Fun with Vinyl

Okay so all the other materials on this website are more natural. So what? Vinyl is fun to work with. Plus have you ever been camping and popped an air mattress? Actually, it seems like they pop quite easily...in the middle of a good sleep. So then yards of this perfectly good material are added to a landfill, when it is actually recyclable (number three). Check your city's sanitation website if you have any qualms. Here's a website with facts about vinyl.

So...let's make something out of it. Then we have a useful, artistic craft (hopefully), and we can recycle all the bits we can't use. We're not supposed to recycle cloth; those scraps from sewing go into a landfill. If you still think working with vinyl is a waste of time...okay just please recycle it and know that the sewing techniques are pretty much the same for leather. So you can mess up on the popped air mattress before trying to sew an expensive piece of hide.

Sewing Vinyl on a Sewing Machine

• You cannot pin or baste vinyl, unless you don't mind the pinholes being there forever. If you want pieces to stay together while being sewn use tape or paper clips. Some people will recommend double-stick tape. I don't like it, sometimes it doesn't unstick.
• Use a non-stick presser foot. I've tried other suggestions. I like the non-stick presser foot best.
• Use a heavy duty needle. The layers of vinyl can get thick.
• Don't sew inside out. This works best with cloth. It doesn't work as well with vinyl. Basting tape can cover up the rough edges if you don't like them showing.
• Wrinkles: Keep your vinyl hung up or between heavy books for smaller pieces to prevent wrinkles in the first place. You could hang up a piece and the wrinkles will flatten out from just being hung up but it may take a couple of days. I've seen suggestions to use a hairdryer or other heat source to get rid of the wrinkles, but this releases fumes, don't do it.
• Work slowly. It isn't that difficult to rip out a seam, but the needle holes will be there for good.