I'm DIYing a hammock, and enlisting the wife's sewing skills. I want to make an end channel for my hammock (ENO/GT/Parachute style), and lack gutermann thread. The wife has an ample amount of heavy duty thread used to make coats and jeans laying around.
I wanted to check and make sure this would suffice as an acceptable substitute before we sew. I still plan on doing the 3 rows on each side.
Thanks for the help
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.
A good quality 100% polyester thread is preferred. A heavy duty jeans thread is not required and may be more difficult to dial in a balanced stitch in thin nylon fabrics. Mettler Metrosene Plus and Guttermann Sew All are two quality polyester threads commonly available locally but it doesn't have to be one of those brands.
I made a hammock chair (think small hammock 52x54) and I used the heavy duty thread with no problem. I'm heavy and it's held up quite welll. I double stitched the first inch of each side just to make sure it was well anchored and didn't give it any more thought. I enlisted my wife's advice on thread and she's usually (always) right.
The key is make sure the thread is polyester so that it will last a long time in the outdoor environment.
Mike
"Life is a Project!"
I've found this out quite a bit, but don't tell her I said thatOriginally Posted by SonOfMartin
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.
So, in theory, any decent 100% polyester thread available at a local fabric or craft store would do the trick, and be reliable and durable?
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.
The operative word is _decent_. Avoid the real cheap discount spools. First they are rarely decent and second there is a relatively small amount of thread on the spool.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
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Sounds good. I was just asking if it was possible to find it around locally. Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep an eye out for decent stuff, especially since it is my butt on the line, literally!
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.
If you go into a fabric shop, textile shop ask them for a heavy polyester thread it's quite common.
I would not recommend heavy duty thread and my reasoning is as follows...
If you put too much force on a seam something is going to give, either the fabric or the thread. I would rather the thread give because it is much easier to repair, if the fabric gives you are pretty much starting from scratch.
The other reason that I would not recommend heavy duty thread for the hammock (although it might well have its place on tree straps) is because it is thicker and needs a bigger needle and the bigger needle and thread leave bigger holes in your fabric and disrupt the weave more.
If I only had heavy duty thread and needed nothing else for the project I would probably use it rather than make a special trip out for it alone, but if I had the choice I would go for the gutermann or metrosene recommended (save a few colours I always use gutermann because it is cheaper).
Also 110% agree on the little spools of discount thread. Someone in Walmart picked up thread like in this kit http://www.walmart.com/ip/Singer-Beg...ingMethod=p13n the other day and I had to bite my tongue to not interfere.
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