> I'm interested in making clothing (dry tops etc) - I'm sure it's simple to
> come up with a design if you're a competent seamstress but I'm not,
> anybody have any suggestions?

Find a jacket that fits you well. Turn it inside out, and trace the outline of all the seams on a large sheet of either butcher paper or newsprint--don't forget the seam allowances! Find your desired fabric, cut it out, and sew it together.

Don't build a drytop for your first project. Pete's suggestions of drybags and sprayskirts were good ones. Both projects are fairly simple (hard to mess up beyond recognition) and can be done in an evening. Jackets are one of the most difficult articles of clothing to make, next to gloves. The human body is a pretty complex shape to fit. Having an old jacket to use as a pattern will save you a lot of guesswork.

I plan to make a drytop (or paddling jacket) this spring. I pretty much plan to incorporate the design of my Goretex parka, but I'll make the jacket from Ultrex, and not put in a full front zipper or pit zips. I'll make it anorak-style with a double tube lower hem (to seal with my sprayskirt).

Outdoor fabrics can be easy or difficult to sew. Unlined outdoor fabrics are generally really easy to sew; they lay flat, stitch easily, and have a nice "hand" to work with. Lined fabrics can be a PITA, especially if you don't use the right needle, or are sewing with the wrong sides out and the coating grabs the presser foot. Sewing is not something that you can jump right into...it takes quite a bit of practice, but once you get the hang of it, it's well worth the effort. I'm 6'-6", so I find that not only can I make articles for 1/4-1/3 retail cost; I can make stuff long enough to fit me!

How soon were you thinking of sewing? I'll probably start putting a pattern together in the next couple weeks; I could help you out with one.

Shawn