Anyone into Sewing?

Pete Nelsonwrote:

That looks super nice! I assume you pulled the core out and then stitched the sheath so it laid flat?

That's correct. *very* very easy to do

Panel loading travel backpack. Basically tried to copy the ones Mchale makes. 500d cordura

I found out that I won’t be able to take permanent ownership of my parents’ sewing machine. Do people have recommended machine for good value machines that will be useful for seeing outdoor equipment?

Thomas Worshamwrote:

I found out that I won’t be able to take permanent ownership of my parents’ sewing machine. Do people have recommended machine for good value machines that will be useful for seeing outdoor equipment?

Best route is to scour Craigslist and find an older home machine made out of metal. Any newer home machine is made primarily of plastic and isn’t that great, even if it’s marketed as “heavy duty.” An older metal machine can handle most stuff short of backpacks and multiple layers of webbing. I wouldn’t get a machine from the turn of the century because of parts availability, even though the actual mechanics are essentially the same. Something from the 80s or so is probably the best balance between quality of build and ease of finding parts. If you do decide to buy a new home machine, the Singer 44xx series are an okay option (but honestly nothing new is really that great)

Once you’re into industrial machines, the machine really depends on what you want to sew. Something like the Juki 8700, Consew 205, etc with a drop feed and servo motor will handle light material like tarps, tents, jackets, and small bags pretty well (and can do big packs if you’re intentional and patient). A Juki 1541 or Consew 206/226 has a walking foot and handles thick material like packs and multiple layers of webbing better (at the cost of being too much machine for super light material).

The Sailrite LS and LSZ are nice capable compact machines but they’re pretty close in price to a Juki 8700 and don’t come with a large table. If space is an issue, the Sailrites are a pretty good option. 

There are also various machines that are essentially  the same as the Sailrite that are marketed under different names. (More accurately, the Sailrite is a nicer version of those long-available clones--it has better parts but the design is identical.)  REX is one of them (I have one and it's been fine).  They can be a good option if you want a walking foot.  IME they can handle several layers of webbing & cordura, but alongside my Pfaff 1245 the REX feels like a toy.

I'm now on the search for another industrial machine that I can use for lightweight materials, as the 1245 is better for punching through like 5 layers of seat belt webbing than for sewing 1.0 g/sq yd sil poly.

Thomas Worshamwrote:

I found out that I won’t be able to take permanent ownership of my parents’ sewing machine. Do people have recommended machine for good value machines that will be useful for seeing outdoor equipment?

Check thrift stores too. I got a Singer 201 for $40, and it can handle quite a bit. I did have to clean and rewire it, but there are great guides online on how to restore old machines. 

Mike J wrote:

Had some more fun with old rope today.

Ordered a hot knife, zero regrets. Worth every penny.

Mike, I'm stoked to see someone else getting creative with old rope.  Nice work!  I have a stationary hot knife, but plan to buy a handheld like that.  Check out Will Sew For Bolts on FB or IG and let me know if you want any beta on my designs.  Also, middlemarkbyelf on IG does pillows and has adorable gnomes made from core and sheath.

Following suit on Mike's rope post, here are a couple of our designs.  Check out Will Sew For Bolts on FB and IG and help us turn old ropes into new bolts.  Over $3700 in direct donations to ASCA.  PM for donation details.

In search of Canadian fabric/hardware suppliers! Here's a few that I have found so far.

Hofman Outdoor Gear Supply - Xpac, silnylon, hammock fabrics, and some hardware particularly for hammocking. 

Mozet supplies - Hardware, fabric seems to be always OOS

Peak Fabrics - Mostly clothing fabrics

Discovery Fabrics - Huge selection, lots of outdoor fabrics and accessories. I'm overwhelmed.

Pacana - Large selection of fabrics

I've recently ordered from HOGS and Mozet, good experience. I have not ordered from the other shops. As I'm pretty new to making my own gear I find I'm overwhelmed with the options, and unfamiliar with fabrics and how they feel/behave. Any suggestions for familiarizing with fabric properties while shopping online? 

Erik Jwrote:

In search of Canadian fabric/hardware suppliers! Here's a few that I have found so far.

Mozet supplies - Hardware, fabric seems to be always OOS

I've recently ordered from HOGS and Mozet, good experience. I have not ordered from the other shops. As I'm pretty new to making my own gear I find I'm overwhelmed with the options, and unfamiliar with fabrics and how they feel/behave. Any suggestions for familiarizing with fabric properties while shopping online? 

I've ordered many times from Mozet.  Think prices are better directly to them versus via Etsy (duh...).  Some good info on fabrics if you read this whole thread.  Also, pay attention to fabrics used in products in stores - cruise the packs and note what they're using.  Seattle Fabrics has good customer support - they can offer advice.

I just finished some ankle guards because I'm too cheap to buy new high-top shoes

I’m trying to figure out how to mostly avoid using grosgrain binding for a pack I’m starting to build, since I’m terrible at it and my binding attachment is about as bad as me freehanding. I learned a French seam that’s finished with a topstitch to keep it low profile, don’t know if there’s a specific name for that. Are there any downsides to using this, other than it being a difficult stitch? It’s three stitches instead of one, so I figure it must help with strength along the seams. (Ignore the rogue stitch on the side, I was playing around with stitch lengths)

Laminate fabrics don't tend to fray, so you don't necessarily need grosgrain or fancy stitching. I just stitch, fold down, stitch again. If you want better you could offset one edge so you can wrap it around the other then fold down and stitch both or something. Or be lazy and leave both long, fold over and stitch. Or fold over multiple times and stitch.

... The top 2 are totally sufficient most of the time for laminated fabrics.

Nick Niebuhrwrote:

Are there any downsides to using this, other than it being a difficult stitch? It’s three stitches instead of one, so I figure it must help with strength along the seams. (Ignore the rogue stitch on the side, I was playing around with stitch lengths)

Top stitching might allow more water to enter the inside of the bag, but you can always tape it if that's a concern

Anyone sewn a crashpad? Got pics of how you ended up making it?

Since my parents moved and dismantled my old home wall I've got a 4'x8'x2" closed cell folding tumbling mat sitting idle at their house, and with the midwest's largely perfectly flat landings and short approaches I figured it'd make a great 'back home' crashpad if I sewed a carrying harness and added a second 2-4" open-cell pad to throw underneath for added cushion on higher falls, but I'm waffling on the design.

Made a chalk bucket last night. Lined it with some cool purple velvet i stole from my wifes fabric stash. 

It's easy to sew new finger loops onto crack gloves as they blow out over time. I use the narrow nylon webbing commonly used for lanyards. I've kept my current Ocun gloves going for the past 4 years, though they are getting pretty manky from sweat.

Tim Meehanwrote:

It's easy to sew new finger loops onto crack gloves as they blow out over time. I use the narrow nylon webbing commonly used for lanyards. I've kept my current Ocun gloves going for the past 4 years, though they are getting pretty manky from sweat.

Glad I am not the only one blowing out the fingers, thought I think at least one was from a fit of rage after it got caught in a carabiner one too many times

Max Rwrote:

Love how this looks. I'm interested how it will look all chalked up after some use.

Wherever you're traveling, check to see if the area has a mill end fabric store. You can get insanely cool fabrics for a fraction of the cost of a typical fabric store.