Shoulder Sack
=============

.. figure:: sack.jpg
   :align: center

This bag style is, I believe, pretty common among reenactors of epochs
between the Middle Ages and the 18th century, and I've found online a
`list of period depictions of similar bags
http://www.larsdatter.com/wallets.htm>`_ .

It is a convenient style of bag that can be used to carry clothing and
other goods.

These instructions aren't historically accurate, but at least the one
sewn by hand are vaguely plausible, since they use stitches and
techniques with a long history.

The instructions for machine sewing give a bag with visible machine
stitching that is probably not appropriate for any reenactment, but are
suitable for an historically-inspired variant made with modern technical
fabric.

Materials
---------

* Less than 1 m sturdy linen or cotton fabric, or lightweight waterproof
  syntetics;
* matching sewing thread.

Pattern
-------

This bag is made out of a rectangle of fabric as high as the lenght and
twice as wide as the width of the finished bag, plus sewing allowances
on all four sides.

To hang confortably from the shoulder a lenght of about 1 m looks good,
and if you're using narrow fabric (~80 cm) using the full width is
convenient.

Instructions by Hand
--------------------

Fold down all four edges of the fabric by the sewing allowance twice to
form a hem, sew with a running stitch.

.. tip:: for thick fabric that does not unravel folding the edge just
   once may be enough.

Whipstitch together two long edges for 3/8 of the length from each end,
leaving a slit in the middle that is 1/4 of the full length.

Fold the fabric so that the long seam + slit is in the middle, and
whipstitch closed the short edges.

Instructions by Machine
-----------------------

.. tip::

   If using coated, water repellent fabric, you want to minimize holes,
   so use a longer stitch than usual (e.g. 3 mm) and avoid using pins as
   much as possible, only using them in the sewing allowances.

   Do however backstitch at the start and end of all seams, for
   stability.

   Binder clips are useful to keep things in place without making holes,
   even if they can't do miracles on extra slippery fabric like
   silnylon.

Right sides together, align the long sides of the fabric and sew with a
double sewing allowance 3/8 of the lenght

Fold down all four edges of the fabric by the sewing allowance twice to
form an hem, topstitch.