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Post by Coolkat on Sept 22, 2020 10:55:56 GMT -8
Has anyone done any sewing with waterproof material? I have an idea for a modified gator that I'd like to make and I'm wondering what material is easiest to work with on a sewing machine? If I can't find a sewer I may learn myself. At this point I'm not worried about weight just waterproof and easy to work with. If it works I'll investigate lighter material later on.
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Post by autumnmist on Sept 22, 2020 11:20:45 GMT -8
Coolkat , are you thinking of a home sewing machine or a commercial one with capability to handle heavier and slicker materials than cloth? I haven't sewed or worked with waterproof materials but have worked with some that are difficult to handle. Some fabrics, like certain polyesters, require ballpoint needles. The fabric is so tightly woven that a regular sewing needle pierces it and causes runs. So the needle may depend on the specific fabric. Ballpoint needles can be bought for home machines though so that might not be an obstacle. Can you post a photo of the material you plan to use, including a close up which shows how tightly the fabric is or isn't woven?
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 22, 2020 14:32:47 GMT -8
I haven't picked out the fabric yet. I was hoping that maybe someone here would know which waterproof fabrics are easier to work with than others. I have access to a sewing machine. Now it's just matter of choosing the fabric.
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daveg
Trail Wise!
Michigan
Posts: 565 
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Post by daveg on Sept 22, 2020 15:18:50 GMT -8
I have sewn silnylon, PU coated fabric, vinyl coated fabric, and marine canvas. PU and vinyl coated fabrics are the easiest to work with; silnylon is the most difficult (but doable). Edit: Link to gaiters I made out of PU coated fabric. |
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 22, 2020 17:34:38 GMT -8
daveg, that is very cool. And I like that you're willing to share what you've done and I actually like your attachments design better. I've been thinking about this a little more. I have to go to the fabric shop tomorrow evening for some stretch cord or whatever you want to call it. I think I'm just gonna buy a bit of a remnant to make my first set. No need to waste good waterproof material until you've got it down pat. BTW: I've been to your website before and didn't realize it was yous when I was looking for information on the High Country Pathway.
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Post by bobcat on Sept 22, 2020 18:00:01 GMT -8
In case you might find it easier to start with a pattern and then modify to suit yourself, Green Pepper pattern 301 is for gaiters. If I was sewing gaiters, I would use a coated polyester pack cloth, maybe with patches of heavier cordura nylon on the sides where they will rub together, inside faces of your boots. And use nylon or heavy polyester thread instead of general-purpose cotton-poly. Good luck!
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daveg
Trail Wise!
Michigan
Posts: 565
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Post by daveg on Sept 22, 2020 19:36:54 GMT -8
One comment about the gaiters I made that you may find useful. They work fine when dry but sag when they get wet. The PU coating is on the inside so the fabric wets out in wet conditions. I haven't worked up the motivation to fix the problem but I've thought of several solutions to try. One is to make a new set of gaiters with a heavier fabric, like bobcat suggested. Spraying the fabric with DWR might help by preventing water from being absorbed. I have skinny legs so a taller gaiter may help -- give the elastic at the top a better grip on my legs. Or replace the elastic at the top with a channel and run shock cord through that with a cord lock so I can cinch them tighter around my legs. |
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 22, 2020 20:36:32 GMT -8
Do you really need a full on waterproof gaiter? Breathable ones have become my goto for just about everything. My socks stay a LOT drier.
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 23, 2020 6:35:33 GMT -8
Do you really need a full on waterproof gaiter? Breathable ones have become my goto for just about everything. I have a different design and purpose in mind for the gaiters I want to make. I'm aiming more at use with trail shoes and not boots so the way it attaches will have to different. The more I talk about this the more I see a winter project coming on.  |
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Post by bobcat on Sept 23, 2020 8:00:09 GMT -8
I have played with attaching gaiters to trail shoes. You can’t use an under-foot strap like you can with boot heels, as you have figured out. I like the idea in the link above, to attach the loop side of hook-and-loop to your shoe and the hook side to the gaiter. If you attach the hook side to your shoe, you pick up a lot more debris.
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FamilySherpa
Trail Wise!
Tangled up in Rhododendron
Posts: 1,791
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Post by FamilySherpa on Sept 29, 2020 4:16:55 GMT -8
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 29, 2020 21:01:08 GMT -8
Will take a look now |
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