Say I wanted to sew my own pack with the same style of canvas that is used by Duluth Pack. Would I buy this type of canvas?

See the Duluth Pack site where the type of canvas is noted as 15 oz.

That looks about right to me. Looking forward to seeing it when you finish.

The canvas seems about right - what are you doing for the straps and back plate? Leather?

I have made and altered packs several times and usually use a Cordura nylon fabric - easier to sew for me.

keep us posted - we want to see pictures when you are in process and have a finished product.

Well I actually haven't committed to doing a project yet. I just wanted to know if I was on the right track with the canvas.

I actually located my Dad's old Army rucksacks while putting away Christmas decorations. They will probably be pretty good on a canoe trip. Pretty interesting stuff.

Have any of you worked with canvas before? Does it require a much heavier duty machine? I'm thinking it's going to have to be the material I end up using for my winter hot tent.

quote VaderStrom: "Have any of you worked with canvas before? Does it require a much heavier duty machine? I'm thinking it's going to have to be the material I end up using for my winter hot tent."

Ya that's a good question.

I have done several projects with pack weight canvas - like Duluth Pack weight. It can be done with a regular machine - but not easily or well. I have had to sew most seams several times to get a decent strength with regular machine and thread. I did a series of 3 times for each seam. (straight seam, then a zig-zag close next to that and another straight close next to that). I would suggest a flat-felt seam but they are hard to do on side seams of a pack and the extra layers and thickness are hard to handle for most machines.

I have found that I have to use the "low gear" on my Viking 6440 and heavy nylon or Poly thread with a large needle and longer stitch length setting.

The canvas is better on straight seams - not curves since it has very little "give" and will bunch when trying to ease into a corner.

I think that is why they started making the standard envelope packs. Fast and easy to sew. They are straight forward design and have just the two side seams and edging. The back plate was top stitched on and then had rivets. Pretty simple design and construction.

I checked some of my "real" Duluth Packs and they have no "finishing" on the side seams.

Ok, I probably have given you "to-much-information" TMI for your simple question but, thanks for asking. I am about to start my winter camp sewing - in-line tarp bag with included rope bags. - a modification based off of the CCS in-line tarp bag. I will keep you posted.

Thanks G-ma!!!

Is regular guterman thread what I should be using on the canvas, or something tougher? I think I'll have to try and borrow a different machine for this project.

My winter tarp with doors is almost done now. Next is snake skins and a "lazy slug tube" for my hammock. I'll post pics once I have time to set up the tarp in a near by park...I don't have any trees in my apartment unfortunately.