My first ever sewing project. I tried it on my daughters machine first but it couldn't handle the light weight fabric. I had to bust out the inherited Bernina 1230, I was afraid I was going to brake it because I've never sewn before.

9" by 5"x4" roll top stuff sack. Got the pattern from learnmyog.com

Hello!

I am working on a winter/fall/spring sleep system on a shoestring budget.

By way of background:

So far, I have started backpacking in the NorthEast/MidAtlantic states. I've camped from 0F (poorly executed) and up, am aiming for a system that can be adapted from 15 - 40F.

I currently have pieced together a sleeping pad setup that is probably about R4 (CCF, KlymitV, Reflectix) but hope to upgrade the Klymit to something more like an R3.5 or greater as soon as budget allows.

Here's what I have to work with:

I have an OLD (30 years old!) but very well maintained Marmot down bag with decent loft and a gortex shell that was seamsealed a long time ago. The side zipper is broken, and various attempts to fix it myself (for example, fixazip or whatever that's called) have worked at home but fail in the field when I move around at night, which I do a fair bit. I don't know the temperature rating and can't really guess because -> no zipper. Marmot "lifetime" warranty says it is too old to count for the lifetime warranty (a topic onto itself).

I am considering stripping out the zipper, creating a foot box, and adding attachments to make it a quilt. Then I'd buy (used? not sure?) a 40F bag to use underneath when it is 35 or lower. I'm also going to give it a good nikwax wash to help out the waterproofness.

I know the usual concept is down on the bottom and a 40 synthetic on the top . . . but in the category of work with what you've got and a small budget, does this plan make any sense?

I've got reasonable sewing machine skills and can work with fiddly fabrics.

TIA for your input!

Hey all, I stumbled across some Arc'teryx pants with a really fascinating face fabric. Unfortunately I don't have the vocabulary to describe the weave in order to try to source something similar (other than the material composition of 95% Nylon 5% Elastane).

In technical terms, how would you describe the construction that might create soft, crinkly textured face of the fabric and what causes it to fold so neatly/tightly over itself on the pocket edges? Has anyone come across something similar? I've seen it referred to elsewhere as terratex, sounds like a rebranding of airtex perhaps?

https://preview.redd.it/3z0camhgi9xc1.jpg?width=1350&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b47a20c13b384aca3540e993b8126e7945f49a76

Hi all,

I'd love to make a pair of hiking pants from stretch woven nylon/spandex. Have seen some quoted at 190gsm and 230gsm. Intuitively I'm not sure whether this is lightweight, midweight or heavyweight fabric. I'm looking for something middle of the road that is applicable Spring through autumn. Does this gsm sound reasonable? If not, what should I be looking for?

Thanks in advance!

I'm about to make the stitchback gear metamorph bag and I need some help finding foam for the hip belt. Any help is appreciated!

I'm making a water bottle sleeve and I need to press the seams of the 600D Cordura flat. Is there a best way to do this, either with an iron or a sewing technique?

I just started sewing and I am loving it so far. However, I'm still trying to figure out how to best use the machine I am using that's actually my girlfriends' machine.

I was attaching a zipper today but unfortunately we don't seem to have a zipper foot so I improvised but it was a drag.

Can someone tell me what these feet are meant for?

https://preview.redd.it/nb4ihsju93xc1.jpg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d3ef72f247347bf1fbbb1035f9fc1e129c16277b

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Also, any idea if my machine is any good? :)

Husqvarna 5310

I'm building a frame bag for bikepacking and I'm wondering if I should put foam in the side panels for the down tube and seat tube to protect them? Or is it unnecessary? Most guides I've read don't do this.

I'm a beginner and it might make things a bit more complex too. But I don't want to damage my down tube either :P

I am making the bag out of X-Pacs VX21.

https://www.printables.com/model/281536-robust-buckles

I just printed one of these and they are fantastic!!! I got some ripstop in the mail today and didn't have any buckles to make a gear bag. I thought "Could I print one?" Infact I can and now I'm really excited for the weekend and making a gear bag.

I'm trying to ideate to come up with all the different ways make a pouch/container and I want to figure out something that's not a traditional zipper system. I know there's pull cord closures systems like in a bike food pouch and flaps with Velcro like a messenger bag. What else can you think of or have seen?

I have an idea for a flap that slightly overlaps the opening so you have to move it up then can get in your hand but is loosely open.

No ideas a bad one!

After testing out the astrophotography mode on my Samsung S23 Ultra on a barndoor star tracker, I found that there was an increase in quality vs a static tripod shot. Most tracking mounts weigh several pounds, which was not something I was interested in carrying backpacking, so I designed this mount for backpacking and travel. Check out more details and everything you need to build your own through the github link: https://github.com/keith06388/Tiny-Astro-Tracker

https://preview.redd.it/s1m821r46wwc1.jpg?width=2951&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=395a99180bd9911580e6e3a333230008ba1bc58e

Hi there.

I would like to dye my white, storebought backpack from white into another color. I'm a noob in materials so please tell me, if I am incorrect at some point.

The backpack in question is a Mystery Ranch Radix 47 in white. The materials of the backpack are technical Ultra-PE Birdseye and recycled 100D Robic Ripstop. Both of which, from my understanding, are nylon fabrics. I want the backpack to have a less reflecting color in the end. Either blueish, brownish or greenish. It is not important to me that the new color tone is perfectly uniform, I don't mind a more washed-out look. The thing that's most important to me is that the color doesnt rub off on my gear. How would I proceed and what do I need to take urgent care of? Are there any traps? What kind of dye would I use? I am very grateful for any advice. Cheers

Yes I know this is what I get for buying bags off instagram instead of making them myself.

I have a pedal-modified singer HD. Yes I know it is meh.

Manufacturer asked me if I can fix it and says they’d give me a repair refund. Dunno what that would entail.

Hi all,

I have been trying to identify what this kind of bias tape / binding is called. Its usually on fleece quarter zips and is stretchy and feels and looks like its just folded in half and not double fold like normal cotton bias tape. I've tried searching "stretchy bias tape", "jersey bias tape", "elastic bias tape" but nothing seems to look like what I need.

I also haven't had much luck checking in stores.

I've added a photo of what the binding looks like, any help would be greatly appreciated!

https://preview.redd.it/e2y8klr0gvwc1.png?width=564&format=png&auto=webp&s=45a641d796b381ec54501fff4a566883945f57cc

Hello! Just created this account for the sake of some design research. I am developing a modular carrying system for an assignment and I'm looking for some opinions from this crowd. If you have ever worked with or created a bag that has a modular system for adding and removing extra units, what has worked the best? I'm playing with some tried and true systems like MOLLE/PALS, but I'd like to see if anyone has come up with or found any other interesting or creative solutions.

I'm thinking about sewing myself a summer cloak. Main goal is very good sun protection. Of course it also needs to be lightweight and breathable so I don't cook myself alive under it.

I'm looking for tips and ideas on what fabric I may use and where to look for it. I know there are some UPF rated fabrics available, but I feel like most of them are geared towards wearing close to the skin and I'm not sure how to find something suitable for my use.

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I’ve been trying to find this kind of adjustable buckle on these foot ascenders and am stumped about what it is actually called.

These are 1/2” and 5/8” wide, stainless or plated steel. I’ve only ever seen them in this application, but I’m sure they exist other places.

My searches have only turned up cheap pot metal buckles. Plastic isn’t quite beefy enough.

I’m making a knee ascender setup for arborist work and I like these buckles. Any help finding these would be greatly appreciated.

Does anyone know of a website that has riri zippers and/or cobrax snaps based in europe?

I‘d appreciate a link to two way riri zippers :)

Basically a european pacifictrimming.com

I can‘t find anything like that

can‘t afford to always pay 20€ in shipping

hey, friend of mine wants framebag for bike, ive got few questions to make it proper. id like to use ripstop xpac i think its 21, will it be rigid and abrassion resistant enought? also if i want to make it full waterproof, i want to use aquaguards ykk but do I have to tape seams or its pointless/wont be possible?

thanks

Has anyone tried to bond silpoly or silnylon?
I've seen that you can glue reinforcements pretty easy, but has anyone tried to glue tarp's ridgeline?

I really like the idea that you don't have any holes from sewing, but I am wondering how difficult it is to properly bond the ridgeline, do you need some kind of pressing machine to keep weight on whole ridgeline until it cures?

What adhesive did you use? How does the adhesive hold after some time, temperature change?

photo for example:

https://preview.redd.it/wzu4e6c3rrwc1.jpg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bbb11c40b17d58ec2c2612de246e782432574abd

I'd like to make a hat that's easily stuffed into a pocket. It will probably have a flap to cover the neck. Maybe something similar to what I've seen people do with a bandanna, but sewn so it's not fussy.

I'd like it to be thin (so it stuffs), breathable, light color (so it's cooler), and UV protection. Bonus points for compostability and machine washable. I'm not excited about nanoparticles impregnated into the fabric.

I'd like a brim, but I'm having trouble imagining how to hold it out but still be able to pocket the whole thing. One under-appreciated hat feature is that the brim shouldn't sway around as I walk, which seems like it wouldn't be great.