Anyone into Sewing?

Hello all,

I am looking into some dynema projects but I cant make a pattern to save my life, Anyone know of places to buy/get patterns for bags and other items. Right know Stichback is the only company that I have seen making outdoor specific patterns.

Thanks

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A bag for Lstefurak, a hardware replacement tycoon, frequent mountain project contributor and friend.

I’m going to be spending more time living on the road, so excited to take the sewing machine with and try to make some bags while traveling! 

Here's my lightweight slightly modified Ray-Way pack I made last year. 

Side note, does anybody sew pants and shirts for climbing and hiking? Recommendations on materials? I usually hike in lightweight button-up thrift store/fishing/hiking style shirts but haven't found one that fits me particularly well for climbing that doesn't restrict my shoulders. 

Not climbing related, but an outdoor sport item. I’ve made a couple bike bags in the last year, but this is the first one I’m mostly very proud of. VX21 face fabric, cordura 500d inner liner, 1050 ballistic edges, and waterproof zipper. Im mostly able to get good straight stitches, but the grosgrain edge binding is slippery and still very challenging for me still and looks like they were done by a drunken child. Any tips on getting those finishing touches a little more pro?

Nick Niebuhrwrote:

Not climbing related, but an outdoor sport item. I’ve made a couple bike bags in the last year, but this is the first one I’m mostly very proud of. VX21 face fabric, cordura 500d inner liner, 1050 ballistic edges, and waterproof zipper. Im mostly able to get good straight stitches, but the grosgrain edge binding is slippery and still very challenging for me still and looks like they were done by a drunken child. Any tips on getting those finishing touches a little more pro?

A single or double fold binding attachment will give the most consistent results. Match the size to the width of grosgrain. Sometimes home machines don’t have threaded holes in the bed for attachments though, so unless you have an industrial machine that might not work. A cheaper alternative is to use binder clips to hold the tape in place while you sew. Pins aren’t great for binding tape as there’s typically too much material to push a pin through and the tape and material will start distorting.

Ryan Dwrote: 

Side note, does anybody sew pants and shirts for climbing and hiking? Recommendations on materials? I usually hike in lightweight button-up thrift store/fishing/hiking style shirts but haven't found one that fits me particularly well for climbing that doesn't restrict my shoulders. 

I started making button up shirts with the hand dyed cotton stuff from Joanns. Drys fast when wet. I like to kayak in them. 

I have launched the Will Sew For Bolts campaign.  I trade sewn items for donations to ASCA.  I am turning old rope into new bolts.  Customers donate directly to ASCA, send me the receipt and I sew their order.  Check out the Will Sew For Bolts facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094399617005  or PM me for more info.

Pushing guitar and bass straps right now - need to turn inventory into new bolts.

Two new bags for some friends! Getting a bit more honed with each iteration, but still ripping a lot of threads… 

Max Rwrote:

Started playing with leatherwork recently. Definitely takes a bit more finesse than sewing xpac or cordura.

Holy shit. bro turned a covid pass time into an S-tier skill. gorgeous.

I made a splash proof cover for my drill, for bolting in the rain/dirt. Not really waterproof because there's a hole for the tether cord and drill bit, but should provide a good amount of protection in wet conditions. You can access the battery to change it without taking the cover all the way off.

Mike J wrote:

Got a hold of this hot rod yesterday for 175 bucks. It'll sew through anything. Now it's just up to me to tame the beast. Wish me luck!  

Mitsubishi! That's cool, toyota used to make sewing machines, too. 

Has anybody ever tried to make their own climbing shoes? Very little info or posts about people trying around on the web. I've been thinking about trying. Seems like something that may take quite a while to get right and be way not worth it. Cool idea though, I would love to make a custom fitting shoe for my wide and different sized feet. 

Ryan Dwrote:

Has anybody ever tried to make their own climbing shoes? Very little info or posts about people trying around on the web. I've been thinking about trying. Seems like something that may take quite a while to get right and be way not worth it. Cool idea though, I would love to make a custom fitting shoe for my wide and different sized feet. 

There’s a gentleman who I bought a sewing machine off of that’s pretty active on here who will probably chime in. I’ll try and dig up the emails if you want. Saw a few at his house and they were legit. I only make backpacks and can’t imagine shoes hahah

Ryan Dwrote:

Has anybody ever tried to make their own climbing shoes? Very little info or posts about people trying around on the web. I've been thinking about trying. Seems like something that may take quite a while to get right and be way not worth it. Cool idea though, I would love to make a custom fitting shoe for my wide and different sized feet. 

I wonder what the process of making a last (is that the right word?) is like? If I had to guess it's not easy, otherwise La Sportiva probably would still be making the Ganda. I think there are also adhesives that bond the rubber/leather that are proprietary and/or very hard for a consumer to get. Not trying to burst your bubble but it seems like a pretty labour intensive thing

Ryan Dwrote:

Has anybody ever tried to make their own climbing shoes? Very little info or posts about people trying around on the web. I've been thinking about trying. Seems like something that may take quite a while to get right and be way not worth it. Cool idea though, I would love to make a custom fitting shoe for my wide and different sized feet. 

Raymond did it commercially for about 8 years and made me three great pairs of rock shoes. His Instagram is still up where he has photos of the process. It started with me making a plastic cast of my feet using some chemicals (Alginate) from a hobby - sculpting shop. I sent him my plastic feet.  He made a barebones leather "sock" without any rubber or lacing holes and sent it to me for a test fit. I sent it back to him with notes on where it fit or didn't fit, and he sent me finished rock shoes.

Sadly, he wasn't able to stay in business, I think the whole Covid thing played a part. He is a friendly guy and would probably share some of his process if you contacted him through instagram.

But, I needed new shoes so I went back to my tried and true method of getting commercial shoes to fit my Frankenstein size 7EEEEEE feet. I buy the longest shoes I can find, like a 15. I cut the back off and reassemble using the original heel until they are my size. It takes me about a day, and I've done it in the Squamish Chief parking lot with simple hand tools.

It's very scary to cut a $200 pair of shoes.

I've written about the process extensively here and it's also on mountain project somewhere. If that link doesn't work, search google for: "custom wide rock climbing shoes". I'm the first result.

I was a Parachute Rigger in the 82nd Airborne as a young dude. One of the skills you spent a week and a half learning was sewing and repairing parachutes. Learning to sew from a bunch of angry black Sargeants(that were magnificent sewers)screaming at you was quite unnerving but I nailed it and excelled learning that skill.

I left the Army and moved straight to Boulder looking to set the climbing World on fire, just one drawback, I had ZERO skills at 20yrs old to make a living in that town, hell any town. One day I was looking in the back of the newspaper(because that's where the jobs were located) and JRat was looking for a new seamstress. I had zero confidence but got an interview and was hired immediately! Holy crap, I'm living in a basement with an also way young Jimmy Surrete and just landed a job at JRat was literally one of the happiest days of my life, I worked there for years. 

Later on I switched over to Mountain Mend and my skills skyrocketed as I was doing tent, sleeping bag, backpack etc etc repair! Still later I ended up at Boulder Mountain Repair doing much the same. Never ever ever would have thought that's how I'd fund my Boulder dreams for almost 2 decades. Then I spent 6.5 years to become a Master Electrician, but I've never not had at least 2 industrial sewing machines in my garage. They aren't just fun or handy to have around, when they're needed they're super neccessary. Cool topic this one!

Whipped up this belay seat in about an hour. Climbing The Shield in a couple weeks and don’t really want to get blood clots!
VX21 and spacer mesh.

Nice one Max! Love the design with the mountains.

I work on baskets when I travel.  I started two while on the good ship Discovery in Prince William Sound last week.  I just finished this one.  

Will Sew For Bolts has traded several baskets for donations to ASCA - I am always thrilled when someone wants a basket!  Check out our new banjo strap, guitar straps, gear slings, baskets, hat bands, and belts, belts, belts on FB and IG.  WSFB has generated $2800 in donations directly to ASCA.  Help us turn old rope into new bolts.

https://www.instagram.com/willsewforbolts/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094399617005