Changes to airline baggage pricing models have made me reconsider what and how I pack when flying. I’ve had some trouble finding carry-on luggage with the features I want in my price range. I discovered several options for sewing my own carry on bags. This is a diy carry-on luggage pattern roundup.
Introduction
Each airline has specifications for the bags or luggage that a passenger can take on a flight. Large suitcases and/or other luggage items will be checked into the cargo hold. Carry-on and/or hand luggage will go into the cabin and will be placed in the overhead bins and/or under the seat in front of you. WestJet’s maximum sizes for carry-on are 53 cm x 23 cm x 38 cm (21 in x 9 in x 15 in) for carry-on baggage and 41 cm x 15 cm x 33 cm (16 in x 6 in x 13 in) for a personal item. There are lots of “bags” for purchase that fit within these carry-on size restrictions. Here are some options for those of us who want to sew our own customized “bag”.
1) Personal Item Bags
Personal item bags go under the seat in front of you and may have a maximum size of 41 cm x 15 cm x 33 cm (16 in x 6 in x 13 in) depending upon the airline you’re flying with.
1- InSewingTimes: DIY FABRIC SUITCASE | Travel Luggage Bag Sewing & Tutorial
This free video tutorial makes a clamshell, fabric suitcase approximately 15.75″ wide × 11.75” high × 4.9” deep (~40 cm wide x 30 cm high x 12.5 cm deep). Features include a quilted exterior and a side handle.
2- Ae PooiM: Make Your Own Suitcase With Canvas Fabric
This free video tutorial makes a clamshell, fabric suitcase approximately 17.7” wide × 13.7” high × 5.1” deep (~45 cm wide x 35 cm high x 13 cm deep). Features include two wrap-around handles and patch pockets in the lid.
3- SewingTimes: DIY Carry-on Travel Bag
This free tutorial makes a clamshell, fabric suitcase approximately 11.4” wide × 14.9” high × 6.3” deep (~29 cm wide x 38 cm high x 16 cm deep). Features include two top handles, zippered mesh pockets in the lid and a trolly sleeve to slide over the handle of your rolling luggage.
4- JS Daily: DIY Travel Bag/Travel bag making tutorial/Big bag
This free video tutorial makes a totebag approximately 16.5” wide × 12.6” high × 6.3” deep (~42 cm wide x 32 cm high x 16 cm deep). Features include two wrap-around top handles, a shoulder strap, an external zippered pocket and a trolly sleeve to slide over the handle of your rolling luggage.
5- The Stitching Scientist: Free Overnight Duffel Bag
This free tutorial makes a duffle bag approximately 15” wide × 12” high (~38 cm wide x 30 cm high). Features include tapered side panels, two wrap-around top handles and external pockets.
6- Sew4Home: Roomy Canvas Weekender Duffle
This free tutorial makes a duffle bag approximately 10” wide × 16” high x 8” deep (~25 cm wide x 40 cm high x 20 cm deep). Features include two, wrap-around handles, a removable shoulder strap and external pockets. This bag can fold flat for storage.
7- Stitchback Gear: TSA1
This paid pattern makes a 20 L backpack approximately 11” wide × 17” high x 7” deep (~28 cm wide x 43 cm high x 18 cm deep). Features include a top opening, shoulder strap stow pocket, a side handle, trolly sleeve, and internal and external zippered pockets. An additional paid pattern (TSA1 Accessories) includes the optional TSA1 laptop sleeve and bottle pocket.
8- MYOG Tutorials: TRVL15 Travel Backpack
This paid pattern makes a 15 L backpack approximately 9.8” wide × 15.7” high x 7.9” deep (~25 cm wide x 40 cm high x 20 cm deep). Features include a clamshell opening, stashable or removable shoulder straps, stashable or removable hip belt, top and side handles, a dedicated laptop compartment with a false bottom, internal and external pockets, and an optional water bottle pocket.
9- MYOG Turorials: TRVL20 Travel Backback
This paid pattern makes a 20 L backpack approximately 12” wide × 15.7” high x 7.9” deep (~30 cm wide x 40 cm high x 20 cm deep). Features include a clamshell opening, stashable or removable shoulder straps, stashable or removable hip belt, top and side handles, a dedicated laptop compartment with a false bottom, internal and external pockets, and an optional water bottle pocket.
2) Carry-on Bags
Carry-on bags are larger than personal item bags and go into the overhead bins. Their maximum size will be similar to 53 cm x 23 cm x 38 cm (21 in x 9 in x 15 in) depending upon which airline you’re flying with.
1- Bag’NTell: Duffle Bag Tote
This free tutorial makes a duffle bag approximately 20” wide × 17” high x 11” deep (~51 cm wide x 43 cm high x 28 cm deep) with a circular cross section. Features include two, wrap-around style handles, a removable shoulder strap, and external pockets
2- Robert Kaufman: Cargo Duffle 2
This free tutorial makes a duffle bag approximately 18” wide × 11” high x 5” deep (~46 cm wide x 28 cm high). Features include rectangular side panels, two top handles, and external pockets.
3- Sew4Home: Quilted Travel Duffle with Rolling Case Sleeve
This free tutorial makes a duffle bag approximately 18” wide × 12” high x 8” deep (~45 cm wide x 30 cm high x 20 cm deep). Features include two top handles, a removable shoulder strap, internal and external pockets and a trolly sleeve.
4- ByAnnie: Ultimate Travel Bag
This paid pattern with makes a tote bag approximately 18.5” wide × 13.75” high × 8” deep (~47 cm wide x 35 cm high x 20 cm deep). Features include two wrap-around top handles, a removable shoulder strap, internal and external pockets and a trolly sleeve to slide over the handle of your rolling luggage.
5- Stitchback Gear: TSA2
This paid pattern makes a 40 L backpack approximately 13.5” wide × 22” high x 9” deep (~34 cm wide x 56 cm high x 23 cm deep). Features include a top opening, shoulder strap stow pocket, hipbelt, a side handle, trolly sleeve, and internal and external zippered pockets. An additional paid pattern (TSA1 Accessories) includes the optional TSA1 laptop sleeve and bottle pocket.
6- MYOG Tutorials: TRVL32 Travel Backpack
This paid pattern makes a 32 L backpack approximately 13.7” wide × 18.9” high x 9.4” deep (~35 cm wide x 48 cm high x 24 cm deep). Features include a clamshell opening, stashable or removable shoulder straps, customizable shoulder strap position with optional load lifters, stashable or removable hip belt, top and side handles, a dedicated laptop compartment with a false bottom, internal and external pockets, and an optional water bottle pocket.
7- MYOG Tutorials: TRVL40 Travel Backpack
This free draft pattern makes a 40 L backpack. Features include a clamshell opening, stashable or removable shoulder straps, customizable shoulder strap position with optional load lifters, stashable or removable hip belt, top and side handles, a dedicated laptop compartment with a false bottom, internal and external pockets, and an optional water bottle pocket.
8- Learn MYOG: Porter Duffle Bag
This paid pattern makes a 35 L (~13” wide × 22” high x 8.5” deep or ~33 cm wide x 56 cm high x 21.5 cm deep) and a 45 L (~13” wide × 25” high x 9.5” deep or ~33 cm wide x 63.5 cm high x 24 cm deep) duffle bag. Features include a U-shaped opening, removable shoulder straps, top and side handles, and a mesh pocket inside the lid.
Conclusion
There are several options for free and paid personal item bags and carry-on luggage bags. The more features these bags have, the more materials will be needed and the greater the sewing difficulty. The majority of diy luggage patterns in this roundup are for advanced sewers. Some of the simpler personal item bags may be appropriate for intermediate sewers. Airline friendly bags include purses, shoulder bags, tote bags, backpacks, duffle bags, laptop bags, diaper bags, and suitcases. The diy route has the potential to create exactly the bag or bags you want. Doing so may be outside your budget and require more skills than you have.
Have you made diy luggage? Did you like this diy carry-on luggage pattern roundup? Would you like me to review any of the patterns in this diy carry-on luggage roundup? Comment below and/or Pin me for later!
Tanya
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