The making of a simple grab bag

The individual bag sections are cut by hand from shoulder hide using patterns.  
​Stitch holes are punched and the positions of handles and closures are marked. 

Edges are finished by applying a glue solution then polished or burnished until smooth.
​Panels that are to be moulded have their edges skived (scraped thinner) and a deep groove created on the reverse side, to allow the dampened edge to be folded up into shape.
​Deep full-width grooves mark the final crease lines for the base which will be dampened then folded into position.

Individual pieces are edge-stitched by saddle-stitching using lengths of waxed linen thread with a harness needle fixed at either end. The work is held in position in a clam whilst each needle is inserted in turn into the stitch holes and the thread is pulled through tightly to create a series of locking stitches. Folds in the side panels are held in place by over-stitching.  
​Magnetic closures are glued then stitched in place onto the bag's body and tab.
The tab and handles are then stitched on to the body.

The bag is assembled and the side panels are glued and held in position using clamps then retaining tacks or stitches.
Again the bag is held in position in a clam to enable saddle-stitching to be undertaken as before.
The stitch holes are carried through into the side panel edges by piercing through the line of holes punched down the side of the bag using an awl and the two edges are saddle-stitched together.

The rough edges are rounded off using an edge beveller and again are finished by burnishing.
The completed bag is waxed and polished .