DIY Super Hero Chalk Bags
Before we get into this tutorial, I’m going to answer the obvious question… and then the obvious questions that follows that!
What are chalk bags?
Chalk bags are bags that rock climbers wear around their waist, that have powdered chalk in them. Rock climbers use this chalk to ‘chalk up’ their hands to improve their grip while rock climbing, as hands can get sweaty!
So now, the second question you are probably wondering is… do I rock climb?
Well… I did… and I would still love to!
Climbing used to be the one thing on my mind day in and day out! I climbed 3-4 days a week for many years and spent every weekend away climbing on a cliff somewhere and camping – regardless of the weather!… and I can tell you, I’ve camped through some weather!!!
I was pretty serious about rock climbing! I trained for it every day, both physically and mentally, it’s all I talked about and it was my social scene. Any holiday I ever had was to rock climb on a cliff that wasn’t ‘local’ (within a days drive) and my only overseas trips were for rock climbing. I was pretty good at it though. However just as I reached ranking 3rd in Australia after redpointing a grade 8a and onsighting a grade 26, my health took a dive. The symptoms I began having then were the obvious signs that something wasn’t right. I had chronic fatigue syndrome. Although now, with hindsight, I can see that it started much earlier on.
It breaks my heart that I can’t climb or doing any sport or training at the moment. It’s been almost 10 years since I hit that rank and my skills as a trainer and sports coach have dramatically improved and while that benefits my clients, I’m not able to implement those things myself. That being said, I haven’t given up! I’m always looking for the solution/s. I believe there is a solution and I believe I can not only get better, but get back to being an athlete…. someday?
So making these chalk bags has definitely stirred up some old memories and emotions for me!
And now you are probably wondering, why am I making chalk bags if I can’t climb?
Well, I have a 5 year old!
I have taken my son to the indoor climbing gym quite a few times over the last 2-3 years and he loves it!
Not being one to miss any details though, he wanted his own chalk bag (and harness and shoes of course) but he didn’t want to just use one of mine (I already had a stash!).
I have been saying for many months now that I would make him one, but the other week I was held to my word and we started talking about what his chalk bag was going to look like.
I had recently bought some super hero print fabrics from Spotlight to make him some pants and a blanket and as he really likes those prints, we spoke about using one for his one of a kind chalk bag. But then I felt that those prints would be too big for a chalk bag, meaning you wouldn’t really get the chance to see the images on the fabric properly.
As I had already been toying with the idea of making my own unicorn print t-shirt (another story lol), I came up with the idea of just painting a super hero logo on the front of his chalk bag using fabric paint, that way it would be nice and clear. He was happy with this idea and then asked what super hero logo I would put on my chalk bag, hence the second chalk bag lol!
I got all of the supplies I needed from Spotlight (except for the cheetah print polar fleece in my chalk bag, I already had that left over from a bomber jacket I made, though you can find it here) and started testing the fabric paint to see how it would turn out so I could determine the best way to apply it.
I’m just going to say, that I don’t really like painting lol! And it was only after I had tested it and decided I really didn’t like it, that I face palmed and wondered why I hadn’t just ordered an iron on applique? I’ve ordered some great ones from Etsy before and had already seen that I could get some great super hero logo appliques. So I happily ditched the idea of fabric paint and jumped online! I ordered both the super man and wonder woman applique on Etsy. There are so many great appliques to choose from, not just super heros!
Alright… so let’s talk about how to make your very own chalk bag!
You will need:
- 1 x outer fabric – 20cm x 60cm
(I used a cotton duck) - 1 x inner fabric – 20cm x 60cm
(Polar fleece works well, but for the super-man bag I used flannelette) - Tape to go around the top of the chalk bag and make the belt loops. 50cm
(I used a synthetic herringbone twill tape that was 23mm wide. You could go wider for the top of the bag, but I would stick to a 23mm tape for the belt loops.) - Cord to close the bag, 75cm
(Make sure this will fit through the eyelet and cord stopper.) - 1x cord stopper
- 2 eyelets
(Make sure these come with a tool) - Applique
(*Optional* ) - ***These instructions are for making the chalk bag only. I used a belt off another chalk bag I already have. Otherwise you will need to buy some more tape and a buckle to make the belt.)
Cutting the fabric:
You will need to cut a rectangle that is 16.5cm x 39cm and a circle that has a diameter of 14cm in both the outer and lining fabrics.
Instructions:
*** Before you start, I recommend getting familiar with punching in the eyelets on a scrap piece of fabric (I give this advice as I messed up putting in the first eyelet on the super man bag and you will see I had to tack another piece of fabric over my mistake!) I also recommend adding either an extra layer of outer fabric or some interfacing behind the outer fabric where you will be positioning the eyelets, to give some stability.
- Pre-wash your fabric and iron outer fabric once it is dry.
– - Cut out your outer and lining fabrics.
– - Add your eyelets to the center front of the bag, about 4cm down from the top edge. You can find the center front by folding the rectangle in half (bringing the two shorter sides together) and creasing the fold line. The fold line is center front.
– - Position and iron on your applique while keeping in mind the 1cm seam allowance along the bottom edge.
– - *** Optional *** I also stitched around the applique for extra security.
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– - To make the outside of the bag, bring the two shorter sides of the rectangle piece together, right sides facing in and sew with a 1cm seam allowance. Repeat for the lining.
– - To attach the base, start with the outer fabric pieces and fold your rectangle piece, which is now a cylinder, to mark each quarter. The seam is the center back and using this you can fold the piece in half to find the center front, and then bringing the center front and center back together, you can find and mark the other quarter points. Also mark the quarter points on the your outer circle piece.
– - Align the quarter marks of the circle piece with your now cylinder piece, right sides facing in and sew around the edges using a 1cm seam allowance. Repeat steps 7 and 8 with lining pieces.
– - Turning the outside of the bag right side out and keeping the lining right side in, you will now slide the lining of the bag, inside the outer bag, matching up the center back and center front.
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– - To insert the cord, push the two ends through the eyelets from between the lining and outer bag, through to the front of the bag and drop the loop of the cord in between the lining and outer bag the whole way around.
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– - Continue matching up the quarter points of the lining and outer bag around the top and baste into place. Stitch basting close to the upper edge so as when the tape is sewn on, you can not see the basting stitch.
– - Slide cord stopper over the two ends of cord.
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– - Making sure you have enough cord to open the bag fully, tie the two ends of cord together in an overhand knot to prevent stopper from sliding off.
– - Stitch tape around upper edge of bag by folding it in half and starting to one side of the center back seam, so you can overlap the starting edge as you finish at the center back. ***Tip*** If you are using a synthetic tape like I did, melt the ends first to prevent fraying.
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– - Using 2 x 10cm of tape, make your belt loops. Position them as shown in photos and stitch in place over the stitching line used to attach the tape to the upper edge of the bag, in the last step.
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* Pic 1 – Where to position the belt loops on the outside of the bag
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* Pic 2 Where to position the belt loops on the inside of the bag
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– - Grab a belt, tip in some chalk and go climbing!
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