OT sorta... quilted(?) bag for instrument

Whew! Major cool project! I'd go with making the bottom the strongest- without a seam. My thought would be to make it like a super wide handbag- make the large rectangle approx. 35 (to accommodate squaring the corners) long X 33 around plus a flap if you are using a flap closure- maybe 3-4 in. extra for the flap with the opening on the long side??? Quilt or whatever you are going to do then add the strap(s). For my handbags, I quilt the outside fabric to Warm & White without a backing fabric and then make the separate lining- sew the two together leaving an opening and turn right side out and then sew the straps for the handles.

I'd make the straps/handles go all the way around- and pad them with batting- rather than sew them at the top edge- that way the stress of the bassoon's weight is distributed over a larger area- and skip the metal loops. Check out how the handles are on this diaper bag to illustrate what I'm trying to describe-

Then sew the small ends together and use that sewing across the diagonal of the corners like you would for a flat bottom handbag. It's illustrated in this handbag pattern at the very bottom on the left-

I'd go with the iron-on fusible velcro to close the top or the flap- whichever way you go with the closure. You could add outside pockets for keys, a little wallet, etc.

After all that, I'd first make it with a piece of cheap muslin and make sure all the dimensions work out and the hard case slides in and out easily

*before* you make the actual case. And the real thing will be bulkier, so make sure you add a couple of inches to the muslin's dimensions.

Or you could shift everything around and make it like a long tube to slide the bassoon case into a small end with a flap closure.

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

Kellie, I wish I'd thought of that when we had a trumpet player in the family. In addition to the instrument, I suspected that they also carried spare parts, music and a few bricks. I could never believe how heavy that got to be. The handle on her case was the first to go - so I'd say 'Yes' indeed. Stitch those straps and handles seriously from the bottom and all the way around. Any way you could pad them a little to make them comfortable but not klutzy? Try hard to make the deal as easy on/off as you possibly can. They're usually only allowed a tiny bit of time to pack/unpack and if it's time consuming, it will be too much trouble to be helpful. The prices on the case covers is astounding. There ought to be a law. Polly

whatever you do, make sure it has a good handle, well attached, trusty, but also comfortable, I once volunteered to carry a friend's bassoon and I regreted it, the handle was terribly uncomfortable.

Cheers Anne

and that would be WHY I figured we needed one of these lol

6:30 every morning going 2 blocks to the busstop with her... with her carrying 20lbs of backpack and my carrying 18lbs of bassoon.

Some mornings my back says "no"... and dad or brother go, but she gets to carry it home all by her lonesome most days. She is really loving this though so I figure we have 2 to 6 more years of bassoon carrying, minimum!

If we end up buying a bassoon (ie she plays beyond high school) I will invest in the backpack one, but for now I think I can make do with something outta my stash.

Kellie

Wow, thanks for posting this link, I am looking for a bassoon backpack for my son.

The cheapest one I found was $250. $135 seems like a bargain. I would just spend the $135 instead of trying to make one!

Karen

Kellie J Berger wrote:

If you insist on making a carry-case/cover for a bassoon, you should absolutely make the straps/handles go all the way around to spread the stress and provide extra strength.

My bassoon has a naugahyde case cover that zips, has an outside pocket for a music folder, and a hole that the actual case handle comes through. I like it very much! It protects the actual leather case very well, is easy to handle, and has the pocket for music. (Music should NEVER be put into a case with an instrument! Keys are particularly at risk, and no matter how much "extra room" you think you have, you do not!)

As to making a case, my advice is not to do it! I have reviewed the various case covers for sale, and can tell you that even the most expensive one is far cheaper than the cost of a repair to a bassoon that has been dropped even a short distance, and even after repair the bassoon is never quite the same! If it is really important that a bassoon be made more-easily transported without purchasing a special- made case cover/carrier, my suggestion is to get a little cart with wheels, wrap the bassoon in its case in a towel or blanket, put it gently into the cart, and wheel it along. There are several kinds of little "wheely carts" on the market.

By the way, almost all instrument cases' latches can get loose and/or unreliable, so I always have my students put a web belt snugly around the case and under the handle for extra security.