Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    Senior Member cwford's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    NTX
    Hammock
    WBBB, DIY Double Layer
    Tarp
    Superfly
    Insulation
    EE 20 / Phoenix20
    Suspension
    DIY whoopies
    Posts
    123
    Images
    3

    Sewing shock cord

    I'm currently working on my IX UQ and can't figure out to to sew the shock cord to the quilt. I am trying to anchor the end of the shock cord to the end of the gross grain and then sew the gross grain strip to the quilt. Only a portion of the thread is being pulled through. It looks like some of the fibers are breaking and then being pushed back up along the core of the thread. Does that make sense? I tried using a larger needle (16) thinking it would make a larger hole for the thread to go through but no luck.

    Is there a trick to this? Would it be better to do the anchoring of the shock cord by hand stitching?

  2. #2
    Senior Member Tendertoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Columbus, OH
    Hammock
    WBRR
    Tarp
    Superfly
    Insulation
    HG
    Suspension
    webbing and rings
    Posts
    1,479
    I use a cord lock on all ends of the shockcord to prevent it from being sucked into any of the grosgrain channels.

    YMMV

  3. #3
    Banned
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Lubbock, Texas
    Hammock
    ENO Double Nest
    Tarp
    Camo Superfly
    Insulation
    DIY Thinsulate UQ
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    323
    Quote Originally Posted by Tendertoe View Post
    I use a cord lock on all ends of the shockcord to prevent it from being sucked into any of the grosgrain channels.

    YMMV
    I believe that most people do the same thing. If you were to sew the shock cord it would weaken it.

  4. #4
    Senior Member aboyd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Montgomery, Alabama
    Hammock
    Warbonnet Blackbird 1.7 dbl
    Tarp
    DIY
    Insulation
    DIY TQ and JRB UQ
    Suspension
    Straps w/Cinch bkl
    Posts
    1,494
    Images
    7
    I use the cord locks as well on my UQ's.
    "I will study and get ready, and perhaps my chance will come." - Abraham Lincoln

  5. #5
    Senior Member Aardvark's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Ky
    Hammock
    DIY R2B3 (Black Bear Burrito) + HUG
    Tarp
    Noah12, Mambajamba
    Insulation
    DIY TQ/UQ
    Suspension
    Whoopie + straps
    Posts
    573
    Images
    1
    a.jpg
    Don't know if this will help or not, but I will sew a fixed loop in the end of the shock cord, only sewing zig-zag thru the outer edges.... then I can anchor with a small loop of grosgrain in end. To sew the shock cord loop, get a fairly thick piece of cardboard and cut a rectangle in it length of the sewing area, wide as 2 pieces of shock cord. Use this as your holder for the sewing machine, loop shockcord and lay in the rectangle, and set zigzag with width about 2mm wide. Move shock cord (inside the rectangle guide) thru the sewing machine until you achieve the stitched cord, then you have a loop you can attach to. I do this for the long ends of the UQ, short ends I set shock cord thru long end loops, the use cord locks to constrict and gather the ends.
    .... the Aardvark (earth pig)... a rather unremarkable creature whose sole claim to fame is that it is the first animal listed in the dictionary.
    Rob

  6. #6
    Senior Member JohnSawyer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Hammock
    WB RidgeRunner
    Tarp
    8x10 DIY (speer)
    Insulation
    KAQ Lost River
    Suspension
    Straps
    Posts
    4,631
    Images
    108
    Since shock cord will degrade over time, I sew loops into my quilts, and tie or use cord locks.

    That said, I have successfully run a zig-zag stitch over a small shock cord (think bartack). The trick to keeping it in place was to add a drop of glue to the threads covering the cord, or tie a knot in the end of the shock cord. Doing this really wasn't easy. I'll stick to sewn-on loops and tied cords.
    "Do or do not, there is no try." -- Yoda


  7. #7
    Senior Member streamline's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Greenville, SC
    Hammock
    diy HH
    Tarp
    10' x 8' diy cat
    Insulation
    Full down UQ
    Suspension
    Whoopies w/ straps
    Posts
    355
    Nice hint on the cardboard, I will be trying that.

    I too use the Zigzag stitch and then a couple lines of straight stitch. Held like a champ and cuts down on the, very minimal, extra weight of the cordlocks, also one or actually two less things to break lol.

  8. #8
    Senior Member streamline's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Greenville, SC
    Hammock
    diy HH
    Tarp
    10' x 8' diy cat
    Insulation
    Full down UQ
    Suspension
    Whoopies w/ straps
    Posts
    355
    Quote Originally Posted by JohnSawyer View Post
    Since shock cord will degrade over time, I sew loops into my quilts, and tie or use cord locks.
    You just saved me 10 minutes. This seems like a much better way of doing it.

  9. #9
    Senior Member cwford's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    NTX
    Hammock
    WBBB, DIY Double Layer
    Tarp
    Superfly
    Insulation
    EE 20 / Phoenix20
    Suspension
    DIY whoopies
    Posts
    123
    Images
    3
    Thanks for all the help. I hadn't considered the degradation of the shock cord. Instead of sewing on a loop as suggested by Aardvark I think I can just whip an eye loop on the end of the shock cord and attach it to another GG loop.

    eye.png

  • + New Posts
  • Similar Threads

    1. shock cord and cord lock size.
      By solohh in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 2
      Last Post: 11-10-2013, 20:50
    2. Shock Cord
      By Spartan in forum Archived WTB
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 06-30-2013, 16:18
    3. How much shock cord is enough?
      By slowdown in forum Suspension Systems, Ridgelines, & Bug Nets
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 08-09-2012, 14:21
    4. Shock Cord
      By d37fan in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 01-17-2012, 03:40
    5. WTB: Shock cord
      By G.L.P. in forum Archived WTB
      Replies: 2
      Last Post: 02-08-2011, 10:13

    Tags for this Thread

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •