Need fabric recommendation for lawn targets

Square Peg wrote:
On Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:21:01 +0100, Kate XXXXXX
wrote:

Square Peg wrote:
On Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:31:32 +0100, Kate XXXXXX
wrote:

BEI Design wrote:
Square Peg wrote:
I would like to make several targets for practicing golf
shots. These would be circles of various sizes from from
about a 1-yard radius up to a 5-yard radius -- possibly a
bit larger.
36" radius = 72" circles. That could be cut from a single
width of "double wide" fabric, but I don't know if canvas or
ripstop nylon (or ballistric nylon) comes that wide.
They usually come about 60" wide.
Yep, that's what the canvas shop said.

5 yard radius = 360" diameter. You would first have to join
several 10 yard long lengths of fabric side-by-side, than
cut the circle. Or a whole bunch of pie-shaped pieces and
join them.

Are you planning on leaving these out in the weather or
packing them away every day?

I have been using rope, which works fairly well, but it's
difficult to lay out the rope in a nice circle and keep
it that way. It occurred to me that if I could make
circles out of some heavy fabric like a canvas, it might
retain the circle shape a little better.
It would retain its shape until a stiff wind blows... or
someone walks on it... or......
Weight pockets would solve this. Just slip the weights in round the edge.
Brilliant. That's just what I need. I can probably find small pieces
on metal bars or rods, cut them to the width of the ring, and sew
little pockets for them. In the meantime, I can just lay them on top
of the targets to get a sense of how many I need.

Thank you for that suggestion.

My plan is be to get a piece of fabric, cut the fabric
into arcs of the correct radius, then sew then together
into a circle.
I don't understand what you mean by "...cut the fabric
into arcs of the correct radius...", so I don't know if
yur plan would work or not. I'm not a mathmatician. :-}
I would appreciate comments or suggestions on:

1. What's the best fabric to get? My first thought was
canvas. There is a canvas shop near here that makes tents
and awnings. I was in there several years ago. They have
lots of canvas. I plan to go ask them what they
recommend. Is there another fabric I should consider?
Sunbrella, ripstop nylon, ballistic nylon... Se Penny's
site for other outdoor fabrics:
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/about/whatis.asp

2. Will my wife's sewing machine handle the canvas?
Depends what she has, and the weight of the canvas.
She has a Singer 9110. I think it's 25-30 years old. The guy at the
cancas store said that many of their awning fabrics can be sewn on a
home machine.

3. What's the best way to connect the arcs? I was just
going to overlap them about an inch and sew along both
edges, maybe using a zig-zag stitch that goes over the
edge.
Personally I'd use a felled seam. Or turn the edge under, glue it down
with basting glue, and lap over the under fabric. Gives a neater edge.
You wouldn't need to fell coated ripstop as it doesn't fray much.
Like this: http://www.sewneau.com/how.to/flat.felled.seam.html?

4. How do I finish the edges? Do I fold the edge over and
sew it down or sew to edge tape (bias tape?)?
Face it with 3" wide arcs of fabric, and form weight pockets (see above)
in the facing.
5. How wide whould the strips be? I was thinking 2-3" for
the smaller circles and maybe 1" wider for each yard of
radius.
Are you trying to make roundels, like on military aircraft, or archery
targets? I should go for 6" bands of colour, whatever size your
finished target, or you'll be sewing forever!
I didn't explain myself very well. I am NOT making complete circles
(disks). I am making rings -- just the outer edge of the circle, about
3-4" wide. The center will be open.

Anything else I should know about or think about?
Rip-stop nylon is slippery as hell. Canvass blunts nedles fairly
quickly (use jeans needles), and large acreages of cloth are heavy and
will need lots of support. Two tables in an L shape with you in the
corner with the machine will help to support the cloth.
I won't have acreage of material for sewing -- just the arcs.
OK - Polo mints rather than carpets! I get it...

I see that you are in the UK. We call them Life Savers over here.

OK, just make the whole thing double: sandwich your flat weights between
the two layers and sew them in. You might need 4 for the smaller
circles and 6-8 for the larger.

Cut your arcs and join them to make two circles... Lay them right sides
together and sew the INNER circle seam. Clip the seam allowance from
the cut edge almost to the stitching line... Turn through to the right
way out. Topstitch.

Turn under and baste or glue (Elmers will do, but allow it to dry!) a
half inch hem on the outside edge of each circle, turning the hem into
the middle of the sandwich, as it were.

Decide where you want the weight pockets and draw a line from the inner
edge to the outer edge at each side of the pocket. Sew along the lines.
Slip the weights in, and then just topstitch the whole thing closed
all round the edge.

I'll have to study these instructions a bit and probably screw it up a
few times. I've done a little sewing, but have no real experience.

You have an interesting website. It looks like you are up for all
kinds of curious projects. Would this be something you might be
willing to do?

I'm going to call a couple of local shops and also talk to some tent
makers. But, if I can't find someone local, this can be done at a
distance. I'm happy to make the templates for the pieces.

Thanks for the help.

Yup, for me, easy-peasy! NOT something you'd want to pay
international shipping for... I could probably find fabric this end and
post the completed project, leaving you to slip weights into the
pockets. Email me if you want me to price it for you.

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
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