Just got a dog and decided to sew a...

[hackish 8]

I need practise and pointers. I decided to make a leash from some spare 1" tubular nylon I had kicking around. At least if it breaks it won't kill anyone :P

I tried hand sewing it with 5 cord - maybe a tad heavy. It feels like it tears the webbing while pulling the "thread". I did a simple stitch and then went back to it looked a little more like a machine stitch :) Despite counting the stitches and staying on the same row it ended up with a distorted shape.

Any pointers/comments from the real fabricators?

-Michael

[darkwing 5]

This is how you start down that long lonesome road to being a rigger. I'd recommend machine sewing with E-thread. Good time to practice some standard sewing patterns, Box-X, 3-point cross, and 4-point cross stitches...

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[hackish 8]

Apparently my mother in law has a machine from when she had an upholstery business so I may see if I can use that. With our rigging system in Canada any machine sewing and harness repairs is outside the scope of my ticket but who says I can't work on learning more stuff.

-Michael

[GLIDEANGLE 1]

I am a rigger-in-training. I got very lucky and was GIVEN a badly damaged harnesss / container system to "play with" (the owner had been told that it was time to retire the rig). Perhaps you could be so lucky and then you could practice on a rig without the legal issues.

I have started keeping my eyes open for damaged gear which is being retired... makes for great practice projects.

So far my supervising Master Rigger has guided me in the repair of one PC that the owner had discarded. She was quite surprised to get it back repaired!!!

The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

[riggerrob 643]

A "starting sewing" course at your local sewing machine store will teach you the basics. Just don't waste any money on their "plastic" machines. When you tell them that you want to start with size 69 thread (commercial E thread) and size 16 needles, they will give up.

Start with Poynter and the FAA Rigging Manual.

There are some excellent sewing machine tutorials on the U.S. Academy of Parachute Rigging's website.

I also have a bunch of sewing machine manuals published by the Federation Francais du Parachutisme.

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

A "starting sewing" course at your local sewing machine store will teach you the basics.

To complete the picture, wear a muscle shirt, and carry a small dog.

[shropshire 0]

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[councilman24 37]

Hand sewing anything load bearing is not the way to go. Unless your using something like this that replicates a lock stitch. http://www.handtools-uk.com/product_info.php?products_id=104 Even then nothing that you'd use for life safety.

And take a look around - some risers are sewn with e thread. 5 cord is way over kill for a leash.

Find an old metal viking home sewing machine and you be able to make toggles with e thread. I've worn out three. You can get them set up for e thread and not wear them out so fast. Most home machine will hand e thread (69 in the fabric store) and size 18 needles.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[riggerrob 643]

Similarly, I used a metal Pfaff 230 for many years. It sewed together a couple of kit parachutes, replaced Velcro on toggles, etc.

[hackish 8]

Interesting, I was actually just trying to think up a way to do a lockstitch manually... I came up with sharpening the other end of a long sewing needle...

Using 5 cord for a leash was just an experiment. I like to try random stuff like that from time to time when I get bored.

I'll have to see what kind of machine I can borrow. The little home one is good for just about nothing...

-Michael

[darkwing 5]

Clearly you are interested in the technical aspects of rigging, so I second the suggestions above that you get an old metal-geared sewing machine and dive in. I have a 1950-something White portable sewing machine that I bought when I first started rigging stuff in about 1974 for $30, and I still have it, and it works great. Forward, reverse, and zig-zag stitches, and you can do a lot of skydiving related sewing.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[erdnarob 1]

Hackish, I have an automatic stitching owl just like the one shown on Terry's post link. I can lent it to you. I use it the repair missing stitching on my indian made deer skin mocassins.

Learn from others mistakes, you will never live long enough to make them all.

[airtwardo 7]

I need practise and pointers. I decided to make a leash from some spare 1" tubular nylon I had kicking around. At least if it breaks it won't kill anyone :P

I tried hand sewing it with 5 cord - maybe a tad heavy. It feels like it tears the webbing while pulling the "thread". I did a simple stitch and then went back to it looked a little more like a machine stitch :) Despite counting the stitches and staying on the same row it ended up with a distorted shape.

So.....what kind of dog is it?

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[JerryBaumchen 1,468]

Hi Michael,

An excellent sewing machine for just getting going & doing light work is a Singer 401A/500A/501A. If you can find one they aren't too expensive; the 'finding' is the hard part, but start looking in your local sewing machine centers.

These machines will take cams ( if you can find them; good luck ). They do a good straight stitch & 304 zig-zag quite well without the cams.

They are considered a 'heavy-duty home' sewing machine.

I usually ask for a Jeans needle when I want to sew 'E' thread on a home-type machine.

Or work some extra hours, get some 'mad' money ( don't tell the wifey ) and buy a simple machine like a Singer 31-15; properly taken care of they will never wear out.

JerryBaumchen

PS) Back in the early '70's I built an entire container with a Singer 401A.

[FLJB 0]

I actually bought a regular $70 - $75 Singer Wal-Mart sewing machine that i decided would be for pre-rigger sewing practice and at the cost i figured if i could make a couple of things before i trashed it it would be worth it. I know, everyone says they suck and won't work...

But it handles E thread and has a straight lock stitch and Zig-Zag functions and after practicing for about 6 months it is still rolling along.

And get you experience using a sewing machine - that way when you use a real machine you wont break it.... ZP is some slippery stuff to sew, so the experience helps.

[hackish 8]

Quote

So.....what kind of dog is it?

Reg'd American Bulldog. I used to raise APBT's but there is now BSL against them and insurance problems. Had to get a registered one because the BSL contains a clause against a dog that has a "pitbull-like appearance".

Back on sewing I have a light duty machine if I can get it to work properly. I may try to make a jumpsuit to practice.

-Michael

[flydog 0]

If you can find an old Necchi BU that would be great. I have one its bulletproof. They are hard to find due sailboat owners liking things like that or the Pfaff 230 that was mentioned. Both are metal gears and portable, great for them to repair sails when out of port.