---
title: designing a bag
image:
  src: 2025/shoelace-bag.jpg
  alt: "a 3-image collage showcasing a leather crossbody bag. the leather body is brown and fairly simple. up the narrow sides, rope is laced through grommets in a style resembling a shoe lacing. the rope forms the handle and loops seamlessly through the other side of the bag, joining in one point in a figure-8 follow-through knot. At the bottom corners, there are small diagonal lines of stitching to give the bag a small lip around the base and ensure small objects don't slide out."
tags:
  - reference
  - leather
  - software
---

## begin by testing

the first step in any design is small tests. For leatherwork, this usually means working with paper - cheaper than leather, but with some of the same inflexibility.

## build up from basic facts

my grommets, laid out on paper, spaced out cleanly at 1/2" away from edges and 1" apart. My tablet is ~10"x8". I started with these facts.

## template, template, template

don't measure out the same spacing any more than you have to. Templating is your friend for both ease of use and regularity.

## mind the order of your work

the corners should be stitched before lacing in order to get into tight spaces easily. Grommets are set most easily before the work is 3-dimensional. It's cleanest to cut before grommets are installed so as to work on a smooth and level surface. Hold all this in your mind when choosing your next move, and ensure you don't step on your own toes.

## consider v2

even if you won't be making one, what would you do differently? Where does your design fail? Where does it *succeed?*

## take notes

easier said than done.
