To all you sewing lot...

@Chopsicle - looking at the instructions you need to cut out one copy of the patch pocket square - but in the video, it seems to look like two - one of each material.

Can you confirm?

Shamefully I’ve not made mine yet - ran out of time this weekend,

I checked with Maisi in the vid and she says;

‘It’s only one square in the colour of your choice!

When it comes to pockets it’s pretty much optional whether you have a diagonal, square or any at all!‘

Does that make sense?

Thanks, I assumed one in the end.

I seem to have made some kind of 4 dimensional mobius hat.........

re. my framebag on the previous page. Off bikepacking tomorrow for a week and never sorted out a Velcro solution. Went for lacing, which wasn't my preference but quick and easy. Managed to bash out this badboy in a few hours tonight, much to my own surprise. Few minor mistakes but nothing serious. Chuffed!

(sorry for the shit pic)

1 Attachment

Looks like it fits well.. when I did mine and ran webbing along the entire perimeter and stitched it at approx 50mm, so I can add velcro rings at any point.. bag looks good..

I’m currently making a rando bag and can’t for the life of me find this hook:

It’s that small flat j-hook holding the elastic. I’ve found some aluminium gaitor hooks but they’re a bit too flimsy, and the only webbing hooks I’ve managed to find are slightly agricultural marine hooks etc.

Does anyone have any leads for nice looking hooks a la the picture above in the UK?

I tried looking up ‘25mm webbing hook and bar’. Not terribly good quality, but turns up things like this - too agricultural? Could you get them finished/coated?

1 Attachment

Not metal but this might work, shipping will take a while though.

https://www.adventurexpert.com/product/tent-hook-7-9-9-3mm/
https://www.adventurexpert.com/product/hydration-tube-holder-20-25mm/

This webshop is likely to have something but I couldn't find it, UK based so should be quicker. Sounds like you found these already, though.

https://www.shelbyoutdoor.com/product_info.php?products_id=781

This could also work.

https://www.shelbyoutdoor.com/product_info.php?products_id=1111

Maybe google boot hooks? Like from hikers.

If you don't mind using nylon, which is used by most bikepacking bag manufacturers...
https://www.acesupplies.co.uk/products/cord-hook/

Thanks for all your suggestions!

@Chopsicle - That got me down a rabbit hole which led to this, which I'm hoping will work

@Tijmen - Ta, I've already got some of those gaitor hooks but they're very easy to bend so was looking for something more sturdy

@withered_preacher - Very nearly ended up just getting some boot hooks and riviting them on

@Black_Rainbow_Project - Ah! Thanks for the link, not quite what I'm looking for for this bag but should be very useful in the future!

Anything here you could improv for a webbing/shock cord hook?
https://www.contactleft.co.uk/diy-tactical-buckles-fabrics/metal-end-fittings.html?p=1

Like this;
https://www.contactleft.co.uk/diy-tactical-buckles-fabrics/metal-end-fittings/kong-buckle-fittings-for-straps-019.html

Or this;
https://www.contactleft.co.uk/diy-tactical-buckles-fabrics/metal-end-fittings/austrialpin-25mm-1-2-slot-buckle-triglide-black-fc06b-k.html

And stitch the webbing in a way which keeps an edge of the buckle to act as the ‘hook’?

Probably a bit late, but https://www.williamgee.co.uk/?s=Mara&post_type=product

Mara 50 is the same as Extra strong. Mara 30 is Top Stitch. Mara 100 is Sew All.

If you want to use the big spools, just use a wire coat hanger to make the loop for a cone stand.

Works out at about 1p per 2m of thread.

Shelby isn't UK based either, but both were pretty quick iirc.

Finally finished off a set of bucket hats. Was good fun and good practice.

Material from the 'interesting' fabric pile :)

2 Attachments

The orange 1970's curtain vibe is particularly strong

Channel your inner Thompson with those!

Fear and loathing in Las Reading.

Areet, would appreciate some repair advice.

The older Blackburn saddle pack is almost entirely supported by one webbing strap. Despite careful use one end has pulled away - so the whole thing’s destined for the bin unless I can repair it.

The issue is that the material it attaches to partially tore. I’m not sure it will hold any new stitches without a patch.

This material is also backed by a red liner with a plastic insert sandwiched in between.

Any advice on how best to attempt to sew the webbing back on? Try patch the material it attached to before? Or go all the way through the plastic and red liner? Thanks!

2 Attachments

Go all the way through. You will struggle to repair it as-new; as soon as you disassemble the bag layers it will never go back the same again.

Get someone with a shoe patcher or bar tacker to stitch through, then use seam seal on the inside.

...if you can

1. open at convenient point (convenient to close up)
   
2. apply a heat-press patch on the inside, prob using the iron from outside, some kind of support on inside (wood offcut)
   
3. and then use press studs (Prym + hammer) to re-attach? Possible one in centre, two at corners of strap, inner reinforcement will distribute the load stress. Plus(!) some on other side for when the same happens
   
4. Without burning any of the stitch thread, use a lighter to melt off/fuse loose ends, scuzzy patches to prevent them fraying in future
   
5. Stitch up a your most convenient place of opening
   
   

Just my thoughts but I’d go for this ‘lo-fi enhancement’ rather than trying to make ‘like new‘, and add strength/durability for future.

Webbing like that won’t survive very long with press studs or any other metal fastening. Unlike leather (or denim), the weave will either fray or just slip around the metal and you’re back to a loose strap.

• hence melting/stabilising the webbing? But good point, maybe do half-and-half, arrest any fraying before and then seal after?
  
  

Thinking to use the material characteristics to solve the problem. These polymers (nylon or polyester) are great for hot-melt-set, and the reality is replacing the strap straight up will be complex to get through a machine, and (potentially) will only happen again. Ideally, meld the entire lot together and add strength through rivets?

Maybe you could add more detail to distribute the stress, like an additional patch on exterior, stitch additional reinforcement on the webbing, more studs/rivets are less likely to fail

use hot rivets!
alright alright, i'm leaving

Several options, the easiest being, as pdlouche says, just going straight through everything, it looks like a holster type bag?
Remove and replace the webbing though, it's usually fairly cheap in sewing/craft shops.
Another option is to unpick a lot of stitching to separate the layers, which is time-consuming and fiddly to re-do.

Or maybe put a few eyelets straight through, and do a cord fitting à la