Neuroscientist + Curious Mind + Passionate Maker
After getting hooked on making my own trail gear in 2023—thanks to my successful day pack builds—I knew I wanted to keep making my own gear. This time, I wanted to make a lumbar pack that could comfortably carry 2 liters of water, some snacks, and still sit nicely on the hips. Fitting the Hipbelt... Continue Reading →
I can’t help but feel like I’m tempting fate by making these pants again almost exactly a year later! Last year, I was rushing to finish them before a trip to San Francisco, only to end up in the ER with pulmonary embolisms, canceling the trip entirely. Despite that rough start, the hiking pants turned... Continue Reading →
A quick note for my subscribers who receive my posts as newsletters in their inbox. WordPress.com now allows me to set how replies are handled. Before, whenever anyone replied, their reply would be placed as a public comment on the post. I'm now able to have replies sent to my email instead. I know this... Continue Reading →
You can never have too many layering options for cooler weather! I decided to try out Polartec’s Alpha Direct fleece and thought the Sunday Zip Jacket from Style Arc would be the perfect pattern for this project. I wanted something beyond a basic raglan design—something with a bit more shape and flexibility. Plus, it works... Continue Reading →
This year, I wanted to make a hammock I could easily carry in my daypack while hiking. I wanted it partly to force me to slow down and relax outdoors and partly as a backup if I can't hike that day because of pain / lingering health issues. I was not prepared for the trove... Continue Reading →
The moment I saw the Know Me ME2041 Convertible Pants from Donny Q (@_donnyq), I immediately knew I would make the pattern. Several years ago, I made the Green Pepper Sunset Bay zip-leg pants, and there were a few things about the pattern that I didn't love. First was the lack of a side seam.... Continue Reading →
I have a down jacket that no longer fits. It's never really fit, but it definitely doesn't work anymore. It's a 10-year-old Arc'teryx Thorium AR. It has always been a bit snug, and the arms and torso are short. I've gotten used to the jacket over the years, and my entire winter layering system depends... Continue Reading →
Ryan desperately needed a new tote bag to carry his many bottles and lunch bag. The old bag was frayed and falling apart. Moreover, it couldn't hold all three bottles and his lunch bag. I figured out the footprint needed to fit everything (12 inches tall, 10 inches wide, and 9 inches deep). However, trying... Continue Reading →
This was a massive project for me, but I was determined to complete it this year in time for the summer hiking season. The reason for making our daypacks was to get a better fit on our shoulders and reduce the pack's weight overall. I was able to accomplish both. The packs are 63-77% lighter... Continue Reading →
I reviewed men's joggers a while ago, and one of the patterns I evaluated was the Iron joggers from Green Style. Based on my review, I knew I would have to center the grainline at the knee, raise the waistline, and move the center grainline towards the side seam for both the front and back... Continue Reading →
I had just enough fabric left over from my Brassie joggers and Ryan's Iron joggers to make us new winter hats. The Haslam Hat from Thread Theory was close enough in style to our old The North Face hats, so here's the results. Analyzing Style and Fit The Haslam hat comes in three different sizes... Continue Reading →
After my first prototype, I adjusted the pattern to better fit my body. If you want more information about the materials used and where on the pack, check out my previous post. Pattern Prototype 2 The significant changes occurred at the top of the back piece. First, I widened the back piece from 11-1/2 to... Continue Reading →
