Sewing a rolled hem on 1.1 Silpoly

[TominMN]

... Then I discovered Magic Clips...

Thanks! I've noticed them in a few posts but did not know what they were called. They looked handy and now you've confirmed that.

[Redoleary]

I like to iron and clip. Set iron really low and 'set' the crease in your hem, adds a little time but subtracts some frustration.

[psyculman]

Popcornfool.....

Magic Clips......thanks, I'm going to try them!

[gunner76]

What I need is a magic sewing machine

[TominMN]

What I need is a magic sewing machine

When you get it, can I borrow it?

[Crazytown3]

When I sewed my 1.1 SilPoly winter tarp, I thought I was going to lose my mind. I finally walked away from it for about a week, and when I came back to it, things just kind of came together, almost like magic I suppose. Taking a break from a project sometimes is not a bad thing.

I tried the rolled hem foot, but it just didn't work out for me. I use the same technique Cruiser51 uses, and just roll it by hand, keep a little tension on it front and back as it goes through the machine. I also use the Magic Clips like Popcornfool, and they are a great alternative to pins. Better than pins in many respects.

I just sewed a pack cover with 0.9 Xenon Sil, and it took a few minutes to remember how to do the rolled hem with that thin, slippery fabric. AFter about 10 minutes, it all came back.

OP I think you can do it!

[AnneDoughnut]

Long time lurker, first time poster. I make quilts, the cotton kind your aunt Kathy made. I’m *not* great at sewing delicate and slippery fabrics, but I’ve learned this:

Clover wonder clips are better than the knock-offs. I don’t like making holes with pins.

Clean your feed dogs! Give your machine a little tlc: oil, clean, new needle.

3M makes a medical tape called Kind Removal that has silicone in it. It’s really great stuff for fragile skin and fragile fabrics. Amazon sells another brand (endure) that looks similar. I swipe the ends of rolls from the hospital I work for. I wouldn’t pay the exorbitant $50+ for 5 rolls Amazon is asking. I use it like I would pins or clips.

I hesitate to give any advice, though, because I sew on my DREAM MACHINE. It’s a straight stitch only machine and it makes everything look better. One stitch, and it does it perfectly. It has a small needle opening in the plate, so delicate fabrics don’t get pulled into the feed dogs.

A hex tarp kit from RBTR was the project that got me sewing, and now I do it everyday I can. I cringe AND am super proud of it every time I use it!

[TominMN]

Postscript:

Rainfly is done!

Some of the stitching isn't perfect and I had to do just a little bit of seam ripping where I went a bit crooked but, all-in-all, I'm fairly happy with the results. I hadn't sewn anything in years and I can tell that a little practice now would have made a big difference. Now to knock out a few stuffsacks for things...

Should there be a next time, I think I'll go with the recommendations to bond the reinforcements rather than try to stitch them on.

[KBr00ks]

Today I learned that there are two different kinds of pin-replacing clips: Clover brand Wonder Clips (which I have thanks to this forum), and also Taylor Seville brand Magic Clips, which can fit under the presser foot.

[Cruiser51]

I did get the Magic Clips to try, they don't really seem to be very suited to 1.1 silpoly, as a pin replacement. Being able to fit under the pressor foot aside, they actually distort the hem, the silpoly is so fine, that the clamping motion pulls the fabric into the clip area. I may use them on other projects with heavier fabric, but these really don't seem wonderful for the lighter fabrics IMO.

I will also be taking a look at the Clover brand ones, always like to look over new stuff.

Brian