"A question for you carpet sewing experts," in the Other Home Decorating & Remodeling Projects forum, begins: "Background:
We went camping this weekend in the Sawtooths
It rained cats and dogs last night, all night, we were ..."
Background:
We went camping this weekend in the Sawtooths
It rained cats and dogs last night, all night, we were in tents
We had the best light show (lightening) and sound track (super reverberating thunder) we have ever experienced!!
I acquired a 24 hour intestinal problem midday yesterday
I came home to find that there is a hole in an irreplaceable awning/cabana. It seems that my daughter and her husband started a fire in the fire pit (see pic) and it got a little too warm. It caused a hole as you can see in the second pic. There is no real 'melt' damage though.
I do not know what the fabric material is, but it is a stretch type covering that was popular about 15 years ago. It is made by 'Enviroshade' a division of Gale Group in Florida. I bought it at HD. Enviroshade is not in business any longer as near as I can tell. (since 2006 I think).
The hole is 3 1/2 inches at the width, and 14 inches in length. The unit is about 13 X 21 feet and stretched very taught and stays tight for as long as it is in place. (I've had it up for 6 months at a time several times.)
So now my question:
How can I sew this? What thread? What stitch? Latex? How much?
The pix should be as follows:
First, the overall structure (including some of my freshly unloaded camping gear)
Second, the hole.
third and fourth, close ups of the fabric in different lighting. ( I have no idea what the fabric is, but it was widely popular about 15 years ago)
Lastly, a minor 'fish eye' of the location of the hole in the 'ceiling' of the cabana.
Location: Today....Under the Wainbow , Tomorrow...Who Knows?
Posts: 4,927
Re: A question for you carpet sewing experts
The first thing I would do is take it down to relieve the pressure. Then find some fabric that is a close match, and make like Paul. What stitch you would use I have no idea.
But a canvas repair/sailmaker/tentmaker/upholstry shop might be able to help out.
BTY I'll be in Patterson all week this week. Don't expect too much from me!!
Head out to a local sewing/fabric store and buy a small spool of polyester thread in a color that best matches the fabric.
Find/buy a needle with a small eye just large enough to accommodate the thickness of the thread.
Thread up the needle, with the thread doubled, tie a double knot at the end opposite of the needle. ((one thread, in one end of the eye and out the other with both ends tied in a double knot))
Ease the tension on the fabric to the point there the separated ends can be easily pulled together, but still remain flat.
Pour yourself a beverage of choice, take a breath, exhale and relax.
Starting about a half inch before the opening, cast a few stitches, over and over, working towards the opening, about a half inch long. These are your locking stitches and are essential. It is important that these stitches not be pulled tight. You want these stitches flat, without slack, but not tight enough to create any wrinkles or puckers.
When the locking stitches reach the opening you will begin to sew a ball stitch. This is a stitch like we see on a baseball. However, unlike the baseball stitch, which is sewn with two threads, the stitch you will be sewing will be done with one thread.
Here's how it's done: when the thread is passing over the fabric, when it meets the opening, it drops down and travels beneath the fabric for about a quarter of an inch. It then passes through the fabric and returns in the opposite direction. As it passes over the fabric, when it meets the opening, it drops down and travels beneath the fabric for about a quarter of an inch. It then passes through the fabric and returns in the opposite direction. This is repeated over and over, moving slightly and evenly away from the start point until you reach the end of the opening. When you reach the end of the opening, the lock stitches are repeated, just as you did when you began.
When lock stitches have been cast, the thread is cut just below the eye of the needle leaving two ends of thread exposed. These two ends are tied with a square knot. The exposed tails are cut about an eighth of an inch short of the just tied square knot.
IMPORTANT NOTES: When sewing the ball stitch, you want to pull the material snug, and evenly, to close the gap, but not tight. You do not want the fabric to bunch up. The entire benefit to employing the ball stitch is that it is a flat stitch.
Hope this helps. I'll try to see if I have some pictures of a single thread ball stitch. BTW: this stitch is also called a crowfoot in some texts.
Thank you so much "D". I was sooo hoping you would answer.
If I have a choice of thread thickness, should I match the existing, go thinner and double, or go thicker?
b
Dobby Tappet said
Head out to a local sewing/fabric store and buy a small spool of polyester thread in a color that best matches the fabric.
Find/buy a needle with a small eye just large enough to accommodate the thickness of the thread.
Thread up the needle, with the thread doubled, tie a double knot at the end opposite of the needle. ((one thread, in one end of the eye and out the other with both ends tied in a double knot))
Ease the tension on the fabric to the point there the separated ends can be easily pulled together, but still remain flat.
Pour yourself a beverage of choice, take a breath, exhale and relax.
Starting about a half inch before the opening, cast a few stitches, over and over, working towards the opening, about a half inch long. These are your locking stitches and are essential. It is important that these stitches not be pulled tight. You want these stitches flat, without slack, but not tight enough to create any wrinkles or puckers.
When the locking stitches reach the opening you will begin to sew a ball stitch. This is a stitch like we see on a baseball. However, unlike the baseball stitch, which is sewn with two threads, the stitch you will be sewing will be done with one thread.
Here's how it's done: when the thread is passing over the fabric, when it meets the opening, it drops down and travels beneath the fabric for about a quarter of an inch. It then passes through the fabric and returns in the opposite direction. As it passes over the fabric, when it meets the opening, it drops down and travels beneath the fabric for about a quarter of an inch. It then passes through the fabric and returns in the opposite direction. This is repeated over and over, moving slightly and evenly away from the start point until you reach the end of the opening. When you reach the end of the opening, the lock stitches are repeated, just as you did when you began.
When lock stitches have been cast, the thread is cut just below the eye of the needle leaving two ends of thread exposed. These two ends are tied with a square knot. The exposed tails are cut about an eighth of an inch short of the just tied square knot.
IMPORTANT NOTES: When sewing the ball stitch, you want to pull the material snug, and evenly, to close the gap, but not tight. You do not want the fabric to bunch up. The entire benefit to employing the ball stitch is that it is a flat stitch.
Hope this helps. I'll try to see if I have some pictures of a single thread ball stitch. BTW: this stitch is also called a crowfoot in some texts.
Barry, you'll want to match the thread to the fibers in the fabric as close as possible. Thicker is not a deal breaker, the truth is, your selection options are going to be limited anyway.
Here are some photos of the stitch. In the photos, selvage edges are being sewn. Because your edges are raw, you will need to cast deeper bites. Again, about a quarter of an inch in from the separation point should work well.
Hope this helps,
Dobby
PS: This is a real simple stitch to master. Also, resist the desire to use any adhesives or sealers. They will only create problems in the long term. Hope your feeling better.
Background:
We went camping this weekend in the Sawtooths
It rained cats and dogs last night, all night, we were in tents
We had the best light show (lightening) and sound track (super reverberating thunder) we have ever experienced!!
I acquired a 24 hour intestinal problem midday yesterday
I came home to find that there is a hole in an irreplaceable awning/cabana. It seems that my daughter and her husband started a fire in the fire pit (see pic) and it got a little too warm. It caused a hole as you can see in the second pic. There is no real 'melt' damage though.
I do not know what the fabric material is, but it is a stretch type covering that was popular about 15 years ago. It is made by 'Enviroshade' a division of Gale Group in Florida. I bought it at HD. Enviroshade is not in business any longer as near as I can tell. (since 2006 I think).
The hole is 3 1/2 inches at the width, and 14 inches in length. The unit is about 13 X 21 feet and stretched very taught and stays tight for as long as it is in place. (I've had it up for 6 months at a time several times.)
So now my question:
How can I sew this? What thread? What stitch? Latex? How much?
The pix should be as follows:
First, the overall structure (including some of my freshly unloaded camping gear)
Second, the hole.
third and fourth, close ups of the fabric in different lighting. ( I have no idea what the fabric is, but it was widely popular about 15 years ago)
Lastly, a minor 'fish eye' of the location of the hole in the 'ceiling' of the cabana.
thanx
b
If the heat cause the hole, then it certainly damaged and hardened the surrounding area. I'd go for Shoe Goo or something like that and find a patch material from the fabric shop.
Sewing might work but if the surrounding material is damaged from the heat you may have other issues than simply sewing it shut. Maybe just glue in a Naugahyde patch in the shape of your daughters initials.
It looks sheer- I'd go with the sewing. If that fails, you can always try a patch later.
Looking at the weave and the threads, I'd opine it is a polypropylene. Would be fairly easy to determine if it is: look at a fiber end under a microscope- only need about 10 power, and see if the color is all the way through the filament. Given the age of it, I would think only a polypropylene would be solution dyed.
It looks sheer- I'd go with the sewing. If that fails, you can always try a patch later.
Looking at the weave and the threads, I'd opine it is a polypropylene. Would be fairly easy to determine if it is: look at a fiber end under a microscope- only need about 10 power, and see if the color is all the way through the filament. Given the age of it, I would think only a polypropylene would be solution dyed.
I'll email you my address, then you can send me your microscope (with the camera attachment, mine has the Canon mount).
I'll take the pics and post them for you.......you will have your answer and I will have a nifty microscope......win win
Barry I haven't got any ideas about your patches But I have one question why do you always go camping in bad weather?
Jon, when I choose the sites and dates it seldom has any questionable weather. It is the mountains.....so sometimes.....
But, this year, both trips were scheduled by either someone very young (the first trip), or someone with no camping experience or equipment. I just went along as the camp chef/parent.
Both were good experiences, Yellowstone not to be repeated under those circumstances. But the lightening and thunder storm was absolutely awesome.....no other word will do...just awesome.
mcbrides said
Barry, Dobby has covered the repair, but you may want to move your barbeque and burnpit out from under that canopy.
Hope you are feeling better.
Thanx to both of you, I am fine, it was just a 24 hour thing. My wife had it about 2 weeks ago, so it was just a matter of time.
D&D, I have used both the pit and the bbq a lot (3-4 times a week all seasons, all weather). The difference is age and experience. My son in law is only 24, barely. I have learned, the hard way, that, especially with heat and fire, bigger is not better. Low and slow is the way to go.
Even with fast steaks the fire does not get hot enough to affect the canopy. (that is what the lid is for )
In Yellowstone this past June, I fed 28 people with various stoves, bbq's, and over fire, all under the same canopy. (Keep in mind I have had this over 15 years and we have done this a lot)
)
