Crappy alright, Mike. Mine isn't really much better, when you look closely.
Guess that makes my sewing standard 'authentic WW2 quality'. With quality being the little used word to describe something quite shite.
Starting last night, I had a bit more play with canvas and my Wifes sewing machine. Some weeks ago I bought a second hand bookshelf to store my current battalion of R C tanks, and last evening I started making a canvas roll-up front cover, designed to keep the dust off the contents. In the process, I experimented with a range of techniques and processes, conceived mainly to show me what things I can get away with. Oh boy, I sure made some discoveries. Not all were positive experiences. I previously mentioned that my Wifes little sewing machine can sew 7 layers of canvas without problems. Add another layer, and I did get problems. Lots of em. Eight layers was just too much for it to handle, and this was made quite clear when I started hearing some very strange pings and clunks. The crescendo was when I managed to shatter a needle, but fortunately my Wife was outside at the time and I quickly replaced the remains with a fresh one, before any lasting damage was sustained.........to me.
The cover is approx 3ft wide by 6ft in length. I wanted to try sewing in a length of rope at the top, just to see if it would work. It did, but not to satisfaction. Once I'm using my industrial machine it should be heaps better result, because I have bought correct piping foot for this technique. On my Wifes machine last night, things went badly. I couldn't get close enough to the rope for a good result. Still, at least I know what went wrong.
To seal the cover I have sewn some Velcro down each side. If you are planning to do this, unless you have an industrial machine, sew the 'fluffy' Velcro piece, NOT the other half with the hard plastic hooks. It's really annoying to sew, and will catch your thread occasionally. I thoutht I would be smart, and used an extremely strong thread. It sounded like a good idea, but is entirely wasted on a standard domestic machine. The thread required adjustable tension increased to limit available, or the sewing looked loose. Problem was, although the thread was super strong, it did start to shear away when travelling through the needle eye. This occured even when speed was low. Once again, probably more an issue Bourne out of my choice of machine, not the thread itself. When I went back to using standard duty thread, things actually went better overall. Go figure! I would want that strong thread when I make the sunshine roof cover thougj.
I did get a little better at making seams straight, though I am still not pleased, and am continuing to improve pining in a way that keeps material in place. One by one the pins are removed as the material moves through the machine. I guess what I'm saying is simply, practice man, practice. Ironically, that's the same piece of advice a Sydney local once gave me when I was lost and asked him how I could get to the opera house! Now that I think of it, he MAY have misunderstood what I meant.
Oh, and I'm also hoping to purchase this Land Rover Defender from my inlaws estate. It will come up nicely in camo green.