Kitebuilder Online

Steve D · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 647 Location: USA GA Newnan

I'm just getting started building kites. Let me qualify that - building sewn kites. As a kid and even recently I've built many, many trash bag and newspaper kites of various sorts. But.....sewing kites together is a fairly new thing to me. I've gotten a lot of good advise via e-mail and have managed to complete a few squareflakes (have always had a fascination with facet kites).

One problem I'm having occurs primarily with larget pieces of material. My material wants to slide off the near side my table and twist the material as its pulled under the foot of my machine. Once I get enough material through the machine that it doesn't want to twist, it wants to bunch up on the table and it tries to torque in the other direction.

How do other folks solve or deal with such problems? Does anyone use a particular kind of table (see, its sorta tool related) to sew on. Would a narrow table have any advantage so the material could drape over the back side or would I likely just encounter the same problem in reverse as most of the material begind to drape over the other side?

Steve D

Kitesquid · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 3:18 pm Post subject:

The ULTIMATE kite sewing table is a sail loft. Look in the yellow pages to see if one is near you and look around their facilites, ask for scraps, and then if they wont save scraps, go dumpster diving for them. also I have heard of people pulling out brand new sails because they were the wrong color or size....

the best way to describe a sail loft is to immage you are sitting in a pit in the floor and your sewing machine's feed dogs are even with the floor of the room.

HUGE.

Sense I cant do that at home, I use a home made version of a "Sew Steady" add on. It enlarges your working surface. something like this:

But mine is larger...............
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another long winded post by the Squid..... Shocked

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

stevef · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 3:23 pm Post subject:

well, steve as you have discovered, no sewing or cutting table is ever big enough! You are right, as a large piece of fabric comes off the table it will effect the "feeding" of the fabric in front of it.... all I can say, is parctice, practice, practice..... and then practice some more. If you are designing and making your own tables, make them as big as you can.

If you ever get a chance to tour a sail loft where they make large sails for boats - do it. They actualy cut a 'pit' in the floor and that is where the sewing machine is held. The floor becomes the table. The sewer also has a helper - a 'puller' that stands on the floor and helps pull the large pieces of fabric through the machine.
_________________
Steve Ferrel
Go Build a Kite!
Star Facet #54 project by Scott Spencer is now accepting registrations - click on 'user groups' to join!
Last day to register is June 15.

Steve D · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 647 Location: USA GA Newnan

Thanks for the info. There is a Sail Loft in town but its on the other side of Atlanta from me. A short road trip might be in order one day.

May just have to ponder building a Sewing machine extention a bit more. I like working in our dining room - cam be closer to the family than holed away in the basement. Gives my kids a chance to come by and watch and ask questions while I'm working/playing.

Kitesquid · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2003 8:44 am Post subject:

I hope I didnt scare you with the sail loft idea, but it is my dream...

Bigger is better and practice is even more important.

If you build one make it as big as you can pack in the car as you will want to take it to worshops.

You might look at thrift shops or goodwill for an old sewing machine cabinet as they have a good size but they do take up some floor space.
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another long winded post by the Squid..... Shocked

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

Steve D · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 647 Location: USA GA Newnan

Scared?! Nah, I thought it was a pretty cool idea! Got me to thinking how I might be able to build a "wrap-around" table. Would definitely have to situate it in my room in our basement where my flytying stuff is - don't think my better half would appreciate it being attached to her dining room table where I'm working now!! Very Happy

stevef · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2003 4:49 pm Post subject:

hey steve think about this too: We have this in our shop and is at times, a lifesaver. If you are building your sewing machine table, incorporate clear Plexiglas in the front and make room underneath for a small fluorescent light. It really helps when you are sewing dark fabrics.
_________________
Steve Ferrel
Go Build a Kite!
Star Facet #54 project by Scott Spencer is now accepting registrations - click on 'user groups' to join!
Last day to register is June 15.

Kitesquid · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2003 7:19 am Post subject:

Steve et al,

I like the plexiglass table I have as that is were I store my most used tools.

I can find them easly too.
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another long winded post by the Squid..... Shocked

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

Steve D · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 647 Location: USA GA Newnan

I used to have a 4' x 4' sheet of plexiglass. Wish I knew where it went. It disappeared when we moved a couple of years ago. Sad

With some support under it it would have been just the ticket......

Kitesquid · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2003 8:50 am Post subject:

Use velcro to attach the feet to the bottom of the plastic.

that way the top stays smooth, and it packs well when you attend a workshop.
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another long winded post by the Squid..... Shocked

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.