Canvas Bikini Top

[ocdbeetle]

OK - had some lightweight Canvas taking up some room.....got a little sunburned picking up the babes from school, so made my version of a bikini top...

Sewed in two sleeves that hold two steel rods (5/16).....The front of the rod slides in the windshield hold down receptacle....The back of the rod it "pocketed" where it meets the roll bar....

Velcro soft part sewn to the canvas......Velcro bristle part w/self stick applied to the roll bar..
So far at 50 MPH the Velcro doesnt even begin to get disturbed....
The canvas is restricted from too much billowing by the steel rods......The rods can be removed from the canvas to roll everything up.....

Typical bestop windshield channel.....2 pieces of flat thin aluminum sewn in the front of the canvas to fit into the channel....

Probably not the best material....would rather have sunbrella....but, the canvas was free and now I have a pattern so I won't mess up the expensive stuff.....

 

[Muir]

Nice job on the top. I have been thinking up a similar project. I really like the support rods you put in. Super clean looking rig as well. Great job.

 

[jtoro]

BEEEEEAUTIFUL

Could you please post a pic looking backwards so we can see how the canvas is held against the roll bar?

 

[Isaacjohnstar]

Wow nice job! That complements your cruiser beautifully.

 

[ocdbeetle]

Thanks....

I'll get some pics of the roll bar attachment for you jtoro.....
For now I'll tell you its just 3/4 velcro sewn to the rollbar end of the canvas....Then wrapped under the bar and attached to the bristle part of the velcro which sticks great to the rollbar....The part attached to the roll bar is a 2 inch wide strip to allow tightening up if needed....

It amazes me how well it works....
I havent seen anything like it before but thought It would work nice sliding the rods in the windshield hold downs.....
I think I'm going to make some soft half doors that match.....

 

[JohnnyC]

very clean looking...nice job

 

[3jvj]

What do you charge?

Seriously though; great work. Looks a steb above stretched out hack work.

Did you use a standard sewing machine? What did you use for needle and thread?

No chance you snapped some pics of the process is there?

Thanks.

 

[ocdbeetle]

What do you charge?

Seriously though; great work. Looks a steb above stretched out hack work.

Did you use a standard sewing machine? What did you use for needle and thread?

No chance you snapped some pics of the process is there?

Thanks.

well......It was a major trial and error thing.....

I first googled sewing canvas on your home sewing machine.....everything I read said "don't do it, It'll break your machine"......

So, I decided to try it since I had the canvas, and the $100 wally world sewing machine......

Size 16 Needle

Polyester industrial Thread from the Fabric store.....(asked for the toughest thread)

Needle size, "foot" pressure and speed were very important to dial in.....

Toughest part was sewing 4 layers of the canvas when I was making different hems.....had to go fast enough to keep it flowing but not too fast....have to pull the material just right because the feed foot doesnt want to push the thick material through....

Keep in mind this was the bottom of the line sewing machine from the mart....

I didnt get pics first time but I'm making one for someone on mud so I'll document it for those who want to try their hand at it....The pattern is the golden part of this......That was where I had to do the most trial and error......seems easy until you try it once....

 

[JohnnyC]

You can pick up an old singer 400 series on craigslist for dirt cheap...they are a great machine...and old singers from the 50's were quite good...basiclly a step down from industrial.

I havent had mine out in quite sometime...but...i believe it was a singer 401a? i got it for free on craigslist...alil oiling and good to go...came with the wood desk also

 

[3jvj]

Awesome.

You didn't mention a busted machine or busted needles so I assume that means four layers is doable on the hemiline then.

Good to know.

Thank you.

 

[ocdbeetle]

yeah...It worked okay....I did break one needle tip until I got myself dialed in but after that it was smooth sailing......Machine was maxed out but did what I needed for this......I am looking for a beefier Craigslist model though like JohnnyC suggests....

 

[JohnnyC]

....I am looking for a beefier Craigslist model though like JohnnyC suggests....

some older machines 50-60's actually had toyota electric sewing motors and mechanics inside

if you take it apart and look around and see the toyoda spinning and weaving stamp its a toyota

 

[fieldsken1]

kool i like it looks good

 

[ocdbeetle]

So here's the black bikini......

 

[destin]

Looks great man!

I would would buy one from you!
( assuming it would fit in the factory front window channel and OEM bows )

If your interested in making one like that i would happily buy it

Again, looks sharp man!

So here's the black bikini......

 

[MDTyree]

Looks like you could make you a little money on the side with those. Nice looking tops.

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

Looks like you could make you a little money on the side with those. Nice looking tops.

X2! I really like the strapped version you posted on your other thread. I would be interested in purchasing one. I have to score the windshield channel, but I'd sure rather support a great fellow mudder than send my had earned $$ to SOR. Would you need to treat the canvas with some kind of waterproofing product?? Anway, let us know if you decide to produce a few for sale.

Ed

 

[Sputnik40]

X 3. I prefer canvas - but just forked over $120 to order a SOR family bikini. Canvas looks better, if you had a business up and running I'd have bought one from you . Support rods are a nice touch - you've come a long way with that 40 in a short time - looking good.

 

[piecemeal]

how much??

 

[Bill McC]

Beautiful FJ sir. I hope to get mine to that condition too someday. How are your soft doors?