mending gear bags
June 19, 2018 3:26 PM Subscribe
I currently have two bags for checking strollers or car seats on planes that I got for free because they're a bit beat up. I'm decent at sewing but don't have much experience with mending.
Does anyone have advice on how to tackle this? They seem to be ripstop nylon though not waterproof. I would rather try to use materials I already have on hand (like bits of canvas or possibly other nylon fabrics) but I'm wondering if some sort of tent patching kit would work better. Some of the tears are a few inches long and the fabric is a bit shredded in those spots.
Does anyone have advice on how to tackle this? They seem to be ripstop nylon though not waterproof. I would rather try to use materials I already have on hand (like bits of canvas or possibly other nylon fabrics) but I'm wondering if some sort of tent patching kit would work better. Some of the tears are a few inches long and the fabric is a bit shredded in those spots.
Best answer: You could use ripstop but it doesn't really matter too much here. Matching the thickness/stretchiness of the bag's material to your repair material might make things easier to sew.
If you just need them to be functional take a square of canvas an inch bigger in each dimension than your tear (ie if you have a tear that's a slit that's 3" long make your piece of canvas 2x5", if you have a 1x1" make your piece of canvas 3x3").
Do a quick zigzag stitch around the edge of your canvas patch to keep it from fraying.
Pin your patch to the inside of your bag (to somewhat hide your patch material), sew the edges of the patch down, and then make a grid of stitching over the entire patch. Use a grid spacing of ~1/4".
posted by gregr at 4:18 PM on June 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
If you just need them to be functional take a square of canvas an inch bigger in each dimension than your tear (ie if you have a tear that's a slit that's 3" long make your piece of canvas 2x5", if you have a 1x1" make your piece of canvas 3x3").
Do a quick zigzag stitch around the edge of your canvas patch to keep it from fraying.
Pin your patch to the inside of your bag (to somewhat hide your patch material), sew the edges of the patch down, and then make a grid of stitching over the entire patch. Use a grid spacing of ~1/4".
posted by gregr at 4:18 PM on June 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
gregr is describing how to do it right.
A quick and dirty shortcut is repair tape such as Tenacious Tape. Don't use duct tape, because it's too stiff and the adhesive comes undone eventually.
I've also heard of iron-on patches, but have no experience with them.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 7:12 PM on June 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
A quick and dirty shortcut is repair tape such as Tenacious Tape. Don't use duct tape, because it's too stiff and the adhesive comes undone eventually.
I've also heard of iron-on patches, but have no experience with them.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 7:12 PM on June 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yep, add a big patch over the rips, tears and worn spots.
A big nylon patch over several tears is better than several small patches.
Synthetic thread, patches and bag go together.
It's okay to pre-patch areas of major scuffing. Likewise, reinforce the straps where they connect with the bag.
Now is a good time to make the bag unique. A contrast color says this is your bag.
Zigzag stitches over the patch edges are both decorative and functional.
A metal thimble and heavy duty upholstery needle are good investments.
I would not use iron-on or stick-on patches. They usually don't stay in place, they aren't the right size and a hot iron and nylon are a bad combination.
posted by TrishaU at 12:51 AM on June 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
A big nylon patch over several tears is better than several small patches.
Synthetic thread, patches and bag go together.
It's okay to pre-patch areas of major scuffing. Likewise, reinforce the straps where they connect with the bag.
Now is a good time to make the bag unique. A contrast color says this is your bag.
Zigzag stitches over the patch edges are both decorative and functional.
A metal thimble and heavy duty upholstery needle are good investments.
I would not use iron-on or stick-on patches. They usually don't stay in place, they aren't the right size and a hot iron and nylon are a bad combination.
posted by TrishaU at 12:51 AM on June 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
Depending on your fashion (things above)... You use super-glue to take care of the fraying edges, and Dental Floss and a needle and just make it and maybe fix it over and over. I'd strip down some copper wire and make a nice shoelace pattern of shiny metal. I've also used a stapler (which doesn't work that well but looks cool while it lasts). This is along the lines of cuct-tape... and yes I have a pair of jeans held together with purple duct-tape manly because I don't have an iron to try the iron-on patches and it adds a bit of character..
posted by zengargoyle at 1:55 AM on June 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by zengargoyle at 1:55 AM on June 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Sugru is also good for some repairs, in this case if you need to pad corners a bit.
posted by egk at 7:26 AM on June 21, 2018
posted by egk at 7:26 AM on June 21, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jenkinsEar at 3:40 PM on June 19, 2018 [3 favorites]