Fun with Vinyl

[slowloris]

hello! i've really enjoyed reading this thread, just found craftster today and it's great! i'm a screen printer and have been running a screen print company for eight years now and just started screen printing on vinyls and re-upholstering old wooden desk chairs and stools with the vinyl, also been making purses and bags too. i really am hooked on vinyl, it's such a great material. i wish i knew how to post photo's but i don't.  photo's of things we have made are up at our site though, garagesalegallery.n et ..i'm just learning how to sew myself, so my friend sew's the hard stuff and i do the printing.
great work you guys! i'm really impressed with all the talent in this place!

[CurlyFrye]

Wow, that's brilliant!  I had no idea you could screen print on vinyl.  I guess it makes sense... just never occured.  

Totally awesome though, now I really want to try it!

[rangerbeth]

Supurb advise on vinyl purses.  I have a HUGE problem with making the straps of vinyl as well.  It ends up all twisted and uneven.  This is how I make them, please someone correct my stupid ways: 
First I fold a 4'' * 12'' piece in half.  Then I try to fold each of the  sides in about 1/4''.  Then I try to stitch these together.  Not only does this send my machine into overdrive, it also is impossible to keep this stuff folded, and pinning is ineffective.  HELP.  So, now I just use whatever random things I have lying around (such as neck ties and belts) as straps.  I have recently made one with a necktie strap.  I will post when I return home.

[shinyandbrandnew]

Love the bags...Love the vespa more!!! (i think it's a vespa) Vinyl rocks!!

[furgodwuerlivn2002]

Does anyone have a tutorial for this?

- Mary

I may not find it back to this link, lol, so could someone e-mail me a tutorial @ furgodwuerlivn2002@yahoo.com ? lol. thanx

[artasanoutlet]

super cute bag!

i'm working on a line myself.  new to craftster.
i'll post when i get some done.

going home later to rummage through all the things i've made to post them as well.

 
angie

[iqjones]

Very cool!  

To keep the presser foot from sticking to the vinyl (this is also handy when sewing with oilcloth), put a layer of tissue paper over it when you stitch.  Better yet, pick up a roller foot for your machine -- it's like a usual foot but has a little plastic roller that won't stick.

Okay, I just got almost 2 full yards of clear vinyl remnant on the cheap... I have no idea how to sew with it. Do you need special needles? Special thread? I wanted to use orange thread, it's just regular Coats & Clarks double duty. Any advice from wiser seamstresses would be *very* appreciated.

>>>Whoops, just realized that there were 4 pages & all my questions were answered. Reading really pays off sometimes. I love the Descendents bag-- Sour Grapes rules!

[mo11ydo11]

Hey! I'm so glad everyone likes the purses!  As for sewing with vinyl, using a leather / denim needle works best, I think, depending on how thick/tough of vinyl you bought.  However, I've found that a regular 11(?) needle works just swell.  There are a variety of threads, but I always find the Coats & Clarks to be my favorite.  Patience works best because the holes made in vinyl are a little more distinct and so it shows when you change stitch lengths or don't sew as carefully as you should.  I'd practice on a few scrap pieces to see how your vinyl takes to the holes and thread, as well as how tough it will be to handle.   Good luck on your project! 

[walkingme]

more vinyl sewing tips, to get a good crease in your vinyl, fold where you need the crease, cover with a towel and iron on a medium to low temp. Yes this is melting your vinyl very slowly and is usually not fixable if you screw up your crease. Remember keep your iron teperature low, also if you keep pressure on the crease as it cools it will hold that crease. I often put my project under a heavy object to press it  while it cools.

Tips on thread for sewing vinyl, I use a Coats and Clark nylon upholstery thread. The stitching shows up better against the vinyl and matches better the needle hole size and vinyl thickness. Its also real strong and adds structure to your vinyl.

[kimmykat]

sorry if this question is already answered. im pretty sure i read all of the posts.---
how easy does vinyl fray? ive been thinking about doing a cut out picture on a purse and i was wondering if the edges around the picture need to be hemmed or if just regular stiched would work. also if it does fray would a regular stich with interfacing on the back stop it from fraying sufficiently???
sorry if my questions are redundant. i love all the purses everyone made they look so cool!
-kim