On to the real reason for this post. Guys, everyone here has several hobbies or avocations that include our shared favorite, the shooting sports. Recently, my wife surprised me on my 50th birthday by getting me a brand new sewing machine - that's right, a Bernina 350PE - to get me jump-started on a craft hobby I've always wanted to get into, QUILTING. Yes, the manly art of sewing with the intent of creating quilts! My big interest is related to family - with both sides of my own family very much carrying on the fine tradition of quilting in some way. Sewing also appeals to me because of the many practical applications - as an avid hiking and camping family (my wife and I, not so much anyone else in our family!) I end up often wishing to be able to repair, modify, or alter my camp gear and packs.
Which brings us to the topic of the day - my initial efforts to modify hunting/hiking gear with my new Bernina sewing machine. Many of you guys, either former/active duty military, or hunters and outdoorsmen, appreciate the practicality of military BDU's or ACU's and as a former Virginia Guard guy, I grew up with the old-school "legacy" Woodland camo BDU's. Always enjoyed them after service for the practicality of the cargo pants and/or shirts. When digital ACU's came out on surplus, I began getting them for hiking/camping as they have been cheap at gun shows when I see some of the usual vendors I know. Of course, the current Multicam uniforms the Army uses in A-stan, and the Marpat uniforms the Marines use are becoming more available as used surplus at the gun shows too, and I like just about any variety of camo I come across for the different woods and fields conditions in my area.
The "tactical tailor" DIY modifications (mods) that you see out there on such clothing ranges from the mild to the wild (look into the RAID mods folks do with their gear) but for me, I had always been interested in a few basic alterations to make these newer uniforms better suit my purposes. One thing I like is more QUIET and less VELCRO in some parts of these newer uniforms. In this post, I am just showing a few pics of my very beginning efforts to replace velcro take-up strips for the Multicam shirt sleeve cuffs with buttonholes and a button - which I modeled from the Marine's Marpat combat shirt cuffs. Very easy to do - my new sewing machine has a great computer with a ton of stitching programs - buttonholes tops the list of ones I will be using a bunch.
After I used a seam ripper to remove both Velcro panels, I measured the 3 buttonholes on the Marpat shirt and just used a Sharpie on the inside of the cuff on my "project" shirt to aim myself. After you sew a buttonhole, you use either a knife or scissors to cut the hole between your threads, and you are good to go! Same weekend I did the cuffs on this shirt, I replaced the velcro tabs on my ACU pant's pockets with buttonholes as well. Even made my wife happy by repairing one of her favorite summer pants that had a broken metal snap stud with a button and buttonhole instead!
OK, so I am pleased as punch with my new toy and learning new skills. This thing also punches through cordura and heavy canvas like butter! I made velcro "keeper" tabs for my cheap rigger's belt I wear when hiking/camping outdoors - instead of buying a 30-40 dollar belt that had velcro, I just added on my own - very satisfying indeed! So hope y'all get me some feedback - maybe some of you folks do the same, tailor your own gear, use a machine - I am looking for more ideas and projects. Have a great weekend!
We've been 2-3 times, and like to spend a night at the lake(s). 
We even had an Arabian tapestry exhibit 2 years ago. 
It's normally about 3-4 days, so bring your camper.