Project Ideas

[JaxHiker]

Ok, as some of you know I just finished my first sewing project. It's quite the lovely stuffsack. I know I'm probably foolish to even consider stepping it up but here's the deal...

Our local school board has community ed classes. They called me tonight and told me they got enough signed up for the Sewing for Beginners class and I need a final project to work on.

If I were doing this on my own I wouldn't be foolish enough to try something big but with expert help it might be possible. So now the question...

Should I tackle the Black Cat tarp or do you have other (less ambitious) ideas? I thought about doing a Speer hammock kit but I don't even have enough time under my belt with the Hennessy so I think it'd be better to work on something I don't have.

Thoughts? Or should I just make another stuffsack?

[NCPatrick]

I think with expert advice, the tarp would be a fantastic final project. Plus you'll have something you needed at the end of it all. Very cool. I say go for it.

[tight-wad]

Yeah - step up to a tarp. Cat curves can be tricky. Might want to try a square/rectangle first. But if you do go for the curves, tell us how the experts advise to do it, because my system is tedious.

[JaxHiker]

Thx. I'll take the Black Cat instructions with me tonight to see what the instructor says. Maybe I'll mod it to a hex instead and save the cat cuts for later. I'll ask about that, too, though.

[Cannibal]

Go For It!

Just remember to take your time. You get that tarp made and your sewing confidence will be brimming over.

[hdbint]

IMO, jump right in with the black cat. You'll have someone there to help.

If you do, check out the newer Black Cat thread (the re-post) in the "Documentations & Directions" forum. I've added drawings and templates to make the cat curves easier to layout. Thanks to Angrysparrow for hosting them. They are on 8.5 x 11 printable sheets that you tape together. I've put together 4 different fabric widths.

They are untested at this time but I've had a few experienced guys tell me that they look fine.

[gunn parker]

Go for the tarp and remeber that even though the sides are curved if you only sew about 3" at a time, that section is kinda straight (if you know what I mean) so after you sew a lot of 3" sections in a straight line you will get a nice curve.

Gunn

[JaxHiker]

Great point Gunn. Thx guys. hdbint, I saw the updated link but it sounds like you've added more. I grabbed the 62 and 68" templates. That should be a great help. I got the Excel files too but they hurt my head.

[hdbint]

Great point Gunn. Thx guys. hdbint, I saw the updated link but it sounds like you've added more. I grabbed the 62 and 68" templates. That should be a great help. I got the Excel files too but they hurt my head.

Just make sure your print scale is set to 100%. I would also recommend checking the overall length of the taped together cat curve against the drawing to make sure you printer hasn't scewed the templates. I've tested that on my end and they are 100% accurate.

I'm just worried some printer out there is going to not print them properly and if not checked, they'll potentially have a mess on their hands when they start laying it out.

[JaxHiker]

Good idea. I wonder how hard it would be to put together the template for a plotter. I've got a HP plotter at the office. That wouldn't be a misuse of company property would it?