Make Your Own Gear: Essential Tool List

I've been making my own gear for a few years now including stuff sacks, packs, mid-layer mods, and running accessories. Below is the list of tools and supplies I keep coming back to, organized by how essential they are to getting started.

Tools

You don't need much to get started. A cutting mat, a sharp blade, and some clips will carry you through your first few projects. I've grouped everything into three tiers so you can build up as you go.

• Must have
  • Arteza cutting mat – Self-healing surface for cutting fabric. Get at least the 24"×36" size so you have room to lay out full panels. This one is multi-sided vinyl, which extends its life.
  • Fiskars rotary cutter – Clean cuts with minimal pressure, especially on curves. The 60 mm blade handles most fabric weights.
  • Fiskars Fabric Scissors (8 inch) - left handed – For cuts where the rotary cutter won't reach (notches, tight corners, trimming seam allowance).
  • Clover seam ripper – You will make mistakes. This removes stitches without shredding the fabric.
  • Westcott metal ruler (18 inch) – A straight edge for marking and guiding the rotary cutter. Metal won't get nicked by the blade.
  • Generic plastic clips – Hold fabric layers together without leaving pin holes. Essential for laminates like DCF that shouldn't be pinned.
• Should have
  • Generic thread scissors – Small and sharp for snipping thread tails at the machine. Faster than reaching for your fabric shears.
  • Sharpie metallic markers – Show up on dark fabrics where chalk won't. The silver is my go-to for black and navy materials.
  • Quilting ruler 6×24" – Transparent with grid markings, so you can align seam allowances and cut parallel lines without measuring twice.
• Nice to have
  • Wonder tape – Dissolvable adhesive tape that holds stretch fabrics in place while you sew. Washes out completely.
  • Clover white chaco liner – Chalk wheel for marking light-colored fabrics. Lines brush off cleanly when you're done.

Supplies

These are the on-hand materials I restock between projects:

• Gutermann Extra Strong Thread - Black – Heavy-duty polyester for high-stress seams: pack straps, hip belts, webbing attachment points.
• Gutermann Sew-All Thread - Black – General-purpose polyester for everything else. I use this on most stuff sack and garment mods.
• Micro cord (1.18mm) – Lightweight drawstring cord. Used it on my tent and stake bags.
• Grosgrain 3/8" ribbon – Seam reinforcement and binding for raw edges on non-stretch fabrics.
• Nylon 1" webbing – Shoulder straps, compression straps, daisy chains. Strong and abrasion-resistant.
• Shock cord (3/32") – Stretchy cord for cinch closures, bungee lashing, and roll-top adjustments.
• Elastic band (1") – Waistbands, cuffs, or any edge that needs to stretch and recover.

Final thoughts

You can get through your first project with just the "must have" tier and a spool of thread. Focus on acquiring the must-have tools first, then gradually add more once you know what you're making regularly.

If you have questions about any of these or want to suggest something I'm missing, get in touch.

Thanks for reading!