Show us your sewing projects!

nine4gmc · Jun 19, 2016

With all the recent mentions of sewing and GJ'ers making things with sewing machines, a couple great guys twisted my arm into starting a sewing projects thread.

If anyone has any hand sewn or machine sewn projects or questions, please post up!

To kick it off, I will post a pic of some seat covers I made for fellow member dlcwent. This is the rear seat covers, sewn to oem style with slight modifications. I also stitched up a matching beer coozie for him and small makeup bag for his wife.

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lilredex · Jun 19, 2016

That's pretty impressive! I've only hemmed up jeans and maybe made a few jean jackets with my "brother" long time friend.

cgrutt · Jun 19, 2016

Very cool. I need to replace some vinyl in my boat but have been putting it off...

PelicanPines · Jun 19, 2016

I have a toolbox with all my sewing stuff... I have a label on it... "So Sew Box"

Zeke · Jun 19, 2016

I can sew a little but never made any auto interior stuff. That's pretty cool.

sapcpo · Jun 19, 2016

Very nice work! I have been interested in trying to get into making boat covers and canopies . I found a old pfaff German sewing machine for sale so I bought it. It's supposed to be a heavy duty machine , not a commercial unit but built tough. I'm going to attempt to my first boat cove for my boat , I'll let you all know how it turns out!

dogdog · Jun 19, 2016

dam that is talent.... what kind of sewing machine you have to use for these type of projects ??? regular Heavy Duty Singer or something industrial like a Juki?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VWXZQ0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Strouty · Jun 19, 2016

Nines, one thing I wanted to ask and this is the perfect thread to ask it in, how did you get started doing interiors and sewing?

Muggzy · Jun 19, 2016

Made a seat for a mini bike that my son and I restored some 15 years ago. Had to go to the library to take out a book on sewing to make it. The seat was simple but it came out pretty nice. Wish I had some pics to post but the lessons my son learned were priceless.

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Outlawmws · Jun 19, 2016

Nine does very nice work! I worked part time in an Upholstery shop (Mostly PU and delivery but I've done my share of basic cushions too...), for about 4-5 years. That work of Nine's is talent for sure!

nine4gmc · Jun 19, 2016

Thanks guys!

Dogdog, I use industrial sewing machines, I started out on a Singer 16u288 and still use it on occasion for long stitches(over 3/16") but it doesn't have reverse so it's more hassle. My main machine is a Consew 226 industrial walking foot machine. It will sew through 3/8" plywood, literally! The machine in your link may work for curtains, boat covers etc but when you start stacking materials, you'll find you need a real heavy duty machine.

Strouty, as a child my mother worked a full time job and I stayed with my grandma during the day. She loved to sew and was always making or fixing something. When my mother wasn't working, she loved to sew as well so I would sit and watch them day in and day out. In my teens, I got into cars and car audio pretty serious, building systems and boxes, doing basic door/kick panel upgrades for speakers to fit. That taught me simple upholstery, then when I was in my early 20s I opened a small car audio store and wanted to expand my knowledge toolbox. I started taking upholstery night classes at the local community college but the teacher was primarily a residential/commercial upholsterer so although she knew the basics, she was not a pro custom automotive upholsterer. Most of what I have learned in auto upholstery is self taught from just doing, reading from books or more recently(last decade) from the Internet.

Thanks Outlaw! You guys keep the posts coming! I know some of you are making knife sheaths, gun holsters etc, I'd love to see some hand sewn projects posted as well!

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Outlander · Jun 19, 2016

At one time, as a kid (even into elementary school), I could have been totally clothed by my mom. Socks (wool), underwear, shirt, pants all sewn.

nine4gmc · Jun 19, 2016

Here is my main machine, the Consew 226 with a variable speed servo motor instead of the clutch motor that was common on industrial machines for many decades. The servo motor allows you to control the speed of the machine from a single stitch at a time, up to a few thousand stitches per minute where as the older clutch motors spin at a few thousand stitches per minute and you have to "slip the clutch" carefully to sew at lower speeds. Think if it as trying to drive a pro mod dragster through a Walmart parking lot at noon on Sunday and find a parking spot.

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dlcwent · Jun 20, 2016

Glad you did it Nines.

Bob Heine · Jun 20, 2016

Nines, thanks for starting the thread. My grandmother and mother were both into sewing. A lot of my clothes as a child were made on mom's sewing machine. In the early 60s I did a little sewing to modify my dorkiest clothes into something more in fashion.

My mother-in-law was also into sewing but more upholstery and canvas tent projects. We inherited her machine, a Singer 15-91. I used it to make a boat cover and to reupholster a couch. By the time we finished piping two of the cushions, I abandoned all hope of a job in the upholstery business.

It isn't a commercial machine but it has a gear drive rather than a belt. One fan of the machine shows it going through 12 and even 16 layers of denim. With the right needle I understand it sews belting leather.

Singer%2015-91%20Top%20View_zpsxbdabgwe.jpg

Craptain · Jun 20, 2016

Thanks for starting "Sewing Thread" pun intended.

I don't have much to show picture wise but have over the years built various boat related projects, including a sail for a square rigger. I am not detailed oriented enough to do upholstery and such. My current machine is a "Domestic" belt drive with steel gears. Not too heavy duty but heavy enough for all I want to do now. Pics, if I can find any when I get home in a few weeks.

rayra · Jun 20, 2016

I've done a little basic sewing over the years, even before going to Boot Camp and being mildly amused at others' struggles. Had an even harder time maintaining my bearing watching fierce Drill Instructors try to teach kids how to darn things.
My mother likewise sewed all manner of things in the 60s and 70s, still does some stuff now in her 70s. So some of it rubbed off.
Last couple years I've been contemplating larger projects, awnings for vehicle camping etc. On a very tight budget (too many hobbies and bills) so I went with a cheap / decent home machine after a fruitless quest for a commercial machine. You'd think such a quest would be easy in L.A., but surprisingly not. And the only machines coming out of the garment district are clapped out incomplete scrap. I declined those challenges.
I found a good vendor for lightweight fabrics, ripstopbytheroll.com and have started sewing telescope covers, stuff sacks, awnings. Next up I'll be attempting a replacement for the screen / shade curtain on our back patio and a curtain wall for our suburban two-car garage. I'm rearranging things to turn the front right quadrant into my woodworking space and I need to isolate all the rest of the garage from the sawdust mess.

Lot of pictures / details on the vehicle awning ideas are here -

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...eas-for-a-lightweight-compact-flexible-design

In short, it's a set of three large panels, a rectangle and two matching trapezoid shapes that can be arranged and connected together in about 15 different configurations to shade a camp site or vehicle or hide a vehicle, or even draw attention in an emergency. The center panel is two-colored, safety orange on one side, to serve as a huge marker panel.

It's all in 1.9oz ripstop nylon, and all fits in a 12" toolbag, and weighs only a couple pounds. Stuff compresses quite well..

I even made the telescoping tent poles out of EMT conduit
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...g-Tent-Awning-poles-from-EMT-Conduit-A-How-To

The whole kit doesn't take much space or weight.

I have a large rolling work table, 8'x44" which I use for all sorts of projects, automotive, woodworking, furniture building and cabinet making, etc. Even it wasn't quite big enough for working with these large fabric panels. Lots of accordion folding to get it done.

I'm also already making plans for a MkII set of awnings. These were a 'size' too small. Needed to be 2' or 4' longer / wider. I'll likely append fabric to the first set, to prove it all out and then re-execute the whole thing in true Silnylon over the winter.

And fortunately I'm getting away with the low-grade machine, since I'm using very lightweight fabrics. But at some point I'll need some sturdy old iron to get done what I want to do. My FIL was an upholstery man, worked out of a home shop. But at the time of his death none of his offspring or I was interested in his gear so it all got scattered to the four corners of the earth.

nine4gmc · Jun 20, 2016

Super cool Rayra! Just keep an eye on the Craigslist for a commercial machine and eventually one will pop up. Don't just search one area, search the entire site and use different keywords like "upholstery", "industrial", "sewing", etc. You're in a good area to find one.

That 15-91 is a great old machine Bob, thanks for posting!

Thanks for posting everyone, keep it coming!

kerrynzl · Jun 20, 2016

nine4gmc said:
Here is my main machine, the Consew 226 with a variable speed servo motor instead of the clutch motor that was common on industrial machines for many decades. The servo motor allows you to control the speed of the machine from a single stitch at a time, up to a few thousand stitches per minute where as the older clutch motors spin at a few thousand stitches per minute and you have to "slip the clutch" carefully to sew at lower speeds. Think if it as trying to drive a pro mod dragster through a Walmart parking lot at noon on Sunday and find a parking spot.

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Don't you just "tap the pedal" [Ayrton Senna style]

My machine of choice is a 40year old Adler walking foot.

I gave it to a good friend [on a borrow back basis] when I started to play with PVC and HF welding

bgarrett · Jun 20, 2016

My mother told me it is good for a guy to know how to sew. I watched her and asked questions and have made a few things. Seat for my truck, another for my sidecar. Like one of the other posters I modified my clothes in the 60s.

nine4gmc · Jun 20, 2016

Did anyone else sew metal/rock bandanas and patches on their blue Jean jackets? I was designated those tasks by all my friends.

Kerrynzl, yeah, just tap it....

[emoji38] Adler rocks, too rich for my blood though so I'm stuck with Consew.

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dlcwent · Jun 23, 2016

I've got a question for anyone that sews. What kind of knots should one use at the end of a stitch to keep the thread from un raveling? A square knot perhaps or a double half hitch?

Strouty · Jun 23, 2016

I don't think they use knots, I think you back over the stitching with the machine and that is it. Now I have to wait and see if I am wrong.

FigureItOut · Jun 23, 2016

Strouty said:
I don't think they use knots, I think you back over the stitching with the machine and that is it. Now I have to wait and see if I am wrong.

That's what I've read, and what I do.

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Lassen Forge · Jun 23, 2016

If I'm hand stitching I use a surgeons knot, on a machine stitch you backstitch (reverse the feed), stitch over the last few stitches, then go back forward over the end of the stitch again.

nine4gmc · Jun 23, 2016

I was never good with knot names, I think I use a slip knot with a square not to lock the slip knot but better check some resources first.

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mtnkrake · Jun 23, 2016

sewing a table skirt for a birthday party. lol

RivennHewn · Jun 23, 2016

Knew a guy in college that was a tailor.
Best dressed guy ever.

Nothing I've ever seen will make a girl go weak in the knees like a guy sewing her a dress.

Outlawmws · Jun 23, 2016

Machine "knots" (Back stitching) has been well covered.

For hand stitching what my mom taught me (drapery worker for 10-15 years) and the upholstery shop guys did, was to wind the end of the thread on the tip of their finger, "roll" the end with the over lapped thread, and pull the end through. What this does is give 3-4 wraps on the thread, and makes a quick sizable knot.

It takes a bit of practice , but once you have it its fast and easy.

Strouty · Jun 23, 2016

I use those on rope when hoisting certain components, we call them stopper knots.

Today I really needed a sewing machine, went off to the local leather repair shop and had him sew my suspenders back up. I cut them apart so I could shorten the straps and adjust where they crossed. He not only put the leather part on upside down, but he sewed it so well that I would swear a kindergarten kid did it. I kid you not. I will post a picture of it later.

Guster · Jun 23, 2016

RivennHewn said:
Nothing I've ever seen will make a girl go weak in the knees like a guy sewing her a dress.

That is a dual edged sword my friend... or should I say, a very fine line. Otherwise you may end up holding handbags while waiting at changing rooms. :lol:

On the flip side, having established certain boundaries in advance, I saved the day and my wife has never questioned what I am capable of every again!

I will have to search for some photos of my efforts. I don't tend to take lots of photos of my repairs for tents, awnings, boat sails, kites and other things over the years though I do have some of the final product I guess.

I got into it when I started building traction kites and other kiting things. Been particularly handy repairing my kitesurfing kites and kitesurfing gear. I've also built many kitebuggies and landyachts.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8195/8078400324_c73e868f4f_b.jpg
The kitebuggy seats are amongst the hardest things for me to make as you are working with a few layers of heavy denier nylon, genlon, webbing and EVA at times. Hardest part was figuring out an assembly schedule that saved you sometimes having to work with all those layers at the same time. By the last one I built I managed to get the shape I wanted and build it in half the time without breaking a single needle. :lol:

FANTM58 · Jun 23, 2016

Hey I too do auto upholstery, I attended a class at a community college .
I purchased a PFAFF walking foot machine. I've done the complete interior
On my sons 70 Camaro , and a few other small items.
I'll post a few pictures once I get on my laptop. I really strive to be able to do
As much as I can on my project cars.

FANTM58 · Jun 23, 2016

Hey if you haven't already check out
Thehogring.com
A great forum for upholstery
A wealth of information on that site.

600SL · Jun 25, 2016

I'm interested in double needle machines. The question I have is is the needle spacing adjustable and can a double needle machine be used with only 1 needle.

nine4gmc · Jun 25, 2016

600SL, I can only speak for the Consew 339 double needle machine I own, you can change the spacing but it requires buying different size "gaging sets" and mechanically adjusting the machine, it's not as simple as turning a knob. You can sew with a single needle on this machine but the feet are limited and much wider than a standard single needle machine so you are limited to what you can sew more than you would be with a single needle machine. If you can only have one machine, a single needle machine is much more capable.

FANTM58, good site and hotrodders.com has a nice interior section for automotive upholstery too.

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WoodsTruck · Jun 25, 2016

I rode snowmobiles with a guy when I was in high school that had an upholstery shop so I worked for him part time while I was in college. I ended up buying a Consew 99 walking foot zig-zag w/ reverse as sort of my swiss army knife. Only major downfall is the feet are wide and zippers are not easy to install.

I had an idea for a product to fit on the front of an MX helmet to keep snow from going down your collar or pelting you in the nose. Works great.

I purchased some 3/8" nylon faced high density foam a while back and made a roll bar wrap for my Bronco so I would quit hitting my head on it.

My sister takes Aikido (sp?) and has some fighting staffs. She was complaining that the scabbards were too flimsy and the ends wore out. I made her one for Christmas one year to hold two staffs. Doubled up the ends with 1000D Cordura plus a nice rubber padded handle and shoulder strap provisions. She said it is the envy in her Dojo. Wish I had pictures of that one now.

I also reworked the engine cover on my dad's boat as it used to be dark blue and got too hot to touch when fishing so we changed it to an off-white. I also made him a welder cover to keep it clean.

For me, the sewing machine is like the MIG welder. Fix things the right way, now.

600SL · Jun 25, 2016

nine4gmc said:
600SL, I can only speak for the Consew 339 double needle machine I own, you can change the spacing but it requires buying different size "gaging sets" and mechanically adjusting the machine, it's not as simple as turning a knob. You can sew with a single needle on this machine but the feet are limited and much wider than a standard single needle machine so you are limited to what you can sew more than you would be with a single needle machine. If you can only have one machine, a single needle machine is much more capable.

FANTM58, good site and hotrodders.com has a nice interior section for automotive upholstery too.

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Thanks for the heads up. With garage space at a premium I have to seriously consider if I want to get into sewing at all or just farm it out. There are several Consew's and Juki's right now on CL in the $450 to $1300 range. Right now every piece of equipment I own needs to be on wheels so it can be moved out of the way. I'm fast finding a 30 x 48 garage to be way too small.

Any times for newbies buying a good used machine. How's the learning curve for sewing quality Automotive upholstery.

600SL · Jun 25, 2016

WoodsTruck said:
I rode snowmobiles with a guy when I was in high school that had an upholstery shop so I worked for him part time while I was in college. I ended up buying a Consew 99 walking foot zig-zag w/ reverse as sort of my swiss army knife. Only major downfall is the feet are wide and zippers are not easy to install.

I had an idea for a product to fit on the front of an MX helmet to keep snow from going down your collar or pelting you in the nose. Works great.

I purchased some 3/8" nylon faced high density foam a while back and made a roll bar wrap for my Bronco so I would quit hitting my head on it.

My sister takes Aikido (sp?) and has some fighting staffs. She was complaining that the scabbards were too flimsy and the ends wore out. I made her one for Christmas one year to hold two staffs. Doubled up the ends with 1000D Cordura plus a nice rubber padded handle and shoulder strap provisions. She said it is the envy in her Dojo. Wish I had pictures of that one now.

I also reworked the engine cover on my dad's boat as it used to be dark blue and got too hot to touch when fishing so we changed it to an off-white. I also made him a welder cover to keep it clean.

For me, the sewing machine is like the MIG welder. Fix things the right way, now.

Love the welder cover.

nine4gmc · Jun 25, 2016

x2!

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rayra · Jun 25, 2016

It's like anything else, practice makes perfect. When I first looked into sewing ripstop / silnylon, I found a ton of light/fast hikers messing with it and spreading a lot of FUD about how difficult it was to work with. Coincidentally most of that was from folks selling products they'd sewn with that material, to other hikers.

Id does have a tendency not to feed correctly. The foot pulls the lower layer but the top layer doesn't stay aligned well. I learned to hold the fabric before and after the needle under some light tension, then feed it thru at the machine's pace. After that it was easy.

And I also spent a lot of time at the beginning just sewing seam after seam in some fabric scraps. Most of a spool of thread just running practice. One piece looked like a gaudy pinstriped suitcloth.

The bit above about holding purses reminds me of one of the more amusing aspects of sewing. It's walking into a fabric or craft store for something and surprising the sales staff again and again by knowing what I'm after and where it is located in the store. They look at you like you are an alien. Or an invader. I take extra delight in dragging my knuckles as much as possible on such visits. Really confuses people. 'No, I'm not looking for my wife, I'm looking for some canvas duck cloth in a green shade.' was a favorite. Then there was the time I went in around halloween with some very specific fabrics in mind, had the bolts under my arm and was standing at the wall of zippers and buttons, looking for something particular. The staff were actually whispering about me.

[can't seem to find my hammock pix]

found'em

8" dobsonian telescope cover, with integral stuff-sack. The money I saved on this alone paid for the sewing machine.

Show us your sewing projects!

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