Is Making (and attaching) a liner for this bag a possibility?

[Shangas]

Hey Folks.

Long Story Short...

This Bag:

I want to make a liner for it. Something with pockets. Something to protect the leather. Is this a possibility? And how might I attach the liner to the inside of the bag?

 

[Talbot]

Nice Gladstone.

 

[Shangas]

Um. Thanks, Talbot. It was a $25 purchase at an antiques shop.

Structurally, it's fine. Leather is in good condition - there's no holes or rips - there are a couple of scratches (hey, it's 80 years old...) and it's a bit rusty, but the catches work, the clasps work, and the handle is solid and strong.

But yes, my question remains unanswered. I really like this bag. But I want it to be more practical, if that makes any sense. As it sits, it's just a big, open hole. Which is great in the capacity area, and I can shove far more into it now than I ever could into my current EDC bag. But what I want is something more...versatile?

I want to line it with fabric and put in some pockets. Two or three on the sides, and maybe one at each end. They don't have to be fancy, they just have to hold stuff (wallet, phone, pens etc).

What I would like to know is: Is something like this possible? And if so, how would I attach it to the inside of the bag (and probably, how would I see that it conforms to the sides of the bag). Do I have to glue the fabric to the leather? Do I hand-sew it in? Or...how's it done?

It took me a while to find a picture, but, something like this is what I'm aiming for:

 

[Foxer55]

Fabricating such a bag would be easy, preferably with some synthetic material that is waterproof. Attaching the bag is another issue. You might have to just let it rest inside of the bag but you might ask your local shoemaker/repairer who might have ideas about attachment.

 

[Shangas]

MAKING the lining is not really the issue here. I'm fairly confident of doing that.

The bigger issue is, as you've correctly surmised - attaching it to the innards of the bag.

Most tutorials I've seen on lining bags seem to advocate the use of GLUE...and I'm not sure I want to do that on an antique gladstone bag.

I had originally thought of sewing, but as you might notice...there isn't really any facilities for that, so to speak.

Anyone with other suggestions, please chime in.

 

[bond]

you may want to try double sided adhesive backed velcro as that will hold to both the liner and to the leather. Go to a fabric store or any hardware store.

 

[Shangas]

Aah that's a good idea. I'll look into that, Bond. Thanks for the suggestion. I could certainly do that.

 

[johnnycanuck]

I was thinking the Velcro method as well. That way you can have two liners in case one needs cleaned. A zipper would work as well. The trick will be the adhesive or glue that could be removed when the Velcro wears out. Maybe something that come off with heat. Check with a fabric store or a craft store.
Johnny

 

[LoveMyHats2]

Geez, I sure do wish you lived close by. I could show you how to make some attachment strips and then attach the liner to the strips. I've had to do that a few times before with a suitcase, it was not as hard as I first thought it would be. Also, there is a "spray adhesive" that would work for the entire insides of that case to keep the liner in place, aside from attachment strips around the entire upper part of the inside of the case itself. You can make them with what is called "basting strips or tape" that is commonly used in sewing. Even if you are like me and are "horrible" with a needle and thread, you can use a fat needle and some very heavy thread and "tack" the basting strips in a few spots on the back side of the strip to the leather of the case, yeah you go right through the leather but only in a few spaced out places and make the stitch itself a close stitch so you won't see much from the outside, use brown thread. Tack the strip about every 4 inches, but also use the spray on the inside of the case. Make the liner first and dry fit it to be sure it will work for you, get everything ready, stitch only the back side of the basting strip, (the front side gets the liner sewn to it) and between all that your liner will stay put and look like it came from the factory that way.

 

[LoveMyHats2]

Oh yeah, get some leather conditioner on that case please!

 

[Shangas]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I think the Velcro route seems like the most effective for the time-being, unless someone can suggest something else.

I'm in the process of making the liner. So far, I've done the sides, bottom and ends, and most of the pockets.

Now comes the tricky bit - attaching the ends to the sides and base.

EDIT:

I just thought of something that may be important. This being a Gladstone bag, the hinges at the ends (and the leather attached thereto) flex and bend whenever the bag is opened or closed. I'm just wondering if that's going to affect anything like the integrity of any velcro or other method of attachment...

 

[CircuitRider]

I found a horsehyde bag with limited pockets and used pocket/dividers out of an old hard shell bfriecase...you might cut some down and do the same...love the older bags! Velcro a great idea because you have the option of changing if you don't like it...

 

[Foxer55]

Shangas,

The bigger issue is, as you've correctly surmised - attaching it to the innards of the bag.

Yeah, I'd be reluctant to sew into the leather. Doesn't mean I wouldn't, just means I would do that only as a last desparate resort.

You could fashion a simple wire frame to the inside dimensions of the case, sew or glue the bag around its top rail and drop it in. Would be easy to put in and take out.

 

[Shangas]

I had considered a wire frame when I first had this idea, but I changed my mind because it occurred to me that it wouldn't bend and flex as the bag might require it to do.

I really don't want to SEW anything in. I'm not much of a tailor, if I'm honest. In fact if I didn't have my gran's Singer, I wouldn't even attempt this! I also don't want to try glue.

I gave serious thought to those pop-together tack buttons (like what you have on certain types of pockets). My grandmother was a dressmaker, and when she died, I inherited all her sewing-stuff. She has a whole box FULL of those little buttons that she never used. I was thinking of gluing them on, and then sewing on the corresponding sides to the exterior of the lining, but it seemed too fiddly (and I might muck up the measurements).

So far, the velcro method is looking like the most promising. There's a sewing-supplies shop in the next suburb. I'll go there and see what they have.

 

[Tomasso]

Get yourself an organizer insert that fits snugly into the bag.

 

[Shangas]

Nah, it doesn't have to be anything fancy. I'm nearly done, anyway.

 

[Shangas]

I finished making the lining for the bag.

It's a bachelor job, on a vintage Singer. But it'll do for my purposes. The material is brown suede. I picked it because I reckoned it would go well with the dark brown of the leather.

It fits really well. The next step is sticking something in there to stop it flopping around. Velcro, or something along those lines.

PROGRESS:

Okay, I got the Velcro, and got busy. Here's the results...

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

And this is the bag closed:

Thanks to everyone for the velcro suggestion. It worked really well.

 

[Shangas]

Hey folks.

I'd like to thank everyone who made suggestions about my little dilemma, but frustratingly, the problem hasn't been solved. The velcro won't stick to the interior of the bag well enough for this to be a viable solution.

Does anyone else have other suggestions?