Anyone into Sewing?

J Hwrote:

Anyone interested in a bartacker. It can be used for sewing backpacks or slings in larger quantities.
I’m currently moving/downsizing my shop in Louisville co. There are a couple other machines for sale 

What else you got?

Nolan Nolanwrote:

What else you got?

A pfaff that is straight and zigzag stitch. Another that is a wheel/needle feed. Maybe more 

How much do you want for these? I'm interested in the Pfaff

Alex Brownwrote:

I made this pack as a super tough multipitcher. I am fond of vest style packs for their security and access to water, phone, snacks, etc but wanted to keep the body simple.

Pack fabric is ultra 400TX which held up really well to chimneying, both wide chimneys with the pack still on and hanging below when things got tight. The shoulder strap mesh pockets got fuzzy from dragging but honestly did better than expected.

400TX is arguably too stiff for a rolltop, but workable especially if you can just add a few inches to the top or flare it like a lot of rolltops do.

We use 200TX for roll tops. Looks like some nice straps on there!

Finally made a new chalk bag!

Used five different fabrics along with numerous materials for the accessory holders (elastic, zip tie, zipper, paracord, eyelet, etc.). Due to the elasticity of the floral pattern, iron-on interfacing material was needed for the eyelet to hold. Honestly, went through about five eyelets trying to get them to work on the fabric alone before bending the knee and getting interface material. As with any project, there are some quality assurance things that bug me about it, but overall pleased with how it turned out! A rarity when it comes to creative projects of mine.

Overview video that I made for it: instagram.com/reel/DS07EGzD…

Hey sewing people, any recommendations for fabric type, and where to buy similar to a patagonia houdini?

Ripstop By The Roll and Rockywoods are going to be your two best options for where to buy, Rockywoods is in Loveland so if you're near there you could go in person and feel the fabric. The Houdini looks like it's made with some pretty lightweight ripstop nylon (1.2oz it says). 

This is probably almost exactly what they use: https://ripstopbytheroll.com/products/1-1-oz-ripstop-nylon?rfsn=4608557.2d546b9&view=color-swatches&variant=43872843858090

mountainhickwrote:

Hey sewing people, any recommendations for fabric type, and where to buy similar to a patagonia houdini?

Discovery Fabrics in BC also has a great selection of technical shell fabrics, although probably more options for WPB and stretch wovens than for ripstop nylons. They have great customer service if you reach out to them with questions.

Nick Niebuhrwrote:

Ripstop By The Roll and Rockywoods are going to be your two best options for where to buy, Rockywoods is in Loveland so if you're near there you could go in person and feel the fabric. The Houdini looks like it's made with some pretty lightweight ripstop nylon (1.2oz it says). 

This is probably almost exactly what they use: https://ripstopbytheroll.com/products/1-1-oz-ripstop-nylon?rfsn=4608557.2d546b9&view=color-swatches&variant=43872843858090

Excellent, thanks!

They offer calendered or non calendered versions. I've looked up what that means but i do not know which type would be closer or more desirable for a houdini like wind shirt?

J W wrote:

They offer calendered or non calendered versions. I've looked up what that means but i do not know which type would be closer or more desirable for a houdini like wind shirt?

Yes thanks, I found that information. I do not know if that is used for the patagonia houdini fabric

mountainhickwrote:

Yes thanks, I found that information. I do not know if that is used for the patagonia houdini fabric

50/50 chances of accuracy but chat gpt says the Houdini is non-calendered.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/XlIOW-GYnkc

This video shows calendared nylon. The Houdini does not have that shine. 

Climb Onwrote:

50/50 chances of accuracy but chat gpt says the Houdini is non-calendered.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/XlIOW-GYnkc

This video shows calendared nylon. The Houdini does not have that shine. 

Thanks! 

Mike J wrote:

Hey guys! I haven't posted in this thread for a while but I just finished a new pack with a few fun details that were new to me so I felt like sharing.

The front panel has seven lashing points and a waterproof zippered pocket.

A simple cord solution for a sternum strap. Seems to work way better than I expected it to.

A mesh backplate with closed cell foam sandwiched and sewn in place creating these ridges. Basically the same construction as the shoulder straps. When you sew through the foam it really fills out the fabric and makes for a very nice and sturdy backplate.

Cyberian cord lock.

Aluminum ladder locks.

Reinforced bottom with a very heavy duty fabric and all the seams are doubled and then raw edges covered with edge tape so actually tripled, using bonded v69 polyester thread.

Size 30 ish liters. Total weight 439g/15.5oz.

Could be lighter but that would skimp on durability in this case so all in all very happy with this balance act.

Where’d you get those aluminum ladder locks? The plastic ones I have from RBTR are garbage

That pack looks amazing.  👍👍👍

Mike J wrote:

Thank you, I appreciate it!

It's really humbling to start making packs. This one is maybe my fifteenth and I'm still learning.

It took me two days of painstakingly focused work to do. On my extra job as a rope access instructor I get paid 500$ per day. Can I charge 1000$ for this pack? Plus material and shipping costs? Hell no! It just puts things into perspective and makes me appreciate the little cottage manufacturers out there. Even if they can cut my time in half, their margins aren't big. It's a labor of love.

Ive been preaching this for years. I've sold a few custom packs as a 'hobby business' and my profit relative to time spend has got to be around minimum wage, much lower than my day job. It's hard to get any efficiency without both investing a lot into automation tools and doing batch production.

When I look at a $400+ custom Alpine Luddites pack, I think it's a solid deal for a premium product. But when a $200 stock option exists from some big company with outsourced production, it's hard to convince people the former is worth 2x as much.

All the more reason to make your own gear! That said, I've made a lot of the furniture and cabinets in our house but the cost of materials alone makes this mostly a labor of love: You just can't compete with Ikea. Same, mostly, with soft goods...

Does anyone know why Seattle Fabrics is still not allowing walk-ins? During Covid it made sense, but 5 years later?

Is there another fabric store that stocks the variety they had anywhere on the West coast, or on the way from Seattle to Indian Creek? I used to love walking the aisles and feeling the fabric rolls. Hobby Lobby or JoAnn fabrics are a bad joke. I need industrial fabric like ultra heavy cordura and kevlar reinforced silver coated ripstop. Not to mention haul bag fabric. All the new backpacks have the coolest fabric, where are they getting it? I want to fondle it with my hands, not look at pictures.

Version 3 of my homemade kneepads. I start with the insertable pads  you can buy for double knee Carhartt pants. Previous versions had the 1 inch flat webbing wearing out while knee jamming. This new version has replaceable three quarter inch elastic webbing. I carry a roll with me for the inevitable replacement on a trip to the creek.

Mill End in Portland is large and has a wide selection.  They are not specifically outdoor fabrics, but they have quite a bit of traditional pack fabric such as ripstop and cordura.  They do not have modern high tech stuff like XPac and Challenge products.

https://www.millendstore.com/

For the modern pack fabrics, I think people are getting it from places like Rockywoods and Ripstop by the Roll.

Kyle Tarrywrote:

Mill End in Portland is large and has a wide selection.  They are not specifically outdoor fabrics, but they have quite a bit of traditional pack fabric such as ripstop and cordura.  They do not have modern high tech stuff like XPac and Challenge products.

https://www.millendstore.com/

For the modern pack fabrics, I think people are getting it from places like Rockywoods and Ripstop by the Roll.

does Mill End have a large variety of flat webbing? Seattle Fabric had everything from lacing up to 3 inch wide seat belt style webbing in all colors, plus a wall of buckles in plastic and metal. I'd spend $200 every visit.

Mark Websterwrote:

does Mill End have a large variety of flat webbing? Seattle Fabric had everything from lacing up to 3 inch wide seat belt style webbing in all colors, plus a wall of buckles in plastic and metal. I'd spend $200 every visit.

They have a decent variety, but I do not think they have as much as you are describing at Seattle Fabrics.  They definitely have a lot of the standard sizes (such as 0.5, 0.75, 1.0) and some herringbone and seatbelt webbing, not sure on sizes though.  They have a decent selection of hardware, but I often find that they don't have specific types of buckles and I end up ordering online.

They also have YKK zippers in bulk in standard sizes, just for info.