I’ve been embroiled in a canvas tent making project and I was hoping that someone out there has some hints and tips or failing that can recommend a good website. We have access to an old handcranked Singer sewing machine and I understand that denim cotton and a thick needle should do the trick with this - has anyone else tried?
I’ve not done a canvas tent, but I have done a sail shelter in calico which is holding up surprisingly well.
I used denim needles and I think upholstery thread. You need waaaaay more thread than you think, I needed an emergency hobbycraft run halfway through to get more.
Find a big open workspace, renting a village hall is not a crazy idea. My sail shelter has 3 30’ by 5’ panels which needed to be pinned along the full length for sewing and then laid out and repinned to do the flat felled seam needed for strength under tension. Trying to then sew the flat felled seam with 60’ of fabric trying to go under the arm of my machine with 120’ on the other side pulling me off balance in a room that’s only 4m by 3m was an interesting experience I have sworn never to repeat (I’d make another but would hire the hall)
Depending on the style of your tent you’ll run up against the same issues, needing to lay your fabric out for pinning and needing 2 or more passes to close the seams with very large panels on either side.
I’ll try and find the website we used for making the sail shelter, it was full of some very good construction advice.
I used heavy weight drill cotton for my wedge tent, used a normal machine with denim needle and extra strong cotton thread, has held up quite well even in heavy rain (no need to waterproof the canvas either, a few slight drips for the first few minutes but once the fabric wetted in it was surprisingly waterproof.
My pavillion tutorial should be here. Lmk if the link doesn’t work.
I made my own geodesic dome tent.
I used cheap(ish) cotton canvas. It was a false economy. Use rot-proofed canvas specifically made for tents.
Also incorporate a plastic mudflap. You do not want your canvas in contact with that wet grass.