This video was incredibly helpful. Prior to 3 days ago I had never used a sewing machine in my life. I used a Sailrite machine that my mom and dad have on hand to repair their sails with. I 100% nailed it making a new cockpit cover for my 22’ Stingray. My French seam is a little crooked here and there but the stitch caught the fabric just fine. Note- in my first two attempts I did not follow the your directions to make the marks on the pattern and then transfer it to the new fabric. A note to other DIY newbies, if you do not make these marks you will get a lot of experience using a stitch splitter. Took mine apart twice, then decided to actually follow the directions. Thank you for making this video. Next up, I am going to make a new Bimini top!
Also, I highly suggest making sure the needle is completely disengaged from the fabric before you move the pattern around or readjust your hold. The needle looks thick and tough but they bend very easily and do not work at all unless they are 100% straight. And don’t try to bend it back. Tried that…. It doesn’t work. Thankfully, I found that little tip on the Sailrite channel because my first reaction was- Oh boy. Daddo is about to be really pissed at me for breaking yet another tool of his. 😂
All that I can say is WOW! I really enjoyed watching this video and I have learned some new tricks...thank you. I am still new to all of this, so I will be re-viewing this video a few more times. Thank you for taking the time to film this. Great job!!
My wife is just beginning to see canvas covers for boats. She has only repaired covers and added zippers to covers belonging to family and friends but has a desire to make complete covers. Right now she is watching every video you have on this subject that she can find and says they are very informative. Thank you for detailing everything you're doing ie:marking where the snaps are located and cleat location. My questions are, what is the plastic you use for the patterns and which canvas do you recommend. Thank you!
Very much appreciate your videos John, thank you. I find it very beneficial that you don't edit out your miscalculations as it shows how to recover when possible - real life vs clean video production.
Since your using 60' Sunbrella what's you thoughts on the center seem from bow to stern? Also, I know this is a freebe, and your not trying to sink a ton of time in it, but I have found using a stapler with the alignment marks helps a lot.
Great videos! I’m getting ready to make a boat cover for our boat. Someone suggested that I pattern the Sunbrella directly on the boat. I did this for the front part of the cover but the Sunbrella did not want to stick to the strapping tape that I had put around the boat. Now I’m going to make the cockpit cover and windshield cover all in one piece and I think I’d like to pattern it with patterning paper rather than the Sunbrella itself. Do you think the boat cover will come out OK if I pattern with patterning paper and cut out my Sunbrella my table like you’re doing in this video here?
Man.. how this table is built.. im currently planning to do a nice sewing set.. i have been using 4x8 white laminated board but i would like to have a bigger area like your. Tips please
Your videos have been the most helpful that I have found. I have watched both of them but I would really like you to make a video just on patterning. I have just started my new hobby of marine vinyl upholstery and a few sunbrella console tops. Where do you get your patterning material what I have found is very expensive just to throw away. Thanks for great videos. Keep them coming!
I really appreciate your videos. I am reaching out to you for a guidance. I started working with a marina owner, opening a new canvas business. He promised to take me as a partner sharing the profit. We were in clothing alteration business and didn't have experience in marine canvas business. However, by studying your videos and others, we learned valuable things and were able to reupholster boat seats beautifully as our first order. The customer was extremely happy. For the reupholstering, cleaning and other mendings the total charge to the customer was $2620. Myself and one of my family member worked very hard for a week and a few days. However, my supposed partner paid us $750 for it, which is only 28.6% of the bill. I wanted to ask you what is the fair labor cost in this industry? In alteration business the true labor cost was 60% or more, so we were shocked at what we were paid. After $390 supply cost, he took in $1480, which is 56.5% of the total. We used his facility, equipment and etc., yet we feel we weren't compensated for the true labor cost, not even to mention sharing a penny from the profit. What % do you think we should have been paid? Thank you!
Really like your videos, find them very informative. I have a question for you, when you top stitch a seam, the underside leaves the raw edges of the Sunbrella exposed. Do you need to bind or do anything to these raw edges to stop them from unraveling? Or does Sunbrella not unravel?
Hey Joao, Sunbrella fabric will unravel like crazy !!!! The answer to your question is : If I sew two pieces together then flip it over and top stitch it I typically will not bind the edge first. The fact that you are sewing it twice and have four layers of fabric will prevent it from coming apart.. That being said, If I have a seam that is in an enclosure exposed and visible, I will use a hot knife to seal the edge so it does not come apart. Just my opinion, using a hot knife is more attractive than binding first then flipping over and topstitching. The last suggestion for you is : you can use pinking sheers to cut the fabric first, that puts a zigzag cut through the grain of the fabric then you don't have to anything just sew it... Thanks hope that helps,John
Hey Lance, Login to my website boatcanvasuniversity.com or cavcoboatcanvas.com and get my phone number and give me a call we can talk about it.. Thanks John
This video was incredibly helpful. Prior to 3 days ago I had never used a sewing machine in my life. I used a Sailrite machine that my mom and dad have on hand to repair their sails with. I 100% nailed it making a new cockpit cover for my 22’ Stingray. My French seam is a little crooked here and there but the stitch caught the fabric just fine. Note- in my first two attempts I did not follow the your directions to make the marks on the pattern and then transfer it to the new fabric. A note to other DIY newbies, if you do not make these marks you will get a lot of experience using a stitch splitter. Took mine apart twice, then decided to actually follow the directions. Thank you for making this video. Next up, I am going to make a new Bimini top!
Also, I highly suggest making sure the needle is completely disengaged from the fabric before you move the pattern around or readjust your hold. The needle looks thick and tough but they bend very easily and do not work at all unless they are 100% straight. And don’t try to bend it back. Tried that…. It doesn’t work. Thankfully, I found that little tip on the Sailrite channel because my first reaction was- Oh boy. Daddo is about to be really pissed at me for breaking yet another tool of his. 😂
A couple years ago I took your enclosure window class online. It was great! This video is the same, clear and consise. Thankyou!
All that I can say is WOW! I really enjoyed watching this video and I have learned some new tricks...thank you. I am still new to all of this, so I will be re-viewing this video a few more times. Thank you for taking the time to film this. Great job!!
My wife is just beginning to see canvas covers for boats. She has only repaired covers and added zippers to covers belonging to family and friends but has a desire to make complete covers. Right now she is watching every video you have on this subject that she can find and says they are very informative. Thank you for detailing everything you're doing ie:marking where the snaps are located and cleat location. My questions are, what is the plastic you use for the
patterns and which canvas do you recommend. Thank you!
Very much appreciate your videos John, thank you. I find it very beneficial that you don't edit out your miscalculations as it shows how to recover when possible - real life vs clean video production.
Great demonstration. Learned so much. Thank you for taking the time out to explain the workings. Look forward to watching any future videos.
Since your using 60' Sunbrella what's you thoughts on the center seem from bow to stern? Also, I know this is a freebe, and your not trying to sink a ton of time in it, but I have found using a stapler with the alignment marks helps a lot.
Great Video, I'm going to make a back panel and side panels for an existing aft cover for a 42 sea ray
You are awesome thank you for those video help me out a lot I can get somebody show up I’m doing it for myself
Great videos! I’m getting ready to make a boat cover for our boat. Someone suggested that I pattern the Sunbrella directly on the boat. I did this for the front part of the cover but the Sunbrella did not want to stick to the strapping tape that I had put around the boat. Now I’m going to make the cockpit cover and windshield cover all in one piece and I think I’d like to pattern it with patterning paper rather than the Sunbrella itself. Do you think the boat cover will come out OK if I pattern with patterning paper and cut out my Sunbrella my table like you’re doing in this video here?
Can I ask you what the size and dimensions of you sewing table is. Love the help you give on your videos. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Tom
Man.. how this table is built.. im currently planning to do a nice sewing set.. i have been using 4x8 white laminated board but i would like to have a bigger area like your. Tips please
Your videos have been the most helpful that I have found. I have watched both of them but I would really like you to make a video just on patterning. I have just started my new hobby of marine vinyl upholstery and a few sunbrella console tops. Where do you get your patterning material what I have found is very expensive just to throw away. Thanks for great videos. Keep them coming!
What"s the name of your sewing machine?
I really appreciate your videos. I am reaching out to you for a guidance. I started working with a marina owner,
opening a new canvas business. He promised to take me as a partner sharing the profit. We were in clothing alteration business and didn't have experience in marine canvas business. However, by studying your videos and others, we learned valuable things and were able to reupholster boat seats beautifully as our first order. The customer was extremely happy. For the reupholstering, cleaning and other mendings the total charge to the customer was $2620. Myself and one of my family member worked very hard for a week and a few days. However, my supposed partner paid us $750 for it, which is only 28.6% of the bill. I wanted to ask you what is the fair labor cost in this industry? In alteration business the true labor cost was 60% or more, so we were shocked at what we were paid. After $390 supply cost, he took in $1480, which is 56.5% of the total. We used his facility, equipment and etc., yet we feel we weren't compensated for the true labor cost, not even to mention sharing a penny from the profit. What % do you think we should have been paid? Thank you!
John i like your small shop,is it at your house?
Where do you get the material?
Really like your videos, find them very informative. I have a question for you, when you top stitch a seam, the underside leaves the raw edges of the Sunbrella exposed. Do you need to bind or do anything to these raw edges to stop them from unraveling? Or does Sunbrella not unravel?
Hey Joao, Sunbrella fabric will unravel like crazy !!!! The answer to your question is : If I sew two pieces together then flip it over and top stitch it I typically will not bind the edge first. The fact that you are sewing it twice and have four layers of fabric will prevent it from coming apart.. That being said, If I have a seam that is in an enclosure exposed and visible, I will use a hot knife to seal the edge so it does not come apart. Just my opinion, using a hot knife is more attractive than binding first then flipping over and topstitching. The last suggestion for you is : you can use pinking sheers to cut the fabric first, that puts a zigzag cut through the grain of the fabric then you don't have to anything just sew it... Thanks hope that helps,John
John Cavco
Thanks for the reply, looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
What size cutting table do you have?
Very nice 👍👍👍‼‼
Maestro ponja subtitulo.. Para los de habla ispana
hello if i send you my boat Convertible Boat Top can you make a duplicate thanks
Hey Lance,
Login to my website boatcanvasuniversity.com or cavcoboatcanvas.com and get my phone number and give me a call we can talk about it..
Thanks John
Mine works too. I used woodprix plans and build it without any problems.