Sew and finish the sail

Never used a sewing machine? A first kite can be a good way to learn, as long as you practice on scraps before working on the final sail.

The videos gathered here show several methods. They are not interchangeable without thought: assembly order, stitch types and reinforcements depend on the plan and on the builder’s choices.

You do not need a professional sewing machine to build a Revolution or another quad-line kite. First check that it makes regular seams on the materials and thicknesses you plan to use.

The most useful features are usually:

• straight stitch and three-step zigzag;
• thread tension adjustment;
• regular fabric feed;
• a foot pedal that lets you control speed comfortably.

Before starting, practice:

• threading the machine and installing the bobbin;
• setting tension on several thicknesses;
• keeping a regular speed;
• making bartacks;
• unpicking a failed seam cleanly;
• knotting thread ends when needed.

Practice on spinnaker, mesh and Dacron scraps with the same assemblies as the sail.

Before sewing:

• check the amount of thread in the spool and bobbin;
• test tension on the same thicknesses as the final seam;
• keep a few centimeters of thread and hold them when starting;
• check that the sail can move around the machine without folding or catching;
• anticipate the seam path and where you can stop;
• settle comfortably and avoid interruptions.

While sewing:

• start with a bartack when useful;
• keep a regular speed;
• check the seam progressively instead of waiting until the end;
• leave enough room to finish cleanly.

If a stitch fails:

1. Unpick back to the last correct stitch.
2. Keep the thread ends available.
3. Resume the seam with a slight overlap on the correct part.
4. Knot or secure both seam ends cleanly.

These two videos show different approaches. Compare them with the assembly order planned by your pattern before starting.

Builders usually add the mesh to the sail first, then the Dacron sleeve. Riffclown shows the reverse approach here: he prepares the whole leading edge before adding it to the sail.

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