YQ Bluenose by Johan [COMPLETED BUILD]

So, being 69 years of age and none the wiser, I started my 70th year with the fabrication of yet another sail, the main topsail.
For now the process is as follows:
1. Stain the cloth and let dry.
2. Transfer the lines of the previously prepared paper template the cloth.
3. Stitch (straight) the seams, simulating the sails trips being stitched together.
4. Next the edges of the sail, again straight stitches.
5. Again stitching the edges, but now with a zigzag stitch
All stitch are done with the smallest possible settings (1 on the Admiral's Etna, no clue what that means, but could be mm's.)
6. Apply diluted woodglue on the sail and set aside to dry.
7. Once dry, cut the excess material, just outside of the outer zigzag stitches.
The first sail was trimmed with a pair of scissors, may be I'll experiment with cutting, but not sure yet.
8. Finish the sail by adding the necessary hardware, prior to setting the sail.
Pending on my experience the process may vary...

Step 3, main topsail, the dummy seams:IMG_0418.jpeg

Step 4, stitched the net edges of the sail:
IMG_0419.jpeg

Step 5, the zigzag stitch applied, left and right of the stitch made in step 4:
IMG_0422.jpeg
The next steps will be shown later, once reaching those steps.

A shot, taken by the Admiral, of a man-at-work:
IMG_0420.jpeg
 
Hello Johan, I like how you have managed to eliminate the puckering effect when sewing all those straight strip lines, that was a huge problem I had even after adjusting the settings to help reduce them. Question about step #6, applying diluted wood glue. Are you putting it over the entire sail or just the edges? Also, I saw a video where you can hold a straight edge down on the fabric and use a cutting wheel to trim out the fabric. In a tight curve you would probably still need scissors though. Just thinking out loud.
 
RDN1954 said:
So, being 69 years of age and none the wiser, I started my 70th year with the fabrication of yet another sail, the main topsail.
For now the process is as follows:
1. Stain the cloth and let dry.
2. Transfer the lines of the previously prepared paper template the cloth.
3. Stitch (straight) the seams, simulating the sails trips being stitched together.
4. Next the edges of the sail, again straight stitches.
5. Again stitching the edges, but now with a zigzag stitch
All stitch are done with the smallest possible settings (1 on the Admiral's Etna, no clue what that means, but could be mm's.)
6. Apply diluted woodglue on the sail and set aside to dry.
7. Once dry, cut the excess material, just outside of the outer zigzag stitches.
The first sail was trimmed with a pair of scissors, may be I'll experiment with cutting, but not sure yet.
8. Finish the sail by adding the necessary hardware, prior to setting the sail.
Pending on my experience the process may vary...

Step 3, main topsail, the dummy seams:View attachment 385159

Step 4, stitched the net edges of the sail:
View attachment 385158

Step 5, the zigzag stitch applied, left and right of the stitch made in step 4:
View attachment 385156
The next steps will be shown later, once reaching those steps.

A shot, taken by the Admiral, of a man-at-work:
View attachment 385157
Click to expand...
Haha, a deje-vu: my admiral has the same Elna! Also with a ‘air-bubble’ power-pedal with a tube to the side?
Just what Daniel wrote: looking good how you managed the stitching.
Regards, Peter
 
Daniel20 said:
Hello Johan, I like how you have managed to eliminate the puckering effect when sewing all those straight strip lines, that was a huge problem I had even after adjusting the settings to help reduce them. Question about step #6, applying diluted wood glue. Are you putting it over the entire sail or just the edges? Also, I saw a video where you can hold a straight edge down on the fabric and use a cutting wheel to trim out the fabric. In a tight curve you would probably still need scissors though. Just thinking out loud.
Click to expand...
Hey Dan,
To avoid puckering I used less tension on the stitches, it's rather easy to adjust on the Admiral's sewing machine and it works. What also might effect puckering is the pitch of the stitch; I used the minimum pitch available. My reasoning is that when you apply a larger pitch, more tension is put on the fabric.
I apply the diluted glue over the entire sail, to have more or less similar texture and appearance over the sail. It's also an effort to avoid fluffyness of the threads.
The cutting wheel is something I've seen in one of the video's, I think it was YouTube. I considered the it, but in the end disregarded the idea, because my sewing capabilities are such that they do not result in perfectly straight stitch lines. A pair of scissors allow me to follow the actual stitch line, which wouldn't be possible with a cutting wheel. I'm open for other views regarding this topic.
Suggestions for improvement are welcome.

Johan
 
Peter Voogt said:
Haha, a deje-vu: my admiral has the same Elna! Also with a ‘air-bubble’ power-pedal with a tube to the side?
Just what Daniel wrote: looking good how you managed the stitching.
Regards, Peter
Click to expand...
Thanks Peter,
Yes, the well known Elna sewing machines. This one has indeed the air-bubble pedal, I'm still getting used to it.
What works for me is to keep the speeds down, especially for the zigzag stitches. These also require a steady hand and a lot of undivided attention.
 
Ptèr said:
I'm so glad my admiral didn't take a picture....it would seriously damaged my left over "manhood" that I have.
Your second sail looks absolutely stunning and all straight lines!!!! Honestly a great job and you did it all by yourself!

Peter
Click to expand...
Luckily I'm beyond the point of damaged "manhood"... (I hope this remark does not lead to all kind of dubious reactions.)

I'm still puzzled as to why the second sail came out as it did, straight without puckering.
Hopefully I'll be any the wiser after the next sail.
 
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