On Sat, 29 Aug 2015 16:41:18 +0100, FullyDetached wrote:

I'm a bit of a rucksack connoisseur, and my favourite 12-year-old
"Macpac Tekapo 25" rucksack has some fairly large holes in it. Rather
than throw it away, I'd like to repair it, but my previous attempts with
a needle and thread have been very time consuming. There are companies
that offer rucksack repairs, but their charges seem quite high.

Can anyone recommend a sewing machine for DIY purposes? It would need to
be able to sew through fairly heavy rucksack fabrics.

Before you buy a sewing machine try your local town for someone who does
'alterations' to clothes. They often have a range of machines and can be
very cheap.

I had a pair of walking sandals repaired by one (the leather strap had
broken)- cost me £2.00.