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  1. #1
    Senior Member Yakfoot's Avatar
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    Sewing a Nylon Hem

    I just finished my first hammock, a simple gathered end. It looks pretty rough, I even have some hems turned one way and others turned the other for variety. The hems run anywhere from 5/8 to 1 1/4 inches wide. Which brings up a question. What is the best way to sew a slippery nylon hem? I finally just sewed down the first fold, then made the next fold and sewed it. I did some practice on ordinary fabric before I started and got to where I could sew a pretty good hem making both folds as I went with the first line of stitching. Not so with nylon.
    "To turn from this increasingly artificial and strangely alien world is to escape from unreality. To return to the timeless world of the mountains, the sea, the forest and the stars is to return to sanity and truth." --Robert Burnham Jr.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Dblcorona's Avatar
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    When I started out, I pinned my roll hems. I only pin really small roll hems on things like tq and uq.
    "We don't stop hiking because we grow old,
    we grow old because we stop hiking."

    -- Finis Mitchell,

  3. #3
    Senior Member
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    I have seen plenty of methods mentioned on these forums including using pins, bulldog clips, paper clips, fabric tape, additional hands and probably others that I have forgotten.

    It appears to me that if you have a big enough table for support, and with a little practice, you might not need any of the above. But most of us don't have a big enough table nor have we had the practice.

    I am guessing the Ramblinrev will chime in here at some point. In the mean time, check out his links and videos on sewing. Very informative and backed by years of experience.

    (Just realized I shouldn't have shortened Ramblinrev.)
    Last edited by Avenger; 08-18-2011 at 04:55. Reason: Correction

  4. #4
    Senior Member Gumbo's Avatar
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    It helps to practice on nylon. It doesn't feel or move like any other fabrics.

  5. #5
    Member Green Mountain Boy's Avatar
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    When I made my hammock I found that it went okay as long as I took my time

  6. #6
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
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    I usually fold and stitch each time like you ended up doing. But there is no "right" way to do it. It's a case of what works for you.
    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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  7. #7
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
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    I do the "2-step" like you did - fold it once, sew, fold again, sew again.
    The trick to keeping the hem a consistent width is to sew only a few inches at a time.
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

  8. #8
    Senior Member
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    re

    Buy a rolled hemmer foot. Best $20 I have ever spent.

    Ryan

  9. #9
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Violent Green View Post
    Buy a rolled hemmer foot. Best $20 I have ever spent.

    Ryan
    People like them when they get them to work. People hate them when they don't. I've never been able to get the things to work but I know others have had great luck with them. Word of warning: make sure it is made to fit the machine you have. If it says something like "universal fit" it is garbage.
    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

    We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series

    Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies

    Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint

  10. #10
    Senior Member MarshLaw303's Avatar
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    one way to make it simple and fast is to run a line of stitching along the edge as wide as you want the hem to be. then come back and the fabric will easily fold on this line to make even sized hems. You will fold twice and the line of stitching will be just visible on the inside edge of the hem.

    -Tim

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