Making My Own Gear
There is something magical about starting out with a piece of cloth and turning it into something useful. Maybe it turns into a stuff sack, maybe a sleeping bag, or a hammock, or warm mittens, an insulated jacket, even a hat. I’ve made all those things and lots of other sewing projects over the last 10 years, ever since my wife, Nancy, taught me to sew.
Most of the time I had something in mind when I started a project. Like, say, replacing my wind jacket or improving my hammock. Then you acquire the fabric you need, create or improvise a pattern, and have at it. But my recent project was a bit backwards compared to that. I started out with the fabric and had to come up with a project to fit the cloth.
Known as Polartec Alpha-Direct fleece, I got two yards of this hard to get material from a store in Canada in late 2022. A-D fleece is weird, cutting edge cloth used for so-called “active insulation.” This is very breathable, but warm fabric often used for base layers (think long johns.) if you look at this fleece from a distance, it looks like a regular fuzzy fleece. But up close it is more like a fishnet with fuzzy tufts along all the strings of the net. The holes are about a quarter inch in size and allow for moisture to exit and considerably more air transfer to occur than with regular woven cloth. The idea being that it keeps you warm with low exertion, but as you exert more it is able to spill some of the heat and sweat due to being so porous.
I decided to make a long sleeved pull over top. Using a hoody I had for a model, I roughed out a pattern for a hoodless hoody, then snugged up the neck a little. When I was satisfied with my pattern, I pinned everything up, cut the pieces, and started sewing them together.
Working with A-D fleece is a little like sewing gossamer, but with lots of patience I was eventually able to cobble a shirt together. It actually fit, and looks pretty reasonable. It weighs in at an astounding 4.4 oz. (125g) or about 1/3 less than my ultralight merino wool base layer which it will replace. And, although it is meant to be worn against the skin under a shirt, it can easily be worn over a shirt as a lightweight sweater.
As a bonus, with the leftover material, I made a pair of sleep socks (0.5oz) which will replace my 3oz wool pair.
Next week I’ll talk about my resupply plan for the OHT. Not quite as easy as you may think.
Happy Trails
Who knew you had such talent! That information hadn’t arrived on the East Coast or even here in Carpinteria. Time! It’s always about time. We live our priorities. Your prep for the trails makes all the sense in the world.
Dan, I always think that planning a trip is half the fun. And as to my needlecraft abilities, lets just say it may not be pretty, but I can get the job done :^)