The Field Bag

A few years ago the Field Bag made quite a stir in the knitting community. It is the ultimate project bag! The company that made the bag is no longer producing them (from what I understand). Grainline Studio has the pattern in paper and PDF available. They also sell kits to make your own Field Bag with the same materials as in the original. I decided to treat myself to a kit.

This picture is of the completed bag in the most true to color I could achieve in a photo.

The kit came very nicely packaged and contained everything needed. I opted for the PDF pattern. I do not mind printing out and taping patterns. The kit had very heavy duty canvas included (Even after completing my first bag I suspect I have enough to make another). The weight needed to give the bag body is not readily available to the home sewer. The kit also contained the grommets needed and heavy duty cotton cording for the drawstrings. I opted for the canvas (not leather) handle.

I cut out all the pieces and then had to install grommets. I looked at a few youtube videos and went for it. It turned out to be one of the easiest parts of the entire project.

I did have to buy the tools (die cuts) to install the grommets but they should last me quite a while.

I did a sample on a spare piece of canvas. They installed quite easily. I now want to install grommets on all my makes.

This piece is the inner pockets. The three grommets are to be used when using more than one color of yarn. When this piece is folded in half a pocket develops. You can place the yarn inside the pocket and thread out the yarn through the grommets. The lines and stitching on the bottom half are for pens and needles. The white lines are chalk marks to lead the sewing.

There are so many wonderful details on this bag. For one thing you create French seams on the sides of the bag. Above is the top of each side that you fold down to make the drawstring casing. You basically enclose the edging before folding down the length that will make the casing.

Gussets were made on the bottom to give the bag a square bottom. Instead of cutting off a portion of the gusset after it was sewn the directions had you fold it inside. This is ingenious in many ways but it really does help add stability to the bag as a whole.

My machine was a little hesitant to sew over all the layers on this step. I pounded the seams with a hammer to help break down the fabric a little and then just sewed very slow over this part.

The bottom of the bag as you look inside. I am not sure why the color is so off in the next few photos.

Here is the grommet side for yarn colors.

I am just so pleased with this project. I thought it would take a long time to complete but actually was not all that difficult. Grainline Studio had a youtube sew along series of 6 videos that was wonderful. The bag is already in use (it is holding the naughty sweater).

One last picture of the finished project.