I recently picked up a book at REI that should be on the book shelf of every self respecting ETSer. Most of us have a lot of cool gear, but what the heck do you do when strap tears, a buckle breaks, your tent leaks.
The book is called: "Don't Forget the Duct Tape - Tips and Tricks for Repairing Outdoor Gear".
The information on hand stitching alone is worth the price of admission. Here is a brief summary from the REI web site:
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You'll be an outdoor gear fix-it guru with this pocket-size book in your pack.
Author: Kristin Hostetter
Softcover; measures 4 x 6 inches; 85 pages; black-and-white illustrations. The Mountaineers Books; copyright 2003
Remedy a leak in your tent, repair flapping boot soles, nurse a cranky stove back to life, unclog a water filter or revive gunked-up VELCROŽ. Many repairs can be done with an inexpensive 12-item repair kit that, once assembled, won't weigh more than a pound or two. Covers what to include in your repair kit, how to extend the life of you gear and save money. Duct tape do's and don'ts".
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This is likely available through Amazon and other outlets as well. Hope this helps.
TR