Starting your MYOG (Make Your Own Gear) journey is one of the most rewarding ways to build your skills, create customized gear, and gain confidence with your sewing machine. If you’ve recently upgraded to a heavy-duty machine — or even if you’re still using a sturdy beginner model — there are plenty of great projects you can dive into right away.
In this post, I’ll share five beginner-friendly, easy MYOG projects that will help you practice sewing heavier materials, learn new construction techniques, and start building your own field-ready gear. I’ll also introduce a few upcoming tutorials to help you level up even further, plus show you how to start with kit-based builds if you’re working with a starter machine!
If you’re brand new to MYOG, you might also enjoy my Gear Maker 101 guide to help you gather your first tools and materials.
Why Start with Small, easy MYOG Projects?
Jumping into MYOG with smaller, focused projects gives you:
- Immediate Wins: Build confidence by completing functional gear you’ll actually use.
- Skill Development: Practice sewing heavier materials like nylon webbing, Cordura, and outdoor fabrics.
- Material Familiarity: Understand how different fabrics, webbings, and notions behave under the needle.
- Project Planning Practice: Learn how to lay out, measure, and assemble more complex builds down the road.
Whether you’re preparing for POTA (Parks on the Air) activations, building custom outdoor gear, or just wanting stronger everyday carry items, these projects are a great place to begin.
5 Beginner-Friendly, Easy MYOG Projects
1. Custom Webbing Dog Leash
- Skills Learned: Straight stitching, sewing webbing, hardware attachment, bar tacking.
- Materials: 1″ or 3/4″ nylon webbing, D-rings, snap hooks.
- Machine Notes: Manageable on a heavy-duty or sturdy beginner machine.
(Full tutorial and YouTube video coming soon!)
2. Adjustable Dog Collar
- Skills Learned: Webbing folding, precision stitching, using adjuster hardware, boxed X reinforcement.
- Materials: Nylon webbing, tri-glides, buckles, D-rings.
- Machine Notes: Very doable on starter machines; great small project for skill building.
(Full tutorial and YouTube video coming soon!)
3. Simple Gear Organizer Pouch
- Skills Learned: Sewing seams, installing zippers or drawstrings, topstitching.
- Materials: Lightweight Cordura or X-Pac, zippers, paracord.
- Machine Notes: Excellent practice project that works well on all machines.
4. Basic Roll-Up Tool or Antenna Storage Bag
- Skills Learned: Working with layered fabrics, edge binding, closures (Velcro, snaps).
- Materials: Heavier Cordura, lightweight foam padding, Velcro or buckles.
- Machine Notes: Heavier-duty machines preferred for better handling of bulk.
5. Beginner-Friendly Kit Build: ZPP Pouch or Tote Bag
- Skills Learned: Basic construction, seam alignment, lightweight outdoor materials.
- Materials: Pre-cut Ripstop by the Roll kit (ZPP Kit, Hip Pouch Kit, or Tote Bag Kit).
- Machine Notes: Starter machines and heavy-duty machines both work well!
Starter Machine-Friendly Kits
Kits like the ZPP Kit or Tote Bag Kit from Ripstop by the Roll are perfect for beginners. They’re pre-cut, easy to handle, and help you build confidence with outdoor fabrics even if you haven’t upgraded your machine yet. Great first step into MYOG!
Pro Tip: If you’re sewing from a kit, take time to measure or trace key pieces before assembly. Creating a simple template lets you re-make the project later, tweak the design, or adapt it for other gear needs!
Planning Your First MYOG Projects (Coming Soon!)
Before diving into your first MYOG projects, it’s worth spending a little time on planning. I’ll be posting a full tutorial soon on how to plan your MYOG sewing projects, covering layout tips, material choices, and simple templates to help you get started with confidence.
Conclusion
Getting started with MYOG doesn’t mean you have to jump into complicated backpacks or tents right away. Simple, functional projects like dog leashes, gear pouches, and even kit-based builds are perfect for building your skills one stitch at a time.
I’ll be posting full tutorials and step-by-step YouTube videos for several of these projects very soon. Make sure to follow me on Instagram and X at @printpresssew for updates — and if you’re working on your own MYOG builds, tag me and use #MYOGJourney so we can celebrate your progress together!
Stay tuned for more — your next great project is just a stitch away!
