Who sews?

Bought a Juki 1541s five years ago with the intent of doing all the replacement bridge canvas and seating myself. Finally started using it recently. Just finished my bridge canvas and starting to tear into the worn out bridge seating. In the meantime, friends are flooding me with requests. But I’m still a rank amateur so I’m holding them off as best I can for now.
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SKybolt said:
Dam man, that's some talent right there!

Hat's off to you, hopefully I can pick that up half as well.
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Thanks bud, I appreciate that. Really was a trial by error approach and the covid winter certainly helped. Watch videos and practice.
 
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I set up shop in our vacant cottage on the ranch. I bought a gently used Brother industrial machine and replaced the plastic only on the bridge enclosure of the 44. I really had no intention of doing canvas work but my curiosity got the best of me and as I began to really inspect closely the work that the professionals were doing, I wanted to see what I could do. It has been fun meeting the challenge to do really custom work. I Now study the work on the high end boats and make design notes and try to incorporate some trick features I come across on my projects. There is certainly a difference between custom work and production work. Since I don't need to justify the clock I really enjoy taking the time it takes to do really detailed work.
Carpe Diem
 
Back in the early sixties my Dad said, lets build a sail boat. it was a 13 foot sailing dinghy. Building it included making the sails. Mom taught me how to use the big treadle sewing machine she had. (she didn't want me messing up her fancy sewing machine (don't remember the brand, probably a Singer) I've been sewing and stitching since. It came in handy while I was in the Coast Guard. When I was enlisted I used to tailor my own uniforms rather than take them to a professional. After I got commissioned and got a decent pay raise I figured I better start getting professional tailoring. My wife has always had a machine and we use it for all kinds of projects. She made our daughters wedding dress. I thought she was going to have a stroke getting it to fit right. I have never attempted anything that complex. Today I was making ditty bags which I sell on Etsy. I have made new seat cushions for our boat, recovered an antique sofa we had for over 30 years, at least three times, and so on. My wife also has a Serger but I haven't taken the time to learn how to use it. Sewing is an extremely useful skill that children should be taught as soon as they are old enough to thread a needle and not stick themselves with it. I kind of get a kick out of going to Joanns and being the only guy in the line to get fabric measured.
 
Ike said:
Back in the early sixties my Dad said, lets build a sail boat. it was a 13 foot sailing dinghy. Building it included making the sails. Mom taught me how to use the big treadle sewing machine she had. (she didn't want me messing up her fancy sewing machine (don't remember the brand, probably a Singer) I've been sewing and stitching since. It came in handy while I was in the Coast Guard. When I was enlisted I used to tailor my own uniforms rather than take them to a professional. After I got commissioned and got a decent pay raise I figured I better start getting professional tailoring. My wife has always had a machine and we use it for all kinds of projects. She made our daughters wedding dress. I thought she was going to have a stroke getting it to fit right. I have never attempted anything that complex. Today I was making ditty bags which I sell on Etsy. I have made new seat cushions for our boat, recovered an antique sofa we had for over 30 years, at least three times, and so on. My wife also has a Serger but I haven't taken the time to learn how to use it. Sewing is an extremely useful skill that children should be taught as soon as they are old enough to thread a needle and not stick themselves with it. I kind of get a kick out of going to Joanns and being the only guy in the line to get fabric measured.
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I agree. Great skill. I remember my home ec teacher thought us. We had to make a stuffed animal for a project in around the 5th grade. My wife still has it in a plastic tub somewhere. When I was in the Corps there were a lot of uniform things I took care of on my own, but most things I dropped off in town. It was always ridiculously cheap. Especially over seas.
 
So do I. Far more often than I like to admit.
 
Blueone said:
I have a dock neighbor who does this...he was sitting at the picnic table working on a window.....and I said I didnt know you sewed....He took serious offense to that while taking a sip of his White Claw :)... He said this isn't sewing this is "Stitching" ...it does sound more manly....just don't say it with a white claw in your hand :D
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I’m sorry, I just don’t get the White Claw thing…I’m just a liquor and beer person I guess.
 
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Anybody here have guidance on installing double zippers on a canvas top to facilitate hanging different panels at the same time? On my first boat 30 years ago, a 28 Sundancer with a full delta camper top, we had the ability to have three panels on the boat. An Isenglass panel, a screen and a solid curtain. As I remember there were three zippers installed but I don't remember if they were just simply stacked and sewn together or staggered or shingled to avoid interference. Does this ring a bell or does anyone have this accommodation installed on their boat? I am building an enclosure of a 36 express bridge boat and the owner wants to be able to install solid curtains and/or sunscreens in addition to the clear vinyl. I am thinking of just stacking the zippers but installing them with the start boxes on opposite ends to avoid unsightly zipper congestion if that makes sense.
I am being asked to build an enclosure for the boat pictured here. I was referred by another canvas shop that can not accommodate the customer's time frame. This will be a challenge to build something that is functional yet appealing to the eye due to the proximity of the hard top to the top of the windshield. Ill post pics of the finished project.
 
Nater Potater said:
At 61, I still stick myself on occasion! There's no hope...
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You do know there are devises for that now. I get ads for them all the time. I poke myself every time I do color changes. But never by the needle Im treading. Having 9 in a row, the ones in each side always get me. New machines do it all for you. Maybe someday I'll have the $45k to get one.
 
New Tech 607z double feed walking foot with servo motor and table, under $700 delivered. So far so good.

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ZZ13 said:
Bought a Juki 1541s five years ago with the intent of doing all the replacement bridge canvas and seating myself. Finally started using it recently. Just finished my bridge canvas and starting to tear into the worn out bridge seating. In the meantime, friends are flooding me with requests. But I’m still a rank amateur so I’m holding them off as best I can for now.
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You got it backward. Learn while doing work on others people's boats. Seeing as they aren't paying they don't mind as much. Then when you got it down, do your cockpit upholstery. That's my plan. I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on that project. Probably next winter.
 
Nice work, gents. Glad to see people delving into the DIY canvas space. Sailrite is the best. I use them all the time for work. They have everything. I would recommend a ping pong table for your layout/sewing table if you haven't purchased one yet. They work very well and fold up for storage. Also, cutting-mats.net is a great resource for your cutting/ping pong table.
 
Stitches…. Guys don’t sew

My MOM just sewed this quilt for my new granddaughter

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My Buddy (who drinks white claws :)) just stitched this sun shade for my boat

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The Bill Collector said:
You nailed this... I know who I'm calling when I get ready for my 450 !!! Ya buddy !!!
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I'm sticking to canvas work myself, that upholstery is a totally different art form in itself. I would drive myself nuts trying to make it perfect. I find myself picking apart things as it is. The deal with canvas is that you mostly see it at a distance so minor imperfections don't stick out. Upholstery on the other hand is right in your face so crooked stitches or misplaced seams and wrinkles are too obvious.
Carpe Diem
 
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