Yes Mason, that is good advise about not using old canvas. I never thought about the toll on the machine.
Jim
Jim
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Happy Go for a Ride Day! 🚗🚴🛹
Sewing projects
- Thread starter Boatman53
- Start date
I'm almost finished making sail covers for my 39' ketch. The staysail and mainsail covers are finished and installed. The mizzen cover has been cut and hemmed. I still want to test fit it before final sewing and hardware, but the other two showed me my measurements were pretty close. I made the last set about seven years ago, starting on an old Japanese home machine finishing on a Sailrite LSZ-1. That was an $800 purchase, but still less than half the cost of having the covers made. I also sew sail and rig bags for my smaller boats, and even a leather wallet.
This particular canvas had some sort of treatment on it that sorta powdered up, white stuff falling down into the workings. It was an old tarp or tent before.
Johnsand I now use the same machine. Good on you making your own sail covers.
Mason, I probably would have done the same as you and used an old tarp if I had one, at least for that temporary blind.
Jim
Mason, I probably would have done the same as you and used an old tarp if I had one, at least for that temporary blind.
Jim
Nice work Boatman. By a large factor better than anything I ever produced with needle and thread.
Last winter, I found a sewing pattern for a stocking cap in different sizes, the largest big enough to contain by bulbous head. When my wife wasn't watching, I abducted her sewing machine and after struggling with numerous 'bird's nests' produced a serviceable if not attractive cap.
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Decades ago there was a company that sold kits for things like tarps and tents and packs and sleeping bags. That was pretty successful at the time.
I’d like to start sewing again now that I am retired. But I don’t have a sewing machine and wouldn’t know where to start looking.
This thread is certainly inspirational.
I’d like to start sewing again now that I am retired. But I don’t have a sewing machine and wouldn’t know where to start looking.
This thread is certainly inspirational.
Holubar and Frostline come to mind.
Erica check Craigslist there are always some listed, yard sales, I don’t do Facebook but their marketplace might turn up something.
Frostline is the company I remember too.
Jim
Frostline is the company I remember too.
Jim
I second the idea of buying used. All of our grandmothers had sewing machines. Some sellers think an old machine is a rare antique. I think it's worth $20 if it runs. I sometimes see them for free. I like the '50s-'60s machines, all steel drive, electric, zigzag. If you go to buy one, check it by turning the wheel first, then plug it in and sew a scrap. A lot are stiff from old oil, but kerosene will dissolve that, and new oil makes it run smoothly.
You can go and shop for older machines and they are generally considered bombproof, but TBH you don't need anything that is expensive in the first place or a fixer upper either (at least to begin with). Something like the Singer Heavy Duty 44xx line will work just fine and will pound through most stitching requirements for camping gear and can usually be had on sale in common places like Canadian Tire (Canada) for a modest price.
You will likely only ever use straight and zigzag stitches, so you don't need the electronic machines offering dozens of stitches, which is usually the distinction, as the price goes up.
As far as the "How" and ideas for gear, there is a great collection of stuff over on Hammock Forums covering a lot of DIY gear.
Brian
My current sewing project. 1-1/2 years with 6 months to go. Hand-sewn beadwork, 36x55 inches.
Man that is a lot of work! Well done. Do my eyes deceive me or is that squirrel trying to jump into the boat?
Jim
Jim
Better yet, it's a talking squirrel.
I knew this was a unique group, but I'm surprised to see so many guys who know about sewing.
I can sew a little, my mother taught me when I was in middle school. I mainly mend stuff.
I store my canoes in the crawl space. It is a great place, but there is one problem - sliding the canoes from the door to their storage location.
I recently came across a couple rolls of thick fabric at the Habitat Reuse Center. Maybe curtain material. It is perfect for canoe bags, thick enough to protect the canoes while I slide them across the plastic covered floor.
I'm sure I can string together something ugly but workable. However if anybody has recommendations on how to construct canoe bags I'm open to suggestions.
I can sew a little, my mother taught me when I was in middle school. I mainly mend stuff.
I store my canoes in the crawl space. It is a great place, but there is one problem - sliding the canoes from the door to their storage location.
I recently came across a couple rolls of thick fabric at the Habitat Reuse Center. Maybe curtain material. It is perfect for canoe bags, thick enough to protect the canoes while I slide them across the plastic covered floor.
I'm sure I can string together something ugly but workable. However if anybody has recommendations on how to construct canoe bags I'm open to suggestions.
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You can do it!
No real help her but are you thinking a big bag, or something that covers the hull but has grommets and gets laced on?
Jim
No real help her but are you thinking a big bag, or something that covers the hull but has grommets and gets laced on?
Jim
Have you considered small wheels for rolling the canoe rather than sliding? I store a canoe under a shed by rolling it gunnels down on a couple of 2 or 3 inch diameter wheels. They are hardware store wheels with brackets which I attached to a board. I strap the board across the gunnels towards one end of the canoe. This way I just need to slightly lift the opposite end of the canoe off the ground and roll it under the shed. A bag sliding across plastic may be a better solution in your case - just wanted to mention a possible alternative.
A little case for my Svea...
Very well done Scratchy. Zipper in the round, I like it.
Jim
Jim
My dear spouse finished sewing a canoe cover for our new canoe. The covers are made from fabric scraps she pieced together but material for the latest cover was purchased specifically for the canoe. Each cover has an inner layer of "sherpa shearling" (thick poly fleece). Three solos resting in their bunk beds. 
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When I transitioned from tents to hammocks, I also decided to learn to sew and try making my own stuff. At the end of a tortuous 2 weeks of binge watching Youtube, rereading manuals and articles ... all punctuated with colourful language mostly directed at the sewing machine, a an accord was defined. If I followed the simple rules of sewing, the machine would do the work ... a new addiction was formed.
I would offer a warning to "would be" sewers looking to make gear, it is an addictive process, being able to make and tweak gear to your specific needs and ideas ... it creates an inner monster just looking for excuses to make or modify equipment.
This is a pic of the first series of projects. an 11.5' Gathered End hammock, with under quilt, top quilts, tarp
This quickly morphed into a self designed bridge hammock setup, which of course required all new quilts/tarps and even a cozy for the camp chair. Even this isn't up date, this is the prototype from last year, a new topquilt and the final version was just tested out earlier this month, but I didn't take any pics of that.
So I say beware the sewing ....
Brian
I would offer a warning to "would be" sewers looking to make gear, it is an addictive process, being able to make and tweak gear to your specific needs and ideas ... it creates an inner monster just looking for excuses to make or modify equipment.
This is a pic of the first series of projects. an 11.5' Gathered End hammock, with under quilt, top quilts, tarp
This quickly morphed into a self designed bridge hammock setup, which of course required all new quilts/tarps and even a cozy for the camp chair. Even this isn't up date, this is the prototype from last year, a new topquilt and the final version was just tested out earlier this month, but I didn't take any pics of that.
So I say beware the sewing ....
Brian
