Tool Roll

I bought a tool roll from SILCA.ca (it was their biggest at the time) and it was too small for all the stuff I carry. So I used it for a pattern and made my own using a yard of black Cordua(tm) nylon some heavy duty carpet thread, some velcro(tm) tape (without the sticky bits on the back.) and some nylon binding ribbon. The idea was not to have one that fit under the saddle as I'd hate to lose my tools and I nearly always have at least a trunk bag with me, but to have a way to lay out my tools alongside the road and find the one I need, do the repair, and get back on the road.

The nice thing about a tool roll gives you a clean place to lay stuff down as opposed to the dirt, and black won't show the inevitable grease marks. The pockets were eyeballed for size to fit my tools. If I make another I think I'd move the velcro straps closer to the edge of the roll and force you you to roll it one way, vs what I have now are these really long straps that roll either way.

The dimensions of finished project are 21" x 12". Like the Silca one, I folded the material in thirds to make the flap and pocket, Take one of the long edges and roll it into a 1/4" seam and sew it flat. (this will be the top edge of the inside pocket.) Invert the material so that the nice side is in and sew the top 2/3'rds all around the edge.  Turn the material rightside out and sew the pocket closed. Sew the velcro strap (tack down about 2" of it.) to the middle. Sew a velcro tab to one edge. Invert the bottom material into a pocket  Fold the bottom 1/3 up and trim the corners and sew the edge. You should now have one big pocket on the bottom. If you are good, make that big pocket with a pleat in the bottom bit. The SILCA one has a pleat along the bottom edge but I got sloppy and didn't sew one. I probably should have as it makes the pockets better and the roll lay flatter. Now lay out your tools and eyeball the size pockets you want, be sure to put the narrow tools at the fold points about a 1/3 of the way in from each side. This way it will have a chance at laying flat when you are done and the tools are all in it.  But it's really up to you, a tool flap, tool ball, whatever it still holds your tools.

Anyway it was a fun Saturday project. I used a basic sewing machine, nothing fancy.