Ripstop nylon fabric is a lightweight, durable textile. It handles a variety of applications and has water repellent properties. Ripstop nylon is a woven fabric. During the weaving process, thicker threads become interwoven to reinforce the weave in a crosshatch pattern.
This weave technique creates a binding property that allows the ripstop nylon to be strong and long lasting. Ripstop fabrics come in a variety of fibers like cotton, silk and polyester, however ripstop nylon has replaced some of these fibers in different applications, such as the use of parachute fabrics for the military.
Ripstop nylon comes in various weights and thicknesses depending on the application or use. It is excellent at repelling water but can also come in flame retardant or zero porosity varieties as well. All in all, it is an extremely versatile fabric that can withstand and outlast the various tests of time and wear.
Why is it Called Ripstop Nylon?
Ripstop nylon garners its name from a special weave pattern and reinforced threads. Nylon starts as a fiber that’s eventually spun into various threads. These threads vary in size.
Their thread size determines their tensile strength. The thicker the thread, the more durable it becomes. A ripstop weave become woven by using variably sized threads in a crosshatch pattern.
A crosshatch pattern is interlocking. This means that the threads weave over and under one another, locking them into place when tightened. In older ripstop nylon fabrics, you can view the weave pretty clearly. With the technology that’s advanced textiles since nylon’s inception, this is harder to see with the naked eye.
Since the threads interlocking within the weave are variably sized, this helps with ripstop nylons overall strength and long lasting properties. A ripstop nylon’s fabric structure holds up where other natural fabrics can’t.
The ripstop style isn’t exclusive to just nylon. While nylon is typically used for the ripstop style, polyester is another synthetic fiber that lends itself to the ripstop style. These fibers become stronger and fantastic for many uses because of the ripstop process.
Ripstop Nylon Fibers: Their Origin
Synthetic fabrics like ripstop nylon were first created by man and weren’t found in natural fibers like cotton. The invention of nylon fabric is rightly attributed to scientists at the DuPont Company. In the late 1930s, these scientists used petrochemicals to attempt to enhance rubber on tires and manufactured nylon fibers instead.
From there, it’s properties boasted so many uses. Initially, nylon was only used for various military applications, but the civilian commercial market had many opportunities for its use. One of the first major commercial items created from ripstop nylon fabric were stockings.
Stockings were initially marketed at the World’s Fair in New York City. They claimed to be the less expensive alternative to silk, with a firm durability that would withstand multiple washings. Naturally, this major advancement caused many companies to invest in the fiber for many different products and applications.
While nylon’s debut aligned to the unfortunate beginning of World War II, once the war ended, nylon was still on top. Nylon stockings were selling out of stores after the war as women bought them in droves.
Nylon began to slip itself into the everyday garment. From socks to sweater sets, nylon fibers were expertly woven into clothing for all.
From there, ripstop nylon fabric and other styles of nylon became manufactured as needs were met. Adventure equipment, athletic gear and travel bags made from so many various forms of nylon landed on the market for all to buy.
Nylon fabric became purchasable too. You could go to your local craft store to find your favorite nylon style for any project you were working on.
Learn how to sew ripstop nylon fabric even when you don’t have expert sewing abilities. Ripstop nylon’s properties make the fabric impossible to sew. So use it in various applications and projects of your choosing. Some tips for sewing ripstop nylon fabric are:
Think of your needle. Round, ballpoint needles don’t handle this lightweight fabric well, and the best style of needle to use when sewing ripstop nylon is a sharp, pointed needle. Use a universal, size 70/10 needle when sewing ripstop nylon.
How slippery is your fabric? Ripstop nylon is durable and sometimes slippery to the touch because it handles well against water. Consider using a roller presser foot to eliminate your fabric from getting stuck within your machine.
Check your stitches! If you’ve set your machine to make very small stitches, you may run the risk of faster wear and tear to the ripstop nylon. Set your machine to produce no more than eleven stitches per inch to ensure durability.
Be mindful on your thread type. Typically, the style or fiber of the thread will match what you’re working on, and ripstop nylon is ideally paired with a thicker nylon or polyester thread. This helps keep your project uniform and reinforces your fabric with ease. Working with other threads that aren’t matching your fabric may result in botched projects.
Never use cotton thread to sew ripstop nylon. Instead, utilize a commercial quality, 100 percent nylon or 100 percent polyester thread. Polyester is a little softer than nylon. The diameter and weight of the thread depends on what you are sewing. The 2 standard thread sizing systems you are likely to encounter are called “denier” and “tex.” Tex details the weight of 1,000 meters of thread (in grams). Denier details and defines the weight of 9,000 meters (9,843 yards) of thread instead. Kite-makers use thread that is 300 denier, or about 33 tex. Use about eight stitches per inch when you sew ripstop nylon
Sewing ripstop nylon fabric doesn’t have to be difficult or cumbersome, and it’ll result in very interesting projects and applications. Learning these simple tips help you to your end result in less time than expected. Practice makes perfect!
Learning how to sew ripstop nylon fabric. The fabric comes with minor challenges, but easily overcome them with a few tricks:
Use sharp scissors or a rotary fabric cutter to reduce fraying of the nylon. Nylon tends to fray when cut to size for your project.
Keep the fabric tight by pulling the fabric on both sides of the needle instead of trying to pull the fabric through. Never pin ripstop nylon. Use a glue stick instead and to easily fasten the seams instead.
Don’t be afraid to burn your edges or seams for a sturdy seal. Always exercise extreme caution when attempting this technique.
Practice your stitch! Zigzag stitches help keep your seams from breaking when a stretch to the fabric occurs.
Want to keep your fabric in place? Consider using double sided tape versus straight pins to keep your fabric from slipping as you sew.
Sewing ripstop nylon will only become as tricky as you allow it to be. Once you’ve practiced different sewing techniques, you’ll be sewing quickly through your projects!
How To Sew Ripstop Nylon Fabric: Projects
Use ripstop nylon easily in a number of commercial or personal ways. It will render some truly amazing finished products! Some projects that work on involving ripstop nylon fabric are:
Kites: Kites fly best with this lightweight fabric. It’s easily flown under different circ*mstances, as the fabric’s weave will allow it to hold up against the elements.
Sails: Since ripstop nylon is repellent to water and certain fabric styles protect against UV rays, putting this fabric to the test of the seas is done with ease.
Jackets: This light, easily foldable fabric keeps you safe against different kinds of weather and stands against the toughest downpours.
Parachutes: Different ripstop nylon fabric styles stretch and allow air to pass through easily for parachute applications.
Banners/Flags: Since ripstop nylon fibers are incredibly strong but light, it’s readily hoist-able and waves well in the wind.
Whatever your use, ripstop nylon fabric’s unique properties are usable for every one of your needs!
Canvas Etc. – Your Source for Ripstop Nylon Fabric
Learning how to sew ripstop nylon fabric doesn’t have to be a chore. At Canvas Etc., we proudly carry a variety of ripstop nylon fabrics and many denier nylon based fabrics for our commercial and crafting customers.
We also carry the thread you’ll use for your sewing projects when sewing with ripstop nylon fabric. Whatever the necessity for your current or future projects, we’ll help you find the optimal tools for your trade.
Our experts try to always have the right textile for whatever project or application you’re working on. Contact us today if you have any questions or would like more information on any of our products.
As a general rule, synthetic fabrics work best with synthetic threads. Thus, for synthetic ripstop, the best thread is 100% polyester or 100% nylon thread. Use the same thread in the bobbin as in the top thread, and match the color to the color of the ripstop.
Round, ballpoint needles don't handle this lightweight fabric well, and the best style of needle to use when sewing ripstop nylon is a sharp, pointed needle. Use a universal, size 70/10 needle when sewing ripstop nylon.
Stitching in a straight line. Notes: Should be adjusted by thread tension and stitch length. Stitches should be flat, but tight against the fabric. Approximately 8 stitches per inch is average.
Polyester is a less breathable fabric than nylon, making it better suited for use in cooler weather. Nylon Ripstop is more costly, but it feels softer and more elastic. Polyester ripstop is both more durable and less expensive. Polyester Ripstop is more heat resistant than nylon.
The right side of the fabric or 'face' is the side that faces out on your gear. The wrong side is also the 'back' of the fabric, the side that will be on the inside of your gear. Most of the Dyneema Cuben Fiber variants do not have a right and wrong side because the Dyneema fibers are laminated with plastic.
Using a heat-resistant surface like a glass cutting board, just run the heated point along the fabric edge and a tiny bead of melted synthetic forms, making it ravel resistant. Another way to prevent raveling is to “candle” the fabric.
If you are sewing by hand, then the best hand stitch is the backstitch. Using a double thread (this means the two ends of the thread are knotted together) sew one stitch.
Ripstop is ideal for tactical use—especially in situations where a tear develops while the wearer has no way to change clothes. It is also a great choice for backpacks, sports clothing, and some kinds of luggage. Ripstop is a strong durable fabric that is surprisingly light in weight and smooth.
Garments made with these synthetic fibers won't likely shrink very easily. "Fibers such as polyester and nylon do not shrink due to some inherent properties such as being 'thermoplastic,' which means that it generally won't wrinkle or shrink," Cormier said.
The simplest way to apply heat and pressure is to press the fabric with an iron until the TPU layers fuse together, and then continue to press with a rag or a silicone roller for several seconds after removing the iron to ensure that the fabric layers don't move apart as they cool.
What Are the Various Types of Nylon? The various types of nylon are nylon 1,6; nylon 4,6; nylon 510; nylon 6; and nylon 6,6. Nylons can be synthesized from dinitriles using acid catalysis. For example, this method is applicable for preparing nylon 1,6 from adiponitrile, formaldehyde, and water.
When talking materials commonly used for tents, Dyneema will offer the best strength to weight - and likely the highest cost. Dyneema is incredibly strong for it's weight and the tent material is basically a ripstop pattern of dyneema fibers sandwiched between mylar film layers.
Robic — Robic, or Robic nylon, is a proprietary formulation of nylon that is stronger than normal nylon 6. Specifically, it has higher tenacity, more abrasion resistance, and more tear resistance. Robic is also a good sign of high quality fabric, though it weighs a little bit more than technical fabrics like Dyneema.
Ripstop/Foil is made by taking 320 gsm Ripstop Canvas and laminating a metalised polyester to the one side. The foil (metalised polyester) reflects sunlight away from the underside of the material and can make a difference in temperature of up to 10 degrees Celsius. This material is waterproof.
It's free of lead, phthalates, BPS or brominates and is FDA GRAS compliant for contact with foods. Right or wrong side? : One side has more texture than the other but both are quite similar. There is no functional difference when using either side of the fabric.
The zigzag stitch is another way to finish raw edges and prevent the fabric from fraying. To use this method, simply set your sewing machine to a zigzag stitch and sew along the edge of the fabric. Then, trim away any excess fabric. The zigzags will help to secure the fabric and prevent it from fraying.
One of the most complicated stitches, chain stitch is great for outlining, as well as framing around a specific pattern or design. Firstly, the needle is pulled through the fabric then brought down beside where it was first brought up.
A backstitch is one of the strongest hand sewing stitches. The backstitch gets its name because the needle goes into the fabric behind the previous stitch. On the contrary, with a running stitch, the needle simply passes through the fabric an even distance in front of the previous stitch.
Backstitch is the strongest stitch that you can sew by hand. This makes it one of the top stitches that you should learn how to work for your own sewing projects. ⭐ Backstitch is a variation of a straight stitch.
One other very important structural characteristic of ripstop is the thing that allows it to stop rips. That thing is its yarn thickness (which also happens to correlate with weave technique). In a ripstop fabric, thicker yarn is placed at intervals of 5 mm to 8mm (or 0.2 to 0.3 inches).
Conclusion: In conclusion, nylon ripstop is a durable and water-resistant fabric that is commonly used in outdoor gear and clothing. While ripstop fabric is not entirely waterproof, it does have some water-resistant qualities that make it a great choice for gear that may be exposed to wet or damp conditions.
If you're looking to sew nylon on a sewing machine, there are a few things you'll need to keep in mind. Nylon is a slippery fabric, so it can be tricky to work with. You'll need to use a walking foot attachment on your sewing machine, which will help to feed the fabric through evenly.
When sewing canvas you can just use your regular sewing machine if it is just an occasional occurrence. If you want to sew this fabric regularly then you should purchase a heavy-duty domestic machine with a metal interior or alternatively a professional machine.
Nylon. When ironing nylon, use the lowest temperature setting on the iron and place a press cloth, such as a clean cotton handkerchief or fabric scrap, between the iron and the fabric. If necessary, convert to the “Steamer” function to gently remove wrinkles from nylon.
In clothing, these fabrics help repel water and mildew, and they also don't tear easily. These properties also make them beneficial to medical applications.
How to dry nylon fabrics? If the garment can be put in the tumble dryer, then use a low temperature setting when drying the garment. Unlike some other fabric types, nylon does not shrink in the dryer.
Launder your ripstop nylon item in the washing machine, using cold water and the cycle recommended on the tag. If you have an item that will not fit into the washer, such as a kite or a suitcase, put the item into a bathtub with cold water or use the garden hose.
Application: Thoroughly clean the surface using a brush, do not use detergent or soap. The surface must be clean and dry before application. Apply NuSeal evenly with a soft paint brush or spray-gun. Seams and worn patches will require extra NuSeal.
Nylon Temperature – 275 degrees. This may seem like a low temperature for HTV, but with the sensitivity of nylon always start low and increase if necessary. Nylon Press Time – use three 5-second presses, allowing the nylon and vinyl to cool between presses.
Ripstop canvas is a type of woven fabric that is characterized by its strong, durable threads and resistance to tearing. The fabric is often used for making tents, sails, and other outdoor gear. It can also be used for things like upholstery and bags.
Ripstop fabrics are woven fabrics, often made of nylon, using a reinforcing technique that makes them more resistant to tearing and ripping. During weaving, stronger (and often thicker) reinforcement yarns are interwoven at regular intervals in a crosshatch pattern.
The Rip-Stop weave gives a high tear strength resulting in good durability and resistance to damage. Please note, canvas can shrink by up to 3% due to weathering.
If you're looking to sew nylon on a sewing machine, there are a few things you'll need to keep in mind. Nylon is a slippery fabric, so it can be tricky to work with. You'll need to use a walking foot attachment on your sewing machine, which will help to feed the fabric through evenly.
If you are sewing multiple layers of nylon material you'll want to use a semi-industrial or industrial sewing machine. More specifically, a walking foot portable industrial sewing machine.
It is important to use a sharp, pointed needle when sewing ripstop nylon; otherwise, the fabric can tear easily. To ensure accurate stitching and less chance of tearing, choose the right size 70/10 needle for your fabric – it should be slightly wider than the thread you are using.
Ripstop/Foil is made by taking 320 gsm Ripstop Canvas and laminating a metalised polyester to the one side. The foil (metalised polyester) reflects sunlight away from the underside of the material and can make a difference in temperature of up to 10 degrees Celsius. This material is waterproof.
Backstitch. If I had to pick just one stitch to show everyone, it would be backstitch. This is probably the most useful and strongest hand stitch I know. It's perfect for repairs, since it's easy to match the look of machine stitching.
After the war, because of nylon and silk shortages, nylon parachute material was sometimes repurposed to make dresses. Nowadays, nylon fabric is used for shirts, foundation garments, lingerie, raincoats, swimwear, underwear, and cycling wear.
Nylon is a synthetic fabric that is strong and lightweight. It is usually easy to wash and take care of, but it can be damaged if you do not use the right techniques. Nylon fabric is commonly found in pantyhose, some tights, track pants, lightweight jackets, umbrellas, and more.
Using a heat-resistant surface like a glass cutting board, just run the heated point along the fabric edge and a tiny bead of melted synthetic forms, making it ravel resistant. Another way to prevent raveling is to “candle” the fabric.
Introduction: My name is Melvina Ondricka, I am a helpful, fancy, friendly, innocent, outstanding, courageous, thoughtful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
