What Tools Do I Need For Sewing Canvas by TuffSew

Before you start diving into do-it-yourself canvas sewing work on your boat- you need to make sure you have all the right tools for the job. You are going to need a sewing machine, some thick needles, some thread, a good pair of scissors, and material. You don’t need to be alarmed and go buy a $1,200 dollar sewing machine. A simple walking foot sewing machine with a built in motor will do. We recommend our TuffSew Straight Stitch 9” heavy duty walking foot sewing machine for all of your sewing projects. There are two different size TuffSew Straight Stitch machines. One has a 7” gate the other has a 9” gate. The gate is essentially the amount of horizontal working space from the left edge of the sewing machine to middle base of the machine. We strongly encourage you to use a machine with a longer 9” base-it will certainly make things easier on your when sewing canvas. We will talk more about why this machine is important later.

Let’s get to material. You have primarily 2 choices at this point. You can go with the standard in the industry “Sunbrella” which is acrylic - or natural canvas. We do recommend using Sunbrella however the price is 2-3 times higher than natural canvas.

Next on to the recommended thread! If you are new to sewing it’s important to use the same color thread as your material. You certainly don’t want to show off your errors. Light colored thread on top of dark material does look fancy- if you are up for the challenge. The type of thread you want to use is polyester based 69 or 92 weight. A simple google search will place in on websites where you can order all different colored threads for your particular project.

Needles and the correct sewing machine are next and the most important topic on this article. The following hypothetical situation happens daily… So you are excited….let’s say you bought your Sunbrella material, bought a great pair of new scissors, and bought your brand new 69 colored thread. You wake up early one Saturday and take out your regular household sewing machine and needles. You start to sew…but the needle not only won’t penetrate ¼” thickness of material, and the needle starts bending and then they keeps breaking. DON’T PANIC! It’s not you.

You just need to realize you are not using the correct sewing machine and needle. You need to use a 135x17 needle size 22. These needles are like nails and will penetrate up to 3/8” thickness of canvas. You also need a walking foot industrial style sewing machine to hook these needles into. Once you have the right sewing machine and needles….your sewing project will come alive.

It’s important to find a heavy duty walking foot sewing machine for sewing canvas. There are other benefits for a <a href=http://www.tuffsew.com/straight-stitch-industrial-walking-foot-sewing-machine> walking foot sewing machine</a>. Follow the links for an <a href=http://www.tuffsew.com>industrial sewing machine</a>.

How to use a Heavy Duty Walking Foot Sewing Machine for Upholstery Fabric

The myth is over-right here and right now. Sewing upholstery is no different than sewing regular fabrics. The only difference is with the equipment and consumables you will use to tackle your thick upholstery projects. Thicker upholstery fabrics require you to use heavy duty thread such as 69 nylon bonded thread. Why? Heavier material needs to be held together by heavier thread. You will also need industrial grade sewing needles when working with upholstery. Normal needles will bend or break when trying to penetrate upholstery. Make sure and use sharp scissors to cut through your thick material.

 Also when sewing upholstery you will also need to include backing, which requires you to use a portable walking foot sewing machine to handle this weight. You can’t use a heavy duty thread and an industrial grade needle on a regular household sewing machine. Make sure and use the correct machine for your sewing needs-otherwise your project will look inconsistent. You need this type of sewing machine to create “tight” stitches-so your project lasts for 10+ years. There will be a link at the end of this article to an example walking foot sewing machine. Now on to how to sew upholstery:

1.       Inspection.  First examine your material. Take your sharp pair of 6-7 inch scissors and trim all the worn out or frayed edges of your material. Make sure and cut just enough. There is no reason to cut excess material that is in good shape.

2.       Sewing Machine Setup. Medium Stitch Length. Mid-Range Tension.

3.       Pattern Pile or Nap. You want to determine if your material pieces have a nap. Don’t know what a nap is? Imagine brushing your dog’s hair down, when it’s neat and shiny. And then imagine brushing it the other way and you’ll feel and see the resistance. Make sure all your upholstery pieces are facing the same way-nice and shiny. This will affect your end esthetic result.

4.       Double Check Equipment. Make sure you are using a portable walking foot machine. Make sure and use a size 18,20, or 22 needle depending on thickness of fabric and sewing machine recommendation. Make sure you are using nylon bonded 69 thread.

5.       Upholstery Placement. Most built-in walking foot sewing machines have a 3/8” lift which allows you to put more material under the presser foot. You always want to leave a little seam allowance. Make sure and place the raw edges right on top of eachother while the right sides together.  

6.       Sewing. Start sewing normally as you would with a regular household sewing machine. If you have some loosely woven fabric that might unravel, finish the raw edges with a serger. If your project doesn’t have backing, you’ll need an extra seem so it doesn’t unravel.

It’s important to find a heavy duty walking foot sewing machine for upholstery sewing. There are many benefits for a <a href=http://www.tuffsew.com/straight-stitch-industrial-walking-foot-sewing-machine> walking foot sewing machine</a>. Follow the links for an <a href=http://www.tuffsew.com>upholstery sewing machine</a>.

Using a Heavy Duty Walking Foot Sewing Machine for Thick Fabrics

Whether you are a sailor, upholster, or leather shop owner- it’s important that you understand the importance of using the right sewing machine for your heavy duty projects. One example is a sailor and understanding most new boats are going to need a ton of canvas or brightwork done initially and also throughout many years of boating. It’s important for you to use a quality walking foot sewing machine that is easy to use, reasonably priced, durable, rugged, dependable, and has years of success. Here are the most important benefits to a walking foot sewing machine when sewing heavy duty fabrics such as leather, canvas, sailcloth, upholstery materials, strapping and more:

1.       The Walking Foot.  When you use a heavy duty industrial walking foot sewing machine- it comes with a built-in walking foot mechanism. This is very different that most walking foot attachments that only snap-on regular household sewing machines. This built-in walking foot will evenly feed your material as it grabs (with its traction like grip) the top of your material. This built in walking foot works in conjunction with the feed dogs which pull the bottom piece of the material through the sewing process

2.       Higher Foot Lift. Most built-in walking foot sewing machines have a 3/8” lift which allows you to put more material under the presser foot. You can comfortably sew most heavy duty materials under the presser foot because of the walking foot assembly.

3.       DVD. Who actually reads instruction manuals? Maybe 10% of folks. You want to order a walking foot sewing machine that comes with a DVD. Learning visually is much easier for the majority of the population. You can pop this DVD in while you open up the sewing machine and feel more comfortable with your purchase.

4.       Portability. This is a huge concept for sailors or anyone who needs to transfer their sewing machine from place to place. Most walking foot machines are roughly 35-40 pounds, depending on the size (7” or 9” gate) of the machine. Feel free to take your walking foot sewing machine anywhere as it’s easy to grip underneath the head of the machine. There are many cases available for this type of sewing machine as well.

5.       Cast Iron Body and Metal Parts. All walking foot sewing machines come with a cast iron finish and all metal working parts. Metal gears and parts will last much longer than any sewing machine with plastic gears and parts. Plastic gears and parts crack and break down quickly. Having a cast iron body proves to be much more durable than plastic bodies. If the machine drops, it will not shatter into 100 pieces. Durability is much higher with a walking foot sewing machine.

6.       Electronic Foot Control. All walking foot sewing machines come with an electronic foot controller. You can control your speed better with this type of foot controller. You want to use a long foot controller cord, if possible. Most walking foot sewing machines come with a longer cord.

7.       Warranty. You want to make sure you are buying your walking foot sewing machine from a trusted source. You want to buy from a company who has been in business for several years. Usually a warranty or a store credit is what you should be looking for. You want to find a machine with a 1 year parts warranty in case you drop your machine. You want to look for a supplier with a 3 month labor warranty. You also want to find a warranty with a credit in case you accidently needed a household sewing machine.

It’s important to find a heavy duty walking foot sewing machine with all 7 of the above bullets check-marked. There are other benefits for a <a href=http://www.tuffsew.com/straight-stitch-industrial-walking-foot-sewing-machine> walking foot sewing machine</a>. Follow the links for an <a href=http://www.tuffsew.com>industrial sewing machine</a>.

How to Sew Thick Material and Multiple Layers of Fabric by TuffSew

Whether you sew because it’s your hobby or your livelihood, it’s important to continue to learn different concepts and techniques along the way. Sewing begins to be a challenge when you decide to start tackling multiple layers of material underneath your presser foot. After reading this article, you should be better suited to handle situations when you must sew thick materials.

First you need to ask yourself “What type of sewing machine am I working with?” This is extremely important because every sewing machine has its limitations. If you are using a regular household sewing machine, the following 3 tips will help you:

1)      Do you need all that additional layer lining? Probably not. Cut off the excess (especially for side seams) but make sure not to break the actual stitching.

2)      Use the largest size needle acceptable for your sewing machine. Usually a size 18 or 19 needle will allow you to penetrate the multiple layers more effectively.

3)      In situations when you are breaking needles –maybe you are sewing a strap for a purse- use the hand wheel alone. 

Those tips didn’t help? Still breaking needles? The problem is not you or your domestic sewing machine-it’s the capabilities of the machine. It’s time for you to start looking into more of an industrial grade sewing machine. Portable walking foot industrial strength sewing machines will stand a much better chance of completing your thick sewing projects. We recommend our TuffSew Straight Stitch machine, you can view it here http://www.tuffsew.com/straight-stitch-industrial-walking-foot-sewing-machine.

Walking foot industrial strength sewing machines will help you sew thicker fabrics because:

1)      You can use larger needles- up to 22 or 23

2)      There are “grips” on the walking foot and feed dogs, which help pull the heavy fabric through the sewing process

3)      You can use nylon thread and thicker weighted thread in general- giving the stitching in your final project much better strength and life duration

4)      More power- more RPM’s and torque equals better results when sewing heavy fabric

5)      More durability- all metal parts and cast iron construction will give you a machine that lasts much longer than plastic parts and construction

If you are interested in understanding more about sewing thicker materials, feel free to stop by our website at www.tuffsew.com.

www.tuffsew.com/

www.tuffsew.com/straightStitch.php

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arhXK4-fXyA

Seven Important Tips when Sewing Leather by TuffSew

Sewing with leather can be very difficult and unforgiving if you make any mistakes. Many people ask us for sewing tips when working with leather products. Here are seven basic suggestions which will help you when sewing a type of material unlike any other.

1)      Make sure and examine your leather before you actually mark out your pattern. Sometimes there may be a small hole or slight imperfection in the hide. You certainly do not want to get to the end of your project and then see a small tear in your new leather purse. Imperfections are normal because the hide was once on animals who lived in the wild where scarring is a normal occurrence.

2)      You can’t really pin leather-use pattern-weights. These weights will keep your material locked in place like a pin would. We recommend cutting leather with a sharp pair of heavy duty scissors or a sharp rotary cutter. That’s the safest way.  

3)      Use the correct sewing machine for your needs. A normal domestic sewing machine will sew lightweight garment leather. Usually you can sew up to 1/8” thickness on this domestic machine. Using a walking foot attachment or Teflon presser foot will help.

4)      If you’re sewing leather products over 1/8” thickness, you are going to need a sewing machine that can actually handle what you are trying to accomplish. Your best bet is a walking foot industrial sewing machine. We recommend our TuffSew Straight Stitch machine, you can view it here http://www.tuffsew.com/straight-stitch-industrial-walking-foot-sewing-machine.

5)      You need to use a size 20 or 22 needle to penetrate thick and coarse leather. A domestic sewing machine can only take up to a 19 needle. These special leather needles will be the difference in an “A+” result versus a “C” result.

6)      Make sure and use nylon weighted thread, not cotton. It’s stronger and will last much longer.

7)      Skipping stitches is always an issue when sewing leather. Why? Well, first off, are you using the correct sewing machine? Look at tip number 4 above. You might be encountering uneven bulk under the presser foot or seems coming together. Make sure you are using a brand new sharp size 22 needle with your built in walking foot sewing machine. The sharpness of the needle will penetrate properly, and the built-in motorized walking foot will help feed the fabric properly.

Remember, if you are sewing thick leather-look into a walking foot sewing machine. For more info on these machines, please read the following blog http://tuffsew.com/blog/?p=31.

If you are interested in understanding more about sewing with leather, feel free to stop by our website at www.tuffsew.com.

When to Purchase a Household Sewing Machine by TuffSew

So you are looking to purchase a new sewing machine. You realize that there are industrial machines, walking foot sewing machines, standard household sewing machines, and compact sewing machines on the market. Let’s take a deep breath together- it is ok to be confused and overwhelmed. No matter which machine you decide to purchase, there are a couple of universals you want to find on your next machine.

You want to make sure your new machine is built like a metal tank (internally). Purchase a sewing machine with ALL METAL GEARS. They will never crack like many machines with plastic gears. You want to make sure you purchase your machine new- with a warranty. When you purchase a used machine you don’t know if the last owner oiled all the moving joints regularly or if they used thread sizes too large for the recommended usage. Lastly, if purchasing a semi-industrial or industrial machine-order one with a cast iron finish. These will last you a VERY LONG TIME.

So now that we understand what to look for, let’s figure out which type of sewing machine to purchase. Here are some tips…..

The two most important variables are THICKNESS of material being sewn, and COARSENESS of the material being sewn. If you are sewing medium to light weight material roughly around 1/8”-1/4” thickness, a normal household sewing machine will do the job. We recommend the TuffSew SuperCraft sewing machine. If you are sewing 1/8” to 3/8” thickness of medium to heavy material such as leather, upholstery, canvas, etc, you will want to look into a walking foot portable sewing machine such as our TuffSew Straight Stitch sewing machine.

Let’s say at this point you decide that you are sewing light/medium weighted fabric at 1/8” thickness. You make the decision to go with a regular household sewing machine. Do you purchase a standard size household machine or a compact sewing machine? If you have sewn for over 2 years, you should go with a normal household sewing machine such as our TuffSew SuperCraft. If you are a beginner- a compact machine such as our Tuffsew Mini might be best for you-since it’s just a bit simpler.

If you decide to purchase a regular household sewing machine-because you are sewing medium to light weight fabric at less than ¼” thickness-they do have their advantages. First, you’ll get a ton of built in decorative stitches. There are usually more snap-on feet for different sewing purposes. You’ll usually get a machine with a rotary hook. These hooks do not jam quite as often as oscillating hook systems. Regular household machines are also fairly light-20 pounds or so. Please don’t underestimate your sewing needs. Remember, if you are sewing thicker fabric and more layers-look into a walking foot sewing machine. For more info on these machines, please read the following blog http://tuffsew.com/blog/?p=31.

If you are interested in understanding more about the differences of the various types of sewing machines, feel free to stop by our website at www.tuffsew.com.

7 Steps to Threading your New TuffSew Walking Foot Straight Stitch Sewing Machine

7 Steps to Threading your Industrial Walking foot Sewing Machine by TuffSew

The old sewing machine just isn’t cutting it- broken needles, continuous breakage of thread, inconsistent stitching, and lack of capability-drove you to Google to figure out which sewing machine might be able to handle your heavy duty projects. Maybe you read this article on our TuffSew blog http://tuffsew.com/blog/?p=31. So you did it!! You purchased a TuffSew Straight Stitch Walking Foot Machine. This article will explain to you how to thread your new machine- since it’s one of the most important tasks to getting the results you want.

You notice when you get your machine that it’s all threaded and ready to go. But what happens 2 weeks later when you want to change the thread color? Well, now it’s time to do it yourself. Here are the steps in properly threading your machine:

1)      BOBBIN SPINDLE: Take the thread off the bobbin spindle.

2)      WRAP AROUND THREAD GUIDE: Put the thread on the front thread guide (wrap it around in the natural form. You might need to watch our YouTube video for this step. The video is attached to the bottom of this article).

3)      3 HOLE THREAD GUIDE: Take the thread and go DOWN the right hold of the thread guide. Then take the thread DOWN the left hole.

Before the next 2 steps, make sure the presser foot is UP. That is the black assembly on the left side of the ceiling of the machine.

4)      TENSION DISC: Take the thread down near the tension disc. You want to make sure you go IN BETWEEN the metal tension discs. There’s one tension disc with a tongue on it. You want to put the thread right in front of this tension disc. Floss the thread through the tension disc from right to left.

5)      TAKE UP BAR: You’ll notice when you floss the thread through the tension disc that the thread pulls up the spring. It will click! You will then thread the take up bar from RIGHT to LEFT.

6)      NEEDLE MECHANISM GUIDE: Snip your thread first, it will make it easier. This is the last thread guide before you thread your needle. This thread guide is right above your needle. You want to thread this guide from RIGHT to LEFT only.

7)      THREAD YOUR NEEDLE: First drop the presser foot down which will give you more room. Always thread the needle from LEFT to RIGHT only. Bring the presser foot back up. Next turn the handwheel 1 complete turn counter clock wise. This will pick the thread up automatically so that you have both threads to the top! Now you are ready to sew.

If you have any further questions on maintaining your sewing machine, feel free to Contact TuffSew by visiting http://www.tuffsew.com/contact

If you'd like some visual help with threading your new TuffSew Walking Foot Sewing Machine, please click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYQwf-QTMjU