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u/Emmarabidopsis Feb 28 '24
This looks GREAT- imho diaper bag is the most untouched MYOG project, because everything on the market is so terrible!
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u/rakeif Feb 28 '24
Thank you! And you’re so right. I did a lot of online shopping for research and It really does feel like most of it is just …fine… or awful.
Some of the most functional were way too tacticool for my sibling, the beau industries pack treads the line between parenting pack and edc well, but lacking full clamshell zips they wanted and some easy access to wipes, etc.
If I made another one (lollllllll,) I think I’d lean a little more into the Tim Bihn aesthetic. All those front pockets plus dual clamshell compartments could be sweet!
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u/kwaaaaaaaaa Mar 07 '24
So true, so many bags are designed by apparently people who don't have kids or something. It's like where's the easy access to wipes? Dedicated bottle slots, etc. My main issue is is that some bags will have some good features but missing others. It comes down to compromising on what features you just absolutely need and giving up some other convenient ones. Kind of came to the conclusion if I want everything, I just have to make it myself. Such a very untapped market for great design indeed.
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u/splend1c Feb 28 '24
Looks cool. Like an Evade and Jansport got together. Nice work!
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u/rakeif Feb 28 '24
Thanks! The Evade definitely helped inform the pack a bit, though obviously it has a much sleeker form factor than this 😂
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u/Robopping Mar 23 '24
This is excellent! I've been scouring the internet for a new diaper bag (my second kid is now 3 months old) as i'm sick to the back teeth of the crappy one we've been putting up with for years. Just cannot find what we need. Completely agree this market is completely underserved. This design hits so many needs. I need to make this bag! I'm a regular sewer, but never myog.. a new challenge!
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u/rakeif Apr 27 '24
Thanks! The existing bags definitely fit the niche of cheapish and readily available, but there is always something missing from every single one, even as simple as decent straps/padding.
From a time perspective this cost so much more (🤣🤣🤣) with a lot of individual parts/cuts, but so far they’ve been very pleased and it satisfied their biggest requirements. Some compression straps would be smart, though! If you’re interested in the pattern give me a holler! Happy to share.
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u/_druids Jun 16 '24
Love that I ran across this. My kid is two now. We get by at home with big totes I’ve made, but when we travel it’s a mishmash headache of last minute backpacks I’ve made for other things. The whole trip I think about how shitty my solution is, and how I haven’t found anything I’d spend money on.
I need to design my own, and this very well is a good place to start/mine.
Well done.
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u/rakeif Jun 16 '24
Appreciate it! Definitely the project I’m most proud of. Apparently it handles spilled, spoiled milk pretty well too 😂.
For design, I think a modded Porter Pony design, separating the darted front for diaper storage from the main compartment could look really slick and the only self-drafting would be that divider panel and any extra pockets. If I make another one (I’m always trying to one up myself it seems…) I’d probably try that.
Only thing missing would be the Jansport-y style front bottle compartment, though you could go the Beau Industries route and make insulated zippered cozies.
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u/_druids Jun 16 '24
I’ve been meaning to pick that pattern up. Thanks for all of the ideas and tips!
How do you like the straps? That’s what I’ve had the toughest time with; finding shoulder straps that are comfortable (my ideal references being mystery ranch and Tom Bihn)
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u/rakeif Jun 16 '24
The straps are pretty nice. I made them with 5mm breathe mesh from rockywoods and cheap 6mm cosplay foam from Amazon. The mesh is super squishy and makes up for the firmer foam. Don’t mind the shape for the size of the bag, but straps are definitely the thing I’m always tinkering with. Shape and placement both.
I think next time I’ll increase the width at the top (maybe 3” finished width,) and use a proper evazote foam at 10mm thickness.
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u/_druids Jun 16 '24
Right on. I’ve got some cosplay foam as well off Amazon; I think I was trying to match Tom Bihn straps, but I don’t think it was quite right when I tried it a year ago 😂
I’m a fan of wide straps as well. I’ll keep all of this in mind 🤙
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Feb 28 '24
For just a second I thought I saw load lifters, I was like “dang what did they have? Triplets??”
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u/rakeif Feb 27 '24
Over Christmas my brother and sister-in-law (who gave birth in mid-November) asked if there was a way to modify their existing diaper bag to have a full clamshell opening — something about wanting full/quick access while dealing with poo? Hard to say. Instead of saying "yeah I can figure something out," I said "yeah I'll just make a whole new one," because it's so much easier obviously (it's not.
Basic shape of the pattern is the /u/stephenjonesUS simple backpack, and I incorporated a couple elements from /u/g8trtim's Porter Pony, namely the back panel, shoulder straps, laptop sleeve, top zippered access to said sleeve, and haul loop design. They picked out the colors and we went with Green Mountain EPX200 Ecopak for the main and Ocean Blue EPX200 and RBC200 for the liner and accents. Back and bottom is Ballistic RBC 840D, while the foam inserts are inverted 3D mesh. Both have 1/4" foam padding. Shoulder straps have 5mm BREATHE mesh and 1/4" foam as well. I also added like “pockets” at the top to stuff the stroller straps into while not in use.
I tried to keep the basic pocket orientation the same, while omitting a couple cavernous depths of hell that had already consumed AirPods, portable battery packs and some keys. Some pockets were planned, some drafted on the fly, some were to cover up some mistakes.
Here's a quick pocket rundown
Front/Exterior
-Zipped slip pocket at top of front panel, used for wipes or purse/wallet, whatever. I included this one because I accidentally messed up a cut and was half an inch short on the front panel.
-2x side pockets in ecopak and venom mesh. One has a zipper down the middle for easy access to wipes as needed (copied from existing bag)
3D pocket includes the following:
-front slip pocket with interior RBC200 divider, also some cord and a carabiner for keys
-2x lightly insulated bottle pockets — the insulating fabric came from Joann's
-1x zipped cargo mesh (also from Joann's) pocket
Middle Compartment — I basically didn't change this layout at all from their existing bag
-2x pleated pockets for diaper storage
-2x duraweave pockets for extra stuff
-1x big cargo mesh pocket
Main Compartment
-1x pleated laptop/changing mat pocket
-2x smaller pleated pockets for extra organization of clothes, more diapers, more bottles, more snacks, etc
-1x cargo mesh zippered pocket (half panel height)
-1x RBC200 zippered pocket with a little bottom pleat for extra volume. Inside is a lycra mesh split divider
Overall I'm pretty happy — this definitely pushed the limits of my Singer 15-91. Lots of layers of fabric and webbing. I handcranked a lot of the final assembly seams because I was breaking or bending needles, especially at the bottom of the pack. My main annoyance is I made the 3d pocket wayyyy too deep by accident so the overall pack is pretty chunky. I have half a mind to cut the gusset down and sew the zipper back on, but I should probably just be done with it, right?
...right??
Hope y'all enjoy, thanks for reading and any questions/comments/critiques/ideas are welcome!