The Towpath Pack is a small, utility-forward bag designed for daily carry, travel, and long days spent moving through the city. It is available in three distinct carry styles: a traditional waist pack, a lighter low-profile waist pack, and a dedicated crossbody configuration. This pattern includes all three options.

Three configurations of the Towpath pack, standard waist pack, lightweight waist pack, crossbody bag. Front three quarter view of a teal Towpath Pack in ECOPAK 200 Front three quarter view of a black Towpath Pack in 500D Cordura Wing detail of a teal Towpath Pack in teal Interior detail of a Towpath Pack in the color port, showing inside pocket and key loop Interior detail of a Towpath Pack in teal, showing inside pocket and key loop

Description

Heather using her Towpath Pack in size small on a hike Kevin's Towpath resting on a table

The Towpath Pack sewing pattern emphasizes clean construction and flexibility through material choice rather than excess features allowing makers to tailor their pack to their preferred carry style and level of internal organization. The pattern emphasizes clean construction and flexibility through material choice rather than excess features.

This pattern is offered in small and large sizes and is well suited for everyday essentials, travel use, and situations where you want a compact bag that stays out of the way.

Carry Options

The Towpath Pack includes three distinct strap styles, each designed around a specific way of carrying the bag:

  • Wide, beefy wings webbing for a stable, traditional waist pack/fanny pack/bum bag feel.
  • Narrower, sleek wings for a lighter, lower-profile waist carry.
  • Contoured, tapered wings specifically designed for crossbody or shoulder carry and helps the pack sit flatter against the body when worn across the chest or back.

Your preferred carry style is chosen during construction and all three options are included in one pattern. This approach keeps the design simple and extensible while allowing you to select the carry style that best suits your individual needs.

The Towpath Pack sewing pattern works well with a wide range of technical and pack fabrics, making it easy to adapt to different use cases without altering the pattern itself.

Available Now

This pattern is available in Large Format/A0 and Letter/A4. It’s suitable for both home printers and professional printing services.

With your purchase you will receive:

  • Size Large: Large Format/A0 digital pattern (PDF)
  • Size Large: Letter/A4 digital pattern (PDF)
  • Size Small: Large Format/A0 digital pattern (PDF)
  • Size Small: Letter/A4 digital pattern (PDF)
  • 31 page fully illustrated digital instruction manual (PDF)
Sample page of Towpath Pack instruction manual Sample of Towpath Pack letter/A4 pattern Sample of Towpath Pack large format/A0 pattern Isometric exploded view of the Towpath Pack Three quarter view of a pattern illustration step showing the Towpath Pack gusset
Pictures above are low resolution samples of what you will receive in this pattern bundle

License

Please respect the intellectual property rights of small, independent makers and refrain from sharing this pattern or using it for commercial purposes. By purchasing this digital product, you are purchasing a single license for your exclusive use.

Feel free to use this pattern as many times as you wish for your own personal projects. Make one for yourself, make one for your auntie, shit, make ten for your fishing buddies, but we do ask that if you plan to share the pattern itself or use it for a course that each participant purchase their own license. You can contact us and ask for a deal. I promise we’ll be down to help.

Budget-Friendly Construction

Making your own gear doesn’t have to destroy your budget. With our Towpath waist pack/crossbody bag sewing pattern, you can embark on a budget-friendly myog journey and create a durable and stylish companion for your adventures. Our pattern is designed with cost-efficiency in mind, allowing you to minimize expenses without compromising on quality.

By following our detailed instructions, you’ll be able to make informed decisions about materials and components, ensuring that every penny spent is maximized. Within the pattern instructions, we provide a complete list of materials you will require to construct your own Towpath Pack along with recommendations for fabric and some budget-friendly alternatives for hardware and webbing that won’t empty your wallet.

Perhaps more importantly, our pattern is optimized to minimize waste, helping you make the most out of your materials and reducing unnecessary expense. Following our pattern, you’ll be able to achieve professional-quality results without the hefty price tag.

Material We Used
Shell Fabric Approximately 1/3 yard 500D Cordura
Lining Fabric Approximately 12” x 12” of HyperD 300
Webbing 50” nylon webbing
Zipper 35” of #5 YKK Aquaguard coil zipper
Binding 5 yards is more than enough
Cordage About a yard of 2.75 nylon accessory cord
Components 3 zipper sliders, 3 zipper pull caps, 1 mitten hook, 1 side release buckle, 2 tri-glides

Additional Information

For detailed instructions on assembly and sewing techniques, refer to the pattern instructions document provided with your download. Additional information about this pattern can also be found in this post.

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