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Sharps' Folly or The Value of Kifaru

4090Sharps said:
Not too long after I finished my first 357 Mag copy, I noticed Kifaru's Kutthroat pack used a pretty much identical frame setup as the 357 Mag, but with 26" stays. So, I decided to give it a go, making a pair of the packs this time. One for myself and one for a friend who will be hunting with me in February. I thought that they'd go together quicker this time, but I found myself sewing a step on one bag and getting comfortable with that process, then letting that comfort lead me into a mistake as I carried out the same step on the second bag :sob:. The seam ripper saw some use this time around.

I'm in the home stretch (for the bag portion at least), and will probably finish these up tomorrow. Once the bags come together I'll upload some more pictures.

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I think I speak for all of us when I say: I hate your friend
 
I've got a few finishing touches left, besides making a lumbar pad, stays and suspension, but here are some pics.
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@JCLINE84 described my choice in fabrics as loud. Seems accurate.

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I shouldn't have any issues losing items in the bag. For anyone interested, the fabric is a 400D blaze orange pack cloth from Rocky Woods. It's just about dayglow, and makes other blaze orange fabrics that I have look a little dull.

400 Denier High Density Coated Packcloth Nylon Fabric - Blaze Orange

400 Denier High Density Coated Packcloth Nylon Fabric
www.rockywoods.com www.rockywoods.com
 
Sziggy2.0 said:
Could you do some video tutorials? Just asking for a friend
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I might consider buying a pattern and doing a tutorial on my approach, but I'm honestly not sure what I could show that hasn't been covered elsewhere. Any specific aspects that are a struggle?

If you stare at a pack, maybe turn it inside out, and mentally break it down into individual seams/operations and pieces, you might find that it's simpler than you originally imagined. Since binding panels is generally a final step, it gives you a place to start in figuring out the order of operations taken to produce the final product. Other clues like the number of layers, folds, and direction of folds will also help determine that order of operations.
 
4090Sharps said:
I might consider buying a pattern and doing a tutorial on my approach, but I'm honestly not sure what I could show that hasn't been covered elsewhere. Any specific aspects that are a struggle?

If you stare at a pack, maybe turn it inside out, and mentally break it down into individual seams/operations and pieces, you might find that it's simpler than you originally imagined. Since binding panels is generally a final step, it gives you a place to start in figuring out the order of operations taken to produce the final product. Other clues like the number of layers, folds, and direction of folds will also help determine that order of operations.
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I learned to build packs by flipping a few inside out and studying construction. The biggest thing is understanding the sequence in which it all goes together. It’s really not that hard, it requires a bit of a conceptual brain, IMO.
 
Squirrels said:
I learned to build packs by flipping a few inside out and studying construction. The biggest thing is understanding the sequence in which it all goes together. It’s really not that hard, it requires a bit of a conceptual brain, IMO.
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100%

The one thing that can get difficult in my opinion is dealing with curved shapes when designing or when sewing. Once a person gets more comfortable with sewing smoothly and quickly, joining curved pieces or curved pieces to straight pieces becomes much easier.
 
4090Sharps said:
I might consider buying a pattern and doing a tutorial on my approach, but I'm honestly not sure what I could show that hasn't been covered elsewhere. Any specific aspects that are a struggle?

If you stare at a pack, maybe turn it inside out, and mentally break it down into individual seams/operations and pieces, you might find that it's simpler than you originally imagined. Since binding panels is generally a final step, it gives you a place to start in figuring out the order of operations taken to produce the final product. Other clues like the number of layers, folds, and direction of folds will also help determine the order of operations.
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I have sewed and constructed a fair number of products including 4 saddles, bags, pack mods, etc and feel like I am competent. However, I think a tutorial on your mindset and approach along with some tips and tricks for those who already know the basics would be incredible. You are next level and there just aren't that many gear fabrication-oriented resources that I have found outside of some of the rip stop by the roll stuff on youtube and some of the hiking/recreational stuff. Noone is making sewing videos for hunters and even though its niche, I would eat up some tips on bombproof construction, multiple Cordura layers, molle alignment etc, etc.
 
BackSpasm said:
I have sewed and constructed a fair number of products including 4 saddles, bags, pack mods, etc and feel like I am competent. However, I think a tutorial on your mindset and approach along with some tips and tricks for those who already know the basics would be incredible. You are next level and there just aren't that many gear fabrication-oriented resources that I have found outside of some of the rip stop by the roll stuff on youtube and some of the hiking/recreational stuff. Noone is making sewing videos for hunters and even though its niche, I would eat up some tips on bombproof construction, multiple Cordura layers, molle alignment etc, etc.
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You might be disappointed in my mindset and approach :tearsofjoy: I've got a couple ideas bouncing around, but it might make a good summer project for me. I have also never messed around with video or filming, so that would be fun to learn.
 
BackSpasm said:
I have sewed and constructed a fair number of products including 4 saddles, bags, pack mods, etc and feel like I am competent. However, I think a tutorial on your mindset and approach along with some tips and tricks for those who already know the basics would be incredible. You are next level and there just aren't that many gear fabrication-oriented resources that I have found outside of some of the rip stop by the roll stuff on youtube and some of the hiking/recreational stuff. Noone is making sewing videos for hunters and even though its niche, I would eat up some tips on bombproof construction, multiple Cordura layers, molle alignment etc, etc.
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100% agree. I have built all you have listed as well but I still think that I could learn something from 4090sharps tips and tricks. I know he could probably help us avoid some mistakes, etc.
 
Wondering if instead of YouTube videos we could arrange a zoom call with some sewing machines. " No, don't pin it like that, pin it like this, pull from this end to keep that seam flat, this is how you bunch the fabric around the machine head to get to that spot etc. That sort of thing. That would be really cool. Difficult to schedule perhaps, but cool idea. Gives me inspiration to get that industrial back out, after breaking the tabletop I was using I went back to the cheap modern singer... And recently broke that trying to sew too heavy with plastic gears.
 
thedutchtouch said:
Wondering if instead of YouTube videos we could arrange a zoom call with some sewing machines. " No, don't pin it like that, pin it like this, pull from this end to keep that seam flat, this is how you bunch the fabric around the machine head to get to that spot etc. That sort of thing. That would be really cool. Difficult to schedule perhaps, but cool idea. Gives me inspiration to get that industrial back out, after breaking the tabletop I was using I went back to the cheap modern singer... And recently broke that trying to sew too heavy with plastic gears.
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I’ve done a few FaceTime calls helping some guys out. It’s hard to do without someone holding/manipulating the camera for you. Also most of my technique is boring and simple and I’m a mere mortal compared to these pack sewing gurus. I’ve toyed with the idea of doing a full saddle build video but nobody wants to watch a video that long.
 
JCLINE84 said:
I’ve done a few FaceTime calls helping some guys out. It’s hard to do without someone holding/manipulating the camera for you. Also most of my technique is boring and simple and I’m a mere mortal compared to these pack sewing gurus. I’ve toyed with the idea of doing a full saddle build video but nobody wants to watch a video that long.
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I'd watch it! I loved Jerry's videos when I first started building. I probably logged a 40 hour week watching that stuff.

@4090Sharps this is easily one of the most informative and comprehensive posts I've seen on this forum. Kudos to you. I just did a little monkeying around with some stock packs from MR and I cannot wrap my head around the level of detail you must've had to contend with to create these. I'm impressed and maybe a little in love with what you built. But then, you've been one of the greats for several years. I think I was a very early user of one of your roll up pouches, if you need another dummy I'm happy to hump one of your packs around! Lol. I mean, I've probably have to sell an eberlestock, 3 MR packs and a Cabelas frame pack, but I think that juice definitely would be worth the squeeze!
 
JCLINE84 said:
I’ve done a few FaceTime calls helping some guys out. It’s hard to do without someone holding/manipulating the camera for you. Also most of my technique is boring and simple and I’m a mere mortal compared to these pack sewing gurus. I’ve toyed with the idea of doing a full saddle build video but nobody wants to watch a video that long.
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Can confirm I would watch it as well!
 
BackSpasm said:
Can confirm I would watch it as well!
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If I end up doing some videos, I think @always89y has set the bar pretty high with his production videos.

It might be a fun exercise to grab an old Fieldline or similar pack out of the closet, then replicate it with improvements for use and durability. Time is always a limiting factor for me though.
 
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