Do It Yourself: Camping Equipment

The whole point of camping and backpacking is getting out and enjoying nature. Ideally, you shouldn't need a wad of cash to appreciate your time outdoors. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on top-end gear, make your own camping equipment with some nylon fabric and a few specialized notions and supplies available at sewing stores and specialty outfitters. Getting outdoors is more fun when you know you can make and repair your own gear.

Things You'll Need

  • Nylon waterproof fabric
  • Webbing
  • Batting
  • Grommets
  • Nylon rope
  • Closed-cell foam sleeping pad
  • Yarn needle
  • Strong yarn
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Instructions

  1. The Tarp Tent

    • 1

      Decide on the length and width of your tarp tent; long enough and wide enough to cover the number of people lying down next to one another with some room for gear. The tarp should cover an area about 100 inches long by 90 inches wide for a two-person tent.

    • 2

      Cut a rectangle in the tarp about 100 inches long by 114 inches wide. Cut six pieces of webbing approximately 6 inches long. Cut four pieces of nylon rope each 3 feet long. Cut two pieces of nylon rope 6 feet long.

    • 3

      Hem all the edges of the tarp by turning the raw edges under twice and sewing them.

    • 4

      Double a piece of webbing and sew it to a corner of the tarp with the loop side facing out. Do this on each of the four corners. Lay the tarp out on the floor and find the centers of the two longer sides. Sew a webbing loop to the center of the two long sides to make the loops for the peak of the tarp tent.

    • 5

      Tie the shorter nylon guy ropes to the webbing loop at the corners. Tie the two longer guy lines to the loops for the peak. These guy lines will all be used when you erect the tent.

    Make a backpack

    • 6

      Cut a rectangle of nylon 30 inches tall and about 50 inches long. Cut a circle 16 inches in diameter. Cut two pieces of webbing long enough to reach from the top of your shoulders to your waist.

    • 7

      Sew the short ends of the rectangle together to make a tube. Sew the circle to the bottom of this tube.

    • 8

      Fold over the top of the rectangular tube to make a channel for a drawstring. Thread a piece of nylon rope through the channel and tie it in a bow. This is the top of the backpack.

    • 9

      Mark the top of the backpack where you think the shoulder straps should be located. Sew one end of the strap to the top of the backpack, and the other end to the backpack at waist level. Do the same with the other strap.

    • 10

      Cut a closed-cell foam sleeping pad in half and roll it into a cylinder. Insert it into the backpack to hold the sides rigid. This pad can be used to sleep on when you are camping.

    Make a quilt

    • 11

      Experiment with various blankets and quilts that you have at home to determine the size quilt you want to make --- for one or two people. Cut two pieces of nylon in the desired size.

    • 12

      Cut a piece of polyester batting slightly smaller than the size of the quilt.

    • 13

      Sew the two sides of the nylon quilt together on three sides. Turn it right-side-out, and insert the batting. Fold the raw edges of the third side to the inside and sew them together by hand or machine.

    • 14

      Thread a long needle with strong string or yarn. Sew through all three layers of the quilt at intervals about 6 inches apart. Insert the needle down through the quilt layers and back upward. Don't pull the yarn tight; allow some space for the batting to expand. If it is too compressed, it won't be warm. Do this all over the quilt so that the layers of nylon shell and batting won't shift.