How to Make a Tripod Bag

Haul your tripod in a homemade drawstring carrying case.

A tripod is a collapsible stand used to hold a camera or a video camera. Tripods vary in size from 8 inches to 5 feet tall. The tallest tripod collapses to approximately 2 feet. Tripod carrying cases are not common items sold in many locations -- they are usually found at photography stores. You can make your own tripod carrying case using canvas material to create a simple drawstring bag made in a cylindrical form.

Things You'll Need

• Canvas material
• Compass
• Yardstick
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Seam ripper
• Cording
• Large safety pin

Instructions

1. Measure, mark and cut out a 7-inch circle from a piece of canvas fabric. Measure, mark and cut out a 24-by-30-inch piece of canvas.

2. Fold the 24-by-30-inch rectangle in half to form a 12-by-30-inch rectangle. Match the cut edges. Pin the 30-inch length of cut edge together.

3. Sew a 1/2-inch straight stitch seam along the 30-inch cut edge. Finger press the seam open. This means open the seam and press the two sides of the fabric open so they sit flat on the fabric directly underneath.

4. Set the sewing machine to its largest stitch, a basting stitch. Place one round end of the cylindrical tube under the pressure foot. Position the edge of the fabric so it is 1/8 inch away from the edge. Sew a basting stitch around the bottom edge. Repeat the process 1/4 inch away from the edge. Make sure to start and stop the sewing at the same place. Leave a 4-inch end of thread at the beginning and end of each stitch.

5. Hold on to the two 4-inch ends of thread from the beginning of the two rows of basting stitches. Pull the thread to gather the fabric into a 22-inch opening. Gather the fabric using the two 4-inch ends of thread at the end of the basting stitches. Check the gathering process periodically by matching the end of the cylindrical tube with the 7-inch circle.

6. Pin the gathered portion of the cylindrical tube to the outside edge of the 7-inch circle. Set the sewing machine to your normal seam stitch. Sew the cylindrical tube to the 7-inch circle. Cut all excess thread.

7. Turn the top edge of the fabric down half an inch and pin. Press the fold. Remove the pins. Fold the pressed edge down and over the fabric 1 1/2 inches. Pin into place.

8. Top stitch along the top folded edge. Place the sewing 1/16 inch away from the edge or place the inside edge of the pressure foot on the fold. Sew around the top edge.

9. Sew a second straight seam along the bottom edge of the 1 1/2-inch fold. Place the outside edge of the pressure foot even with the outside edge of the bottom fold. Sew around the bag. Cut all excess thread.

10. Turn the bag so the seams are on the inside. Open the side seam between the top stitching and the stitching at the bottom of the 1 1/2-inch fold. Insert a seam ripper in the sewn side seam. Cut through the thread on the front seam only. Begin cutting the seam 1/4 inch from the top stitching and stop opening the seam 1/4 inch from the bottom stitch line.

11. Measure and cut a piece of cording 34 inches long. Tie a knot half an inch from both ends of the cording.

12. Secure the cording to a large safety pin just below one knot. Insert the safety pin into the cut opening along the top edge of the tripod bag. Thread the cording through the casing. Push the safety pin into the area and hold with one hand. Gather the fabric over the cording and pull through the casing. Repeat the process until the safety pin reappears through the opposite side of the seam opening.

13. Pull the safety pin until 6 inches of cording shows. Tie the two ends of the cording together. Slide the fabric over the cording to open and insert the tripod. Close the drawstring tripod bag by pulling the cording and sliding the fabric closed.

References

• Chica and Jo: How to Make a Drawstring Bag
• Skip to My Lou: A Drawstring Bag Tutorial
• YouTube: Simple Draw String Bag