Well I got a wild hair over the weekend and decided to take up sewing of all things. I think it would be cool to start making some of my own bowhunting gear mainly for fun but to also save some money. My main motivation was to create a simple quiet pack for carrying in my extra layers. I have a Blacks Creek Rigg Itt modular pack frame that I use to carry my climbing sticks in and out of the woods and it has some buckles to attach a pack. The pack they sell for it is fairly expensive and not as big as I would like for carrying in my bulky coat and other layers, so I thought I should try making a pack to attach to it.
I borrowed an old sewing machine (and I do mean old) and dove right in. I drove to the fabric store and bought decent thread and a couple of yards of camo fleece. The machine didn't have a manual so after replacing the power cord due to dry rot, I spent several hours trying to figure out how to thread it, lol. I then spent a couple more hours figuring out how to adjust the machine so that it made nice stitches.
I finally had it figured out but decided I should start with a couple of simpler projects for practice before tackling a backpack. For a few pennies and a few hours of time, I ended up making a neck gaiter and a bomber hat. The gaiter is based on one I had lying around and I used a free pattern and video I found on the net for the hat.
They turned out much better than I would have imagined so I thought I would share my success. I had a blast making these things and since it was easier than I thought, I'm now dreaming up a few more extravagant packs and scouring the net for other hunting clothing and gear patterns, lol. It might be a while before I finish the pack though. Anyone else sew their own gear?
Antique sewing machine I borrowed from my mother in-law. I'm guessing 1940's or 50's vintage.
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My work area. Don't pay any attention to the messy basement!
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Hat and gaiter.
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Some pics of me modeling them :scared: .
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Jeff, That looks real sexy... ;) ;)
Nice work, looks good.
Real men can sew. I learned in 7th grade home economics and never forgot. It's come in handy over the years. Thanks for stepping forward. :thumbsup:
Carl
Good on you for giving it a go! Great results, too.
I enjoy the heck out of making my own stuff. In a past life I was lucky enough to be a purchasing manager in a company that made backpacks, sleeping bags, duffle bags, cloths, etc. Got some good experience there.
I have a commercial machine in the garage that's the bomb for bow socks, bags, etc.
Guy
That's awesome :) Sewn up a few bow socks and other odds and ends on an old machine I got at a garage sale. It's a good skill everyone would do well to learn!
How cool is that? Way!! You be "Da Man!" Thanks for sharing.
God bless,Mudd
I sew and have sewn many kitchen curtains with backing and sew a ton of my own gear,I also have put pink feathers on my arrows.Maybe I should have left that part out.But my wife loves the fact I sew. :thumbsup:And Im a former marine if yaw got a problem with pink and curtains...LOL
Looks like you did a great job. congrats on your new hobby
Not a bad hobby to have and it looks like you have it down.
That's awesome right there!!! My wife got me some material from walmart to decorate the garage and I told her that I wanted a sewing machine for my next gift so that I could make my own clothes. She just laughed it off, but I plan on hitting her up again real soon. I started to make a fletching cover but sewing by hand takes way too long!! Great Job brother!!!
That old sewing machine works awesome. It only does straight stitching though. I also borrowed a 1980's or so model from my Mom that does zig zag stitching which I think might be good for making button holes or reinforcing webbing straps and stuff. I haven't had a chance to figure out my mom's machine yet.
I'm going to look around for an old used sewing machine of my own. It would certainly be nice to have around. My son won Vermonster13's youth bow give away. I wasn't sure how to string that little bow and I didn't want to break it so I quickly sewed a couple of pockets in a short piece of nylon webbing and it worked great as a bow stringer. I'm hoping to get an all steel antique machine that seem to be more durable than the more recent plastic ones.
I broke out my wife's old sewing machine and been looking for some more pattern's myself. She makes fun of me when I rub on the wool and fleece material in the fabric stores! HA! Jason
Cool stuff. Know I don't feel so bad wanting to buy one. LOL
Good Job!
Funny that I can across this thread tonight as I was thinking about asking my wife to give me the beginners course on her machine so I can start a few projects myself!
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Chief
If only I could sew, nice work Jeff
I sew my own bow socks for my bows and my takedowns also the end cups I use on my bow stringers. I enjoy building my own stuff. I can see a cap coming in the furure.
Hey, that's pretty good!
Anything that brings us closer to self-reliance and proves to us that "we can do it" is VERY cool in my book. You've got a talent there that in the long run will save you a bundle and might even make you one too. Thanks for sharing! :thumbsup:
Contact Dick Wightman on here about your machine. He is quite the afficianado from what I understand. I too would like to find an older, heavier model myself for such projects.
Dick, you out there?
Nice job,I'd been thinking about trying too.Have to break out the wifes machine when we get back home.
very nice.
My only input would be to find a better looking model :bigsmyl:
QuoteOriginally posted by Covey:
I broke out my wife's old sewing machine and been looking for some more pattern's myself. She makes fun of me when I rub on the wool and fleece material in the fabric stores! HA! Jason
That's funny, I've been doing the same thing. I have to test the fabrics for "quietness". I've also been turning all of my clothes inside out to look at how the seams were done or how pockets are were sewn on! I would have never noticed these details a week ago, lol.
I bought a machine last year. Still haven't been able to make anything with it. Seems like everything I try to sew is too thick. I don't know... :banghead:
That's not an old machine, it's got a power chord!
I bought one of the old treadle machines years ago at an antique store figuring to use it for light leather and heavy cloth stuff. My mom used to sew a lot and when she needed to sew something thick, she'd run down to my Grammy's house and use her old treadle machine. Evidently they'll sew a lot thicker stuff than most electrics. Unfortunately, mine is just sitting there and I've never used it. Dang thing is in great shape too.
I inherited my Granny's old Singer treadle machine. I can sew everything from fleece to thin leather to nylon webbing with it.
Hello...My name is Chuck and I'm an amateur seamstress.
I started making some of my own gear bags, duffels, overshirts, hats, blinds, bow and rod cases, etc..., about 6 or 7 years ago.
Not only can you save some real money, especially when you are able to pick up discount and clearance fabrics, but it's just plain fun and satisfying to make and use your own gear.
Welcome to the club.
Very cool! I was thinking to myself last night that I still needed to get going on sewing myself a backpack. Funny to see this post today. Good work!!
Thats cool! Every time someone in my house needs something small sewn I get elected (thanks to mandatory Home Ec class in my high school days).
I would like to learn to use a machine some day. All the small things that I sew are by hand. Nice job on the hat by the way.
The older machines are great and durable but they lack the features that some of the newer ones. The one I have is about 13 years old but it will sew button holes, zig zag, etc...most older machines just sew straight stitch. Great thread! pun intended! My wife is really starting to wonder about me! Jason
Sorry to be late getting to this one... Yep, I've been running the antique sewing machine users site and email list for about 12 years now... close to 2000 members... all sewing on antique treadles and hand cranks.
Get an old all iron, including the gears, straight stitch machine. Don't mess around with new stuff with fancy stitches, not enough strength and depth of stitch and wear out fast. Most of the old iron machines will handle light leather and canvas, but not heavy leather. Sometimes you can get lucky and find an old heavier industrial machine. I just sold one last night... 45# Singer 31-20. Have to pack and ship it tomorrow.
Anybody interested in old time stuff and the outdoors is missing a lot of fun if they don't sew. I've sewn projects on machines as much as 125 years old!
Sewing is really no different than shop work. You have to plan a project, cut the pieces and them join them. Learning to set up and use a straight stitch sewing machine is really no different than learning to set up and use any other shop machine, like a table or radial arm saw... a little study, a little practice and start with simple stuff.
These old machines are great for wool hunting shirts, capotes, all kinds of small gimmicks, etc. The treadles are definitely preferable to electric, but it's the machine head that makes the difference. Look for an old Singer Model 15, or one of the common 1950's/1960's straight stitch Japanese clone copies of that machine. These turn up a lot at thrift stores, garage sales and Craig's list. Often you can find an electric machine and later a treadle and fit the two together.
There are complete instructions on overhauling and restoring the old machines on the Treadle On web site: www.treadleon.net (http://www.treadleon.net) There are sections called "The Sewing Machine Shop" - for machine work; the Wood Shop - for restoring treadles, and much, much more. It's a huge site. I know... I built every page!
Here's a sample of a typical project that crosses from my sewing machine interest to archery... a roll up case for a two piece longbow:
http://oldpharttsarchery.com/buildingstuff/case/case.html
Yesterday and today I sewed up two padded recurve cases with full length zippers... not that was a lot tougher project than most, due to the padding and zipper.
Like I said, a lot of fun to be had in the winter when you can't get out. You can contact me for advice if you get serious.
Thanks for the information Dick. I skimmed through your website and you have a wealth of information on antique sewing machines. I now plan on buying my own machine and your website will be a great help. I won't be quite as afraid of buying a beat up one after taking a look at the restoration section of your site.
Very nice work and thanks for sharing the success. Nowadays commercial stuffs are so conviniently available but very rarely we can find one meet our anticipation. Thumbs up to the handy guys who put their idea into their actions.
Nice work JS!
Shoot straight, Shinken
My grandparents ran a shoe repair shop for many years and had a heavy duty machine called a patch machine. It was an old heavy treadle powered sewing machine that would sew leather and heavy fabric easily. (Maybe Dick in Seattle knows a little more about this). If your new hobby really takes hold, this may be something to look into. Unfortuanately, I don't have a clue as to availabilty or cost of such a machine, but I do know it handled tough jobs easily. Your projects look like they are going well. Good luck.
I have been around sewing machines my whole life. My wife things its funny that I am like little suzy homemaker, but when she or the kids need something fixed like a button or a hole fixed they always come see me.
Here is a little secert, auctions are a really good place to find those older machines. I picked one up at an auction that old cost me $10 it neds a little work, new wiring(dry rot) and the new rubber belt for the motor and bobbin winder.
The pics below shows what it looked like when I got it home, it cleaned up really nice.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t319/ilarcher/IMGA0098.jpg
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Here's the next version of the bomber hat that I made. I extended the back, wrapped the ear pieces around the front for a little more coverage and decided not to put the flap on. With Dick's help I found what appears to be a nice sewing machine on craigslist for $10 that I'm going to pick up tomorrow.
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