Sewing Lesson

We had a few un-raveling seams in the main sail cover that got really bad at the end of the season. We knew that we would have to fix it before the start of the 2011 season, but do we pay to have someone fix it, or do we try to do it ourselves.

It would require a lot of sewing.  Several feet had come un-sewn in several spots.  Not only that, but there were many sets of double stitches.  But it seemed silly to pay someone for something that I could do.  I could try, right?  What would that hurt?

Captain bought me a new sewing machine about 8 years ago, and I can sew, but just the basics. Forward, straight stitches.  And on cotton.  This was different, this is heavy textured canvas and serious stuff!  Not just a basic curtain for the living room.  I was a bit nervous.  But, together we went to Joann's and got a heavy duty needle and thick thread and Captain said I could do it. 

A little surprise for me was that Captain also wanted to learn how to use the sewing machine.  So, I taught him how to thread the machine and make a bobbin.  I showed him how to sew forwards and to sew backwards to lock the stitches in place.  And together, we did it!  We sewed the main sail cover.

Here are the tears.  Well, not really tears, but stitches that came undone.  Serious winds just ripped those stitches out.

Here is our "helper", N.C. (New Cat).  Why is it the moment you put something on the floor/sofa/bed and are working/reading/folding it the cats want to lay on it? 

Here you will see that Captain is holding the pieces together, and we attempted to pin it, but it shifted too much as the canvas was very thick for the pins.  It wasn't working.  We ended up using double stick tape to hold the seam together and then sewed it on the machine.  Only problem was the tape was sticking to the machine and the table, the needle got sticky too.  So the next time we sewed we simply made sure that the tape was folded over and any extra tape was not exposed at all.  It worked great!

Here I am sewing away.  Showing Captain how it's done. 

And here is Captain, taking his turn at the machine!

We did it!  It all came out great and the next night Captain was at the machine again, reinforcing some of the weaker seams of other canvas parts.  Up next, he ordered some clear plastic and we plan to put a window/skylight in the Binmin Top as he can not see the wind indicator when standing at the helm and the Bimini is up.  Soon we will blog on that project.