So far I've made a couple barrel bags for my 30L and and a round bag for hammock straps following Jellyfish's video & pattern. I still want to make some larger size bags for the 60L barrels our Scouts will be using this summer in the BWCA. I always end up with some pucker while sewing round bottoms.... hoping to produce another 6 or 7 60L barrel bags and another 30L. Patterns are all made & cut, I just need to cut out fabric.

Most of the barrel bags will be made with 1.9oz uncoated ripstop from RSBTR, I ordered some remnants a few weeks ago. The other day I also stopped @ Hobby Lobby and got a few yards of their ripstop, which seems like it's coated on at least one side. With that, I'm treating the side that the ripstop pattern is a little more apparent as the "outside" side.

8" barrel bag mark 1 completed:



8" barrel bag mark 2 zipper sewing:


hammock strap pouch:



In all I have about 9 yards of ripstop plus some cordura.... suggestions on other myog projects?

Nicely done! Did you use a typical home sewing machine or something more heavy duty?

I have my mom's Singer that she got in the early 60s. It's a home machine but has steel components. I occasionally have to help it with thick or tough stuff but it gets the job done.

Nice looking bags Mirth!

I've done six round bags now and every one of them has kicked my butt. I always end up with some puckering and things not lining up perfectly. Oh well...I just have to remind myself it's function over form.

Do you have a tarp for your new bridge hammock? That would keep you busy for a while. ;)

I am hoping to get by with my Guide Gear 12' catenary for this summer. Provided hammocking is something I want to do more than on occasion then I'm thinking eventually I'll pick up a winter tarp kit and make that.

I have the fabric cut for several round bags for 60L barrels. We'll see how that works out. I suspect I'll be needing more zipper tape before long.

I put the finishing touches on my last in the series of 8" barrel bags today. I have blanks cut for 2 12" barrel bags, probably start working on them tomorrow.

I made a portage pack using WindChill's pattern and instructions he posted about several years ago. I used 1000D vs 500D that the materials list called for, and EVA foam strips cut from floor tiles so the shoulder straps have padding and form. Already thinking about how I might improve upon the first one... I have enough raw materials to make another.

Ambitious project Mirth! How's the comfort and function compared to a factory made pack? How did this rate in difficulty compared to your other sewing projects?

A pack is definitely on my sewing wish list. I think it's going to have to wait for winter. I'm sure it's going to take me a while.

Once I had the fabric laid out, assembly did not take all that long. Maybe a couple hours at the machine? It seems like carry capacity is definitely smaller than my other reference packs, although the closest I have to size in this is a Granite Gear #3.5. A spindrift collar would help, I think.

It's alot of material to manage in & around the machine. Not having my table back up to a wall would have helped - I was getting resistance at times trying to feed material through and more often than not the resistance was due to stuff bunched up against the wall.

Definitely enough room to be a personal or small-group sized pack.

Comfort wise, I think an extra 1-2" of spacing between the anchor points for the top straps would be better. It'll probably improve as it gets broken in.

Outstanding work, Mirth! I’ve been sitting here looking at a pile of materials, plans, and a lonely sewing machine (also and old singer), trying to understand why I have not finished more waiting projects during this stay at home time.