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Canvas log carrier on hearth
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Tutorial: How To Make A Canvas Log Carrier

A tutorial for an easy-to-make canvas log carrier to keep for yourself or give as a great DIY gift. Using a log carrier makes it so much easier to bring wood into the house and making your own is quick and inexpensive.
Yield: 2 carriers
Calories:
Author: Jami Boys
Cost: $20

Equipment

  • Sewing machine
  • Clothing iron
  • Measuring Tape

Materials

  • 1 yard 58-60″ wide khaki colored cotton canvas (this color hides dirt more than the natural canvas – there are lots of colors, though, at that link). You could also go with waterproof canvas that’s made of polyester and is mold-proof as well, or even a camo colored waterproof canvas for fun. Fabric Note: this yardage amount makes two carriers – it’s cheapest and easiest to make two, as you just cut the yard in half to get the pattern size. If you can only think of one person who’d like this, you will need 3/4 yard of canvas, but you will have some leftover and it will be more expensive. UNLESS you don’t mind a seam in the bottom, then buy 1/2 yard, cut in half and sew together to create the 36″x 26″ piece needed.
  • 3 yards 1-inch strap style webbing (for each carrier, so 6 yards to make 2 carriers), the type used for tote bags and such. I used poly (vs. cotton) to hold up to the rough handling it will get when full of wood. The link for the webbing lists many different colors – choose one to go with your fabric and not show too much dirt. I now recommend 1.5-inch or 2-inch strap material.
  • 2 craft dowels (3/8″ x 36″) for each carrier. You can also use 1/4″ thickness, but the thicker the better with this project.
  • Matching polyester outdoor thread.

Instructions

  • Cut the yard of canvas in half. You will have a 36″ x 26″ piece for each carrier (approximately, depending on the initial width of fabric). Or cut to the finished size if making one with 3/4 yard fabric, or cut in half and sew together if using 1/2 yard.
    Cut canvas for log carrier
  • Make side hems. Fold over the long 36″ sides 1/4-inch, press with a hot iron, and then turn another 1/4-inch to enclose the raw edge. Press again with iron to hold seams for sewing.
    ironing seam for log carrier
  • Sew close to inside edge of side hem, remembering to bar tack (go back and forth in the first few stitches) at the beginning and the end to lock in the stitching. Repeat sewing for other side hem.
    sewing side seams of canvas log carrier
  • Make the casing (pockets) for dowels. Once both side hems are complete, turn over a 1/4-inch on each shorter, unfinished end and press with iron to hold. Measure the width needed for the casing by holding the dowel in place and folding the fabric over the dowel.
    measuring casing for dowel on log carrier
  • Measure the amount needed for dowel casing. You want enough room to easily slide the dowel in (and out for cleaning, if needed), but not so much that it will fall out on its own. I found that a 3/4″ hem was sufficient for the 3/8″ sized dowels I used.
  • Remove the dowel and pin the fold at the measurement you have before sewing in place close to the inner edge, creating the pocket for the dowel.
    sewing casing for log carrier
  • Make the Straps. Measure the placement of the webbing for the strap of the carrier. Start in the middle of the canvas, as shown, so that the webbing seam will be on the bottom of the carrier.
    adding strap to canvas carrier
  • This is somewhat arbitrary, but I found that placing the webbing at 6″ in from the sides created the best balance. I then distributed the 3 yards of webbing around the canvas, (pinning as I went) making sure that each handle was the same length and ended by folding 1/4″ of the end over the beginning of the webbing to join the ends.
    measure handle for canvas log carrier
  • Test that both handles are the same by holding them together to be sure they will carry correctly. I did have to adjust sometimes to make them even.
    even handles for log carrier
  • Sew the webbing. Start at the top of one side of the webbing and then sew across the webbing just underneath, or right on top of the top edge seam (to leave pocket free for the dowel). Sew back and forth a couple of times to reinforce these top edges, as they will get a lot of pressure when carrying wood.
    sewing webbing handles for log carrier
  • Turn the carrier and sew close to the edge of the webbing all the way to the other side, turn again and go across just like the other end (again reinforcing a couple of times), and then turn and continue up the other side, again close to the edge. Repeat for the other side of the webbing.
  • When you come to where the webbing joins, sew over the joint like normal, but come back when you’re finished and sew across the joining seam to secure.
  • To help the handles lay better where the webbing meets the tops of the holder, sew a little bit of the webbing together for the handle as shown in the photo above. Start about an inch up from where you sewed the handle to the carrier, and fold the webbing in half towards the inside
  • Pin at the 1-inch mark and the 3-inch mark and sew between these pins, tacking back and forth at the beginning and the end to hold the thread.
  • TIP: On the first carrier I made, I folded the entire handle over but found it made the handle too narrow, making it uncomfortable to carry when loaded with wood. The wider webbing is much easier to hold.
  • Cut the dowels. The last step is to cut the dowels to the length needed to fit inside your dowel pocket without showing on either end. I used a miter saw, but a hand saw and miter box would work as well.
    cutting dowel for log carrier
  • Insert the dowels and you’re done.
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