner, making it easy to switch for lefties or righties. Made up in
appropriate fabrics, this would work well for all ages and sexes.
Oh, and like the others, this pattern is templates and video instruction
only. (Am I seeing a pattern here??)
Let me freely admit that the rectangular shape of the last bag isn't my
fave.
This next one is definitely not a rectangle, but the item itself is
categorized as a embroidery machine pattern. I'm including it here
to show the creative possibilities. For those among us who are capable of
drafting our own patterns for something simple like this, cutting fabric
into a stylized triangle is not a big deal.
This particular design appears to have two storage areas: a zippered main
compartment and a flapped pocket on the front. (Unfortunately, the
listing's main photo here was a poor choice to showcase the design; due to
the busy fabric, you really can't see the flapped pocket.)
This one has three pockets: the zippered one that you see on the front, the
open, sloped slip pocket above it and another zippered one on the back.
Finished size is 6" x 14".
Ideal for tucking valuables away under a jacket when traveling, or just for
everyday use for folks who may not otherwise have pockets for their phones
and credit cards. The D-ring along the side is meant for clipping keys. (I
would suggest that my lanyard-like wallet
would be a good add-on there, so it can be tossed inside the open pocket and
kept more securely.)
Sling bag number four in this category is another "made for traveling"
candidate. It appears also to fit underneath jackets discreetly without
being bulky. It finishes at 9" x 12.75" and can be carried in various ways,
including as a traditional shoulder bag.
Unlike the others, this pattern provides written instructions (with
photos) only.
From what I can see, it has three pockets. Two are accessible from the
front: the one with a snap tab closure is designed for a phone. A zipper
along the side on the back provides access to the main central compartment.
Pattern includes instructions and templates only. While she doesn't have an
accompanying video, she makes mention of a YouTube video done by someone
else that could be helpful.
Personally, I would love to see a small sling bag that combines the added
storage capacity of the first (the rectangular one that has a gusseted main
compartment) with a more intriguing shape like the others. Three pockets –
one accessed from the front, one main and one against the back – would be
ideal.
Wait... am I looking for something similar to my own crossbody sling bag??
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Many years ago, I made the Summit Pack sling bag that was quite a popular pattern. Don't know if anyone made it for the men in their lives (my hubby said it was too big), but here's a similar one that caught my eye while I was putting together the above list.
This is a newer pattern from Sara at Sew Sweetness, (whose free
Oriole bag
I made back in 2019). At 7" x 15" – with varying depth depending on how you
make it – it's still probably on the "too big" side, but it looks fantastic
and has the minimal three pockets that I'd like in a sling bag. (There is
one on the back.)
'Til next... 🇨🇦🍁
Many years ago, I made the Summit Pack sling bag that was quite a popular pattern. Don't know if anyone made it for the men in their lives (my hubby said it was too big), but here's a similar one that caught my eye while I was putting together the above list.
One last opinion that I must express... this is an example of a test bag
that's been made with the "right" fabric. I know we all have different
tastes when it comes to fabric, but there are times when I wonder what the
thought process was, when I see samples made out of – seemingly – bargain basement
materials. It's one thing if the project is an upcycling effort, but
designers with an actual intention to sell patterns should always showcase their
work with the best fabrics available.
Before I go, I want to acknowledge that everything I've featured so far are paid patterns. Can't just ignore the other side, so here are some freebie sling bag projects that you can find on YouTube.
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| images courtesy of YouTube... |
The above projects are from the following channels respectively: Shooka Leather, Tendersmile Handmade and SewingTimes. That first one provides a full set of templates, so it's a great opportunity to use them to make your own fabric version if you're so inclined.
To end this post on the same note as it began, one other sling that I want to single out is the Wakasa from Miko Craft. It's described as a men's crossbody, but with appropriate fabrics, it's very much unisex in design. As usual, he provides all required templates and his instructions are great.
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| image courtesy of YouTube (Miko Craft)... |
I hope you enjoyed seeing the variety of sling bags in this post. If you have any strong opinions about them – or if you have design thoughts of your own and want to throw out suggestions – let me know!
'Til next... 🇨🇦🍁
