Sewing machine advice please!

[smuggler]

Hi,

I decided to try to do things myself and have bought an old Jones 942 Sewing machine. But it has no feet and i know nothing about sewing machines right now! lol.

What i want to do is make myself a number of items starting with a sprayhood and cockpit tent, followed by a full mast cover (for while my mast is down) and a sail cover (for when the mast is up!) and some dodgers (for when the tent is down, or could this be made part of the tent???)

Ok, questions:

1. What feet/thread/bobbins/needles do i need?

2. Is this material the right sort of thing:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140936207392?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2661

3. And i suppose this is most important, can this machine do this sort of thing?

I also want to use it to repair my canvas type horses rugs.

Any helpful sewing sites much appreciated and any tips on using the thing!

Cheers

James

[billy]

Hi James,

I use V92 with an 18-20 needle. I may go down to a 16 with V69 thread.

I found that the US Sailrite site was very good and informative.

www.sailrite.com/

I use a standard foot that will take zigzag and straight stitch without having to change. I did have a Singer walking foot attachment which was brilliant. I use sailmaker's double sided tape for holding things together without pins and stuff, fantastic.

Try Kayospruce for supplies.

www.kayospruce.com/

As for the canvas I would always use a breathable canvas, one that is not treated, for sail covers. Ideally it needs to be able to breathe so if a damp sail is wrapped up is doesn't get mouldy. Dodgers and spray covers tend to be treated canvas as it needs to be waterproof.

Bobbins are part of the machine and need the right ones to fit. There are a few different types.

Your ebay canvas looks very good value but I would not use it for a cover as it doesn't breathe. The Jones machine will be able to cope with about 8 layers of canvas with care. It will need help starting, burying the needle on every start. It may be a bit fast too but you will get used to it. Oil it and change the needle regularly, they wear out pdq on canvas.

I used a similar machine on my daughter's horse rugs, no problem.

[smuggler]

Cheers Billy

Excellent advice, thank you. Now to get the other bits!!!

[smuggler]

OK, this may be an ongoing theme for a while!!

Billy (or others), what do you think of the sunbrella material for the breathable items?

[billy]

Yep, Sunbrella is good, they do lots of options so make the right choice. I.E. don't buy the upholstery stuff for covering sails, or their lightweight option. Sauleda is another good option too for acrylic canvas. It feels like cardboard off the roll but it soon softens up! Cut it with a hot knife or hem properly as it does unravel.

You should be able to get uncoated for £14/m or less and the pvc or pu coated for £16/m or less. Carriage may be on top but those prices should include vat. That is the 150cm wide roll.

[smuggler]

Billy, what do you use the straight and Zig Zag for? And do the walking foot attatchments really work? I`m looking at buying this bits asap.

Cheers mate

James

[billy]

Hi James,

ZigZag is used on stretchy material as there is some give in the stitch.

It is also used on sails, I presume it spreads the load better than a straight stitch. I stand to be corrected but sails should not stretch.

Straight stitch is generally used for canvas work. The longer the stitch the better as it avoids long lengths of material puckering so much. I found that the walking foot attachment was good but not for very thick or multi layers of canvas. Would I buy one for canvas work, no. The proper walking foot on my new Sailrite is fantastic and just pulls the work through. I always use Venture Tape to stick the job together, brilliant. 10mm wide stuff is the one to go for I think.