Theseinstructionswillhelpyoucreatea pairofbicyclepanniersthatwill comfortablyfitabicyclerackthat measuresapproximately17by5 (Seethepictureswiththepannierson thewhitebicycle).Ifyourbicyclerackis smallerthanthis,youmayneedto changethepanniersizemeasurements tocompensateforyourbicyclerack. Seethephotosattheendofthis tutorialforacloserlookathowto attachthepanniersandhowtheylook onasmallersizedbicyclerack(Seethe pictureswiththepanniersonthesilver bicycle).

Thefinaldimensionsofeach singlepannierare13tallby4wide. CUTOUTTHEPATTERNPIECES.Tousethepatternpieces,cutoutbothsectionsofbagpattern.Overlap thesectionsatthelarge,blackdotsandtapethemtogethertomakethebagpattern. 1. Front/BackMainpanel Flappanel Gusset LargeConnectorFlapPiece SmallConnectorFlapPiece BagConnectorPiecePanel 2. CUTOUTALLOFTHEPIECESFROMTHEFABRICUSINGTHEPATTERNPIECES. Tip:Youcanmarkeachcutpiecewithapieceoftapeandamarkersothatyoucandifferentiatethe pieces.Thisisespeciallyhelpfulindifferentiatingthemainpanelsandtheflappanels,astheyarevery closeinsize. A.Fromtheexteriorfabric(asturdy,canvasmaterialisprobablythe bestoptionasthiswillbepossiblybeexposedtotheelements) Cut4mainpanelsonthefold* Cut2flappanelsonthefold* Cut2gussetpiecesonthefold* Cut1largeconnectorflappiece Cut1smallconnectorflappiece Cut2bagconnectorpiecepanels B.Fromtheinteriorliningfabric Cut4mainpanelsonthefold* Cut2flappanelsonthefold* Cut2gussetpiecesonthefold* Cut1largeconnectorflappiece Cut1smallconnectorflappiece

C.Fromtheinterfacingfabric(theinterfacingisoptional,butremember,ifyoudonotuseit, yourbagsmaysagonthewheelsideandmayrubagainstyourbicyclewheels)Irecommend usingastiffinterfacingsuchasPeltex#70oracomparableheavyweightinterfacing.Itisyour choicewhethertouseanirononoptionorasewinoption. Cut4mainpanelsonthefold* Cut2flappanelsonthefold* Cut2gussetpiecesonthefold* Cut1largeconnectorflappiece Cut1smallconnectorflappiece Cut1bagconnectorpiecepanels D.FromthehooksideVelcro(theharderside) 2piecescut8 5piecescut2 E.FromtheloopsideVelcro(thesofterside) 2piecescut4 3piecescut2 4piecescut2 5piecescut2 3. Ifyouusinginterfacing,fuseorsewtheinterfacingtothewrongsideofeachmatchingexternal section.Ifyouaresewingtheinterfacingin,trytouseasmallseamwidthsuchas1/4or whateveriscomfortableforyou,sincesomeoftheseamsusedlaterwillbefairlysmallandyou dontwantyourinterfacingstitchestobeseenonthefinalproduct.Ihaveusedredthread throughoutthistutorialtohelpyouseemystitchesbetter,butifIweretosewitagain,Iwould useamoresubduedthreadcolor.PleasenoticethatIdidnotuseinterfacinginmypanniers. Again,ifIweretomakeitagain,Iwouldmakesuretouseheavyweightinterfacingtoavoidthe possibilityofhavingthebagrubagainsttherearwheelsofthebicycle. 4. Ibeganmysewingwiththeconnectorflappiece.FirstI verticallypinnedtwoofthe2hookpiecesofVelcroontotheright sideofthelong,straightedgeofthesmallconnectorflappiece.I measuredinapproximately1infromeithersideoftheflappiece andcenteredeachpieceofVelcro.IstitchedtheVelcroinplace. 2

5. NextItookthecoordinatinginteriorliningpiece ofthesmallconnectorflapand,withrightsides together,Ipinnedtheliningtotheflap.Ileftan openingontheroundededgeofthepiecesothat IcouldturnitrightsideoutafterIwasdone stitching.Ithenstitchedalongmypinninglines. 6. Itrimmedtheuppercorneredges(carefulnot tocutthroughmystitching)andImadesomerelief cutsaroundtheroundededgesothattheseedges wouldcomeoutbetterwhenIturnedentirepiece rightsideout. 7. Iusedmyeverhandy,extralongforcepsthatIpurchasedat HarborFreighttoclampontooneoftheinsidecornersofthepiece andturnitrightsideoutthroughtheopeningthatIhadleft unstitched.Ialsousedtheseforcepstohelppushthesamecorner edgesoutafterIhadgottenthepieceturnedrightsideout. 8. NowIturnedintheopening,pinneditandthenedge stitchedaboutaroundtheentirepiecetogiveitafinishedlook. 9. Inowmovedontothelargeconnectorflappiecesandpinned theexternalandinternalliningpiecestogether,withtheright sidesfacingeachother.Ilefttheentirestraightedgeofthe pieceopensothatIcouldturnthepiecerightsideoutthrough thisopening. 10. Istitchedalongmypinninglines,andthenImadesomerelief cutssimilartotheonesIhadmadeonthesmallconnectorflap piecethatIhadjustfinished.Iusedmyforcepstoturnthe largeconnectorpiecerightsideout.ThenIedgestitched aroundthesamethreesidesthatIhadjuststitched,leavingthe 3

sameopeningthatIhadusedtoturnitrightsideout.

11. Tofinishtheentireconnectorflappiece,Ipinned thesmallconnectorflappieceontothelargeconnectorflap piece,withtheinteriorliningsidesfacingeachother.Ithen sewedthesmallconnectorpieceontothelargepieceusing aseamaroundthethreesidesofthesmallconnector flappiece,makingsuretoleavethestraightedgeopen.I basicallymadeasmallpocketoutofthesetwopieces.If youarefollowingalong,yoursshouldkindofresemblea potholder. 12. Youcanputtheconnectorflappieceofftothesidefora while,becausenowIwillshowyouhowtomaketheactualpannier bagpieces.First,horizontallycenterandsew2ofthe2hookVelcro piecesontooneoftheexternalfront/backpieces.Ispacedmy piecesofVelcro4fromthebottomcurvededgeofthebagfront and4fromthesideofthebagfront.Irepeatedthese measurementsfortheothersideofthebottomofthebagfront.I thenrepeatedthesesamestepsforthesecondbagfront.Iwasthen leftwithtwobagfrontpiecesthateachhad2piecesofhookVelcro sewnnearthebottomedgeofthem. 13. NowIhadtoattachthegussettothefrontbagpiecethatIhadjustsewntheVelcroonto.Itmay bealittledifficulttoseeinthepictures,buttheeasiestwaythatIfoundtoensurethatyouare attachingthegussetevenlyontothefrontbagpieceistofoldthegussetmaterialinhalf(similar towhenyoucutitout)withthewrongsidestogether.Nowfoldthefrontbagpieceinhalf (again,similartowhenyoucutitout)withthewrongsidestogether.Nowmatchupthecenters ofthesetwopieces,withtherightsidestogether,andplaceapininthecenteredgetohold them.Youwillneedtohavethegussetloweredgeandthefrontbagpieceloweredges together.ThepictureillustratesitmuchbetterthanIcanverballydescribeit. 4

 14. Oncethecenterpinisinplace,you simplypintherestoftheloweredge andthesideedgesofthegussetandthe frontbagpiecetogether.Youwillhave tomakesomereliefcutsintothegusset materialtomakeitfitaroundthe roundededgeofthefrontbagpiece. Dontmakethesecutstoodeepsince youwillbeusingaroundaseamto stitchthesepiecestogetherandyou dontwantholesinthoseedges.Asyou canseefromthepictures,Iusedalotof pinsaroundmyedges,sinceIamstillnotoverlyconfidentinsewingaroundedgeslikethese.I feellikeonceyougetoverconfident,thenyougotosewitandyouendupwithabunchof wrinklesorbiggapingholes. 15. Youregoingtorepeatsteps13and14fortheotherexternalfrontbagpiece.Youwillalsoneed tosewtheinternalliningfrontbagpiecestotheinternallininggussetsusingsteps13and14.I founditmucheasiertosewallofthesepiecesaroundthesametimesinceyouarebasicallyjust repeatingtheexactsamesteps.Itseemstogobyalittlefasterifyousetitupinabitofan assemblylinetypeofsituationsinceyouareabletorepeatthesametypesofstitchesandyou donthavetogobacklaterandtrytorememberhowtosewaparticularpiece. 16. Onceyouhavethefrontbagpiecessewnontothegussets(forboththeexternalbagpiecesand theinternalliningpieces),youwillnowattachthebackbagpiecesontothegussets.Itmaybea littledifficulttoseefromthepictures,sinceIusedtheredliningpiecestoillustratethis,butthe easiestwaythatIfoundtoattachthesepiecesistofirstlaythewrongsideofthefrontbag pieceflatonyourworksurface.

Youwillthenfoldthegusset partontothefrontbagpiece, similartohowyouhaditpinned initiallywhenyousewedthetwo piecestogether.Thedifference here,though,isthatyouwillfold thebottomedgeofthegusset awayfromthefrontbagpiece.You arebasicallytryingtofoldthe sewnpiecesalmostinanorigami typeofwaytofindthecenterof thegusset.Ifyouhaveitfolded similartothepicture,therightside ofthegussetshouldnowbe exposedalongthebottomofthe bag,inasortofflattenedupside downtriangle. Findthecenteroftheexposed,rightsideofthegussetandthisshouldbethecenterof thegusset,assumingthatyourotherfoldededgesareallfoldeddownniceandflat.

Nowtakethebacksideofthebag,withtherightsidefacingdown,andlineupthe bottomedgeofthebagwiththebottomedgeofthegusset,whereyoujustfoundthecenterof thegusset.Makesuretolineupthesidesofthebacksideofthebagwiththesidesofthefront sideofthebag.Placeapininthecenter(orasclosetothecenteraspossible)ofthebackofthe bagandthegusset.Fromhereyoushouldbeabletopintherestoftheedgesofthebacksideof thebagtothegussetinasimilarfashionasyoudidinstep14. 6

 Animportantnotehere:whenyouarepinningthe interiorliningpieces,youwillneedtoleaveanopening inthebottom,centeroftheback.Theopeningwill probablyneedtobeabout4to5incheswidesothatyou canturntheentirebagrightsideout.Otherthanthis differencebetweentheexteriorandinteriorbagpieces, youwillbefollowingstep14tostitchthebagpieces together. 17. Nowthatyouhaveyourbagpieces sewn,itstimetoputtheinteriorand exteriorofthemtogether.Todothis,you willneedtoturntheinteriorliningrightside outsothattherawedgesoftheseamsare ontheinside.Keeptheexteriorbagturned wrongsideoutsothattherawedgesofthe seamsareontheoutside.Nowyouwill placethebaglininginsidetheexteriorofthe bagsothattherightsidesofbothpiecesare facingeachother. 18. Topinthebag,beginwithoneofthecornersof thebagandlineuptheinteriorliningseamwiththe exteriorbagseam.Youwillneedtoopenuptheraw edgesoftheseamsonboththeliningandtheexterior andyouwillneedtomakesurethattheopenedgeof thebagpartsarelineduptothebestofyourability. Minedidntlineupexactly,probablyduetoslight differencesinsizewhenIcutthematerialorwhenI sewedsomeofthepiecestogether.Aslongasthese differencesarenttoolarge,youshouldbefine.Tryto linetheedgesupasmuchasyoucanandyoucantrim theexcesspartseitherbeforeyousewtheedgesor afterifyouareconfidentthatthedifferencewont interferewithyourseamallowance. 19. Onceyougetonecornerpinned,continuepinningtheremaining3cornersofthebag.From thereyoucanmoreaccuratelypintherestofthebag.Youmayneedtostretchthemateriala littletogetittoworkwithyou.WhenIpinnedthelongedgeofthebag,Ibeganbyliningupthe edgesbyholdingontothetwocornersthatIhadalreadypinned,andthenIputapininthe centerofthelongedge.Iknowthissoundslikealotofexplanationandworkjusttopin something,buttrustme,youdontwanttogetthemajorityofitpinned,orevenworse,sewn onlytorealizethatthereisahugebubbleofexcessfabricsomehowleftattheend. 7

20. Onceyoufinishpinningyourbags,useaboutaseamallowancetosewtheedgestogether. 21. Whenyouhavefinishedsewingthebagpiecestogether,reachintothebagandpullthelining out.Thenreachyourhandintotheopeningintheliningandpulltheexteriorofthebagthrough theliningopening.Onceyouhavethebagpulledrightsideout,youwillneedtopushthelining backintotheexteriorofthebagandpintheedgeofthebagopeningsothatyoucancreatean edgestitchtogivethebagamorepolishedlook.Theedgestitchshouldbeaboutaseam allowance. 22. Youcansetthebottombagpartstotheside fornowwhileyouworkonthebagflap.Firstyouwill needtosewtheloopsectionsofVelcroontothe interiorliningpanelssothattheywillmatchupwith thehooksectionsofVelcroonthebottompartofthe bag.Basedonmymeasurements,youwillneedto horizontallycenterandattacheachofthe2sections ofloopVelcroatleast4infromtheouteredgeofthe flapandapproximately2upfromthebottomofthe flap. 23. Nextyouwillattachtheflapliningandexteriorpiecestogetherinthesamemannerthatyou madethelargeconnectorflappieceinsteps9and10whereyouplacedtheinteriorandexterior piecestogether,rightsidestogether.Youwillonlybesewingthreesidesoftheflap,justlikein steps9and10,thenyouwillturnthepiecesrightsideoutandthenedgestitchthepieces.

24. Youcannowsettheflappiecesofftotheside whileyoufinishtheconnectorpiecethatwillholdboth bagsidestogether.Placeoneoftheexternalconnector piecepanelsonyourworkingsurface.Youwillnowsew thefinal2piecesof2hookVelcroontooneofthe shortendsoftheconnectorpanel.Youshouldvertically centerandseweachpieceofVelcroatleast2infrom theouteredgeandflushwiththebottomofthe connectorpanel. 8

 25. NextIfoundthatifyouplaceeachofthe3 piecesofloopVelcroontotheircorresponding2 pieceofhookVelcrothatyoujustattached,you dontneedtopintheminplace.Youwillneedtolet aboutofthe3loopVelcropiecesoverlapthe bottomedgeoftheconnectorpanel(seepicture). Thisensuresthattherewontaccidentallybeagap betweenthetwopiecesofVelcroonthefinished piece. 26. Ontheoppositeshortendoftheconnectorpanel,youwillnowneedtopintheconnectorflap thatyoufinishedatthebeginningofthistutorial.Muchlikethepreviousstep,ifyoulineupthe 4piecesofloopVelcrowiththeircorresponding2sectionsofhookVelcroonthesmallpartof theconnectorflap,youwillnotneedtopintheminplace.Thelong,tailendofthe4sectionsof Velcroshouldstickoutpasttheopenedgeofthelargeconnectorflappiece(seepicture).Once youhavetheVelcropiecesinplaceontheconnectorflap,youcanplaceit,Velcrosidedown, ontotheshortedgeoftheconnectorpanel.Centertheflapontheshortedgeandoverlapthe shortedgeoftheconnectorpanelwiththeopenedgeoftheconnectorflapbyabout.This willensureagoodconnectionbetweenthetwopieces.Pintheflapontotheconnectorpanel.

27. NowyouwilladdthefinalpiecesofVelcroontotheconnectorpanel.Iattachedthepairof5 hookandloopsectionstoeachothersothatwhenIplacedthemhorizontallyacrossthewidth oftheconnectorpanel,therewasaboutaoverlaponeithersideoftheconnectorpanel.I thenpinnedtheattachedpiecesofVelcroapproximatelyatthe5andthe11marksalongthe lengthoftheconnectorpanel.WithallofthepiecesofVelcroeitherpinnedorsewnontothe connectorpanel,Iplacedtheotherconnectorpanelontopofit,withrightsidesfacing.Imade suretoleaveabouta2to3gapbetweentwoofthe5piecesofVelcroononesideofthe panelsothatIcouldturntheentirepanelrightsideoutafterIfinishedsewingit.

28. AfterIsewedtheconnectorpanelpiecestogetherusingaseamallowance,Itrimmedthe excessVelcropiecesthatwerestickingoutandItrimmedthecornersofthepanel.Iturnedthe panelrightsideout,pinnedtheopeningclosedandthenusedaedgestitchtocompletethe connectorpanel. 29. Nowitstimetoputtheentirebagtogether.Pleasebearwithmeonthispartbecauseitisa littlehardtodescribe.Hopefullythisdescription,incombinationwiththepictures,shouldhelp you.Firstlaythebottompartofthebagdownontoyourworksurfacewiththeopeningfacing youandthesidewiththeVelcrosewnonitonthebottom,touchingtheworksurface.Next placetheconnectorpanelontopofthebottompartofthebag,withthesidethathasallofthe Velcroattachmentsonthebottom.Tryyourbesttocentertheconnectorpanelontopofthe back,bottompartofthebagandlineuptheedges.Thetoplayerofthisbagsandwichwillbe oneoftheflappanels.Youwillplaceitwiththeliningsideupandyouwillalsoneedtotryto centeritontopoftheback,bottompartofthebagandlineitupwiththeotheredgesofthe connectorpanelandthebottombagpart.Pinallthreelayersanduseaseamallowance.

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 30. Onceyouhavetheflap,connectorpanelandbottombagpartssewntogether,placethebag backinthepositionyouhaditinwhenyoupinnedthethreelayerstogetherwiththeflapon top.Nowfliptheflapdown/towardsyou.Useaseamallowancetoreinforcetheflap attachment(seepicture).

31. Youarenowgoingtoattachtheotherbagtotheconnectorpanel.Usingthesametheoryasin step29,laytheremainingbottombagpartdownontoyourworksurfaceandcenterthe connectorpanelontopofit.Centerandalignitwiththebag,justlikeinstep29.Next,placethe 11

remainingflappanelontop,againinthesamemannerasinstep29,makingsuretocenterand alignitwiththeothertwolayers.Pinandsew.

32. Repeatstep30withtheflapthatyoujustattached. 33. Onemoremajorstepleft.Youaregoingtopintheupper,innercornersofthebagtogetherand stitchaboutaninchin.Whatthiswilldoishelptokeepthebagfromsaggingopenatthetop.I usedmymachinetosewthese,butyoucansewthembyhandifyouwouldlike.

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 34. Finally,dontforgettoslipstitchtheopeningyoustillhaveinyourinteriorbaglining(fromwhen youturnedthebottombagpartrightsideout). 35. Theonlythingleftistoattachyournew,stylish,andhandmadepannierstoyourbicyclerack andenjoy! 13

LargerBicycleBagFrame (approximately17x5.5)

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SmallerBicycleBagFrame (approximately14x5)

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Tousetemplates:Cutoutbothsectionsofbagpattern.Overlapthesectionsatthelarge,blackdots andtapethemtogethertomakethebagpattern.

PannierGusset(lefthalf)
Cut2External Cut2InternalLining Cut2Interfacing

PannierGusset(righthalf)

CenteronFold

PannierConnectorPiece (lefthalf)

PannierConnectorPiece (righthalf)
Cut2External

CenteronFold

CenteronFold PannierFlapPiece (righthalf)

Cut2External Cut2InternalLining Cut2Interfacing

 PannierFront/Back Piece (lefthalf)

Cut4External Cut4InternalLining Cut4Interfacing

CenteronFold

PannierFront/Back Piece (righthalf)

CenteronFold

PannierFrontFlapLarge
Cut1External Cut1InternalLining Cut1Interfacing

PannierFrontFlapSmall
Cut1External Cut1InternalLining Cut1Interfacing