Patterns for MK VII

Stringer · Post by **Stringer** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:45 pm

Hi,
I was thinking of making my own MKVII style bag, scaled up a couple of inches for my Laptop. Does anyone have patterns for a standard MKVII?

Cheers
J.

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:27 pm

I don't have one myself, but there has been quite a few very good attempts at it. Unless someone chimes in, search the archives and I'm 100% sure you'll find who to contact. The MkVII has been both scaled up aswell as scaled down, just recently. Just sit it out and good things will come to you.

Would you believe I made my first "MkVII" out of two back pockets from two fishing vests? True story, and a laptop would fit inside too.

Best,
Swindiana

JimL · Post by **JimL** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:34 pm

If you get one, and wouldn't mind sharing, I was thinking of having some slightly larger made of leather for laptops and other stuff...

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:02 pm

Talk to d_jedi1

Regards,
Swindiana

Stringer · Post by **Stringer** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:35 pm

thanks for the replies. If i get a pattern i'll pass it along.

Cheers
J.

JimL · Post by **JimL** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:40 pm

Sounds good!

d_jedi1 · Post by **d_jedi1** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 1:07 am

I'm on it... I draw my patterns up in 1/4 scale but I can do them bigger if needed.
I'm making a prototype so you can see how it would look if the pattern is followed.
I'll post pics as I make progress.

Stringer · Post by **Stringer** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:27 am

call me excited.....

JimL · Post by **JimL** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:02 am

Awesome! I worked with a local leather guy a few years ago to sew seatbelt straps for me. I'm sure he could handle making a bag...

Once I have info, I will forward it on (lead time, material type, cost if anyone is interested etc.)

I just need it a tiny bit bigger to hold my undersize lap top...

Nicolas Jones · Post by **Nicolas Jones** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:27 pm

This is a realy good idea, but I think I would make a leather bag rather than a one made of fabric (if I had the patern).

Does someone have a ruined original MK VII?
A good way to get the patern would be to un-stich it with a razor blade and get the dimensions...

I found a picture of one made by Harry Jones

http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?t ... ag+pattern

Hope someone would be able to get those...
I try to contact Harry Jones...

Regards,

Nico

Nicolas Jones · Post by **Nicolas Jones** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:05 pm

Posted: BY G-man Post subject: MK-VII tutorial

I had some free time so I decided to make a tutorial for the MK-VII that I made.
-MATERIALS-
-I started with a yard of fabric, so you have plenty if you screw up when cutting it. The material I used is http://www.ahh.biz/products/cotton%20ca ... FCC100.htm . Of course it comes in OD.
-2 gold snaps, 2 nickel O-rings, 1 eyelet, side disc and drain hole (if found)
-To hold the O-ring to the bag, I used the strap from my MK-VI.
-Tan string for loop on pocket side of bag.
-For thread I got it from Joann Fabrics. It is camel.
-When you cut the fabric make it larger than what the size will be, so it will be to scale
-SEWING MACHINE AND IRON (when ever you fold something over, iron it.)

-MEASUREMENTS- (width X height)
Front- 11.75" X 11"
Back- 11.75" X 23"
Pocket side- 4" X 11"
Disc side- 4" X 11"
Pocket- 4" X 2.75" after cut put the eyelet on.

-SEWING- MUST BE IN THIS ORDER
-Front- Fold over the top and sew, so when your done it will be 1.5" from the top(folded) to the sewn line. And you won't have a raw edge.
-Back- fold over the top and sew. It should be about 1" from the crease to the sew line. This marks the bottom of the bag where it squares off.
-Attach the Front to the back. Sew it, so when you are done the front is 7" (from fold to fold) and the back 21".
-Put the drain holes. This you'll have to measure since I only had one.
-Pocket- fold over top just enough to sew, so there isn't a raw edge.
-Attach the pocket to the pocket side by placing the pocket on the bottom, lined up. Sew just below the previous sew line about 1/3 of the way across and come back. Repeat on the other side.
-Disc side- counting from the bottom, sew 1.5" from the bottom so it goes across the width. And again at 5.75" from the bottom.
-If you have the side disc place it 3.5" from the bottom.
-On both sides fold over the top and sew it. It will be approx. 3/16" from the fold. Make sure that when you are done the side is as long as the front of the bag.
-Attach the O-rings with any material that suits you or you like. This can be done any way you like, size ways. Make sure that the material is folded over so that the fabric does not show a raw edge. Make the square with X inside.

-ATTACHING SIDES TO FRONT AND BACK- READ ALL FIRST
-This is easy, but make sure there is no raw edge. And the sides line up with the front of the bag.
-Fold over each side just a little and each front and back when attaching them. So it will be 2 nice small folds and a sew line attaching them.
-Do all sides, make sure they line up. Start by attaching the front, then the bottom then the back. Makes it easier.
-Only thing is that when you sew the pocket side, make sure to put the fabric loop on and sew over it. Place it near the top of the bag side pocket.
-STOP when you finish attaching them. Do not go all the way to the top of the bag(flap).

-FLAP AND SNAPS-
-Fold over all edges so that when you sew (I'll repeat it again) there are no raw edges.
-I ironed them so they stayed in place when I sewed.
-The corners- fold over so they make a right triangle (Iron)
-Start as close as possible to where stopped when attaching the sides and sew in a straight line then turn to make a right triangle, sew the very front, make another right triangle and then sew straight again and tie it off.
-This pure judgement where you want the snaps exactly, but preferably inside the right triangle Very Happy .

There's your bag. If you have any trouble or have any questions, just ask.

- G-man

JimL · Post by **JimL** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:13 pm

This is great! I'll print this, bring the original bag I have as well as my lap top to the leather guy and see what he says...

I'll get it made from Goat skin if he can get it- nice and light, but very tough... I might even be able to get green colored goat, which would be awesome! The strap will be brown leather, as it should be...

Stay tuned!

PS it will be a few days at least, as I'm on the road right now...

d_jedi1 · Post by **d_jedi1** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:56 am

Sorry I haven't posted back sooner.

I ate some chinese food that REALLY disagreed with me. I'll tell you about it if you want to know but for now, I'll just post pictures

Yesterday, I finally got around to sewing up the pattern I had made.

with my bag for comparison

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o176 ... 010260.jpg
It's not done yet but it is getting VERY close now.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o176 ... 010261.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o176 ... 010263.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o176 ... 010264.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o176 ... 010265.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o176 ... 010266.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o176 ... 010267.jpg
I'll have to finish it up on payday (had to miss work due to the food poisoning) but its getting pretty close

JimL · Post by **JimL** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 7:35 am

Sorry about the food poisioning- I've been there (in more than one country...)

That bag is loking good. I see you places a ruler, but I cannot read it...

What are the rough dimensions? (basic finished interior length and height?)

That looks just about right; I may even be able to reduce it slightly more than that too... I have an undersize lap-top that I want to carry, and I want the bag to appear to NOT have a lap-top in it for theft prevention...

Looking forward to the final photos!

d_jedi1 · Post by **d_jedi1** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:14 am

Lemme see... IIRC it's 13.25" X 9.5"
The rear pocket? divider? is 1.25" from the back. (on my normal sized one I just have it sewn right up against the back.)
The front pocket is sewn right up against the front (same as I did on mine) I added a small pocket to the rear divider that could hold a cel phone or something, it's not on there in the photos but it's on there now.
The sides are 3" (X 9.5"

)

Basically, I was just doing it to the measurements that the OP needed. I thought about making it the full height of the normal bag but in the end decided against it.

The flap comes down 4.5" in front. (I allow 3" from the top of the rear of the bag and then the finished flap is another 4.5")

Stringer · Post by **Stringer** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:15 am

that looks great! Perfect cross between accuracy and practical.

d_jedi1 · Post by **d_jedi1** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:23 am

(scratches head...)

k.. I'm gonna take that statement back about the cel-phone. I had HOPED that it would work for that but after seeing this

I've changed my mind.

Still it's a decent little pocket.

Dunno, maybe I could tighten it up a little somehow... still not deep enough though. (rubs chin thoughtfully)

JimL · Post by **JimL** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:50 am

Stiching some elastic to the inside of the pocket (easiest before instalation) will help keep the top closed for you...

Looks great!

JimL · Post by **JimL** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:53 am

PS I think an inside dimension of 9 X 12 will be perfect for my lap top...

It is 1.5 thick out of the dock.

I'm going to look into this (in leather) as I mentioned before if anyone is interested.

JimL · Post by **JimL** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:57 am

I just thought of another tightening idea- use a bit of small diameter bungee-cord. Places like EMS have it, in small diameters.

it would be a bit more involved, but some brass eyelets with that woven through the top of the pocket would be rugged, replaceable and a bit more practical as well- the exposed bits of bungee can easily hold a pen, small flashlight, knife whatever!

Since that becomes a full re-work, I would make a new pocket and go for a depth (inside) of 5 inches to fit the non-flip phones. Maybe 2.5 wide, but if you want to fit a blackberry in there, it will have to be wider than that I think...

d_jedi1 · Post by **d_jedi1** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:18 am

Its actually about 4.5" wide now...
Yeah I meant to have it deeper but I wasn't thinking. Wouldnt be TOO much trouble to remove / replace it.
I might do that later if I'm feeling up to it. I'm in insomnia mode right now and who knows how long that will last. I could be up 3 more days or 3 more hours. lol

JimL · Post by **JimL** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:26 am

You could also sew the bungee into the top hem, so it is invisible...

Another option is magnets- one in the hem, one in the bag wall. Nice and secure, but no exposed anything! May or may not cause problems with cell reception? I don't think so- many women's purses have strong magnetic closures these days...

Good luck with the insomnia! At least you are being productive in the mean time!

Nicolas Jones · Post by **Nicolas Jones** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:15 pm

WOW! Congratulation

Harry Jones · Post by **Harry Jones** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 6:27 pm

Just came across this subject. Nice work on these bags! Inspires me to make a laptop bag. I did not keep the patterns for the leather one I made, as it had some minor problems that I corrected as I was making the bag. I have a fair amount of experience with leatherwork and will adjust and design as I go along, so I don't always have working patterns at the end.

Harry Jones · Post by **Harry Jones** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 6:38 pm

viewtopic.php
FYI, this is the original topic on leather bags where I posted.

Harry Jones · Post by **Harry Jones** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 6:45 pm

Sorry, that link did not work. If you are interested, search Leather MK VII for the thread.

d_jedi1 · Post by **d_jedi1** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:25 pm

I removed the small pocket and added a larger one that can be used for a cel-phone calculator, whatever.
I used a TI-30Xa for the pics... I know it's an OLD calculator but it works just fine

JimL · Post by **JimL** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:53 pm

N I C E!!!

That's a sweet Man Bag you got ythere now, Boy!

Stringer · Post by **Stringer** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 5:59 pm

perfect size for iphones

......

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