MYOG Backpack Tyvek & XPAC

For some reason the pics of the Tyvek pack didnt who up….

Very nice!

Nice job Dave. How did you like using the binder clips for holding the layers together while sewing? I’ve been using masking tape to hold edges flush on most pack fabric, but it’s slow to put on and remove (although very accurate).

Many thanks,

Lester, the clips are a god send IMO. They save allot of time and have enough purchase to hold many layers securely. I have enough of them to clip every part of the pack at once so I don’t have to stop sewing for each panel.

Given that ‘sewing’ implies a seam allowance, I find pins in the seam allowance just
as effective.
But tell me: where do the clips come from? Are they plastic versions of steel bulldog clips (Which I have used in the past)?

Cheers

Hi Roger,

I’ve used pins in the past but prefer these clips. They are from eBay but I’ve seen them in a local sewing shop. They are called ‘Wonder Clips’. Plastic with a metal spring.

Ttb, Dave

Found. Thanks.

Cheers

I find pins in the seam allowance just as effective

Sewing pins work fine for light fabrics, but for X-pac I gave up on pins very quickly as they were difficult to insert. I have tried steel bulldog clips a few times but they were rather bulky and seemed to slip off pretty easily.

In the backpack side panel photo below, the masking tape pieces around the edges are either holding yellow webbing loops in place, or holding the side pocket in place. Half of each piece of tape is visible – the hidden half of each piece is folded under and sticking to the underside of the fabric/s). You can just barely see the target stitch lines that are 5/8″ in from the outside edges (5/8″ allowance) – none of which pass over any tape. So the tape can remain in place until all seams are sewn. To join this panel to another (back or front panel), more tape is used in a similar fashion to hold the two panels together, then it’s all ready to sew.

Does anybody else use masking tape in this way? The tape holds X-pac very well and does not need to be removed while sewing the seams, which allows good accuracy and minimal shifting of layers while sewing. It’s also easy to add more layers of fabric (such as other panels) without disrupting what has already been aligned and taped under it. But it’s a slow process to place and remove all that tape.

I have used ordinary sticky tape and painters masking tape for some things, even on silnylon! Yeah, very limited adhesion – but enough for sewing.
I found that sewing through sticky tape is an invitation to disaster: the needle gums up. Don’t do it.

Cheers

I found that sewing through sticky tape is an invitation to disaster

The goal is to place every piece of tape so that the needle never contacts any tape while sewing.

I’ve never used tape other than to use as a cutting guide. I’m in the middle of making anothe pack. I’ve been cutting all the panels and bits this afternoon and hope to complete it tomorrow.

I used masking tape to make out the cut on dyneema grid. It made curing allot easier as I haven’t found anything that marks the material sufficiently enough.

For me, the clips allow you to place parts and then sew with ease.

Dave,

Your pack projects look great!  Thanks for the Wonder Clip idea.  I’ve got some on order.

Lester,

Thanks for the photo of the masking tape process.

Roger,

Thanks for the point about not gumming up needles by sewing through tape.

All those ideas will be useful on my current projects!

I stole this idea from someone else so I feel I should share it; I haven’t used a pin to make a single pack in two years.

The bottom picture shows a magnetic home for the clips.  Make sure to get the clips without teeth and they just slide off as you’re sewing.  I then wave the red base over my sewing machine and it picks up all the clips.  I probably bought 50-60 of them.

Andrew

So where did you get the toothless clips? All the alligator clips I have found (so far) have teeth.

Cheers

They are on eBay and through amazon.  I think they are used for electrical circuits.
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<h1 id=”title” class=”a-size-large a-spacing-none”><span id=”productTitle” class=”a-size-large”>Generic Micro Steel Toothless Alligator Test Clips with Smooth Jawed and Microscopic Tip 5amp(pack of 50)</span><span id=”titleEDPPlaceHolder”></span></h1>
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<td id=”priceblock_ourprice_lbl” class=”a-color-secondary a-size-base a-text-right a-nowrap”>Price:</td>
<td class=”a-span12″><span id=”priceblock_ourprice” class=”a-size-medium a-color-price”>$25.49</span> <span id=”ourprice_shippingmessage”><span id=”priceBadging_feature_div” class=”feature” data-feature-name=”priceBadging”><i class=”a-icon a-icon-prime”><span class=”a-icon-alt”>Free Shipping for Prime Members</span></i></span></span></td>
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Sorry about the gibberish on that post, but the clips I bought are in that link.  I tried to delete but couldn’t figure out how.  Andrew

<h1 id=”title” class=”a-size-large a-spacing-none”><span id=”productTitle” class=”a-size-large”>Generic Micro Steel Toothless Alligator Test Clips with Smooth Jawed and Microscopic Tip 5amp(pack of 50)</span></h1>

The real URL:

Cheers

No exaggeration, it will change your life. well maybe a little exaggeration.  Andrew