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Zipper, Pockets, Holes

The Legacy Pack Project

The Dog Ate The Hydration Pack

The dog got into this pack after its owner left food inside, and the resulting damage was extensive. I had to patch multiple large holes and rebuild parts of the pocket.

Hats Too Big: 3 Ways to Fix It

Long floppy straps barely connecting, or hats that slip around on your head, keep many of us from wearing hats. But ‘Hats Too Big: 3 Ways to Fix It’ shows you simple ways to solve these problems.

Patching Your Pack and More: General Rules for Patching Holes

In this video, I review some basic guidelines for patching holes in packs and other gear, including patch material and stitch choices. I draw out the basic approach on the whiteboard, then show several real examples from recent repairs I have completed.

The Dog Ate The Hydration Pack

The dog got into this pack after its owner left food inside, and the resulting damage was extensive. I had to patch multiple large holes and rebuild parts of the pocket.

Hats Too Big: 3 Ways to Fix It

Long floppy straps barely connecting, or hats that slip around on your head, keep many of us from wearing hats. But ‘Hats Too Big: 3 Ways to Fix It’ shows you simple ways to solve these problems.

Patching Your Pack and More: General Rules for Patching Holes

In this video, I review some basic guidelines for patching holes in packs and other gear, including patch material and stitch choices. I draw out the basic approach on the whiteboard, then show several real examples from recent repairs I have completed.

Fixing Worn-Out Mesh

This video shows how to cover a very damaged section of mesh on a hydration pack. As I learned in the Dead Pack video below, removing the power mesh causes a repair nightmare, and this is the easy way to get your pack to last another race or another season.

Adding zipper pockets to a jacket

This will be a big one, current edit is 34 minutes. It’s step by step how to add a zipper pocket to a jacket. You will need sewing skills to tackle this one, but I guide you through the process step by step.

Re-attaching a Detached zipper pull

Save that zipper pull if it comes off. By saving it, my client saved $$. And I was able to put it back on and secure the zipper so it won’t happen again.

Mending a hole in the inseam of running shorts

This four and a half minute video describes one method of repairing the hole and reinforcing the inseam when there isn’t much fabric to work with. I use the cover stitch machine and the sewing machine in this repair.

Patching holes with hearts

This 6 minute video teaches you how to patch holes with heart shaped appliqués. Moths attacked a wool running shirt, leaving multiple holes. This video patches them with heart shaped appliqués. Also outlined with reflective thread allowing the wearer to be more visible, and safer at night.

Mending Small Holes

This 3 minute video shows the steps for hand sewing small holes to keep them from becoming bigger holes. It talks about durability vs appearance and that fact that a good mend might mean having some stitches show.

Patching a hole in running tights

This short 2 min 43 second video showcases how to patch large holes on technical stretch fabric. The video demonstrates how to repair it by hand with a needle and thread.

Replacing a zipper on jacket pocket

This 8 minute video demonstrates replacing a broken zipper on a biking jacket. It uses both sewing machine and a serger. The videos demonstrate the use of continuous nylon coil zippers and replacement zipper pulls.

Replacing a zipper on a hydration pack/running vest by hand

This 22 minute video teaches you how to replace a zipper on a running vest/ hydration pack yourself, without using a sewing machine. Step by step instructions and pro tips to head off common mistakes.

Up-cycling old shirts into a seat cover

I turned about a dozen old running shirts into a washable car seat cover. The shirts were cut into strips, braided, and sewn onto a shirt used as the base. Webbing and a buckle attach the cover to the headrest, while Velcro connects the separate back and seat sections.

Making an Ice Bandana

This short, four and a half minute, video demonstrates how to make an ice bandana out of an old race shirt. You only need basic sewing skills to make the bandana. I use a serger in the video, but a sewing machine also works well. If you want help making one for yourself and you are in my service area, this is a quick project , so contact me.

Fixing Worn-Out Mesh

This video shows how to cover a very damaged section of mesh on a hydration pack. As I learned in the Dead Pack video below, removing the power mesh causes a repair nightmare, and this is the easy way to get your pack to last another race or another season.

The old Hydration Pack is Dead | The Legacy Pack Project Begins

This well-loved hydration pack had reached the point where repair was no longer practical, so I decided to take it apart and learn from its construction. By leaving one side intact, I have a manufactured example to study as I begin figuring out how to build a new pack. Welcome to the Legacy Pack Project. Don’t try this at home. 😂

Mile Madness 2026

This video is part race report and part documentation of my first on-site sewing event. It is not my typical sewing tutorial; those will come soon. It’s set to music, so you don’t even have to listen to me. 🎶

Making Gaiters

This week’s new YouTube video is a little different—it’s not a tutorial. It shows how I make the gaiters for Heidi Garner Studio. I think of this as my “real job,” and it was definitely what launched Achievement Repair and Gear. So, if you own a pair of Heidi’s gaiters, this is their origin story. Hope you like it. ❤️