Anyone used Frostline kits?
William Claspy
Has anyone out there used Frostline kits? I just got their catalog, and
the Ultrex full-zip pants look like just the ticket for the kind of
snowshoeing and XC skiing I do. And at about $50, the price seems right
too :-) How do they hold up next to the stuff from name brand gear
suppliers? I'm also wondering what skill level it takes to make them and
how they turn out. My wife is a pretty decent seamstress, and I have an
aunt whose work is nearly professional (she uses a surger and all.)
Posting or mail is fine.
Thanks!
Bill
--
William Claspy "Remain cool, calm, collected and crazy" Wavy Gravy
w...@po.cwru.edu Case Western Reserve University
William P. Claspy
Hey there!
Has anyone out there used Frostline kits? I just got their catalog,
and the Ultrex full-zip pants look like just the ticket for the kind
of snowshoeing and XC skiing I do. And at about $50, the price seems
right too :-) How do they hold up next to the stuff from name brand
gear suppliers? I'm also wondering what skill level it takes to make
them and how they turn out. My wife is a pretty decent seamstress, and
I have an aunt whose work is nearly professional (she uses a surger and
all.)
Posting or mail is fine. Crossposted to rec.backcountry and
rec.crafts.textiles.sewing.
Thanks!
Bill
--
William Claspy Case Western Reserve University
w...@po.cwru.edu "Stay cool, calm, collected and crazy." -Wavy Gravy
wendy lindboe
my sweetie, curt, and i have both made many items from frostline kits.
>...How do they hold up next to the stuff from name brand gear
>suppliers?
the fabric and notions are as good or better than store-bought
stuff.
I'm also wondering what skill level it takes to make them and
>how they turn out. My wife is a pretty decent seamstress, and I have an
>aunt whose work is nearly professional (she uses a surger and all.)
i find their instructions quite clear, and the fabric comes pre-cut.
the quality of the finished garment depends on your sewing skill.
there are no particularly difficult sewing techniques involved. the
most complicated is probably putting in a zipper. the only thing i've
ever had trouble with is sewing through multiple layers of webbing
(my machine balked at the thickness). other than that, no problem.
have fun, and let us know how it turns out.
wendy
Walt Weaver
: Hey there!
: Has anyone out there used Frostline kits?
I didn't realize Frostline was still in business. Back in 1970
my (then) new wife and I put together a couple of expedition down
parkas. The down came in tube-shaped bags that fit into the nylon
tubes of the parka. 90% of the down went in the tubes, but the rest
went EVERYWHERE. We had a blast putting the parkas together, had
great sex on the down we didn't get in the tubes, and still wear
the parkas on winter trips today.
If the current kits are as high in quality as the 1970's ones, I
recommend'em!!
--
Walt Weaver ww...@netcom.com
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Ksub
(William Claspy) writes:
>Has anyone out there used Frostline kits?
I thought they were long gone. I used to go their store in Denver, years
and years ago, that had a tremendous selection of kits. Made some
panniers for my touring bike from their kit, as well as my first gore-tex
jacket (well actually my wife helped a lot ) . Good stuff, but obviously
the end result depends on your ability with needle and thread. If you
anybody has an address or 800 number I would really like to get a hold of
a catalog.
Thanks,
Ken Williamson
Walter Darling
: : Hey there!
: : Has anyone out there used Frostline kits?
Glad to know Frostline is still making kits. I put a down bag together
in 1973 using a borrowed Singer portable. Had some problems because of
the size of the machine, but got it together and still use it. My wife
made a matching bag a few years later using her good machine and did a
greate job. Frostline had changed the type of zipper they were using, so
we had to find one that would zip to my bag... it was worth the trouble.
My wife also put together a down parka, vest and boots with no problems
except that the vest is too small to fit me know.
How can I get a Frostline catalog???
Walt
--
wdar...@netcom.com
kjal...@vax.oxford.ac.uk
> Has anyone out there used Frostline kits?
> suppliers? I'm also wondering what skill level it takes to make them and
> how they turn out. My wife is a pretty decent seamstress, and I have an
> aunt whose work is nearly professional (she uses a surger and all.)
>
> Posting or mail is fine.
> Thanks!
> Bill
When I was 8 we lived in Wyoming for a year and my mum made frostline parkas
for the whole family. Mine lasted till I was 18 and I only gave up on it
because I grew out of it. I think my mum still has hers... (I'm now 27). She
was a good seamstress but not professional, she made a lot of our clothes when
we were kids but mostly because it was cheaper, she says she prefers to make
kids clothes because they are less fussy (the kids that is, not the clothes),
but she occasionally makes Liberty waistcoats to order. I don't think they
were that difficult, the feathers came in predivided bags and I remember
helping with mine by melting the ends of the zipper or something!
Katie
cr...@ouvaxa.cats.ohiou.edu
>In reference to the Frostline kits: I have never heard of them, but would love
to receive the catalog. Does anyone have an address or phone #? It would be
greatly appreciated! Post or e-mail. Thanks much!
Laura
Mike Blackwell
Frostline's phone number is 1-800-KITS-USA (sorry, I didn't see a
non-800 number listed). I just got their latest catalog this weekend.
They pretty much have the same kits as they've had for the past 15
years, but with more moderm fabrics (Suplex, Ultrex). Some new stuff
(pile jackets, for instance). No more tents.
They now have a very complete line of fabrics, zippers, rings,
grommets, and all the other assorted do-dads you need if you want to
build from scratch.
I've built a number of kits (including a tent and backpack) over the
years, and have always been very pleased. I started with no sewing
experience - the instructions are very good. Most of the stuff I've
built has outlasted similar pre-made gear. My only warning is that
some kits, such as packs, require a heavy-duty sewing machine to get
through the layers of heavy cloth and webbing.
Another big advantage for me - I can make clothing that fits! I'm tall
and thin. With the kits, it's easy to take an XL kit and trim the side
to make it narrower and adjust the sleeve length appropriately.
good luck, Mike Blackwell m...@cs.cmu.edu
LARSON ELLIOTT KINGSLE
I haven't personally sewn a Frostline kit but I've used a
bunch of stuff my mom sewed that is from Frostline kits. I've used a
duffle bag, a jacket, a tent, and my sister's got a sleeping bag; all
Frostline. It's pretty cool stuff, especially if you want to make
custom adjustments to your gear 'cause you're making it yourself. I don't
know the phone number off hand but if you call 1-800 directory
assistance, I think it's 1-800-555-1212 but I'm not sure because I don't
use it very often, and ask for Frostline I know they'll give you the
number. I'm pretty sure they're in Grand Junction, Colorado incase you
didn't know.
-Elliott (lar...@ucsu.Colorado.EDU)
Ann E Durham
it. Their instructions are very clear, and the down is prepackaged so it
doesn't fly all over the room. Go for it!
--Ann
Pete Townsend
if you have it handy. A friend of mine did up 5 -6 things from them and
had a ball doing it. they used to have stores all over, inc luuding one
quite close to work here
PT
Dragon7654
in regaurds to your post about frostline kits. a man that i backpack with
bought a frostline tent a while back and him and his wife sewed it all
themselves and it turned out great. it's a pretty nice little tent can't
recall the name of the kit name though. but frostline kits seem like a
very good idea if you can sew.
Steven C. Dopp
them either this year or last. Most of the items in the catalog look
identical to their 1972 patterns, which was the last time I looked at
Frostline products. I had a friend in the early 70's who made a
Frostline down sweater which I liked. However, when looking at the
Frostline catalog last year for a new down sweater, I passed on their
product as the price was not any lower than for an off-the-rack down
sweater from REI.
--
Steven Dopp (afn...@freenet.ufl.edu)
Barnacle Wes
kits in the 70s, when we were teenagers, some of them are still in
service now. Also, it taught us enough about sewing that we went on
to make our own custom gear - sail bags and motorcycle luggage for
me, and a highly custom rainbow mummy bag for my brother. He's still
using the bag 14 years later!
Please, send me their address. I'd love to see one of their catalogs
again. I might even send it on to my brother, who's now living in
Deutschland.
Wes Peters
Kenneth C. Crea
>Hey there!
I made an Ultrex rainsuit from a Frostline kit as one of my first sewing
projects. The price was reasonable ($40 for the jacket and $29 for the
pants) but more expensive than starting from scratch. The directions were
easy to follow even for a beginner. I had no problems with the kit (it came
complete with all notions and the fabric is pre-cut) but I did have a lot of
trouble sewing Ultrex. The rubber-like backing sticks like crazy to the
presser foot of my machine. I finally ended up borrowing my sister's Pfaff
1475 with walking foot which worked great. (I sure wish I could justify
buying one.) The finished rain suit has worked fine on a couple of long,
rainy backpacking trips. I used seam sealer made for tents on all the seams
and only had one small leak. One word of caution - I don't think Ultrex is
as breathable as GoreTex though I don't have a GoreTex rainsuit to compare
to. I did get condensation inside the rainsuit but not nearly as bad as with
my old vinyl rainsuit.
After the rainsuit I made some smaller projects out of Ultrex. I managed to
get it to feed through my old machine by placing a piece of waxed paper on
top of the Ultrex and sewing right through it. After sewing a seam, just rip
the waxed paper off. This method works reasonably well.
Good luck.
Good luck with your project.
Elisabeth Le Strange
supply in Australia or if there is anything similar available here?
I'll probably be looking to get a decent jacket for bushwalking in Tasmania by
early next year, with a bit of luck, and it might well be worth making it.
Elisabeth