§ Custom Work · Modifications
Custom Builds & Modifications.
Most repair shops won’t take on custom work because there’s no script. Bring me what you have, tell me what you need, and we’ll figure it out.
Plate · Custom Bench Montrose, CO
Most repair shops won’t take on custom work because there’s no script. Bring me what you have, tell me what you need, and we’ll figure it out.
Most repair shops only know how to put gear back the way it came from the factory. That’s a fine job for half of what walks in the door, but a lot of useful gear was never quite right to start with. Western Slope Stitchworks specializes in the other half: modifying gear so it actually works the way you use it. Shortening an RV awning to fit an older camper. Pulling the hood off a mummy bag for car camping. Adding a rod pocket to an awning. Reinforcing the high-wear corners on a wall tent before another season. Five-plus years of industrial sewing, one machine, one person making the call.
RV awnings are sized to standard specs, but older campers and custom rigs aren’t. I resize awnings, hem long edges, add rod pockets, sew reinforcement at high-wear points, and modify the hardware-adjacent fabric. Recently completed: shortened a brand-new replacement awning by 18 inches, added a fishing rod pocket along the foot, and reinforced both valance corners with matching vinyl. Most awning mods run 2–4 hours and quote between $120–$275.
Mummy bags built for backpacking aren’t always what someone needs once they shift to car camping or van life. I remove hoods, install drawcord collars, convert bags into top quilts, replace blown zippers, and patch torn shells. Down containment is the tricky part — done right, no feathers escape and the bag works better than before. Most conversions run $75–$200.
Backpacks rarely fit perfectly out of the box. I add custom pockets, rebuild blown hipbelts, retrofit shoulder straps, replace compression strap systems, and add load-bearing webbing where it’s needed. Useful for through-hikers, hunters, and anyone using an older pack that’s still structurally sound but missing features.
Sometimes you need a bag that doesn’t exist as a stock item — a tool roll for a specific kit, a stuff sack sized to your tent, a rod tube that fits a non-standard rod, a gear bag for a specialty piece of equipment. Built from canvas, Cordura, or technical fabrics depending on the use case.
Wall tent annexes, custom-sized game bags, horse tack canvas, gun scabbard modifications, customized pack canvas. Outfitters and serious hunters tend to wear gear out faster than retail makes sense for, and replacement isn’t always available. I work with hunters across the Western Slope on pre-season prep and in-season repair.
Custom-fit boat covers, organizer pouches for boats and UTVs, modified seat designs, custom canvas for non-standard rigs. The Western Slope’s mix of rafting, boating, snowmobiling, and side-by-side culture means a lot of one-off needs that retail shops don’t address.
If it doesn’t fit any of the above categories, ask. Common requests include custom truck cab organizers, motorcycle tank bags, modified luggage, custom dog gear, modified work belts, and specialty industrial fabrics. If it’s sewable and under about four layers thick, there’s a good chance I can do it.
Custom work is quoted per job because every project is different. Most custom builds land between $50 and $300, materials included in the quote.
Process is straightforward. Text a photo and a short description of what you want done. I’ll come back inside 24 hours with a real number and a turnaround date. Drop off in Montrose or arrange pickup along one of the weekly Western Slope routes. Work happens. You get it back.
No estimate fees. $25 shop minimum on any single job.
Build-in-progress photos go up on Instagram first. Follow @westernslopestitchworks for the in-the-shop look at recent custom builds and modifications.
If it’s fabric, canvas, vinyl, or webbing — and it’s under about four layers thick — there’s a good chance I can do it. Most of my best work has come from people texting a photo with the message “I don’t even know if this is fixable.” Send the photo. Let’s see.