Repairing Your Gear on the Trail

	Materials:  Machine sewing needle and thread.  Thread the needle so that both ends are equal in length.
	Step 1:  One of the sides of the needle is flat.  Hold the thread against the flat part with your thumb.  Notice also that there is a groove on one side of the needle.
	Step 2:  To get started, push the needle through and then pull it back a little to form a loop as seen in the picture.
	Step 3:  Grab the loop and pull one side of the thread through while holding the other side against the flat part of the needle with your thumb.
	Step 4:  Now there should be an equal length of thread on both sides of your repair.  Pull the needle back through the material.  It helps to hold the thread between your fingers as shown.
	Step 5:  Push the needle through to form the first stitch.  Make sure the groove in the needle faces in the direction you're sewing.
	Step 6:  Pull back the needle to form a loop.  Important:  this loop must be on the side of the needle without the groove.  Pass the thread through the loop.
	Step 7:  Pull back the needle and thread as you hold onto the other end that was passed through the loop.  Pull both ends to tighten up the stitch.
	Step 8:  You should have the needle and half of the thread on one side....
	Step 9:  ... and the other half of the thread on the other side.  Notice that you can see the stitch on both sides of the repair.
	Step 10:  Repeat steps 5-9 until you have enough stitches to complete the repair.  Now finish by pushing the needle through close to the last stitch.
	Step 11:  Pull back to make the loop, and then pull the thread through like you did at the beginning during step 3.
	Step 12:    Now both sides of the thread should be on the same side.  You can then remove and set aside the needle.
	Step 13:  Tie off the ends with a couple of overhand knots.  Trim off the ends.
	Step 14:  You should see a line of lock stitches on one side and ...
	Step 15:  ...and a line of lock stitches on the other.  Congratulations!  You now know how to make long lasting repairs to packs and other heavy duty equipment right on the trail!