This didn't turn out quite nice enough for me to turn it into a tutorial, but here's a thing I made:
Link's Shield holster bag!
I love holster bags (freedom from purse straps!!), so I'm forever looking for ways to make more of my own. The ones I use now, though, just clip onto my belt loops and are pretty small. So, I decided to try one with a leg strap.
Plus I wanted an excuse to make more stuff with Friendly Felt. :)
Initially I made the top straps WAY too long, so after giving it a test run at Supercon - and having it flop all over the place - I shortened those up considerably. This way definitely feels more secure, but I'm still figuring out if the leg strap is more help or hindrance.
Also, since my jeans all seem to dip in the front, I've found the forward top strap goes slack a lot while I'm walking. Maybe that's how they're supposed to work, though?
My sewing skills are abysmal, as you can see by my wonky strap Xs. But hey, I got that zipper installed! Just, uh, don't look too closely at any of the OTHER seams, mkay?
The bag construction is ridiculously simple in theory: two shield outlines, and one long rectangular side piece sewn around the outside edges. (Sew the zipper in the side panel first, though.)
Turns out it's not nearly as simple in execution, of course: sewing that side panel in was a PAIN - and not at all pretty. I had to really crumple the bag up at times in my sewing machine, and those wrinkles are still kinda there in places. :/ Plus, I didn't quite get the two shield sides to match up perfectly, so there's a wrinkle at one corner - see?
Decorating the front of the shield was the fun part. I drew up the pattern using a prop shield I found online as a reference, cut it all out of Friendly Felt, and used E-6000 to stick the pieces in place. (I read online you can also use white craft glue, but when I used it for the smaller yellow bits, they fell off as soon as the glue dried. Urg.)
There's a loop on the back side for the leg strap to slide through, and the top straps are sewn in place. Easy-peasy. Total material cost for the clips, straps, zipper, and felt was less than $10.
I'm determined to make my own everyday holster bag at some point; just have to figure out the best design. And as much as I go to the parks, I'd LOVE to have a water bottle holster, too. Have any of you ever seen one, though?
*****
Come see ALL of my craft projects on one page, right here!
i have a water bottle holster type thingie that i got for free. don't use it as i use an insulated sleeve i bought for my 32 ounce nalgene bottle. happy to send it to you so that you could tear it apart / modify it / etc. where do i find a mailing address for you?
ReplyDeleteHer P.O. box is listed on the "Contact" page of the site here if you ever want to send something.
Deletep.s. wonky end and all, i think this is great. so cute and no purse carrying equals a win in my book. besides, no one should be close enough to your leg to see that it isn't "perfect."
ReplyDeleteI *love* this! I may have to take a stab at one myself.
ReplyDeleteAn idea!
ReplyDeleteInstead of the short straps with the clips to clip to your belt loop, you could do d-rings on the bag, and then a slightly longer strap you could clip to the bag and run through the belt loops. That might help the issue of the front going slack as you walked and would also make an opportunity to add a different strap if you wanted to.
Just an idea! The bag is SUPER cute. Your projects are always fantastic.
I'm thinking something similar and different: I have a bowie knife with sheath. it's worn on the belt, much higher than this bag. Because it's on the belt at hip height, it's not as affected by leg movement (there is a strap to go around the upper thigh, to keep it close to the body at the end).
DeleteMy guess is that this bag is moving around because it's worn so low, it's subject to a LOT of leg movement. If the top were strapped to a belt, or if those top straps were just tabs anchoring it securely to the waist of the jeans, it would be more secure at the relatively immobile hip.
I agree, ballookey; I only dropped the height because some of the on-the-belt type bags ride *too* high for me, and snag my overshirts. Just gotta find that sweet spot, I guess!
DeleteI have a feeling that people are going to demand a tutorial on that holster bag. You might think that it isn't good enough, but many will probably disagree.
ReplyDeleteTry clipping ever so slightly the side piece when you come to the points and corners. Will help you navigate.
ReplyDeletePlus when turning a corner, put your needle all the way down, then lift the pressure foot (needle pivot), re-align, drop pressure foot and continue. Congrats on the zipper, most people fail there.
Just popped in here to say all the same things; listen to Sam, girl, those tips are on point.
DeleteAnd yeah, you can't sit here and say how much your sewing sucks when you put that bloody zipper in like a pro! Zippers are the BANE of my sewing EXISTENCE, and I've been sewing most of your life! I wouldn't have even noticed the wonky stitching if you hadn't mentioned it, and I'm a notoriously picky Taurus. Anything worth doing takes practice, and if you can build all those amazing props and things (I am SO NOT a fabricator; allergic to adhesives and a-scurred of saws) like you do, then working with fabrics will become second nature soon. Stop convincing yourself that you suck at something you're semi-new at, that you really do show an aptitude for, or I will give you SUCH A PINCH.
Continue to jam out witcha clam out,
Storm the Klingon
super cute! and you just blew the mind of my 11 yr old Zelda freak =)
ReplyDeleteI love it!!! So fun and geeky! I would think about making it with duck cloth and a stiff fabric liner. I love iron on pellon. I think it would hug your leg more and wouldn't shift around as much. Then use the felt for the shield details. I think a water bottle holster would be fairly simple. A simple tube and then you could easily add straps to hook it to your belt loops on the opposite side of your bag. I would think a leg strap would be advantageous to keep it from flopping around. If don't want a let one, just use a longer strap and go over the shoulder. Or it could be incorporated into a side bag itself. You've got me thinking!
ReplyDeleteI love it! So pleased to see a Zelda-themed craft.
ReplyDeleteShut up, right now!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited about this, Jen! Legend of Zelda holster bag for the WIN!
If you posted a tutorial, I wouldn't even be mad. :)
--Piper P from Washington State.
I've seen water bottle holsters at renfaires, try searching for some made for faire!
ReplyDeleteI'd love love LOVE a tutorial - or felt measurements - or a cut out paper of the shield - or a pattern I could buy on Etsy! I'd love to make this. It's so cool! :D
ReplyDeleteI definitely want to see one for a vintage Capt America shield....
ReplyDeleteJen, As someone who wears a drop leg holster for 12 hours a day at work, you got 95% of it right without even realizing why it works. The main thing you need to do is extend the rear strap further back so it is not going up the side, but curving around your butt slightly. Here is a photo of my rig, except I have a Taser in there while my duty gun is in a normal belt holster. The second thing is to add a curved backing piece inside the shield to keep it hugging your leg. If you look at the backed on the rig it is curved to fit. BTW, this is Carrot Jockey tie Dave with the dis-approving Jesus photo from like 4-5 years ago.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.blackhawk.com/getattachment/Products/Holsters-Duty-Gear/Holsters/Tactical/Level-2/SERPA%C2%AE-Level-2-Tactical-Holster/BH_430500BK_R_1_holsters_front.jpg.aspx?maxsidesize=700
Oooh, this is incredibly helpful, and you just made me grin like a loon: I remember that photo! HI DAVE!
DeleteLOOOOVE IT!!!
ReplyDeleteI think you're being too hard on yourself - this mini-project is both epic AND inspiring. I love holster bags too and having recently acquired two delicious leather hides and I've been hunting for something to do with the offcuts (I'm making a steampunk corset out of them for shits and giggles). I don't think your self-proclaimed lack of sewing skills is as bad as you think and the only way to get better at something is to keep doing it. I love love LOVE working with felt. My favourite sewing medium by a LONG way and I think you've done a great job with this - sure it has some kinks but that's part of the charm and the applique is amazing. Personally I'd have topstitched around the shapes but that's because I like the 'quilted' texture it gives and I try to avoid glue in my sewn accessories. Overall a really cool mini-project. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteLove it!! As a lady who ALSO loves holster/hip bags (and Zelda!) I'm glad to be seeing them pop up more mainstream! And geeky as well!
ReplyDeleteI purchased a leather hip bag from Happy Cow in AU years ago and STILL get compliments on it. But they are pricey, so I've been wanting to make a whole slew of them for multiple uses like Ren Faires and conventions. Thanks for the inspiration to make my own!
Water bottle holster idea: The burner community has really excelled and outpaced the regular world in terms of AWESOME hip bags/holsters/etc. I would start searching within vendors that cater to them, I'm sure someone on the Playa has figured out a holster for a water bottle, what with the desert and all. Just use "burning man" or "burner" in the search terms on etsy, etc. It's amazing how many hip bags are out there!!
Awesome craft! I want a leather holster bag, they look so cool!
ReplyDeletePeople in my bagpipe band have water bottle holsters that attach to their belts with a small strap, probably similar to how you attached the leg strap to your shield purse. Think a leather beer koozie with that strap. Most of them wear it towards the back of their hips, to keep it out of the way, and it seems to work really well on parade days!
http://www.organizeit.com/water-bottle-holder-and-clip.asp?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BingPLA
ReplyDeleteThis is a nifty idea to hook on your water bottle when you want it and take it off when you don't.
Here in BC we say, "THAT IS AWESOME! GOOD JOB!"
ReplyDeleteI think it looks great. If I saw this on Etsy, I would pick one up for my wife in a heartbeat.
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ReplyDeleteI saw this bottle holder and thought you might like it.
ReplyDeleteOohh I love this!!! My son was Link last year for Halloween and I made his candy bag very similar to your holster. I was kind of wishing it WAS a tutorial!! I think you did amazing. All the decals on the shield look sharp as heck..... 1. How did you do that (exacto knife? My points were shredding from scissors.) And 2. What did you use to adhere the pieces to the shield? Spray adhesive? I'd really love to try to make a more durable backpack from that shield design!!
ReplyDeleteMy son goes to a medieval-themed summer camp, and he hangs his water bottle from his belt with a modified leather arm bracer, laced tight enough to hold the bottle in place.
ReplyDeleteLove the shield! This site is so much fun.
Ok, I don't have any XP with holsters or hip bags, but one possibility to fix the flapping would be to switch out a bit of the strapping (behind the bag, where it wouldn't be seen? With a section of 1" elastic (or whatever width to match your strap) so that it can move with you. *I* think it looks great, and I think you're going to have to stop insisting you haven't any sewing expertise. Cheers!
ReplyDeletePiper's art is GORGEOUS. ::sendsinternetvibestomakehersellonline::
ReplyDeleteAnd that cartoon Link and Wonder Woman! ::squee!::
What about using a running belt to hold your water bottle? I bet you could use that as a starter and create a unique water holster out of it.
ReplyDeleteI want to make this! Please tell us your ways!
ReplyDeletePlease make a tutorial??? I really want to know how to make this
ReplyDeletePlease make a tutorial...my friend jose really wants me to make it for him
DeleteIs this for sale!!! I would love one
ReplyDeleteThanks
ReplyDelete