The Light Stuff

One of the most liberating suggestions in Ray Jardine's Beyond Backpacking is his encouragement to learn to use a sewing machine. Then you can make very simple gear, out of the lightest, functional fabrics, with only the details that you want. I have an additonal incentive: I have a hard time finding highly functional outdoor clothes that fit me, because I am so small.

Starting out

Buy a decent machine or borrow one.

Take lessons. The local fabric stores offer them.

Get a good sewing book to help you remember those lessons. My sister gave me: Complete Guide to Sewing by The Reader's Digest Association (Canada) (Montreal, 1995).

Fabric and patterns

The local fabric store does not sell what you need.

Check out retailers of outdoor fabrics and even sailmaking outfits for innovative lightweight fabrics.

The Rain Shed, Inc.

Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics, Inc.

Quest Outfitters

Useful books for beginners

Learn to Sew by Kids Can Sew & Craft (St. George, Utah, 1993)
See kidscansew.com. I got the one for children age 6-10 for my daughter and myself. It was good to work through the book before taking my lessons. It gives practice in sewing in a straight line and then curved lines.

Pattern books by Kwik Sew A cheap way to get a lot of simple patterns.

Adventures with Polarfleece by Nancy Cornwell (Krause publications, Iola, Wisconsin: 1997)
What kind of needle? How many stitches per inch? All the basics, very practical.

(c)Rhona Mahony, 2002: rmahony@stanford.edu