Fabric and feet

[David N]

I’m in the UK and would like to try sewing some projects.  I have a lovely old Bernina 900 sewing machine.  Initially, I’d like to practice different seams on typical fabrics for tarps and tents etc.  From what I can tell, these are usually ripstop SilPoly and SilNylon.  Are these avilable to buy in the UK?  I’ve looked on Point North’s site, but can only see more generic ripstop fabrics.  AdventureXpert has SilPoly for tarps, but a minimum order value of £135 to the UK (plus shipping, duty and VAT).  I’d appreciate some advice on where to buy fabrics, and what sort to buy for practicing then actual projects.

 

Is it beneficial to have some additional sewing machine feet? I’m thinking about a walking foot, rolled hem foot and flat felled seam foot?

[Sam Farrington]

There is only one other vendor I found in the Czech Republic in addition to Extrem Textil in Germany, which has an excellent silpoly, a little heavier than the US offerings, and suggested by some on these forums to be of higher quality.  There have been some problems with ET sales outside Germany, but the facts change and you should check their website.  As far as the US is concerned, there was a long hiatus after the pandemic arrived; but more recently I’ve had no difficulty with ET shipments to the US.

As far as sewing feet are concerned, I tailor and pin fabrics before sewing so might be regarded as in the dark ages and certainly not looking to automate just to make a few tents.  Nor do I try to develop fabric  panel shapes on the computer, as different fabrics drape differently and depend on how the grain on panels is oriented.  There are different approaches to such orientation expressed on these forums by Dan Durston and others.  There is a recent comment by Henry S that raises new issues for me, but it has been a simple matter to visit large gear stores and look at tents to see how grains and panels are oriented.  Once fabric panels are tailored and the seams pinned up, there is much less guesswork, so almost no need to seam rip and do over to arrive at a taut tent canopy, and far less concern with, say, sewing a backpack.  So leave others to their own  devices.

In case you’re interested, or might benefit from illustration, here is a photo of a the rear netting being pinned up while modifying an inner tent:

 

[David N]

Thanks very much for that, Sam.

 

Your tent looks great!  I think it might be a wee while before I tackle a project like that!  After some practice I’ll try to make a small stuffsack!

 

What is the name of the fabric supplier in Czechoslovakia?  I’ve come across Shelby in Finland, and they seem quite promising, so I think I’ll see about ordering a small amount of fabric from them.

 

 

[Jerry Adams]

I’ve bought pertex fabric from UK

I googled “pertex fabric UK” and got a number of companies including https://www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk/fabrics

I bet there are other

I use a regular foot.  Tried a rolling foot but it didn’t work as good, maybe just me.  Walking foot would maybe be nice but expensive?

[Mole J]

Extremtextil.de is worth a look. Especially if you have a European friend visiting who can bring your order over. Otherwise it’s a £160 minimum order.

I guess you may have seen this?

 

https://www.trek-lite.com/index.php?forums/diy-myog.28/

 

Lots of useful info here

[David N]

Thanks very much.

 

I’ve ordered a metre of SilNylon from Pennine Outdoor and a few other bits and pieces, including a pattern leaflet.  This should get me started, then once I’ve experimented I’ll decide on something to make and will make up a more substantial order.

[Sam Farrington]

David,

Apologies.  I had forgotten about Shelby Outdoor.  My search began with “silpoly” and went from there.  The Shelby Outdoor 20D silpoly currently sold seemed a bit heavier than the one sold by RBTR, so did not pursue it.  Am sure I ordered a meter of fabric from the Czech company, because recall the Czech address on the package, but my impression was that it may have originated from the same source used by RBTR.  Will look for the order and post if I dig up anything.  Extrem Textil (ET) still sells a 30D ripstop silpoly which weighs ~1.33 oz/sq/yd, comes in a nice sand color, and has received some favorable comment here.on BPL.  ET also is selling a ~1.06 oz/sq/yd ripstop silnylon; however, last year there was the thread on BPL that raised serious questions about the tightness of the weave.  They seem to be very quality conscious about their products, and even the OP indicated near the end of the thread that the problem had been resolved, but did not say how.  Over the last several years, I’ve found that ET’s ultralight fabrics have been changed fairly regularly, so I check every few months to see what’s new.

Mole J – I ordered ultra light fabric from Extrem Textil in Jan and again in Feb of this year.  The second order totaled around 80 Euros including shipping, and received the orders at my US PO Box in a few weeks.  So not sure about minimum orders.  But also recall that there were some restrictions on countries to which they will ship foreign orders, but that did not apply to the USA.  That could have changed.  I also see that they have dropped the fabric I ordered this year, so may have to go directly to Porcher in France to find another supplier.  ET have been very obliging and polite with me about orders, especially when the epidemic was at its peak.

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