Things You'll Need
Faux leather
Scissors
Thin fleece
Sewing machine
Elastic
1/2-inch double-bias tape
Pins
Tailor's chalk
Elastic head band
Large buttons
Needle and thread
Hook-and-loop tape
Drummers often have several sets of sticks available, not only to deal with breakages but also for different styles and sounds. Carrying sticks requires a bag that separates the sticks into compartments, and most drummers like to hang their stick bag on the drum set so that the sticks are easy to reach while playing. This requires the bag to allow for flexible placement during sessions. Making a bag is straightforward and can be finished in a few hours.
Step 1
Cut a piece of faux leather 24 by 38 inches for the exterior of the bag. Place the fabric with the 24-inch side horizontally. Round the corners using scissors. This will be the top of the bag.
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Step 2
Cut thin fleece 24 by 31 inches for the lining of the bag. Place the leather fabric face-down and the fleece face-up. Position the fleece over the leather, aligning the bottom edges. Sew a seam 1/8 inch from the edge, attaching the fleece to the faux leather. Sew the seam across the top edge of the fleece last. Sew a second seam across the top edge, 7/8 inch from the first top-edge seam and parallel to it.
Step 3
Cut a piece of 1/2-inch black elastic. Measure 2 1/2 inches from your second top edge of the fleece seam. Place the elastic parallel to the seam and pin at each side.
Step 4
Cut 24 inches of 1/2-inch double-fold bias tape. Position the bias tape over the bottom edge with 1/2 inch of tape on each side of the fabrics. Sew the bias tape in place. Fold the bottom edge of the bag to the front 12 inches from the bottom edge. Pin along the sides. Sew a seam 1/4 inch from the side edge over the end of the elastic, over the section of fleece and along the 12-inch side. Repeat for the second side.
Step 5
Sew a seam 1/2 inch from the side edge, along the 12-inch side. Repeat for the second side. Measure 1 1/2 inches from the left seam and mark using tailor's chalk, then measure another 1 1/2 inches and mark again. This is a pocket for a set of drumsticks. Measure 1 inch, to allow a gap before the next pocket. Measure 1 1/2 inches and mark, then measure another 1 1/2 inches and mark again. This is the pocket for the second set of drumsticks. Continue across the width of the bag. You should end with 6 sets of pockets and five gaps of 1 inch each. Draw a line at each mark from the bound edge to the bottom of the bag.
Step 6
Sew a double-stitch seam on each marked line from the bottom of the bag to the 12-inch bound edge. A double-stitch seam is a seam sewn twice for strength. Sew across the elastic in the gap between every two sets of pockets.
Step 7
Squeeze an elastic headband to form a small loop. Pin this loop 5 inches from the side along the top of the bag. Repeat with a second band from the other side edge. Sew across the small loops 1/4 inch from the top edge. Sew back and forth several times.
Step 8
Cut and pin 1/2 inch double-fold bias tape starting at the outside of one elastic band and ending at the bottom corner of the bag. Repeat for the second side. Add a section of tape between the elastic bands. Sew your bias tape to the bag. Fold your top over the bottom of the bag, 1/2 inch below the top edge of the fleece. Hand sew two large buttons aligned with your elastic head bands using a needle and thread. Only sew through the top layer of fabric when attaching the buttons.
Step 9
Turn your bag face-side down. Cut a section of hook-and-loop tape 10 inches long. Position the tape below the elastic (you should be able to see stitching showing the location of the elastic on the other side). Place the hook end of the tape hook-side up, with the end centered in the width of the bag. Butt the loop-end of the tape against the hook end. Pin the tapes to the bag 3 inches away from the center. Sew 6 inches of the hook-and-loop tapes to the outside of the bag, 3 inches on each side.
Tip
Insert your sticks into the bag. Bring the flap down and hook the headbands over the buttons. This keeps the sticks in place and covers the ends. Fold one side over the other and bring your hook-and-loop tapes together to hold the bag shut. When the bag is open you can twist your hook-and-loop tapes to the back to hold the bag onto the drum set during playing.
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