Sewing Show & Tell....Thread

Hi guys,

I am looking to make my own soft topper for my truck -- I already have a rack that it will mount to easily enough so I basically just want to build a cover for it. What are peoples recommendation for 'sealing' the back gate area? I was initially thinking of just doing some heavy duty weatherproof zippers but I worry that repeated zips/unzips will be too much for them.

 

Where are you at in Wisconsin?

I've said it many times but fail to follow through on uploading pictures of my soft topper 2.0 build. I'm running coil zippers for the back flap. I'll get pics up for what I did.

 

For your instant edification, here's what I did for mine. I'll write up more details and some tips *what I wish I did* for my soft topper in terms of design and construction. If you're close enough to St Paul I could physically show you too.

The zipper is a #10 coil zipper like you'd see on heavy duty luggage. Instead of sewing the zipper directly onto the edge I left an extra amount of fabric to act as a storm flap to cover the zipper on both sides and added an extra 'hood' on top of the zipper to prevent water from entering the zipper channel from above.

At the tailgate I was using adhesive velcro & a sewn loop portion on the flap. I sewed on an extension on the flap that would hang over the tailgate which you can sorta see in the 2nd picture. On a cold winter day the adhesive on the tailgate let loose (more like the velcro as the adhesive is still on the tailgate but not the velcro). You could accomplish a tailgate seal instead using a similar bungee setup to mine, the australians, or I had thought about using snaps too but didn't have much luck with them on my original topper design. A typical snap does not like as high of shear forces as a tensioned fabric will provide, but boat covers use snaps all the time in slightly different applications. They do make much heavier duty but more expensive snaps.

Here's a couple videos from the pros in Australia that may provide more insight, I have gotten plenty of inspiration from them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyuyABqywKU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f89LXDp9mi8

 

That bedside decal is so........realistic.

 

Awesome man, thanks for the info! I am in Madison, but my girlfriends family lives in Afton MN so we frequent the area. I will definitely take you up on that, I'd love to see yours in person. I appreciate the help so far. I'm trying to see how easy this would be to build with a lifting tailgate section as well -- it'd be nice to have it act like a topper but just homemade. We'll see what I can come up with.

 

Edit: I figured the topper writeup would fit better as a thread of it's own.

Here's my long overdue show and tell on my soft topper!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-soft-topper-ver2.561502/

 

What are you saying?

 

Can't tell it is even a decal.

 

You mean the fender flare shape? Not the MOS one? Well you can't tell it's a decal cause it's not a decal

 

Yes. The MOS one.
I know silly, was just trying to be cheeky.

 

Adam Savage is now selling the plans to his EDC bag. Here is the video he did making his bag with the designer, from the plans you can buy for $15. Really an interesting video.

https://youtu.be/AXzurpmc8SE

 

Not totally related, but i watched that video and the next video was about the ancient Game of Ur.... so now I'm going down the rabbit hole and making my own replica. The internet is full of information and is dangerous for us diy-types.

 

Ok, I just bought a half hide of leather and i'm looking to purchase some waxed Canvas. I may use my Mom's sewing machine if i have to (she's been doing this stuff for years). do you guys have any suggestions for a sewing maching that can handle some thick leather and canvas? Not looking to spend a crap ton, just something that i can play with.

my goal is to build something like this:

 

If you're looking at waxed canvas and leather you're talking pretty heavy duty, like a true walking foot/industrial(ish) machine like the singer I picked up (singer 111 or 211). I don't have experience with leather, it may be different in the case of just doing leather straps, but all leather stuff is usually done with a roller foot machine which seem more plentiful and easy to find.

 

That is what I've been reading. Thanks for the response. I'll use my mom's machines first to see how far down the rabbit hole I want to go.

 

Here is the half hide of leather I ordered for the couple of projects I have planned.

 

The picture doesn't do it justice. The leather and waxed canvas are almost exactly the same color in person. Can't wait to get some time to get working on this.

 

I got a Singer Heavey Duty 4452 for Christmas from my MIL. Also got a Janome Jem Gold Plus for my girls to start learning to sew on. I have about ten projects at the new house to get started on.

 

Saw the other (new) sewing thread on the home page and someone linked this thread, which I’ve never seen, so guess I’ll jump in on the established thread. Anyway, I stated sewing in middle school as part of home ec. Didn’t think I’d like it but I like working with my hands so this is just a different medium. In hs I took cooking since I like to eat and cook. It was 3 marking periods of cooking and one of sewing like it or not and I ended up making some stuff I liked so cool. Haven’t done much with it in decades but recently had the desire to maybe do some of my own upholstery in the truck but no machine. Found one a few months ago on CL 3 blocks from me with the instructions and a carry case for $25 so it’s mine now. Got my feet wet sewing a bunch of patches on a concert jacket. Told an old friend what I was up to and he gave me his moms old Singer model 66 in a table. I found the few missing parts online and with some YouTube help I took it apart and got it all cleaned and lubed up. I’ve yet to christen it but I bought fabric and want to make shades for my cap windows. Looking forward to working on the table with a flat material surface and longer arm.

 

Nice old singer! Love mine and love having a bit of a table, although I want a bigger table it's still way bigger than the platten on home machines.

I was just working on my first little project in a while besides sewing straps for random things.

Made some elastic tool organizers for the misc stuff in my new toolbox out of scraps. Going into it I wasn't sure what the best way to go about holding these things down was but I like how it came out. They're gonna get attached to the aluminum panels on the lid.