Sewing a leather bag for a packing frame (bärmes)
2020-10-15
A few years ago I created a wooden packing frame. It has been in use carrying black smithing bellows, and medieval stuff in different arrangements with old military bags tied to it or fastened with leather belts. However, I've always felt I should produce a proper to bag to hold my stuff and I finally came around to do this.
This article explain how it was done.



Material used
- Leather (I used part of the back of an old leather sofa)
- Waxed linen thread
- Some buckles for trouser straps (militära byxremmar)
- Belt leather the length of the width of the packing frame plus one decimetre
Tools used
- Leather needles
- Awl
- Scissors
Work order
Support strap
First I sewed a piece from belt leather with loops for the top wooden part of the packing frame. The role of this strap was to carry the weight of the bag when loaded.

Bag
The bag consisted of one larger piece to serve as both front, bottom, back, and lid. I cut out sides and sewed them to the main piece.
I then attached the support strap and attached closing straps and a bottom locking strap for the bag to stay in place.
For the sides to fold inwards away from any rain I sewed a crease on each side.
Treating the leather
I sprayed the bag with regular shoe protection to make it more rain protected. The belts and straps were treated with leather balm to make them soft and useful.











What I (yet?) haven't done
- I originally intended for the bag to be closed with a rope or string underneath the lid, and sewed a canal for that string. However, at the end this did not feel necessary.
- Nicer finish to the bottom attaching strap
- A nice decorative rim to finish off the lid rather than the ugly perforation from sofa seams