Crye Kneepad Mod, by Sisu Milsim

* For those that have always wanted to have the Crye Kneepad pants, but have found that either they were out of your price range or they didn't come in your favorite camo pattern.... Fear not!!! Ms. Sisu Milsim has written a very detailed "Pictorial" on how to do the mod. To learn more about her, click on this link to see your player profile - http://theairsoftwarriorblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/player-profile-sisu-milsim.html
~ Padre'

Step by step! I've tried to be as detailed as possible but please feel free to ask questions. I'll edit descriptions if I forgot anything! :)

This is just my way of doing this modification. There's plenty of other methods that can be used. If you don't feel comfortable with rolling the edges, you can always use things like bias tape, etc.

Please note: This mod is NOT for beginners or anyone new to a sewing machine (I promise to do a "how to thread your machine" for those that have asked, haha). This takes some patience and time to do.

If you are interested in me doing this for your gear, feel free to message me for a quote.
~ Sisu 











#1

 You'll need GOOD scissors, straight pins, measuring tape (ruler is ok), machine needles, thread to match, charcoal or marking pencil and lots of patience.


















#2

Can make up your pattern piece based off the kneepad you want to use (in this case, the Crye ones). You can do t his by flipping the kneepad face down on some paper and simply tracing it.
*You can buy Crye kneepads online by themselves through a bunch of different shops and from Crye directly. This mod will work with any hard/rubber kneepad as long as you make a patter piece individual to the kneepad YOU have.

#3

There is an actual knee pad edge and where the kneepad meets the foam. These are about a 1/2inch so it's pretty simple to create that "seam line." You can see in this photo how it's attached.

















#4

So. Luckily for me I could see where Frosty's knees usually go due to the grass stains, lol.
You'll need to put yours on, take a knee, and mark out how far down on the pant let you need the pads to go in.






#5

MEASURE.
And then RE-MEASURE. You need to make sure both sides match so you don't look all wacky.
Also, please note that you can't simply measure the inside panel (the pockets on the side of the pant cover the outside edge. If you don't center your kneepads in the actual CENTER of the pant leg and only in the smaller area, your kneepads will rotate inwards and be of no use.






















#6

Mark everything out with your chalk pencil or marking pencil. Don't skip this step. Mark out your 1/2 inch seam as well.









#7
Grab your ruler and make an x in the center. This will be your cutting guideline. ONLY cut to the 1/2 inch seam.



















#8
Ready to cut? NO!




















#9
STOP! Put down those scissors.

Re-Measure everything. Put the pants back on and double check the chalk placement. You'll be super upset if you cut that hole in your pants and then realize you did it in the wrong spot!
















#10

OK. Once you're confident that you'fe put it in the proper spot, CAREFULLY cut into the TOP layer of the pant.

These are LBX pants so there's a pocket for internal pads already. This makes it a little easier to mod





#11
Voila! You've now ruined your pants! Hehe Kidding of course. Do the other knee next.



















#12

This is what it'll look like once you've cut the X. Please be careful to only cut that first layer and only to that internal 1/2 inch seam line.


















#13

Next, you're going to roll the edges inward and pin them down in place. You'll notice you can still see the outer chalk line. This should be about a 1/2 inch!


















#14

This is what the inside of the cut kneepad pocket looks like.











#15
So pin the whole way around so that it looks like you have a mini-crater for your knee pad, lol.



















#16
You can test fit your kneepad if you like at this point to make sure everything is where it's supposed to be.



















#17

Repeat on the other side.












#18
Pick your thread! There's plenty of colors out there so just pick whatever you like.



















#19
Aaaaaaaaaaaaand GO!

I find it's easier to take the "arm" off of the machine to move the fabric around. PLEASE be patient and take your time throughout this step. I almost 'walk' my machine through this so that way my machine doesn't skip stitches.

Take out the pins as you move along so that you don't gum up your machine or break needles. (It's good to have back ups...)












#20
Whenever you turn a corner on your machine, leave the needle down so you don't slide your fabric out of place and end up with super wonky stitches.
I did one pass around super close to the edge, and then another about the width of the presser foot (the thing around the needle).















#21

Voila! This is what it will look like when you've gone around the edge twice.










#22

 I chose to also flip all of it inside out and reinforce the very outer edge since I know my client (Frosty) tends to get tossed around a bit while he plays.


















#23

 So, Crye has these nifty little velcro tabs so that nothing slides around on you.
I've cut matching little fuzzy side velcro circles to match.








#24

Pin them in place on the inside of the kneepad in accordance with where the hook side velcro is on the pad.









#25
Stitch them in place (a total pain but absolutely worth it!). I chose to do this pattern to reinforce the velcro a bit since I now how much moving around happens.


















#26
Lots of lines, but this will wear line iron and not fray or break down easily.



















#27

TADA! Kneepads in!

Enjoy!
Please feel free to ask questions!

















If you have enjoyed this "Pictorial" please drop a note of thanks to Sisu!


She can be found at:
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/SisuMilsim Instagram: https://instagram.com/sisumilsim/
Youtube (which has nothing on it): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdqVoI7RwEjmM8g3pfXb1qg

Padre' out...