Need a laugh? Check out my first attempt sewing cushions

[CATBOAT WILLY]

Before you start you cushion project read this informative article; http://sundownersailsagain.com/boat-cushions-mattresses/

It helped me quite a bit......Not as easy as one would think. Best of luck.

 

[caguy]

Instead of the rotary cutter get a heated knife cutter. It melts the edges and prevents threads from fraying.

 

[kito]

Instead of the rotary cutter get a heated knife cutter. It melts the edges and prevents threads from fraying.

I was wanting one but at $140 for basically a soldering gun with a blade is outrageous. They can only be used on synthetic fabrics too. They are not needed for sailcloth since it doesn't fray. If anyone knows of a more reasonably priced hot knife, or of a blade attachment for my Weller soldering gun, please let me know.

 

[cat30]

I was wanting one but at $140 for basically a soldering gun with a blade is outrageous. They can only be used on synthetic fabrics too. They are not needed for sailcloth since it doesn't fray. If anyone knows of a more reasonably priced hot knife, or of a blade attachment for my Weller soldering gun, please let me know.

Check the sailrite site- they have an attachment that screws onto a soldering iron, wasn't expensive.

 

[Ron20324]

...If anyone knows of a more reasonably priced hot knife, or of a blade attachment for my Weller soldering gun, please let me know.

I have the Sailrite/Weller solder iron with the hot tip. For $24, it has been a great tool for more than just cutting fabric. It looks like the tip only (#18102, $14) should fit most pencil-type irons. The half-round tip makes for easy moving it along the cut line. Highly suggested.

I also have a pistol-type iron that uses the two-prong tips. There is one with a blade that is good for cutting ropes, but for a larger-wattage gun. I had to drill out my smaller iron's input sockets to fit it, but it works well, but you would not use it to cut fabrics, though it can. I used it to circumcise battery cables to get the insulation off.

Until the 30th, Sailrite has 15$ off that hot-gun, plus free shipping.

 

[Maine Sail]

Kito,

That looks way better than anything I have tried to sew.... When I sew it often looks like a Maxell XLII-90 that the tape came out of.....

 

[kito]

MS, been there, done that I just spent the last 2 days getting my machine aligned and timed correctly. The other day while sewing I heard a BANG and my needle broke. Found out I knocked the alignment and the rotational timing off. I was getting rats nests, skipped threads etc. It least I know how to fix it now.

 

[kito]

My second attempt.......much better

Well I ripped apart the first cushion and started over. I got my piping cord from Sailrite today too. I cut the pieces more accurate and used a rotary scissors which worked awesome. It's not perfect but will do fine. I may have to trim the foam length a bit to make it fit better though.

 

[woodster]

now ya talkin ...what no bud light?

looks good Kito

 

[tomgrigsby]

Looks great!

 

[Bad Obsession]

That looks good to me.

Canvas work is insanely expensive and the sad part is that it makes for great winter projects.

Try to make some winch covers and things like that. It is a good skill to learn and they are pretty easy to make. Sewing zippers isn't too bad either. My zipper foot for my ancient machine isn't worth a hoot but I can use my regular presser foot since it is a smaller foot.

I wish I had a walking foot. That would help a lot for sail material and slicker material, but my machine does okay with canvas.

My only cushion project was a dog bed that I made for my dog. She was tearing up the ones you buy so I made one out of heavy duty duck material. She has yet to damage this bed and it looks presentable. I guess I could tackle cushions someday.

Again, looks great.

 

[rardiH36]

I was wanting one but at $140 for basically a soldering gun with a blade is outrageous. They can only be used on synthetic fabrics too. They are not needed for sailcloth since it doesn't fray. If anyone knows of a more reasonably priced hot knife, or of a blade attachment for my Weller soldering gun, please let me know.

I might be suggesting a bit of purist heresy here: Take a normal Weller soldering gun tip. Hit the very tip of it with a hammer against a hard metal surface (like the anvil part of a vice) as many times as necessary to flatten it into the basic shape you think will suit your needs. File/sand the edge to a "dull/sharp" and to take out any burrs.

If you are as meticulous as you were with your cushion sewing job, your result will probably look better than in the attached picture of my DIY hot knife fabric cutter .

 

[agprice22]

Nice! Good job!

 

[jibes138]

Thanks Kermit, you're to kind. I just want to salvage the fabric since it's cut too big and can reuse. Measuring and cutting on a bed ain't cutting it either. I think I will lay a piece of 4x8 plywood on my pool table to do the measuring, marking and cutting on it. Maybe get one of those rotary fabric cutters too.

good idea to use a 4x8 sheet of plywood for your canvas projects. A few tips . Get 3/4 inch and screw some 2x4s to the bottom to make it stiff . One on each long side then 4 short sections going crosswise. This makes a rigid work surface stiff enough to hold the sewing machine. Now glue a sheet of Formica on the top to make a smooth no snag surface. Good luck with your projects.

 

[jibes138]

Instead of the rotary cutter get a heated knife cutter. It melts the edges and prevents threads from fraying.

i second this suggestion. They sell a pencil style soldering iron with a thin bladed tip. Works great for cheap.

 

[Ron20324]

An optioin, though I don't know the cost, is to get a wood-burning set for the burner unit.

 

[kito]

I looked at Walmart for a burning set and couldn't find one. Actually the rotary scissors works great. I just lay the foam on the fabric and roll the scissors around it. It comes out perfect without much fraying since the cut edge is straight and not jagged like a regular scissor does. It only takes a few minutes to cut material for a whole cushion. I should finish my 4th cushion today. I will get some kind of hot knife when I start working with Sunbrella though.

 

[woodster]

try Michel's or hobby lobby for the burning knife

 

[ShotgunSlim]

I have had my Reliable Barracuda sewing machine for a week now. After practicing on scrap fabric and sewing my curtains I decided to make an attempt at my first boat cushion. It didn't turn out very good as you can see I must have cut the fabric too big and reusing the plastic piping cord didn't help.....to stiff and had bends in it that was set-in from the old covers. I reused the vinyl bottom that had the zipper already on it. The bottom looks better than the top . Anyway, I have learned a lot and will be doing this one over. I ordered some foam piping cord from Sailrite which will make a big difference, plus I will measure better and cut straighter next go round.

Keep on trying! It really doesn't look that bad. As a fellow sailor who had never sewed a thing in his life until last year, I bought a Janome 3000HD machine and started doing exactly what you're doing with the cushions on my C22. I bought some 1" batting and padded the foam with it on both sides to help "fill out" the covers where I was a little generous with the measurements and it helps smooth them out and adds more cushion which is never a bad idea. I even ordered some vinyl from Sailrite and sewed a set of 4 cockpit cushions with piping and zippers last winter. I love to put the smaller cushions that cover the lazarette and locker against the bulkhead and just lay back in comfort while anchored.

 

[finding41]

Kito your doing great! I am self/ YouTube taught myself. I made all the cushions for my 1st Mac26D. I didn't put piping in. I'll be whipping off two more sets this winter. ( I figure 1.5 weeks just sewing in the evenings.)
I tore the bobbin gears out of my Singer Stylest... That cost me $65 to get fixed. In the first hour of use after I then put it out of time... YouTube. Some drunk guy has a tutorial.
I'm not afraid to try and sew anything now.
Made sails for my Siren 17 this summer out of sails for a Shark24 and a HR 25.
Here is the latest thing. I made Squeaky a pillow for her birthday. I didn't use a a pattern. Just worked form a picture on Pintrist. (That only took 1.5 hr!)