Holy Smokes. Just joined today and this is one of the first sections I read. ive been sewing and tinkering with my own custom systems to satisfy what I identified as a need in the field... point being, I thought I was the only one! good to see more of you out there. now something to share: ive found at any fabric store or craft store its easy to find someone who can help. I look at a sewing machine lime a power tool. that has gotten me pretty far. there are a few bits of advice that have helped (tension, sharp needles, etch.) just when I thought I needed a bigger badder machine for heavy duty stuff, I was introduced to the speedy stitcher. look it up. its easy, its awesome and the stitches with coarse waxed thread is strong as hell.
Anyway... good to be here.