What is the Slabtown Backpack?
The Slabtown is a heavy-duty rolltop backpack built for adventurous makers. Level up your bag making game with this hardwearing bag ready for anything you throw at it (or in it).

What are its key features?
• Spacious main compartment with rolltop closure
• Quick-access zipper to main compartment
• Front zipper pocket for essentials
• Adjustable leather backpack straps
• Side pockets for water bottles
• Durable construction for years of wear and tear

What making paths are available?
1. Bag Maker Kit: All materials you need to make this bag + pattern
2. Leather + Hardware Kit: All the leather and hardware minus the fabric (Pattern sold separately)
3. Pattern (PDF or Paper): For sourcing your own materials
4. Online Class: Step-by-step video guidance from the pattern's designer
5. Padded Straps Add-on: Merino wool padded straps for extra comfort

Who is it for?
Makers with wanderlust, your next project has arrived. The Slabtown is perfect for stitchers ready to tackle a heavy-duty project. Whether you're hitting the trails, cycling to work, or packing for a weekend getaway, this backpack's got room for all your gear—and then some.

Although a heavy-duty sewing machine is recommended, it is not necessary. Most home sewing machines that have been well taken care of will do just fine. A walking foot attachment and/or Jean-a-ma-jig can help you power through bulky seams. You do not need an industrial sewing machine to make the Slabtown.

The Slabtown has tubular rivets, which must be set with a tubular rivet peening tool and a (non-rubber!) mallet on a hard surface, such as a slab of stone, metal anvil, or concrete floor. To set the Line 24 snaps, you’ll need a Line 24 snap setter and a dot anvil. Finally, you’ll need a 1/8” drive punch, which is used with a mallet on a cutting board.

You can add these tools to your kit individually or combined in the Slabtown Essential Tools Bundle for a discounted price!

Download the FULL TOOLS + SUPPLIES LIST

The Slabtown is an advanced level project. Advanced projects are for experienced stitchers ready to invest a significant amount of time and energy into becoming a bag maker. Complex construction and seriously professional results.

The making time for advanced projects is estimated at 8-12 hours. Having said that, each maker has their own pace and process. We recommend adding the online class for extra support and to ensure a seamless (no pun intended 😉) making experience.

Tubular rivets are much stronger than double-cap rivets. Since The Slabtown is a backpack, the straps pull away from the bag at the attachment points, which makes double-cap rivets unreliable, since they can pop-apart when pulled with opposing force. On the other hand, tubular rivets are made to withstand this force, and will stay in place (especially when reinforced with leather on the backside of the fabric). So, in a nutshell, The Slabtown is designed to stand the test of time! Please don't substitute double-cap rivets for the tubular ones when making The Slabtown. Also note: tubular rivets need to be set with a Tubular Rivet Peening Tool.