Tips for Sewing Off-Grid

Picture this - you pull up to your camp spot with an epic view of the mountains and pull out your sewing machine for the evening. You’re building the gear you’ll use in the morning when you head into the backcountry - an accessory bag, fanny pack, or even a full backpack. The sky is the limit, and what a beautiful sky it is.

Whrrrrrrrrr goes the sewing machine, crackle goes the fire. 

Whether you're just looking for a change of scenery for your projects or are traveling long-term with your machine, it’s easier than you think to bring your sewing along.

Here are a few tips to make gear anywhere:

The only essential to doing serious sewing on the go (unless you’re a powerhouse hand-sewer) is electricity. You’ll need the power to get your machine going - either from a portable battery, a generator or by using an inverter for your car. If you do the latter, only take on quick projects or leave the car running so you don’t end up stranded with a dead car battery.

A sewing machine takes about 40-60W while running, so even on a solar generator ( Like this), you can sew for a few hours. Keep in mind that anywhere electricity is involved needs to be water free!

We all need a little… The stars will be out soon. Until then, set up your mobile sew studio somewhere you can move your projects around on. A large camp table lets you sew and assemble your project without it dragging in the dirt. You can also sew a mat for your foot pedal so it doesn’t get too dirty. 

A little extra space is also helpful for cutting. For weekend sewers, you can cut everything at home - fabric, zippers, webbing, bungee - and put it in a ziplock bag so you have a pre-built sewing kit with everything needed to finish the project. Those taking on full projects outdoors will need a place to cut everything out. If you have a cutting mat and a rotary knife, you can throw that on your van or camper table, a tailgate, or a camp table. For those using scissors, dive right in!

When you're working in a small space, it's important to have everything organized - nothing is more frustrating than losing a chalk pencil in the dirt or misplacing your snips. A ditty bag is perfect for keeping larger tools and smaller bags of extras, like needles, thread, sewing clips, and other small items. Alternatively, a tool roll can work well to keep everything in one place so you’ll know exactly where things are when you need them.

Combining hobbies is fun, and pairing the outdoors and sewing is a match made in heaven. It feels fitting to build packs for the mountains in the mountains, all powered by solar power, fresh air, and fire-roasted brats. With just a little planning and preparation you can sew cool things outdoors to take outdoors!