Anyone into Sewing?

Pete Nelsonwrote:

I needed to make a super quick "sock" for a rifle and used waxed canvas. It's cheap and turned out pretty well. Not water proof but definitely water resistant and has a kinda cool retro look (cause that's really all that matters ;-) )...

Canvas isn't an option with modern fibers. I'll be packing it around for 6 weeks.

R yergonnadie wrote:

And these:

What did you use for the stretchy mesh pockets on the backpack? I'm looking at two right now: 

1. https://ripstopbytheroll.com/products/venom-ul-stretch-mesh?fbclid=IwAR1aYDfFE1MHPswLmo0oDOSCCYM6FnwKJq2U7Ea-wFqoiYHBSlDLITVVWAU

2. https://www.seattlefabrics.com/60-Power-Mesh-1195-linear-yard_p_91.html

Do you think the Seattle Fabrics power mesh would work, or do I need to spring for the Venom? I'm simply wanting to retrofit some elastic water bottle holders on an alpine pack that does not currently have expandable water bottle holders.

Skibowrote:

I'd like some fabric recommendations.  I need to make an elongated zippered duffel for carrying canoe paddles, shotgun, etc. through the airlines (yeah, I know all about airline requirements for firearms).  I need it to survive airlines, but also light/supple enough to stash in the bottom of my pack for portages, it disappearing there for 6 weeks until I fly back.  It does not have to be waterproof.  What fabric would you recommend?  I'm mostly old school and think of 400 denier pack cloth and Cordura (prob 500 denier).  I know there are a lot of fancier fabrics out there, but I don't know them.  It'll be about 55"x18" with a full length zipper.  I used some heavier curtain material last time (it's what I had), and it probably isn't abrasion resistant enough, and seems heavy.  Thanks.

420 or even 210 Robic could be an option

RE: Long duffle thing
Consider if it needs to be padded and how much that will add to its weight and compressibility. I'd think ~400d outside, w/e thin and light foam padding, and ~200d inside would be good for a bag like that... but I don't think it would pack down well. Could maybe only have padding in certain areas to cut down on weight and make it more packable. Single layer of fabric with no padding would be good for weight and packability. PVC one side coated will not pack down as well as other fabrics because it is considerably more stiff.

Ex external fabrics:
https://www.rockywoods.com/500-Denier-coated-Cordura-Nylon-Fabric
https://www.rockywoods.com/1000-Denier-Coated-Cordura-Nylon-Fabric
https://www.rockywoods.com/500-Denier-Coated-HYBRID-CORDURA-MS-Nylon-Fabric
https://www.rockywoods.com/RBC600-Coated
https://www.rockywoods.com/RBC840-Ballistic-Coated
https://www.rockywoods.com/600-Denier-Lightly-Coated-Polyester-with-durable-water-repellent-finish-Black
https://www.rockywoods.com/600D-coated-Polyester-Printed-Fabric-Carbon-Fiber-Cloth-Splatter
https://www.rockywoods.com/600x300-Denier-Polyester-With-0-55mm-PVC-Embossed-Backing
https://www.rockywoods.com/400-x-300-Denier-Cross-Dyed-Nylon-Polyester-Mini-Diamond-Coated-Ripstop-Fabric
https://www.rockywoods.com/RBC450RS-Coated
https://www.rockywoods.com/420-Denier-Diamond-Ripstop-Nylon-Polyurethane-Coated-DWR-Finish

Thanks. I'll check those out. No padding.

Used some challenge 800 to make a bag. I couldn’t believe how hard the fabric was to cut! I’m trying to get higher “production value”, but getting really clean stitching on something this cumbersome is proving tricky. Also struggling to find the sweet spot between “enough” stitching and too much (such that I can just rip the fabric). 

Does Anyone have a fabric recommendation for making shorts with?

Hoping to make something like the prana mojo shorts, and was thinking this might be good:

https://www.seattlefabrics.com/56-DriFit-Wicking-Spandex-Ripstop-1695-linear-yard_p_175.html 

But curious if anyone has any experience with fabrics for a similar purpose.

That's funny Matt. I've been thinking the exact same thing because I love those shorts. Especially the super mojo shorts,  already got the wide elastic for the waistband but no potential fabric yet. Please fill us in when you give it a try!

I made a daypack for my wife yesterday, for outdoors excursions. 18-19 liters, 290 grams, foam pad sleeve in the back. Turned out pretty nice.

I can't seem to get enough of making these packs, it's too much fun. I really liked the vibrant red color on this one. And they work great! I've been using them for everything lately, from grocery shopping to winter climbing. 300 grams, 18 liters.

A closer look on a few details:

Floating pocket for small items.

Sleeve for a foam pad.

Custom sized, ultralight, liner bag. Extra weather protection or if you wanna leave some stuff behind while using the pack. Hang food in a tree, whatever.

Adjustable sternum strap without buckles on the straps.

I wonder about calculating volume for packs.

How do you do it?

I've been using an online calculator for pouring concrete.. 

Inserting my panel measurements, excluding seam allowances, I get this:

So my pack is 18 liters but it's definitely the biggest 18 liter pack I've ever seen. Seems almost twice the size of my Petzl Bug 18 or REI Flash 18. It even seems bigger than my BD Speed 22.

Am I doing it wrong or are the commercial manufacturers in general exaggerating their pack sizes?

Mike Jwrote:

I can't seem to get enough of making these packs, it's too much fun. I really liked the vibrant red color on this one. And they work great! I've been using them for everything lately, from grocery shopping to winter climbing. 300 grams, 18 liters.

A closer look on a few details:

Floating pocket for small items.

Sleeve for a foam pad.

Custom sized, ultralight, liner bag. Extra weather protection or if you wanna leave some stuff behind while using the pack. Hang food in a tree, whatever.

Adjustable sternum strap without buckles on the straps.

Super nice work!  I like the custom liner bag - nice touch!

Stitchback DIY trail gear (stitchbackgear.com), Anyone ever used these guys for designs?

Yep, I made their small daypack and love it - similar to what Mike J posted above. Their patterns and instructions are easy to follow, would recommend.

@MikeJ, love the sternum strap design. Are those tabs on the daisy chain side working well to keep the strap in place?

Big Redwrote:

@MikeJ, love the sternum strap design. Are those tabs on the daisy chain side working well to keep the strap in place?

Thank you! Yeah, those tabs are enough to keep it in place. Especially since the slots in the daisy chains are very tight. Also, make sure the stitching isn't all the way at the edge of the webbing, leave a quarter inch so it can't easily fold on itself, if you know what I mean?

Mike Jwrote:

I wonder about calculating volume for packs.

How do you do it?

I've been using an online calculator for pouring concrete.. 

Inserting my panel measurements, excluding seam allowances, I get this:

So my pack is 18 liters but it's definitely the biggest 18 liter pack I've ever seen. Seems almost twice the size of my Petzl Bug 18 or REI Flash 18. It even seems bigger than my BD Speed 22.

Am I doing it wrong or are the commercial manufacturers in general exaggerating their pack sizes?

Packs become more rounded when we put stuff in them, so they become something between a rectangular block and a cylinder. The same circumference will result in a bigger volume the more cylinder-like it becomes.

As far as measuring goes, maybe filling it with something like packing peanuts is the most accurate way?

where do people source their xpac fabric?

Tree Soloistwrote:

Packs become more rounded when we put stuff in them, so they become something between a rectangular block and a cylinder. The same circumference will result in a bigger volume the more cylinder-like it becomes.

As far as measuring goes, maybe filling it with something like packing peanuts is the most accurate way?

This is super interesting. I never thought of that. So if you have 300 feet of fence around your field. The surface area of your field will be greater if it's round than if it's square.

So the volume of a bag changes depending on how you pack it.

I sure ain't no Alan Einstein so that's mental to me..   

Easy phone leash.  Stores behind phone when not needed.  Slide into position to deploy and clip into loop.  Don't drop your phone off the chairlift or cliff.  Bonus - work doesn't show so you can be quick and sloppy.  Full disclosure, I saw the design in a FB ad and made my own.

Ready to go.

Was tired of ruining my favorite books, so I made a simple guidebook cover!