Turning draw string closure into a roll top pack

If it has a plenty long enough extension collar on it already you need to add in a couple of stiffeners to your folded edges and sew on a couple of clips on short pieces of webbing. Just duplicate what you see on other packs.

Want to say what pack you want to do this to? Wouldn't hurt.

I just did the reverse to a pack.

Yah it's the Gossamer Gear Rukus…

That's the probably, I've turned a Exos 46 into a roll top so I get how to do that part but there isn't enough extra fabric on the Rukus so I'd have to add an extension to it and that's what I've never done…wondering what kind of fabric would be good and what kind of stitching I should do.

Thanks!

Looking at the pics of the Rukus I don't think there is enough material to make it roll top. To do so would likely involved adding fabric to it.

-Tim

Buy a yard of 40-70 denier silnylon or PU coated nylon ripstop. You want a fabric which is as light or lighter than that on the main pack. This stuff [http://diygearsupply.com/product/70d-coated-ripstop/] is an affordable example.

You'll also need webbing and a buckle for the closure.

Cut off the drawcord sleeve. On the Ruckus I'd do this right below the stitch line. Be sure to make a straight cut.

Measure the length of the circumference of the upper edge of the pack. Add an inch for seam allowance, then cut an 8-10" tall by however wide piece of your fabric.

Roll one long edge of said piece over 1" and sew it, leaving a long skinny sleeve along the top of your fabric.

Do you want a stiffener for your roll top? I like to make one side of mine quite rigid by inserting a piece of thin plastic (from a cheap cutting board, for example) into the sleeve. This should be 1/2" less than half of the fabric length minus seam allowance. You can also just stitch on a piece of webbing to do the same job.

Sew buckle halves on to the rolled seam. Measure twice, sew once.

Sew the fabric into a circle by sewing the short ends together. Follow your seam allowance exactly to get the length just right. Measure and remeasure.

Flip the fabric inside out and put it down over the top of the pack sew it to the pack. Make sure you check buckles position before you sew. Double stitch this seam, and make sure your seam is straight.

Flip the new collar upright, and add another line of double stitching 1/4" above the new seam, through both layers of fabric.

Snip loose threads, check everything out, and you're done.

Thanks guys for the instructions and fabric suggestions.

I've done the buckle part when converting a pack with enough extra fabric so I've got that part down, just wasn't to sure on the stitching or where the best place was to cut the other pack.

Used a strip of a $1 ikea placemat last time for the stiffener and it worked like a charm

If it was me, I probably would just leave the current collar sleeve in place. The savings of cutting it off are probably very small, but leaving it intact would give you the option to go back to the original configuration if you change your mind after your mod.

I would do just as Mario suggests.

You may also be able to insert a thin slice of plastic into it as your stiffener too. Might not be enough rigidity though.

Stephen,

Konrad did a similar project to what you're describing, which hopefully these photos can be of help.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=57322