Skin on frame seam
From KayakWiki
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- This page discusses seams as a means of closing kayak skins. For other uses of the term see Seam (disambiguation page).
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In SOF construction, the seam is usually the central seam on the deck where the cloth is joined to close the deck. In Building The Greenland Kayak, Cunningham recommends sewing the seam along one gunwale.
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This photo shows a piped seam. This is a method advocated by Morris. A light line, such as 3mm (1/8") double braided nylon cord, is used to reinforce the edge of the fabric where the seam is formed. The edge of the fabric is folded under and wrapped around the cord. This creates a piped edge†. The seam is then sewn with the wrapped cords butted together and the needles passing entirely under the pipes as shown here. This both protects the stitching from abrasion and closes the seam with a good seal. An alternative is to sew around the encapsulated cord. The cord will carry the stress of the stitching and distribute it better than if the thread was stitched through just the folded fabric. |
† This is not a piped seam as most seamstresses would call it. A true piped seam is one where a pipe is made by wrapping a separate piece of fabric, usually in a contrasting colour, around a cord. That is then sewn into a seam so that it stands proud.
