I decided to add a pocket so I can easily access things while on the go without stopping to open the pack. It isn't strong enough to hold water but I can put a wind jacket, snacks, a shopping bag, or other small things in it. I post this because I used a needle and thread for part of the project. Not everything needs a sewing machine.

https://imgur.com/a/Iw9S4Ex

Decided to try and make my own sleeping bag.

So far in the design phase ended up with:

*Intended to be used as low as possible -15->-20C

*900-1000g of 900 or 1000 fill power

*Mummy shape

*7 inches v-shape (no-see-um i think it is called) baffles (also looking into the brick style baffles)

*Combination of horizontal and vertical baffles for the lower and upper front side and horizontals on the back

*At least one zipper (just saw today the double side by side tubes on a bag and got intrigued) draft tube with full collar tube

*As the “shell material have a few options (ripstop poliester, ripstop nylon, silpoly and silnylon) still have to figure out what would be best

*Price estimation of needed materials ~250-300$

What i steel need to figure out is how to test if the down actually is 900 or 1000 fill power since I will get it from a random dude(a guy who knows a guy kind of situation) and how to actually split that 1000g of down troughout the bag.

So, feel free to leave any suggestions, pros, cons. I’d rather ask for them before i actually start messing things up.

Where is a good place to source fabric for bags, wallets, jackets, etc? I’m brand new to this. Recently started teaching myself to sew.

Title says it all. Upgrading my machines and trying to decide on the best one with zigzag stitch for making backpacks. Or is an old Industrial Singer and just a Singer HD fine?

What are the best fabrics for learning welding? Iron/hot air TPU? PVC? I'm looking online and its all really expensive and I'd probably get it delivered and find out it doesn't work. Say I want to make a tent fly, I'm looking for that kind of super durable yet lightweight waterproof fabric I can weld. Is there anything available at a local store like Jo Ann or Michael?

After looking for a new pair of winter cycling pants, I decided I’ll just modify a pair of synthetic thermal joggers. I can sew a windproof/ resistant nylon on the front, but I’m a little worried about flex in the knee. Is there a fabric I should look for that has some stretch to it? My other thought is just sew in some darts/ articulation.

Y’all the experts at this stuff, what say ye? I can run a machine, as long as that fucking evil bobbin thing doesn’t make my living hell.

Was thinking of using some embroidery thread and hand stitching that star thing, but my last one wasn’t really star like.

I bought the hoop, what now?

It’s a MH Cater Lake, edges have been heat sealed.

I'm looking to buy a sewing machine and would like to work my way to installing zippers for drysuits, altering 3ply material (gore-tex) and making some gear.

What machine should I start with, and where should I go?

Apologies if this is too vague, but I'm new and don't know what I don't know.

Thank you kindly for your suggestions. G

Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone here might be able to help with an issue I've been having with some DIY drawstring chalk bags (for climbing). Consistently, after some use, the paracord drawstring will get chalky and "locks" in place, making it really tough (and sometime impossible) to open and close the chalk bag. This will happen after a month or so of use. I notice that the commercial chalk bag that I have owned for several years does not have this issue, even though it's also a drawstring mechanism.

Has anyone else had this problem? Any tips for cleaning or treating the cord to prevent it from getting so gummed up? Or is there a better alternative cord material that doesn't stick so much with chalk?

A friend of mine suggested plasti-dip, but I don't know much about it and wonder if the fact that it's advertised as "peelable" would lead to it sloughing off the paracord drawstring eventually.

Thanks for any advice!

Hi all! I am looking to sew a grid fleece dress, akin to the melanzana & youer versions. I have a melanzana dress and love it, but don't want to take it apart to get a pattern. Has anyone used a pattern to make a similar item? Thank you!

Long story short, this has been sitting in my garage for years. I'm itching to learn how to use it after being a lurker on this sub for sometime and getting seriously inspired. I'm guessing that this thing might not be up to the job though. I literally have no clue about sewing but I do like learning new skills.

Anyone know how often RSBTR restocks the uncalendared stuff? I'd like to make another quilt but seems like most of it has been out of stock for a few weeks.

For the lack of space i am looking for a solution to swap my to Singers for a capable sewing machine that can do light fabrics, heavy duty fabrics and zig zag stitching. I have been looking at these Sail Rite Ultrafeed LSZ. Is it worth considering or are there beter machines or combo's? My prefered fabrics are heavy duty ones like xpac, corduroy etcetera.

During the warmer months, my brother and I do quite a bit of outdoor activities: hiking, exploring abandoned places, shooting, fishing, etc. I've been using two bags for this for the past couple years: a LLBean Bigelow Pack, and a Rothco Tech Bag (haversack, basically).

These bags have worked well and I'll continue to use them, but I've become aware that a bag somewhere in between the two in size would be nice - and because I just don't know what's good for me, I want to make it from scratch.

The design I'm after is along the same lines as the Patagonia Atom 8L - one-strap sling bag with a sidezip for a large main compartment and a smaller flat pocket on the outside, plus a couple compression straps/jacket straps. However, I'd like to make it from a combination of leather and canvas (likely waxed), so that as I use it and beat the crap out of it over time a patina will develop.

I've never made a bag before - shit, the most complicated thing I've made is a zipper pouch. I could definitely try to design the pattern from the ground up, but honestly I don't have much confidence in doing that. Does anyone know where I could find a pattern for a bag similar to this that I could modify, or if not, how I could make my own?

I'd appreciate any advice or tips.

Rab has a line of coats and sleeping bags where the inner lining is coated with aluminum or titanium to reflect body heat and greatly increase thermal efficiency (they call it TILT). I think it would be neat to be able to take this idea and apply it to whatever i want, whether it's gear i make from scratch or a pre-existing item.

Does anyone happen to have insight into how this is created? I can imagine making a non-breathable/waterproof version by mixing metal powder with silicone or something (also interesting), but the breathable version is less obvious.

I'm making a ball cap and was wondering if any of you had experience making them out of cotton, or even cotton/polyester blend, or nylon.

What is a common weight for this fabric? Is it cotton canvas or something else? Thanks!

I was spoiled living in the US buying Cordura and other materials like webbing and buckles to make packs and now I live in Japan, it feels like all this stuff is way more expensive.

Anybody know of a place in store or online to get similar fabrics, mil spec webbing and side release buckles at an affordable cost?

Anyone know what durston or others is using for the 15d high tenacity polyester in the x-dome?

I just want to diy a simple tarp but want to use good fabrics