Sewing machine

[Captain Coochie]

I'd like to have a go at making a canopy for my runabout and also some cusions but because im not a house wife i dont know what machine i would need . Also where is the best place to get the materials to make the above items ?
Any help would be great . Thanks .

 

[fergie_mac66]

Take awhile to find to have a look around with google

some no nonsense here

http://vssmb.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/difference-between-domestic-industrial.html

however we got a second hand janome(newholm) 672 we already had a old jones I looked around and go some size 19 needles of the net (cotton patch)

The good needles have made a big difference to the ease of sewing that and cleaning and oiling the machine. The thread we use is size 25nm and 35 nm which wont go well even through size 18 needles .. We also got a walking foot for the 672 20£ from (the cotton patch) birmingham the walking foot for the 672 has made a big difference we can sew 6 layers of pvc /canvas/ heavy sail cloth with no trouble .

 

[ffiill]

For materials,needles,twine eyelets etc etc -
www.profabrics.co.uk
They are also Mouse sails sailmakers and manufacturers of finished awnings etc.based in Anglesy.

 

[Searush]

For materials,needles,twine eyelets etc etc -
www.profabrics.co.uk
They are also Mouse sails sailmakers and manufacturers of finished awnings etc.based in Anglesy.

i'm a happy customer of Roger of Mouse Sails. He made & fitted my bespoke cockpit cover for me exactly as I requested. Others tried to make me change the design to suit thier needs rather than mine!

 

[NigelBirch]

Canvass Work

I made some dodgers over the winter and, being a nerd, documented it here:

http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/westerlywiki/index.php?title=Spray_Hood_and_Dodgers

Found the old Jones sewing machine more than a match for 4 thicknesses of canvas. List of suppliers at the end of the page....

 

[sarabande]

OK, Domestic Goddess, pull up a chair.

1. It's very handy having an electric machine, but there are times when a slow control via a handwheel is very useful.

2. Forget anything made of/with, plastic. They bend, no matter what people say.

3. You need straight stitch, and zig zag, forward and reverse, and side to side control of the needle. Ignore anyone who tries to tell you that they have a mchine with cams that sews little hearts or elephants in long lines, unless you are into pink.

4. Old machines are pretty bullet proof, if a little heavy, but you have three weetabix for breakfast anyway. Go for Husqvarna, Singer, or if you can get one, a Read's.

5. Unless you have space in the woodworking shed, avoid anything which comes with a 3 cubic metre table. Go for a table top.

6. A light just above the needle is very useful unless you want to stitch your paws to the fabric and make them hurty.

7. The more bobbins and shuttles that are hidden away in the drawer, the better, as you can load them before you run out. This save time and cursing. Eventually you may need a support for a 1000 metre reel. Make this out of an old coathanger, unless you want to run off a spiral spindle in lignum vitae if you are bored.

8. When you buy a machine, turn it upside down, and see if the underside is covered in fluff. If so, think twice. Or blow away the fluff with a gentle air gun. Sewing machines love very thin oil, and like getting it regularly. As it were.

9, Buy yourself a copy of Canvaswork and Sail Repair by Don Casey. Excellent instruction and techniques book.

10. A good 2nd hand machine should cost <£60.


I'll post pics of two machine I have later.

 

[fergie_mac66]

if whatever machine you get hasn't got one . see if there is a compatible walking foot attachment

3 examples

http://www.google.co.uk/products/ca...=X&ei=aZbdT-veHIXEtAaZwNjJDQ&ved=0CJkBEPMCMAQ

http://www.google.co.uk/products/ca...=X&ei=aZbdT-veHIXEtAaZwNjJDQ&ved=0CJUBEPMCMAM


http://www.google.co.uk/products/ca...757405&ei=6ZrdT6rDMIqG-AbRivWJBQ&ved=0CCIQrRI

With heavy materials they make it much easier to feed

 

[GrahamM376]

For materials,needles,twine eyelets etc etc -
www.profabrics.co.uk
They are also Mouse sails sailmakers and manufacturers of finished awnings etc.based in Anglesy.

The Point North/Profabrics side of Mouse has been bought out and is now based in Tattenhall. http://www.profabrics.co.uk/contactus.php

Had some stuff from them a couple of months ago, good service as before.

 

[PCUK]

I use a Janome Newhome domestic machine. It makes piping, sews four layers of vinyl and cost £10 on Ebay. I use it to make box cushions and canopies.

 

[GrahamM376]

OK, Domestic Goddess, pull up a chair.

9, Buy yourself a copy of Canvaswork and Sail Repair by Don Casey. Excellent instruction and techniques book.

All good points by Sarabande. I would add, look at the Sailrite site, there are some good instructional videos there which apply to all makes of machine.

 

[lustyd]

I just reupholstered my boat and made a sail cover/ stack pack and used a machine similar to this. I added denim needles but could happily sew 4 sheets of acrylic canvas at a time.

I should add, this machine is plastic, domestic and cheap but is appropriate for what I and the OP are doing. There is simply no need to get pro or semi pro machines for this type of thing and anyone that tells you different either has not tried or they did something wrong!

 

[ghostlymoron]

I've been told that this Singer 447 is the one to go for. They come up frequently on ebay for about a tenner. Do forward and reverse and zig zag and are metal construction.

 

[wilkinsonsails]

If you can get a walking foot machine ,thats is going to be best for cushions .Good for covers also,try a singer 20u,Sailrite machines are quite expensive,but again walking foot so cope very well with multi thickness.
They dont often come up second hand, but it transforms your abilty to sew thicker materials.
Try Kayospuce for upholstery materials,canopy fabrics and frame fittings and bars .

Cindy

 

[nigelmercier]

If you can get a walking foot machine...

Having tried to sew thick fabric without a walking foot, I fully agree.

 

[PlankWalker]

I love my Singer 20u.

Plank

 

[Captain Coochie]

Singer seem to do a saddle type machine . Would that be over kill ?

 

[Captain Coochie]

Oops http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190689923317?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[sarabande]

it may be a bit big for what you want. Check with the seller if it has

straight line and length of stitch adjustment
zig zag and width adjustment
walking foot


The pic shows a good wide table to the left of the needle. Generally useful, but for detailed work, a short table about 15" by 6" makes it possible to sew arms and short radius corners for e.g bags and small buckets.


I do notice that for a machine that has apprently been stored for a year, it is very clean and shiny......


Loads of parts available in UK. Perhaps give them a call to see what they know about the model ?

http://www.industrialsewingmachineparts.co.uk/parts_b755.htm

 

[Captain Coochie]

I think the seller knows about the same as i do when it comes to sewing machines

 

[KellysEye]

We use a Sailrite machine, Sunbrella Canvas (the longest lasting canvas) and Dabond UV resistant thread. All available at www.sailrite.com. However if you are only intending to make a canopy and cushions it may well be cheaper to have them made rather than buy the kit.