Call me 'All thumbs, or all stubby, chubby fingers and thumbs, but the cold weather gets me to try sewing gear again. The desire is always there, the materials are easy to source, there is tons of info on the internet to guide me through my sewing projects, I have two machines (a home model, and an industrial) yet decent sewing is only accomplished by practice, practice and more practice... at least for me.
One of the problems is my lack of the fine dexterity needed to sew things like the lightest silnylon. I can barely feel it between my fingers that are more used to a hammer and nails type of work. But I still push forward and eventually accomplish something that works to my satisfaction.
I just finished up a tarp, of which I won't post any photo's... well, at least not any close up photo's. It won't come apart, and it won't leak and I am fine with that. I'll just feel a little embarrassed if someone starts taking a closer look.
This post is not to discourage people from doing things like this, but to encourage them to do it. Yes, it can be frustrating, but you will be happy when you are using it in the field later on. I will use this tarp knowing that it only cost me a fraction of the cost of buying one. It is an oddball size (6'X9') that I wanted for solo trips. Large enough for me to sit and cook a meal, with part of it dropped down behind me as a wind break. It weighs 8.8 oz., and I'll just pack it with four guy lines and no stakes. I will also make a ground sheet for my Lean, a summer top quilt and some stuff sacks. All the mat'l was just sitting in my gear room anyway... I might as well use it.
Anyway, if you ever plan to sew light weight silnylon on a home machine, there are some things you'll need to know before you start.
1) Always use 100% polyester thread.
2) Start with the smallest needle that you can run your thread through.
3) Use a new, sharp needle. It is amazing how much trouble a only slightly dull needle will give you. I was told some time ago that if you are having problems, it is usually your needle. Install a new one and try again.
4) This is a biggy! Use a walking foot! Silnylon is so slippery that the machine will not want to feed the mat'l through. If you try to help it through, you will end up with problems. A walking foot is usually available to fit most machines, and they don't cost much.
5) Make sure that your machine is in good working order. Clean it and oil it.
6) Don't be afraid of using a longer (not the longest) stitch, because you will have less problems, it will be easier to inspect your sewing lines for tension and it will still hold.
7) Always do test runs on a scrap of the same mat'l to check your foot pressure, thread tension, stitch length etc. before starting into your project.
8) Flat felled seams are the most commonly used on tarps, tents and ground sheets. It is a great seam that is efficient and strong. Search out how to do one and make some test seams on scrap before starting your project. It is especially difficult to do on light weight silnylon, but it is the seam that you will want protecting you, so practice at making one.

These are some of the things that you will want to know before starting. I am not a professional, but if I didn't at least practice these rule of thumb, I wouldn't get anywhere.
I would invite Dan to add to this or correct me if I am off on something. He sews more in a day than I will in my lifetime so his opinion is invited.

Having someone else in your house that loves to sew can save you from wanting to put a gun to your head, but my wife brings her jeans to me to hem. So there you go!

Good luck, and at least give it a try!

Good advice PK. Thanks for sharing.

Good suggestions. Thanks.

There is probably a better way, but I find that pinning a seam (esp. a flat felled seam) makes the work on large pieces (e.g. tarp) more manageable. Yes, you will add a few more holes to the silnylon, but since your a punching holes in it with a sewing needle, I figure I'll be re-sealing at least that part when the item has been completed.

A large work table is also especially handy when you are working on a large piece. If it happens to be the same height as your sewing platform ... well, that an additional bonus!

dd

Thanks for the tip. I agree the material can get tricky.

It would be fun to get together and work on projects. My sister and I get together weekly for sewing. It would be great to share ideas and work together. I just finished a series of stuff sacks for small equipment, a roll and click bag for my pans and a cozy for both jet boils.

I have been doing a few things in fleece. Sleeping bag liners and simple things like that. The grandkids keep me busy making pants, p.j.'s, jackets and other clothes.

Compression sacks are the last thing on my list. So.....

I need new ideas of what to sew - I have been sewing for years and have sewn most things from Duluth packs and swim suits to wedding gowns. I know how - I just need to figure out what.

This long winter has just about used up my creative ideas. Any you have to share would be much appreciated.

I have trouble with the tension when using that particular fabric. Have you found any solutions? or do you even have that problem?

quote Grandma L: "I have trouble with the tension when using that particular fabric. Have you found any solutions? or do you even have that problem?"

I set the pressure foot about as weak as it would go and the thread tension tight enough so that it very slightly bunches the fabric. After sewing six inches or so I'll stretch the seam back out. I'd rather have it tugging a little, than loose.

quote PortageKeeper: "

quote Grandma L: "I have trouble with the tension when using that particular fabric. Have you found any solutions? or do you even have that problem?"

I set the pressure foot about as weak as it would go and the thread tension tight enough so that it very slightly bunches the fabric. After sewing six inches or so I'll stretch the seam back out. I'd rather have it tugging a little, than loose."

Thanks! I will give it a try.

I have not sewn anything - I mean ever, except hand sewing the ocasional button or fixing a rip, with varied success I might add. This is a skill I would like to learn. Do you guys have any easy projects for me to try? I might try to post a new thread. I was thinking of a bag fir my folding saw would be a good easy start. anything else? How hard would a drift sock be to make?

Thanks,

Jerry

That would be a good start. From there move up to making a stuff sack. Look how others are made, and go from there. Try a wind sock. Get some experience before doing a tarp, because there is a lot of mat'l in a tarp that can get messed up. Practice on the little things.
A drift sock would be good, especially if you can find a pattern.

quote Grandma L: "It would be fun to get together and work on projects. My sister and I get together weekly for sewing. It would be great to share ideas and work together. I just finished a series of stuff sacks for small equipment, a roll and click bag for my pans and a cozy for both jet boils.


I have been doing a few things in fleece. Sleeping bag liners and simple things like that. The grandkids keep me busy making pants, p.j.'s, jackets and other clothes.


Compression sacks are the last thing on my list. So.....


I need new ideas of what to sew - I have been sewing for years and have sewn most things from Duluth packs and swim suits to wedding gowns. I know how - I just need to figure out what.


This long winter has just about used up my creative ideas. Any you have to share would be much appreciated.
"

First of all thanks PK. I should have read this thread before I started my project. I had decent success with the tarp I made this past winter and thought I had it licked but found out I still have much to learn.

GrandmaL .. what about a canoe pack? After I finish the 3 hammocks and 2 tarps I'm doing, I'm thinking about giving a duluth/granite gear/CCS type pack a shot. I love waist belts on packs but hiking packs just don't fit right in a canoe. I'm leaning toward a hybrid with a waist belt and padded shoulder straps but nice, big, and roomy.

.. what about a canoe pack? After I finish the 3 hammocks and 2 tarps I'm doing, I'm thinking about giving a Duluth/granite gear/CCS type pack a shot. I love waist belts on packs but hiking packs just don't fit right in a canoe. I'm leaning toward a hybrid with a waist belt and padded shoulder straps but nice, big, and roomy. "

I find I do best if I use an existing packs and do modifications. I have taken-in Kondos #3 envelope pack for carrying a blue barrel (30 L) with shaped pack "lids" to form around the barrel.

I have also "enlarged" Kondos packs to accommodate 60L barrels and to hold 6 "bag" chairs.

I have made tent wall pockets that are made from netting and tie inside my tent to loops on the seams.

I've been thinking about making a pack out of X-Pac and making a roll up closing top like a sea-to-summit waterproof bags but on the outside looks like any old canoe pack.

Taking on a pack frightens me though ...

quote okinaw55: "I've been thinking about making a pack out of X-Pac and making a roll up closing top like a sea-to-summit waterproof bags but on the outside looks like any old canoe pack.


Taking on a pack frightens me though ..."

One of the biggest things is to study other packs to see how they're made. Take note that there's a lot that needs to be done with each panel of the pack before it is all sewn together. Some of these things can't be done after you've sewn a box shape out of the fabric.

quote PortageKeeper: "

quote okinaw55: "I've been thinking about making a pack out of X-Pac and making a roll up closing top like a sea-to-summit waterproof bags but on the outside looks like any old canoe pack.



Taking on a pack frightens me though ..."

One of the biggest things is to study other packs to see how they're made. Take note that there's a lot that needs to be done with each panel of the pack before it is all sewn together. Some of these things can't be done after you've sewn a box shape out of the fabric."

Good advice - pockets, zippers, straps etc. need to be planned out and put in place before the pack is assembled.

Packs are not hard to sew - it is the planning and pattern making that takes a lot of thought. Some of the "thinking" keeps me up at night, especially when I am lining things. Which seam goes first is tricky at times.