BWCA What's in your field sewing kit? Boundary Waters Group Forum: Do It Yourself Gear
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      What's in your field sewing kit?     

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josephpat
member (10)member
  
04/20/2020 01:01AM  
Saw such thing at local Pharmacy last week, but I'm guessing it would be more hassle than it's worth considering that this stuff made of plastic and weighs like a soda can.
Still, maybe there's someone who gave it a try (and it worked)? I've been thinking that it might be useful for occasional repairs while camping, at the same time a realize that it might be a stupid idea.


And another rather spontaneous question - what do you have in your sewing kit while in the wild? What tools and needles?
 
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straighthairedcurly
distinguished member(1921)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/20/2020 08:16AM  
Since I do short trips these days, I carry a pretty small sewing kit. I carry safety pins, diaper pins, heavy duty needle and thread, and various repair tapes for fabric. I feel like I am missing something, but I'm too lazy to get off the couch right now.

On long trips in the past, I have carried canvas patches, replacement zipper pulls and plastic buckles.
 
muddyfeet
distinguished member(742)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/20/2020 05:28PM  
I keep it pretty light with multi-use materials to get me through the trip and back home where the real repair can take place: Safety pins, gorilla tape, tenacious tape for silicone fabrics, length of zing-it cord, and a leatherman multi-tool.
 
Grandma L
distinguished member(5628)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
04/28/2020 12:41PM  
I have small bobbins of poly of nylon white and black thread, safety pins, assorted tape, cord locks, sewing needles, cord and nylon webbing, multiple small scraps of ripstop and medium weight canvas. I have had to repair tents, packs and clothes.
 
Savage Voyageur
distinguished member(14414)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished membermaster membermaster member
  
11/30/2020 08:48AM  
I was reading a thread on another site that talked about wilderness sewing repair kits. Over Thanksgiving I finished making it. I wanted it to be small enough to take but have everything I would need to field fix my gear to continue my trip unaffected. Everything for my repair kit fits inside an Altoids tin. They suggested to add a few “sail needles” to my repair kit. Here is the Link for the sail needles. I also added a few regular regular needles, leather needles, stick pins and safety pins. For thread I added white and black bobbins of regular polyester thread and two bobbins of 20# braided fishing line. If I need stronger thread I can use the inside core threads of my 550 paracord that I bring for tarp hanging. I have a couple of buttons, two safety razor blades, and a thread starter.

These sail needles are designed to go through heavy canvas sail cloth for repair ships sails. They are designed not to cut the surrounding threads as they pass through. They have a triangular sharp tip and are hand forged. When you hold them in your hand you can tell they are quality steel, solid. My Duluth packs are made from the same cloth. Leather the same way, easily push through. The eyes of the needles are larger to accommodate larger thread if needed. I tested the needles on heavy canvas pack cloth, leather straps, polyester strap and materials, and they go through all “like butter”.

Also in my packs for various gear repairs I bring a few zip ties, a couple of hot glue sticks, and of course duct tape. I have scissors already on my Swiss Army knife that I carry so I didn’t include that in my kit, but razor blade would work too for cutting.

I’m also thinking about including an iron on patch. It would take up zero space and still fit inside my mint tin. I would heat up my cooking pot with my stove for a make shift iron and melt the patch glue to clothing or gear.

 
01/30/2021 05:01PM  
For sewing I just have 2 needles and about 10 yards of thread wound on a bobbin, plus one or two pieces of spare silnylon about 6x12 inches - that's it. That, plus some super glue, safety pins, and maybe 3-4 yards of duct tape. All of which fit inside a small bandaid box less than half the size of the Singer image above. Bottom line is duct tape and super glue are going to be my primary and secondary "hold together till I get out of the woods" items for just about anything.
 
Hockhocking
senior member (93)senior membersenior member
  
09/08/2021 07:04PM  
Ditto on the hot glue sticks. Very useful for everything from fabric repair to patching a canoe after a mishap. I also carry a thick leather thimble and a pair of mini needle nose pliers for help with needles and thick fabrics.
 
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