Yeh, the first 7 or 8 sails were stitched with the wife's "Globe, Cub 7"
domestic machine.
I just used a slightly narrower (5mm wide) Zig zag, to make it easier on the machine. I used 110 needles (that you get for light leather) Wound it through by hand on the heavier bits. Used a heavy denim thread.
I oiled it all up, after using it and blowing the sand out of it.
When "SHE" did her next project, it got oil spots on it.
That's where it got ugly!!!![}:)]
I got a walking foot "Sailrite" clone and haven't looked back. It has got an 80 tooth, 7 Lb. flywheel and crunches through more than 20 layers of cloth with a straight stich or 10 to 12 layers with a 5mm wide zigzag.
The most important part of the recut is obtaining double sided carpet tape. It's 50mm wide, wispy thin and will stick to ANYTHING, even older sailcloth that is starting to bleed/delaminate.
This stuff holds everything in position till it's stitched.
I've made power kites with this tape and they we not even stitched, for the trial flights.
A 50mtr roll for $28 (from my local carpet retailer) does about 5 sail recuts, without any headaches.
Sometimes I slit it down to 25mm wide with a razorblade while it's still on the roll.
When fitting the protective binding around the edge of the sail at the foot etc. Tape it on with 100mm long bits of standard sticky tape (50mm down the sail around the edge tape and back up the sail on the other side) every 100mm or so and just sew over the lot. It holds it all in position when stiching it and peel the bits off, when you have finished sewing.
Although that's only leather, not what I'll be throwing at it.
