Pinning Silnylon

[Ramblinrev]

I don't like the binder clips because of bulk and catching on the table edge. But that's me. They are a perfectly valid idea.

If you use pins place them at 90* to the seam line with the heads sticking off the edge of the fabric a bit. I use _long_ pins with _big heads_ so I can place and remove them easily.

[gmcttr]

...Binding and Hem clips...

Hmmm...I thought those were hair barrettes.

[Hammonkey]

I used only pins on the seam, about every 6 inches, and removed them as I went. I used binder clips to secure the folded up excess material to either side of the seam and keep it manageable as I went. As long as you take your time and keep the material stretched taut beneath the presser foot, it's not that hard to get good results.

I made a cat-cut winter tarp with doors out of navy sil 2nds from DIYGS and it turned out very well.

I pulled off the first seam of the three in a french flat felled seam tonight using this method to great success. My only complaint is that the clips would get caught up on the edge of the table and fight the feed dogs every once in a while if I wasn't paying attention.

Round 2: Any tips for creasing the fabric at the seam on the second stitch?

I know Ironing is definitely not an option, but I think it's pretty important to get a hard crease on there in order to make a straight accurate stitch. Without creasing first I think that a ballooning effect would cause some inaccuracies when trying to feed the thread injector.

I put my first seam about 5/8" from the edge, how far past should I make the second seam?

[Ramblinrev]

I put my first seam about 5/8" from the edge, how far past should I make the second seam?

It is really a matter of aesthetics. To be pretty you want the raw edges to be enclosed in the fold. So about 3/4" would do. So folks think that is too wide a seam. In that case, trim the seam allowance down to a narrower width. I would suggest no _less_ than 3/8" wide when done. Then a 1/2" fold will enclose everything. You want to make the fold a size that you can stitch down according to your skill level.

[jordo_99]

Another alternative to pins and clips are small, but strong magnets...I believe that you can get a 10-pack (5 pairs of "pinning") for around $4. I had initially bought them as a way to attach a net perimeter to a tarp (sew magnets into the hemmed edge) but I backed out at the last minute.

[dragon360]

I used the barrettes with some success. They tend to be my main go to for the larger stuff.

[Ramblinrev]

Another alternative to pins and clips are small, but strong magnets...I believe that you can get a 10-pack (5 pairs of "pinning") for around $4. I had initially bought them as a way to attach a net perimeter to a tarp (sew magnets into the hemmed edge) but I backed out at the last minute.

Be very careful of magnets around electronic machines. Electronic chips can be damaged by magnets. Not saying don't use them... but be careful.

I haven't tried anything that I like better than pins... but I'm old school.

[gmcttr]

...I haven't tried anything that I like better than pins... but I'm old school.

Agreed...I've used binder clips, paperclips, wooden clothes pins, but the long large headed pins are the best when I can't get by with nothing, and nothing really is the best.