The Toughie Bag

The Toughie Bag is a sturdy big volume transport bag in a minimalist design with a convenient hook closure and can be used as a handheld carry bag or with the optional shoulder strap.

A natural wax coating protects the content from humidity and dirt and gives the bag a strong and stiff structure.

We decided to wax the fabric after sewing the bag since the stiffness of the waxed fabric made it too difficult to work if waxed before assembly.

Materials

Bag

• cotton canvas; large bag: 120cm x 44cm; small bag: 80cm x 30cm
• cotton twill tape 2,5cm wide, 96cm
• metal D-ring 2,5cm
• hook fastener 2,5cm
• optional patch 5,5x10,5cm

Optional Shoulder Strap

• cotton canvas 90cm x 10cm
• cotton twill tape 2,5cm wide, 100cm
• metal D-ring 2,5cm
• hook fastener 2,5cm

Wax Coating

• paraffin wax 60gr
• beeswax or soy wax 20gr
• coconut oil 20gr

Instructions

1. Sewing the Bag

Cut fabric and neaten all sides with an overlock machine or zig zag stitch.

If you want to attach a patch, measure 45cm down the center from the top seam and sew the patch onto the fabric with a straight stitch.

Fold the fabric in half, right sides together and stitch along the side seams with 1cm seam allowance.

Fold upper seam over towards the outside and sticth down with 0,5cm seam allowance.

Create and sew 19cm wide volume triangles at the bottom corners for the big size bag and 10cm for the small size.

• Turn the bag outside to work on the right side of the fabric.
• Top stitch all four sides and the long edges of the bottom close to the seams to give the bag additional structure.
• Don’t stitch over the folded top seam.

Cut a 96cm long strip of the cotton twill tape and attach it to the top of the bag. Start by sewing on the front side of the bag until about 1cm before reaching the side seam , slip the D-ring and hook closure on either side of the fabric, leave a loop and sew the tape to the back of the bag, overlapping the both ends of the tape where they meet.

2. Applying the wax

Melt the wax over hot water in a double boiler and deliberately apply all over the bag excluding the tape using a large paint brush (don´t worry if some wax get’s on the tape, it will just soak in).

The wax will start drying quickly and start looking white and sit on top of the fabric. Use a heat gun or blow dryer to completely melt the wax into the fabric and let it dry completely.

After being handled and used it is absolutely normal for the waxed fabric to take on a creased and vintage looking appearance. These folds and creases can easily be smoothed out at any time with a heat gun or blow dryer.

Please remember that waxed fabric can’t be washed with hot water. To clean either wipe with a wet cloth or gently rinse under lukewarm water.

If needed reapply wax if the coating get`s worn off over time.

3. Making the Shoulder Strap

Cut a 90cm x 10cm strip of fabric and finish all four sides with an overlock machine or zig zag stitch. Fold over both sides and iron.

Cut a 100cm long strip of the cotton tape and attach hook and D-ring at either side.

Place the cotton tape on the fabric, covering both edges and sew along the tape on all 4 sides.

4. Relax

Great job. You will have successfully made a Toughie Bag to help collectively fight extinction.

Supplies

• Canvas Fabric
• Aluminun Hook closure
• Steel D-Ring
• Black Cotton Twill Tape

Tools

• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Heat gun (or powerful blow dryer)
• Double-boiler (or pot)
• Paintbrush
• Heating Iron