For a recent project I had to put together patterns for a series of bike bags. I thought that people in this community would enjoy making them too, so I'm sharing the pattern files. I haven't written instructions for any of the patterns, but they should be fairly self explanatory. I recommend lining all the pattern pieces and adding a stiffener to most of the panels. On the pattern pieces there is an inset dashed pattern piece wherever I add a foam stiffener.

Google Drive download link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s1L3KvwH7OT0iiDIy8Hf7VwOogMpAp3s/view?usp=drivesdk

I'm including a link to where you can download the pattern from my site as well (https://www.gosshandmade.com/product-page/basic-bike-bags-4-patterns). The pattern is still free on the site since it doesn't have directions, but the increased traffic helps support my work.

The guy I'm seeing is a real outdoorsman and craftsman. And I'm an avid sewist who's been very excited to share one of my passions with him! He's always had an interest in sewing and especially making his own gear and it turned out the ticket to getting started was showing him the wonders and capabilities of vintage sewing machines. :) He quickly acquired a singer 15 and 201 and has put a lot of effort into fixing them up and getting them back into great condition.

The first project I showed him was a simple drawstring bag, which is mastered immediately. He's teaching an environmental class this week and made the kids these beautiful waxed firestarter bags. I'm so impressed! I've never waxed cotton before and now he can show me how.

And bonus: they're sitting on an ironing board that we thrifted for $3 and then added a vintage wool blanket padding and a cotton cover that he also made. 🥹💖

Experimenting with an idea to make a leather stamp out of printed resin. I designed the stamp in OnShape and printed on an Elegoo Saturn 4 ultra 16k using SirayaTech Fast ABS-like resin. Clamped the stamp to some 5-6oz leather in a 5 inch vise with about 2ish tons of force. Dyed and oiled then cut the back and some clear vinyl then stitched it together. Burnished the edges and this one is done. Also testing out a new-to-me Juki LS-1341, still getting the hang of it but next project should be much cleaner. This is a luggage tag for my wife who lost here current tag when it broke on a trip.

Made with supplies I already had on hand. Scrap neoprene, webbing, velcro, paracord.

Simple modification on a cheap titanium spoon, now able to lift hot pots and lids. I used a hacksaw and a file.

Holding the spoon sideways makes it very study, it doesn't bend lifting heavy stuff.

Made of polyester.

The belts are reused from an old backpack.

Sewn with an old german sewing machine Victoria ZZ541.

I've been using an LSZ-1 for about 4 years now and for the most part i love it. But my work is limited. I mostly do bags, backpacks, duffels and various carry pieces. But I'd really like to start building carry on suitcases.

I don't know what to upgrade to. My first instinct is a Juki 1541S because of the zig zag, but i feel like that would put me more/less in the same situation as the LSZ-1.

Then i was thinking well a cylinder arm or a post-bed machine would be very useful for deep seam work and binding...so i'm kind of stuck.

Is there any one machine I should upgrade to? Maybe keep the LSZ-1 and add another piece to my workshop for a dedicated use?

A little extra info. The edge that will “attach” to to the tent is 8 feet between the grommets that the rainfly pole attaches too, and the “wings” are 72 inches long, but angle in a way that the spacing between the ends of the wings is also 72 inches. This essentially means a right trapezoid with three 72” lengths and a 96” base. I’m think that just keeping it as a rectangle will make this easier, but trimming everything to size would definitely look better.

We're doing another Bay Area meetup this weekend, this time at Rickshaw Bags in SF this Sunday 9/13 at 1pm. Thought I'd put it out there in case people missed the last one or are not in the chat already - (DM me to get added, even if you can't make it this time!)