Last edited by oldgringo; 01-11-2012 at 06:55.
Dave
"Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self."~~~May Sarton
I have that book, and it has a wealth of info in it, but not sure I would buy it for what little info in it that would apply to what you want to do. Maybe check you library or do an inter library loan if they don't have it.
I would recommend just buying this set-up (not the best palm in the world but it'll do) then watch this video, and give it a go.
To hand sew, you take a length of string, put it thru the needle then tie the ends with a fig 8 knot. Now push straight down thru the fabric, move over a 1/8-1/4" then back up thru. When you get to the end of the section you want sewn, you turn around and come back up (and down) thru the same holes completing the other half of the stitch. Make sense? When you get to the end complete with a half hitch, cut and melt the string and mash it into a ball.... tough as nails. If that doesn't make sense say so and I'll try to explain it again.
Good luck,
RED
My Youtube Channel
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace without end to you.
adapted from - ancient gaelic runes
A little update:
I found some fire resistant 7.5oz cotton duck.
From a mfg's website however can't find any one willing to sell just 5 yards.
http://www.mvmfr.com/fabric/apache_plus
Before I got serious and bought a bunch of sewing machines for canvas and sails, I sewed 9.5 oz sunbrella with one of my wife's machines. I was able to do a semi flat felled seam in it (3 layers) using an 18?? needle and V69 thread. One machine only accepted a #16 needle and the other would take up to a #18, so I used that one. It worked, just not pretty. Had some skipped stitches. The machine would penetrate it, just the weight of the material caused feeding problems.
You really need a walking foot machine at a minimum for the heavy stuff. Compound feed would be best (needle feed + walking foot) for the real heavy stuff 18 oz.
7.5 oz canvas isn't that heavy. Khakis are typically 6oz cotton and blue jeans are usually 11oz cotton. I think you'll be fine with the 7.5 you found if you help feed it a little. Don't pull on both ends like sil, just keep it from piling up in the back of the machine and make sure you are helping push from the front.
I just bought some 7 oz cotton duck at my local Fields Fabrics yesterday. Looked like a good tight weave etc. Ran it down to the laundry matt today to run it thru a shrink cycle. Hope to start on my hammock sock today or tomorrow.
Also seen this on another forum it might be worth looking into.
Good luck,
RED
My Youtube Channel
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace without end to you.
adapted from - ancient gaelic runes
Fronkey, read this:
http://davistent.com/html/canvasinformation.html
Dave
"Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self."~~~May Sarton
The 7oz fabric is plenty tough for a tent, its just not mildew resistant etc. You can get 7.5oz treated fabric from Snowtrekker tents, tho I don't know if its just flame treated or mildew also.
The problem with sunforger is its fairly expensive. I'd really like to make a tent, but with the winter we're having I'm just not convinced I'd use it much. So for now I'll settle with the sock. I'd be really temped to make a tent from untreated 7 oz just cuz I'm cheap, I'd hang dry with a humidifier after each use and my labor doesn't cost me much.
Good luck,
RED
My Youtube Channel
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace without end to you.
adapted from - ancient gaelic runes
That is an excellent read! Thanks so much.
That's exactly why I made the hammock sock this year because there was no point to make a nice stove tent and not be able to use it until next year.
I do like OutandBack's canvas add on and am really curious to how it works out.
But, next year I will for sure be hanging in side a toasty stove tent in deep cold.
Fronkey
Lighter weight canvas would be a better choice in so many ways. Lighter in weight and easier to work with. Working with 18 oz canvas can feel like working with cardboard unless it is washed well before you try to sew it. Even then it is not real pliable. In any event you would probably want to wash it to pre-shrink it anyway. Cotton fabric will shrink even in cold water so always wash it first before you cut it.
Cotton canvas has the unique ability to be reasonably water resistant as the fibers swell in high moisture environments. Just do you best not to touch it. For those of a certain age canvas tents are all we knew. Most didn't have flies because they were not needed. Cotton canvas is really nifty stuff.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
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