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Bag Bellows Building a bag bellows is even easier than a pleated bellows since you don't have any folding to do. There are two ways to do this job. The first is to sew all of your seams. Of course, this is the best method but if you can't sew or don't have access to a sewing machine this isn't an option. The second method is to glue all the seams. If you use this method then be sure that your seams are well glued! First, get the material you are going to use for the bellows. I used the same material for my bag bellows as I used for my pleated bellows. Cut the pieces you will need for the bellows and lay them out.
The measurements I've given above are the size I needed for my bag bellows. Your can change the measurements as needed to fit the design of your camera. Once you have the pieces cut out start on the bottom center of the front panel, leaving a half inch of the side panel past the center-line for the center seam, (use the liner to start with, better to screw up and learn on the piece that won't be showing!) and start to glue or sew the edges together. The seam should be about a half an inch. Ensure you are gluing or sewing inside out so that when you turn it right side out the seams will be hidden. Once that piece is on attach the back panel the same way aligning the front and back panels so they will be square. All you should have left is the center seam. Glue or sew this seam together then go back and sew or glue down the point that the center seam intersects with the side seams. If you are proficient at sewing and have made bags in the past with this type of construction then you could probably do the center seam first and then do the side seams. If you have had this kind of practice in the past then you may find this a bit more difficult. When you are done you should have a bag that looks like the illustration below.
Now, complete the outside of bellows the same way as you did the liner. When both are complete, turn them inside out so the finished edge faces out and install the liner inside of the finished (outside) bag. If you wish you can tack the liner in place with a little glue. Now all that's left is to install the frame and then install the bellows. I would suggest making a frame that fits on the inside and outside of each opening so the material is sandwiched. If you already have a frame the easiest way is to glue the frame you currently have to the bag bellows. As always, if you have any questions or comments please let me know at d.b.rhoades@worldnet.att.net. |
