Fix It In The Field! DIY Sewing Kit 1.0 - Your Portable Gear Saver!

[@robertdodd9623]

Good video ! Tandy leather has an S curved needle you might consider adding to your kit. 👍

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

I picked up a few other needles including sail needles and a few curved ones. That's in version 2.0, coming up soon.

[@ssrc30]

I like this pouch. I carry a German surplus sewing kit. The Rothco was repurposed for carrying my coffee and a few other small food items. I got an Italian sewing kit that got repurposed as a fire kit.

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

I've had a good number of suggestions on this kit, so I'm currently working on V 2.0, and maybe even looking to sew my own pouch too. You're right- those little pouches are mighty handy too.

[@shovelhead8]

As a kid, I was given my grandfathers military sewing kit. I wish I had it now. I have some stuff but I will build a better kit. Nylon Thread I think I have a 5,000 ft roll I got at a yard sale. Thank you for the video

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

That is a lot of thread! Check out the other comments on this video as some of my other subscribers have excellent suggestions too.

[@ScorpionRegent]

Yeah! Dental floss, the bullet proof repair thread at such a fantastic price! I have even used it to stitched together new leather pouches. The fresh minty smell wears off after the first month. I strongly suggest a scrap of 2" nylon or or heavy duty poly webbing, as patch material. Dental floss and webbing fixed a hole the size of a Kennedy half dollar in my old duffle bag.

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

Good ideas! And I still manage to find the unscented floss. I'll add webbing to the new V. 2 kit.

[@ScorpionRegent]

@@AlbertaBushcrafter You do realize I was joking about the mint smell?

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

@@ScorpionRegent Yes I do. But I'm glad you're not joking about the webbing or the floss itself. However, I do recall one ultralight camper many years ago who used mint-scented floss to repair a torn pack pocket because he "didn't like the other stuff". His friends never let him live it down and complained about the stink the rest of the trip - not to mention the cheap nature of his flimsy gear, which broke 4 other times in 4 days. I bet the guy does all his hiking now by watching National Geographic.

[@ScorpionRegent]

@@AlbertaBushcrafter Backpacking builds character, no doubt. I have no problem with the principles of going ultralight, but anyone who buys a cheap equipment because it costs and weighs less is just asking for a serious learning experience. How about the greenhorns who buy all sorts of top of the line gear and don't bother to break in their boots? In motorsports they call the delusion that huge budget will guarantee a victory "buying the win", it is never works. Back to the subject of repairs. One source of webbing for those who like to reuse/repurpose, old car seat belts from the wrecking yard. They wear like iron, nice and soft, lots of surface area.

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

Actually, I've known many ultralighters, and they all quit the philosophy because a) they were always miserable because they forgot a piece of gear, b) their expensive packs didn't hold up well, and c) a very unusual complaint - every single one of them didn't like the fast pace of their hikes. The most common phrase I heard was "hiking shouldn't be a race." Oh - and none of them could reconcile the Leave No Trace philosophy with the need to improvise your gear in the field - the two are mutually incompatible. Plus, they almost always had problems finding good water and they didn't trust the AquaMira tablets and wouldn't carry a good filter because of the weight. So their weight advantage was lost because they had to carry extra water. Not to mention that three of the most obnoxious ones caught either giardiasis or a cryptosporidium infection anyway. So now every one of them carries light conventional consumer or surplus packs with a bit more gear, and they've stopped complaining. A few got their ideas from my videos, in fact. A good Silky saw, a good trowel, a good water filter, a decent hatchet, and a good non-canister stove like a SVEA 123R or a used MSR will add a few pounds but you'll camp much more comfortably. And you'll get used to the extra weight. I have another good source of nylon patches and webbing. I get it from broken-down ultralight packs and tents.

[@t.w.milburn8264]

That is 1 DARN-Good Husbandry kit, Dean; Tks 4 sharing ATB Terry God Bless

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

Thanks, Terry! I havwe a good feeling it will get even better in Version 2.0.

[@oldtimerlee8820]

Two thumbs up for recommending including a sewing repair kit. Yes, it is a good idea to include a seam ripper, IMO. Good range of sizes from tiny to robust to meet each person's needs/preferences. In some situations it is much easier & faster to use one of these gadgets, than other methods. Especially, once the technique of slicing along the seam, rather than picking individual stitches is learned. (Ever wonder why it has a little ball on the short tip?) A note of caution: Ultra cheap sewing kits on the market today are not worth buying. If they were free, they aren't worth that price! Pins & needles easily bend/break. Thread is a poor imitation of real sewing thread. Scissors in many of those kits can easily be twisted into a knot with your fingers. A decent DIY sewing kit can be put together for only a few dollars more. Straight pins, safety pins and sewing needles that don't perform as expected can be downright dangerous. They can break or bend and cause injury. Useless if cold fingers can't delicately use them because of their poor quality. etc. & etc. off-soapbox. Suggestions: Add a piece of leather to use as a thimble, when one is needed. Here's a design that can be made from leather or cardboard. Inuit Thimble - www.primitiveways.com/pt-thimble.html Add a needle threader or 2. They cost little and weight even less. These old eyes appreciate the help this gadget gives my fingers to git er done. Thanks for sharing.

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

All great tips, Lee! And yes - the needles were from a fabric store so they're solid. I left out the seam ripper, thimble and needle threader, but now they'll be in Version 2.0. And as you saw, I replaced the junk scissors with a good pair of folders that were at least 15 years old and still excellent.

[@BorealWoodsrunner]

picked up the same roll from supply sargent about a year back and i love the thing

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

So do I, and the price was right. The add-ons were a few bucks more and I'm looking forward to improving it further too.

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

I bought a couple of Italian sewing kits last year out of Finland for pennies and they are pretty neat. I admit I hadn't seen the Rothco kit any where. I do need to add a couple of specialty needles still as well.

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

I got the Rothco kit at Supply Sergeant but it's cheaper on Amazon. But I like the idea of those Italian kits too.

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

Alberta Bushcrafter yea they were three bucks each and they even have greatcoat buttons in them. If I ever put another order in I intend on getting more.

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

Please let me know, and I'll send you a bit of cash to buy a few more. for giveaways and such.

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

Alberta Bushcrafter I will! Right now with the Khukuri orders there probably wont be any more gear orders for a few months.

[@azrael6082]

You talking about Varusteleka :D ? www.varusteleka.com/en/product/italian-sewing-kit-surplus/33046

[@JohnCapps]

Nice kit Dean.

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

Thanks! Pretty good for $5.00, plus a few dollars more for the extras.

[@Nerding4Nature]

You've got some good ideas here. I think I ought to add some heavier duty tread and a canvass needle.

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

Thanks, Carly! And I'm adding a few things too for version 2.0. A lot are from this Comments section.

[@thedoghouseoutdoors4116]

Great looking kit, I have one of those little plastic kits, but I been looking at those kits you have i believe I will be getting one! Great stuff brother!

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

What I really like is that for $5 I got a basic kit but was able to transfer all the stuff in my old broken plastic kit to it as well.

[@martinadejaquiz2482]

dang right dean, sewing kit is important.

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

Wait till you see version 2.0....

[@kan-zee]

This is interesting. Love seeing DIY kits.... Your *Housewife* is nice . (sewing kit)

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

Is that what they're called? I didn't know. But thanks! I'm almost ready for versions 1.5 and 2.0 (I found a different kit that has potential).

[@katrose5572]

aka huswif

[@angelawilmot2931]

How about a thimble to protect your fingers their small. Just a idea.

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

There's a comment below on making an Inuit thimble so I checked out the article. And now I'm going to be making a couple for the next version.

[@naveensharma5641]

Kindly make a video of actually making it from scratch.....if you already have..... kindly share the link