From: era_pul@arkimedes.ki.ericsson.se (Peter Ulfheden consultant) Subject: Kite making Message-ID: Date: 26 Oct 92 12:25:09 GMT Distribution: rec.kites Organization: Ericsson Radio Sytems AB, Sweden Hi, Someone asked for some action on this newsgroup. OK, here's my contribution. Has anyone of you ever tried to make a double lap seam with an ordinary sewing machine? Well I have! I have spent hours trying to make that @#$( seam with any degree of precision. For those of you that don't know what a double lap seam looks like, here goes: x: lines that should be aligned when the seam is finished First make a seam at 1 <- allowance -> 1 ( x V )------------------------------------------ ) ( ------------------------------------( ^ x ) <- allowance -> Fold the cloth and make the seams 2 and 3. 2 3 ( v x v )------------------------------+ ( +----------- | | -----------+ ) +-----------------------------------( ^ x ^ ) Now, if everything worked out, you should now have the two lines marked x aligned. Having the two x's aligned is what _NEVER_ happened me. So after som thought I came up with this idea. If this is old stuff please bear with me since I am new to kiting since this summer. If you haven't seen it before, here goes: _First align_ the lines (x) on the two pieces of cloth. Secure them with small pieces of tape every 4". Don't use pins. Sew the seam at 1, remove tape as you sew. <- allowance -> 1 ( V )--------------------------------------------------- ( x x ) --------------------------------------------( ^ ) <- allowance -> Now fold in each end of cloth under itself and against the first seam. Make seams 2 and 3. 3 2 V x V )-----------------------------------------+ | +--------- ---------+ | +-----------------------------------------( ^ x ^ Now you will have a perfectly aligned seam with the apperance and strength of a double lap seam. The only difference will be that three seams are visible. Why don't you dust off your sewing machine and try this seam, now when the cold winter darkness comes creeping on to all of us (almost all? I guess the guys in Australia and NZ are of another opinion ;-) Tight Lines Peter -- ======================================================= Peter Ulfheden | era_pul@ki.ericsson.se Amorinav. 3 | Phone: +46 8 751 02 15 S-191 44 Sollentuna, SWEDEN | Fax: +46 8 35 04 29 ======================================================= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =