Topic
Serging ripstop, seams okay?
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Make Your Own Gear › Serging ripstop, seams okay?
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
Dec 2, 2011 at 10:43 pm #1282648
I sew a lot of fleece, and for this I mostly use my serger for the main seams and my sewing machine for what I can't serge. However, I have pretty limited experience with ripstop.
I'm making a Green Pepper Fairbanks anorak with 1.1 oz uncoated ripstop, and from searching on here and thru-hiker, I have found most people suggest flat felled seams or french seams for ripstop. Is there any reason I shouldn't or can't serge most of the seams? Are french seams or flat felled seams better in any way for ripstop?
I would rather serge because I'm picky about how things look, but I don't want my jacket to unravel.
Thanks.
Dec 3, 2011 at 7:27 am #1808245French and flat felled seams both hide the raw fabric edge. Ripstop is usually pretty unravelly.
Flat felled seam is stronger. The fabric pulls sideways with load equally distributed by two rows of stitches. In French seam the fabric is pulled apart with all the load on one row of stitches and all the load is on the thread of the stitch.
French seam is less visible and probably more rain and wind proof. The rows of stitches are hidden inside the fabric. With flat felled you see the seam and rows of stitches on the outside.
I use French seam on garments and flat felled seam on a pack or tent.
I don't know about serger. Does it cut the fabric off and stitch back and forth over the edge?
Dec 3, 2011 at 10:07 am #1808291"I don't know about serger. Does it cut the fabric off and stitch back and forth over the edge?"
yeah, it sure does.
if look'n for strong, i'd go with sewing.
not sure if you can do a for-real flat felled seam at home on sil, but you can get awful close, except you're going to still see a raw edge. at any rate, you can split the load over two lines of stiching.. sort of.one can, if desired, pull the knife down and disable it, then you can have a wrapped edge, and plus maybe even a three thread cover stich. i can not see this being as strong (or easy), as a couple of lines of std stiching. but at least you won;t have cut off an edge and thence be hoping it;s just threads holdiing it all together.
cheers,
Dec 3, 2011 at 11:14 am #1808317"not sure if you can do a for-real flat felled seam at home on sil"
I don't understand
Isn't a for-real flat felled seam just put the two pieces together and sew a seam near edge, then open up, fold over twice to hide edge, and sew a second seam?
Dec 3, 2011 at 2:38 pm #1808370Unless I'm mistaken, a flat felled seam is: fold over each edge 1/4 to 3/8 inch, then hook those two folds together and sew. You'll see two lines of stitching that is when you are done, but I guess one would do it, but wouldn't be as strong. The only way I can get silnylon to cooperate with that is to iron it to create the creases, then pin it. Even then it's really hard to control the fabric, but worth it, that seam is then very strong.
Like hooking fingers from left and right hand together. Each side is contained in the fold of the other side, thus the edge doesn't show, and doesn't have anywhere to unravel to, in theory. I have no idea how you could sew a flat felled seam on a sleeve or even pants, though you can sort of do it by sewing the tube from the inside so to speak.
Dec 4, 2011 at 5:46 am #1808485Dec 4, 2011 at 6:47 am #1808493That's a really good description at thru-hiker, Newton
With silnylon, I don't bother cutting the bottom piece to half width – silnylon is pretty thin so it doesn't really matter – seam doesn't get too thick and any weight savings is insignificant.
The only problem is when doing a narrow tube, like a sleeve or pant leg, you have to manipulate the fabric which gets more difficult towards the end of the second row of stitches. Easier if you turn the fabric inside out. French seam is much easier doesn't have this problem.
Dec 4, 2011 at 7:09 am #1808498Also From Thru Hiker
http://thru-hiker.com/projects/french_seams.php
A flat felled seam distributes the stress over two rows of stitching. The french seam does not unless a "third" row of stitching is added.
I use flat felled for tarps and tents, french seams are reserved for windshirts and shells etc.
Party On,
Newton
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Our Community Posts are Moderated
Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting.
Get the Newsletter
Gear Research & Discovery Tools
- Browse our curated Gear Shop
- See the latest Gear Deals and Sales
- Our Recommendations
- Search for Gear on Sale with the Gear Finder
- Used Gear Swap
- Member Gear Reviews and BPL Gear Review Articles
- Browse by Gear Type or Brand.