Sewing Show & Tell....Thread

You guys are amazing. I built the frame for a 270 degree awning for my truck had the material to make it happen, borrowed a machine and got the correct thread and needles, just made a bunch of holes and rats nest of thread. That project was shelved.

I figured it would be easy with a machine, just put it in one end and it comes out the other.. Hell naw!

 

Was thinking the thing was a modern day torture device when I was trying to figure out how to thread it yesterday.
But it all worked out. Now I just need to practice getting the tension correct and use some better thread.
An awning..... good idea.

 

I've been sewing holes in my clothes since I was little (we was poor). I've made my whole camping Hammock and gear, Hammock, Underquilt x2, and tarp x2 (one was a pre-made I modified). All of which used ripstopbytheroll nylon (1.1oz-1.9oz), simple straight stitches and a few bar tacks, with Guttermann polyester thread.

 

Awesome thread, hope to pick up some ideas and tips in here!!

 

In for the group buy of the soft toppers

 

I must say - Look at those beautiful stitches on that webbing!
Nice work.
Great idea with the spring clips.

 

Awesome, where'd you source the multicam? I'd love to get into using it, except it doesn't seem cost effective compared to a standard or solid pattern.

 

Www.Ripstopbytheroll.com

 

Maybe in the very distant future. I'm a machine or two away from that. Mine took me a good week to do, and then another week of modifying what I did wrong.

The secret is uploading lower quality pictures so people can't see how unstraight your stitches are

 

sewed up a simple roll up for the chuck box.

 

How have I never seen this site before? They have everything!

 

www.dutchwaregear.com too

 

I've always wanted one of these heavy duty sewing machines, by Sail Rite.

http://www.sailrite.com/easearch#!&ea_q=Sailrite Ultrafeed Basic Walking Foot Sewing Machine

 

Nice, I recently bought a tool roll-up pouch because it was cheaper than i could do it myself. However, after dealing with trying to fit irregular size tools, I like that in your case you could make each tool slot exactly as wide as you need it.

Exactly, that's where my eye has been. It seems like the cheapest way into a new machine. I'll probably first look on ebay/CL for a used consew/juki to see if you couldn't get one for like $300 or something. A new machine is probably a couple years out still though. We'll see!

 

Woah... I need to learn sewing... I never progressed much further than patching holes in my pants and jackets...

 

Good thread, thanks for starting it.

A long time ago when my family was young one of my contributions to the family was repairing my kids worn clothes. That morphed into making kids clothes from patterns. Which lasted until the kids really wanted store bought (peer pressure I'd guess) and the price of ready made was less than buying material. Some years later when the family got interested in camping. OK, it was me that got interested and not universally accepted by all members. But they did humor me. Outdoor gear was limited and expensive so I started looking for DIY patterns only to find that there wasn't much, even material was very limited. Then I found a company in Boulder, CO named Frostline. Their product line was kits for outdoor gear. Kits included precut material, buckles, fasteners, Velcro, even properly colored thread. Everything from tents, packs, sleeping bags, clothing; pretty much all that was needed to outfit us. At least for awhile it was really cool to have homemade gear with the Frostline logo on it. I still have some of it in use today. Unfortunately the company went out of business quite awhile ago. I still make some of their flat bottomed stuff sacks.

 

sweet!

 

Going to be putting some "hook" on a couple strategic places on my seat covers. Any tips for sewing duck canvas and hook material?
Thanks.

 

Use a heavy duty thread, such as but not limited to, upholstery or nylon bonded (I've heard unbonded is better but it's a pain to work with). When I try to take a shortcut and use cheap thread laying aroudn it just pulls apart from the high tension required.

Higher thread tension, this can be machine dependent though so just do some experimenting on where your machine wants to run for tension.

And I've typically seen companies do one big box stitch (like seen on Sandman's straps) around the whole velcro patch to keep the center from pulling away from the base.

 

Ha, good call. I'm not sure what people are using more recently but some people would use dental floss on ghillie suits because it wouldn't rot and was super strong.