Fabric Store Guesswork

[DavyRay]

Fabric Store Guesswork Sucks

I am going to make a bridge hammock (or two). I have a Hancock Fabric store within a few blocks of my house. I have made four fabric purchases. Two were okay (ripstop nylon). Two were not okay (polyester micro-suede). It is not easy for me to estimate the weight of a fabric just holding a corner of a bolt in the store. The two bad choices I made weighed much more than I wanted. One of them also turned out to be stretchy on the short axis. What the heck am I going to do with that?

I think I need to just order fabric from online retailers, with actual specifications available for the products. It is not fun waiting for deliveries, but it is not fun to waste money on fabric that I can't use either. If anyone knows of a good use for 4 yards of stretchy polyester micro-suede, please let me know. I am considering making some hats.

[streamline]

Just want to suggest diygearsupply . They have been great to work with and the shipments come quick. I have made a couple things from the grey sil seconds and couldn't find anything wrong with it.

[MAD777]

Agreed! The online retailers that specialize in outdoor fabrics for do-it-yourselfers, just like us, is the only way to go, in my experience. You will be far happier in the long run.

I buy a ton of stuff (actually ounces of stuff) from DIYGearSupply.com and OWFINC.com
I also buy from Thru-hiker.com and QuestOutfitters.com and TiGoat.com

Never been disappointed.

[2Questions]

If anyone knows of a good use for 4 yards of stretchy polyester micro-suede, please let me know. I am considering making some hats.

ZQ here....if you still have the receipt and haven't cut into the fabric, you might be able to return it. It's worth a try!

[ExPXGUY]

My best bridge hammock fabric was purchased at JoAnns from the sale bin (Polyester microfiber about 1.9 oz in grey). So it is out there. But that doesn't mean my closet isn't filled with undesirable scraps purchased in pursuit of that elusive perfect fabric.

Three suggestions: 1) Take known samples of 1.1 and 1.9 oz fabrics with you and compare them with the stuff you are considering, you can tell if they are similar weights. 2) Avoid anything with lycra 3) at the corner, stretch both length and widthwise. Threads will often separate along the width, while that is OK for gathered end hammocks, it is no good for bridges.

[Ramblinrev]

If you want to be absolutely sure of what you are getting buy _only_ from a specialized outdoor fabric outfitter. Mass market retail fabric stores are not at all concerned about some of the details we care about. If you don't really care about the weight then buy any where you want. You won't get the lightest available but it doesn't matter because that's not your primary concern.

Polyester micro suede makes fabulous lightweight shells. 4 yards @60" wide is easily more than enough. Check various companies for patterns. But that is closer to sewing than gear making.

Stretch is reasonable easy to test for. Grab a hunk of fabric in both hands and tug. Make sure you tug in line with the threads. If the fabric is stretchy you'll find out. Stretch comes in two types... 2 way and 4 way. If one direction stretches and the other doesn't it is 2 way. If all four stretch it is four way. Any woven fabric will stretch on the diagonals so make sure you test on the straight.