Making a Haversack For A Working Class Trekker From The Early 20th Century

Some Friends and Viewers have asked for me to do an MYOG video on making a haversack, seeing as how I jumped in the middle of the Great Bushcraft Haversack Controversy or 2023. I decided to make two different kinds.
This is the first and easiest project using material that was available to just about every household in the Early 20th Century that was, for all intents and purposes, free. This is how to make a haversack from a flour sack. If your Classic Camping Living History Impression is that of po folks, this one is for you.
The other Haversack will be shown in a separate video and will be a more commercial version as could be found in Dry Goods and General Stores in towns and villages of the period.
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/ @sargevining

[@kokopelau6954]

One of the first things I was taught to sew in the late 40's and early 50's on a Singer treddle powered machine. Oldest of three boys. Just a trip down memory lane.

[@sargevining]

Utilitarian and simple. Making a thing you can use will almost always lead to making more things. Thanks for watching!

[@natebetts4344]

Just came across this video today and watching you blessed me today and you made me laugh a few times. God bless you sir!

[@sargevining]

Thanks for watching, and glad you liked the sewing content. The sewing and making stuff doesn't get as many views as the other content, but I do it because I know that there are people out there looking for it, and I just love doing it. Thanks again!

[@jamesellsworth9673]

My grandmother had a treadle-powered Singer sewing machine that HER mother probably used. My mother had one or another Singer electric machine and knew quite a bit about how to use them. "Flour Sack Dress."

[@sargevining]

Original flour sack clothing is considered quite collectible today. It wasn't limited to dresses, although there seems to be more of those than other garments. Boy's undershirts and drawers would be made from white sacks for instance. Thanks for watching!

[@charleshines2967]

Bandi was the teacher and leader. We love your history and love of sharing!

[@sargevining]

You have the correct answer, but SGD beat you to it. Keep watching, though, I'll be doing this again. Thanks for watching!

[@keithhall3953]

Mae came up with the idea of a dome tent

[@sargevining]

Yes, she did. We already have a winner for the haversack, though. I am waiting on the lady to return from Japan so I can do a more in depth video of the Bandy Tent. Thanks for watching!

[@JakeHellbach]

Thank you!

[@sargevining]

You may want to take a look at the Commercial version. You don't need to go as far as I did with the waterproof material, but it may find it more suitable for your needs. Thanks for watching!

[@JakeHellbach]

@@sargevining Yes, I'm watching that series now. That's the one I'll make. Thanks for taking the time to do these!

[@FredFreiberger-pk6wc]

Great information and a good how to

[@sargevining]

Thanks for watching! Hope you make one and get some good use out of it.

[@jenniferbauman4802]

Good video. God bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts.

[@sargevining]

Thanks for watching!

[@57WillysCJ]

One thing I never undertood is why they didn't use a market wallet when they hauling a large load like that other than it wasn't used any more so they didn't know about it. The haversack was still an army item so it was more known.

[@sargevining]

One th9ng to consider is that the haversack was intended to be used with a pack, usually a horseshoe roll. A market wallet serves the same function, but not as well as it is usually too small to carry shelter and sleep system. But, I can see a scenario where both could be used. Thanks for watching!

[@behindthespotlight7983]

Greetings Sarge: at 4:21 your commentary got me thinking. Wasn’t there a cheapie “haversack” that some sojourners crafted that was basically a carefully cut away and hemmed flour sack? Meaning a man could bust out his “housewife” tool roll-up and with scissors and needle/thread he could utilize half the flour sack as the bucket of his ersatz haversack while the other half of the flour sack could be cut into two usable rags; leaving a strap, that, with a bit of hand stitching, would serve as the shoulder strap? You may recall I’ve suggested in earlier comments your tackling a few videos covering the hobo/transient laborer lifestyle brought on after the 1931 bank runs? I can almost see a man leaning into a railroad siding jungle campfire and stitching the strap-hemming it for longevity-into his flour sack/haversack. My minds eye might even be gazing all the way back to the Johnny Reb ingenuity of the late Civil War? But somewhere in the dusty history pages of my mind I see our ancestors walking along, stogie or corncob pipe for company, a proper walking stick in-hand, and a haversack with the partially discernible logo of a popular flour brand of the era, sun kissed but evident on the bucket portion of his bag. Anyhow God bless & see you down the trail.

[@sargevining]

A haversack such as the one you describe is eminently doable, I'd venture to guess they were made. The limitation would be the size of the bag and the length of your shoulder strap. A 100-pound bag would certainly have the length you'd need for the shoulder strap but might be a bit ungainly due to its size. I chose a 20-25-pound bag size for the size of the finished haversack. Now, if you used the cut away portion of your bag to fashion a shoulder strap of your size, I think it would work splendidly. Its too hot right now for my buddy and I to get together to do the hobo video, but we have an intention of doing one. I was originally going to use a stencil I have for a flour sack that I'd gotten off Ebay but couldn't find it in the sewing room, so I used that WW1 coffee sack instead. Thanks for watching!

[@Wdstroud]

Thank you. Very simple pattern and easy to sew.

[@sargevining]

Thanks for watching! In a couple weeks, we're going to be doing some poke sacks to go inside. Thanks for watching!

[@jimsullender3435]

Hey Sarge I'm a fan of your videos , I'm the crazy old man who told you about making my haversack out of blue jeans . You are always giving me new ideas and I thank you for that ! Do you have any information about hobo bindles ?

[@sargevining]

I have a friend who has done a lot of research on Hobo culture. We're planning a video as soon as the temperature down here in TX gets down below three megatons. Thanks for watching!

[@We.are.all.human.]

Roll it up and keep it in bottom of main carry bag, for whatever you need a semi disposable bag.

[@sargevining]

Great idea, hadn't thought of that. Good for foraging. Thanks for watching and thanks for the idea!

[@sgd3805]

Who is Bandi? alius Mae Atherton

[@sargevining]

You got the haversack! Send my your address via PM and I'll get it to you. Thanks for watching!

[@JamesKerr-ku5sx]

Bandy

[@sargevining]

Thanks for watching! If you're responding to the Give Away wo had on the Dome Tents, that one has already been giving away. The next video is going to be a "Six Degrees of Ome Diaber" video, though. Give that one a shot.