True flat felled seam with stabdard machine

**Tacblades** · 05-06-2016, 07:55

Well some have said on other forums it was impossible to stitch true flat felled seam without £3000 machine with tension pullers, twin bobbins, twin needels and custom made folders.

Using a standard machine people have always defaulted to a faux felled seam which is not as strong or as waterproof.

Well thats all now history as i have found a way to do a true flat felled seam with each stitch going through 4 layers of fabric. Its self aligning and a breeze to do, am hoping its waterproof.

I am using a felling foot 6mm but not the way it was intended.
Also this is on the new xenon sil 5300 from dutch

**Tacblades** · 05-06-2016, 08:54

quick vid

**Brewguy** · 05-06-2016, 08:55

-never mind.

**fujimo** · 05-06-2016, 09:37

true- a proper fl;at felled stitch does require a double needle machine and a folder
and have done it many tiomes as abve with ironing- but here is a quicker more accurate way.
sailrite sell a stitching tape- tape the two layers of fabric together- over lapping each other- then one fold will create the felled seam- and then stitch both top stitch lines.
very quick and very accurate

**Tacblades** · 05-06-2016, 09:40

Originally Posted by fujimo

true- a proper fl;at felled stitch does require a double needle machine and a folder
and have done it many tiomes as abve with ironing- but here is a quicker more accurate way.
sailrite sell a stitching tape- tape the two layers of fabric together- over lapping each other- then one fold will create the felled seam- and then stitch both top stitch lines.
very quick and very accurate

Its a very touchy subject i am not sure that is the iso standard seam. But i have used tape before but this way is much quicker. Tape doesnt work great on silnylon, gumms up your needle and adds thickness.
Many people use different terms for different things so need to go to the standard.
Flat felled, true flat felled, faux flat felled, lapped felled, etc....

For me the true flat felled seam is LSC ISO 2.04.06
http://www.amefird.com/wp-content/up.../Seam-Type.pdf

**jadekayak** · 05-08-2016, 05:22

Interesting set of standards.

Why do you say the flat felled seam HAS to be done using twin needle/bobin machines.

A lot of these seams go back before sewing machines were invented.
What is important is the seam structure.
In this case a double j seam with 2 separate runs of stitching through all layers in the seam.

Saying that it HAS to be done on a twin needle/bombing machine UST the same as saying a but welded plate join can only be performed using a CIG 220amp stick arc welder.
In reality any welder can be used as long as the structure is maintained

**Coldcityely** · 05-30-2016, 18:27

If one is going to use an iron to make the creases on both pieces of fabic to make the flat felled seam does anyone know what temp to do this at? I'm going to be using xexon sil 5300 and I'm wondering if the silicone coating melts if the iron is too hot. Any ideas?

**Coldcityely** · 05-30-2016, 18:31

Thank you Tac Blades for doing this video, it's really helpful!

**Caminante** · 05-30-2016, 19:24

Originally Posted by Coldcityely

If one is going to use an iron to make the creases on both pieces of fabic to make the flat felled seam does anyone know what temp to do this at? I'm going to be using xexon sil 5300 and I'm wondering if the silicone coating melts if the iron is too hot. Any ideas?

All I can offer is that I have ironed down to HyperD 1.0 with my iron set to Acrylic (lowest setting) and keeping it moving with no adverse effects. I even ironed some fusible interfacing to it. I also ironed MEMBRANE silpoly (0.93 osy) and it was fine. Use your lowest setting, keep it moving, and try a test scrap first.

**Tacblades** · 05-31-2016, 01:19

Originally Posted by jadekayak

Interesting set of standards.

Why do you say the flat felled seam HAS to be done using twin needle/bobin machines.

A lot of these seams go back before sewing machines were invented.
What is important is the seam structure.
In this case a double j seam with 2 separate runs of stitching through all layers in the seam.

Saying that it HAS to be done on a twin needle/bombing machine UST the same as saying a but welded plate join can only be performed using a CIG 220amp stick arc welder.

In reality any welder can be used as long as the structure is maintained

i agree the seam has nothing to do with machines at all its just a structure of a seam.

I think some people say that to justify their investment in special machines.
If you are doing it commercially its worth it, but the only difference is speed.

The advantage of the manual method is you can make the seam as wide or as narrow as you like, not something you can do on a commercial set up