The Sewing Machine Thread

Ward H

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Nov 7, 2011
3,810
Catalina 30 Mk II Cedar Creek, Bayville NJ
For Sunbrella and similar materials I use a #20 needle when using v92 thread. I use mostly Schmetz sharp/round point needles.
I also use DST basting tape which helps to seal needle holes.
 
Apr 5, 2009
3,202
Catalina '88 C30 tr/bs Oak Harbor, WA
We got tired of restiching all our outdoor sunbrella projects at least two times before the fabric needed to be replaced. We switched to Tenara thread for all outdoor projects and have never gone back. The thread is clear so it color matches whatever you sew with it. With LS1 or LSZ1 oscillating hook bobbin, it would have been better to get the Sailrite HDPE Lifetime thread, but it was not available when we got our Tenara.
It took some fiddling, but I was able to get our LSZ1 to sew perfectly with Tenara.
 
Apr 5, 2009
3,202
Catalina '88 C30 tr/bs Oak Harbor, WA
I installed my curtain set up this weekend. I came out alright, however I think I might ad another panel to tighten up the pleats.


View attachment 226896
I think they look great. I believe that you made them the correct height because they are tiget at each end. Are they mounted on rods? If so, it is likely that the tension in the fabric is causing the rods to bow inward so that the center appears to be loose. If you make them shorter, it will increase this tension in the fabric that will create greater bowing in the rods.
You might see some improvement by coming up with a way to support the rods at each dividing point in the curtains so that the unsupported length of the rods is shorter.
 

jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
7,090
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
Resurrecting this thread...

I'm jealous of you Sailrite owners. I finally got my Alphasew working O.K.; it took about $50 worth of parts from Sailrite! :)

I'm going to change out the crappy foot pedal, too, with an old reliable Singer rheostat pedal. The Alphasew electronic one works, but the mechanical part is so crappy it's almost impossible to use well.
 
Mar 20, 2015
3,282
C&C 30 Mk1 Winnipeg
Does anyone here have a Sailrite Fabricator? I hear the predecessor to that one is the Tacsew T111-155. I'm looking at one for sale now. It's a straight stitch, walking foot, industrial machine.
That was originally a Singer 111W. Other companies (Consew, Tacsew, Sailrite, etc) cloned it.

I believe the Singer 111W156 has reverse. My 111W155 doesn't. It currently has servo motor. I plan on changing the pulleys so it can be slooooooooower.