Learning how to work with webbing is a useful skill, but many industrial design programs don't cover how to work with flexible materials. And if you've ever seen a production facility cranking out say, MOLLE systems for military bags, it's easy to get intimidated out of ever attempting to work with the stuff.

It is possible, however, for someone with average manual coordination to design and construct their own webbing projects using simple, affordable materials and a borrowed or thrift-store sewing machine that's been set up properly. For the design student on a budget, or the industrial designer who wants to dip their foot into the webbing pool without investing in expensive machinery, we put together this series of videos to help you get started.

In Part 1, we cover some basic materials, hardware, and terminology you'll need to know. Webbing comes in a lot of different types, and it's better to know exactly what you're working with. (It also helps to know exactly what the hardware parts are called, so you can Google for suppliers and variants.) Lastly we've included costs. Since local prices can vary, we've used the online supplier McMaster-Carr as a baseline.

Lightweight Polypropylene - 1" wide - $0.25/foot on McMaster-Carr

Extra-Strength Cotton - 1" wide - $0.82/foot on McMaster-Carr

Ultra Abrasion-Resistant Nylon* - 1" wide - $0.93/foot on McMaster-Carr

*NB: Ultra Abrasion Resistant Nylon is not suitable for the methods we will use.

Plastic Squeeze-Release Buckle - for 1" webbing - $5.74/10-pack

Plastic Feed-Through Buckle - for 1" webbing - $5.68/25-pack

Nickel-Plated Steel D-Rings - for 1" webbing - $6.22/10-pack

*Slide-Bolt Spring Snap with "Strap-Eye" - for 1" webbing - $2.56/each

*Also called "Swivel Snaps" or "Snap Hooks"

All of the links above are to McMaster-Carr, an American website. If you are outside America and know of sources local to you, please help out our international readers and sound off in the comments. Also pipe up if any of these parts are known by alternate terminology in your neck of the woods; we're pretty sure you Australians refer to these things as like, "chadwozzers" and such.

» DIY Webbing Tutorial on a Budget, Part 1: Materials & Hardware » DIY Webbing Tutorial on a Budget, Part 2: Tools You'll Need » DIY Webbing Tutorial on a Budget, Part 3: How to Set Up Your Sewing Machine for Webbing » DIY Webbing Tutorial on a Budget, Part 4: Learning the Crucial "Box X" Stitch » DIY Webbing Tutorial on a Budget, Part 5: Putting It All Together

Super helpful series and pretty stinking funny to boot.  I paid $5.50 for my picker so I am a verified idiot (though that was after 10% sales tax ;-). I am using a thread stand but my thread is still arriving at the machine twisted.  :-/.  Any tips?  As you allude, it is really frustrating... I get about 80% through a box stitch and suddenly my machine starts to get all gummed up. Thanks again!

You can get products at a fabric store to prevent fraying, or you can just use clear nail polish. This is a terrific series. Thanks!

I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.

Test it out; it only takes a single click to unsubscribe

Don't have an account? Join Now

Already have an account? Sign In

By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use

Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.

Test it out; it only takes a single click to unsubscribe