I am CragSwag. I can be found at climbing walls and crags.The idea for CragSwag started in about 2009 and slowly developed from there. I say slowly, it took me about two years to actually start making anything for it and even then it was a slow process. There was a lot of swearing, unpicking of stitches and coffee.
The first item I made was a boulder mat as me and some mates were going to Font again. It came out ok, considering it was the first one, and was actually usable. I was very surprised and a little chuffed that it worked as it's safe to say I had assumed the thing would fall apart after one problem. Not so! It mostly survived the whole trip and I still use it two years later.
However, I learnt a lot from making it, especially about what not to do, and learnt what worked - such as the zips, foam, pockets.........
Simple things I learnt were:
- Heavy duty canvas does not automatically equal non-stretch canvas and you cannot guarantee it's waterproof. Not an issue in Font as it was 30 degrees the whole time, but I live and climb in the UK mostly so I needed something better suited to the British climate.
- Stretchy fabric is quite annoying when carrying a big boulder mat and if you are 5' 4" a strong wind will blow you over if the mat is already inclined to move about.
- Foam is a pain in the ar#e to fit into anything. Imagine a very angry dwarf being wrestled into a space not quite big enough for it and you are close.
- If a seam is landed on by an 11 stone man for 10 days it may break if the fabric stretches!
- Shoulder straps need to be very accurate to be comfortable and they also need to be detachable or you'll end up permanently covered in sand/dust/mud/sheep poo etc....
- A big boulder mat is not necessary and one set of foam would be plenty, even for sleeping on.
- Zips are better than Velcro.
- Pockets are very, very useful (and so is carpet).
- The European boulderers accept that the British are mad and so carrying round a huge, stretchy half broken boulder mat isn't an issue and, due to sympathy, gets you free cake.
Due to said issues I didn't feel comfortable in my 'product' being out on the 'market' so I took it back home and promised to fix it. My friend will see it again one day.
Said boulder mat was part of a collection of foam I had purchased from Alpkit and said foam has now moved the three different houses with me and been stored at one boss's climbing wall (thank you Redpoint Climbing Centre in Birmingham for the use of your cellar).However, as I now have an office (spare room, currently used to dry washing and grow lettuce) and a dining table (used to store post, Monopoly board, sewing machine, keys etc... we eat at it on special occasions or if we have guests over to make us appear more middle class) I am now a little bit more set up to make more stuff.
It's been a hive of activity...................... lots of thinking.
The next item was a chalk bag for my friends company. This turned out really well and he happily displays it every time we go climbing or at least when he's climbing with me. I also learnt a lot from making it and realised that it was a lot easier than I expected. At least I realised it was a lot easier if I a. had a pattern and b. followed that pattern.
As I was on a roll; I then made a guidebook cover and this turned out really well to. Well, the 2nd one turned out really well. The first go ended up on the floor in various pieces as I had a small tantrum - much to my partners amusement. However, end result = good and it's usable. I even have an order! My first order. I'm sure i'll get round to it soon......
Lastly, my partner (seeing that I was on a roll or maybe just taking the opportunity while the sewing machine was out) asked me to make him a rubbish bag for walk-ins. He has used said item already and professes that it's 'awesome' - but he lives with me so not sure how much is boyfriend obligation.
So - ONWARDS!!!!
