Anyone into Sewing?

Upcycled a ~4'x6' yoga mat found on the side of the road into a thin pad similar to the organic blubber pad. the yoga mat is cut in half and doubled for 3/4" thickness and 4'x3' unfolded size (2'x3' folded to carrying). I had previously made a  "slider pad" in a similar upcycled fashion with hardware store dropcloth canvas and again an old 6'x2' yoga mat cut in 3 for a triple layer 2'x2' (~1" thick).

Fairly successful project in terms of execution but in reality i made something which is half the size of the organic blubber pad, 1/4" thinner and twice as heavy (16 lbs compared to organic's at 8 lbs)

Ziggy Chalkdust wrote:

I’m trying to take my sewing game up a notch… If anybody sees a good deal on an industrial bartacker, please DM me- I’m on the lookout for one. Thanks!

I was having a conversation with a guy about sewing my own cam slings. He is a climber and owns one of the big backpack manufacturing companies in Portland, Ore. His argument was that even if I got my own bartack machine, they have to be serviced and tested on a regularly scheduled basis to qualify for certification. He said 'life support' sewing...meaning for climbing gear...was way beyond what a casual home sewing machine person should attempt. 

Here is that original thread, his screen name is "crackers":

 https://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/topic/67048-industrial-grade-sewing-machine-for-camalot-slings/

Despite his good advice, I'm still tempted. I've put many years of climbing on my several home sewn backpacks. When my Industrial Juki Model # DU-1181N sews on a backpack strap, and I carry my 50 pound Indian Creek rack of 10 yellows and 10 blues, year after year, with zero stitching problems, I start to trust my sewing. The proof is in the pudding as they say.  

Mark Websterwrote:

I was having a conversation with a guy about sewing my own cam slings. He is a climber and owns one of the big backpack manufacturing companies in Portland, Ore. His argument was that even if I got my own bartack machine, they have to be serviced and tested on a regularly scheduled basis to qualify for certification. He said 'life support' sewing...meaning for climbing gear...was way beyond what a casual home sewing machine person should attempt. 

Here is that original thread, his screen name is "crackers":

 https://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/topic/67048-industrial-grade-sewing-machine-for-camalot-slings/

Despite his good advice, I'm still tempted. I've put many years of climbing on my several home sewn backpacks. When my Industrial Juki Model # DU-1181N sews on a backpack strap, and I carry my 50 pound Indian Creek rack of 10 yellows and 10 blues, year after year, with zero stitching problems, I start to trust my sewing. The proof is in the pudding as they say.  

That's some absolute beefcake padding on that pack!

rock climbing wrote:

That is one guy with too much time on his hands. Who sews through plywood?

Testing is good but I don’t see why it has to be re tested over and over. Especially if the thread is more durable to sun than the slings nylon.

All my cams are reslinged by Wired Bliss. They came back with a certified sticker but they were done on a barrack machine in someone’s garage. Am I going to die? 

I think the test is for the bartack machine to make sure it's with whatever spec.

divnamitewrote:

I think the test is for the bartack machine to make sure it's with whatever spec.

This, it's probably checking to make sure the calibration is right to where it's still doing the proper amount of threads per inch so you you have a decently uniform MBS.

Pattern, skipped stitches, thread tension, and tension per stitch is even probably... If one stitch is much tighter than the others it would likely fail first.

Thread lint buildup in tension assemblies can lead to weird things.

Regarding the bar tacking, here is a great story about Black Diamonds Gear Lab testing the home sewn cam slings Paul Piana and Todd Skinner used on their FFA of the Salathe. They toured the country afterward and I caught one of their slideshows in Tacoma. Really cool guys, very funny too.

https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en_EU/stories/experience-story-gear-could-talk-piana/

made a backpack for my sister, a tote for my partner and some blubber for myself.

Hey there

I’ll be moving shop soon and I have package deal for sale. Two sewing machines, one is an Adler 69, one of the best walking foot machines out there and the other is a Brother bartacker that looks brand new.

I’m in Boulder area. Shipping sewing machines is not that great of an idea. That always need some adjustments. 

Does anyone know of some good reference/ educational material? (I still have some of the previous pages to scour) but, I am just getting into sewing (mostly repairing outdoor gear) but would like to find info to make my own gear eventually.

Anything helps! Thanks!

This guy knows his sewing. It is upholstery but it should be helpful. m.youtube.com/c/Cechaflo

There are some websites where people exchange patterns 

Zach Eitenwrote:

Does anyone know of some good reference/ educational material? (I still have some of the previous pages to scour) but, I am just getting into sewing (mostly repairing outdoor gear) but would like to find info to make my own gear eventually.

Anything helps! Thanks!

MYOG on Reddit is pretty good. Basic sewing skills in general go a long way, outdoor gear repairs and creation is just normal sewing with waterproof material and straps for the most part. 

Zach Eitenwrote:

Does anyone know of some good reference/ educational material? (I still have some of the previous pages to scour) but, I am just getting into sewing (mostly repairing outdoor gear) but would like to find info to make my own gear eventually.

Anything helps! Thanks!

Zach, if you’re a visual learner and like to learn from YouTube, I would highly recommend checking out the LEARNMYOG ( youtube.com/c/LearnMYOG) page, as well as the zipworks page ( youtube.com/c/zipworks). A lot of information on various projects and techniques there. It can also be helpful to find a used, inexpensive, general sewing book to have available when you’re stuck. Good luck and have fun!

I made an avy tools pocket for my 55L HMG Porter. Going to use it for ski overnights and winter mountaineering. Also added a sleeve on the backside of the pocket for my ice tools.

Nice job, looks like 400d Robic?

Nice, Jake. Looks removable? Hopefully not too easy to remove. I like your mod vs buying the new pack. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjlaEmXv-cz/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/products/headwall-55

It uses a similar attachment to the one that comes on the porter stuff sack that HMG sells. I used robic 420 I had laying around! 

Ziggy Chalkdust wrote:

I cycle to bouldering areas with a piece of carpet in my pannier but I want a light and small pad to take the sting out of short falls. Im thinking of folding in half a metolius shortstop and attaching it to my bike.

Anybody have advice on easily turning a metolius shortstop into a mini blubber?

Basically I want to add some straps for holding it closed and a couple loops for attaching to the bicycle.

I suppose I need to open up the stitching, remove the foam and stitch everything in disassembled form and then reassemble. Unless there’s something I’m not thinking of? The shortstop fabric is very tight around the foam.

Advice would be appreciated.

Another idea is to just make a mini blubber from scratch. Any suggestions on where I can get 3/4” or 7/8” foam, similar to what is used in the real blubber/shortstop?

This is a cool idea and I'm no expert but here's my opinion. 

What I would do is try to find a backpack from a thrift store that you can cut and repurpose at low risk. You basically just want to keep the side of the bag with the straps in tact and then sew on some other fabric to remake the bag into a shape that this can fit into folded.

Further you can make the bag only sewed shut on 2 sides and then get some webbing and buckles or strap adjusters to make the third side and top closure system.

Here's a long shot, and maybe not the place for this (was originally going to post in the FS/WTB thread, but didn't want it to get buried too fast...) 

I've got a HMG Porter that I've been dreaming about a winter/avy tool/ice axe pocket for - loosely based on the stuff pocket that HMG sells, but more akin to what Jake S. did a few posts back. I've got mediocre sewing skills, but no sewing equipment and/or time. Anyone on this thread up for a commissioned project? I realize I can probably go to some of the cottage pack makers and work with them, but figured maybe someone here might be game.

PM me if you're interested and lets chat.

Question for the sewing machine experts here. I found what I believe is a 1940s Singer Featherweight at a local thrift store. My mom has one and loves it, but she’s mainly a quilter. To those who know, can the Featherweight handle decently heavy fabrics? Nothing crazy, my max is about a layer of 1000D cordura and a layer or two of 200D sailcloth. My current machine is a relatively modern Pfaff that I think I’m pretty much maxing out with some of the technical fabrics. 

EDIT: Turns out it's a model 201. Still curious if it's ok for heavier fabrics.