Achtkant
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DIY Achtkant Train - Stage 2
Assembling the sails.
There are a number of steps with images and diagrams to help you through this process.
Please read first and ask questions later, you know the drill.
The first diagram, Fig 2, shows the positioning of the panels.
You can also see the bias of the fabric on the different panels.
 

Panel Assembly Detail.
Step One.
Start by hemming one of the long sides of your "A" panel.
I have inserted Fig 9 to show you. The seam we use is a double rolled hem. You can mark these seams out as shown on the template diagram from the introductory stage with a chalk pencil. That way it all stays nice and strait. Pre fold the fabric once at 1 cm then again at 2 cm, sew using a straight line stitch.
Note: Do not use a zigzag stitch, this will become clear later on in the process.
Stitch as close to the seams edge as possible, say 2 mm.
Do this to all 24 of the the A panels at this stage, it get's them out of the way.
Please note that some of the images have a seam diagram at the bottom for clarification.

Seam On The Longer Edge of Panel A
Step Two.
Now we can attach our first A panel to a B panel. The way to do this is to weld it together first before sewing them. This way it all stays lined up and neat. Look at the next image. If using pins is your forté, please be my guest. Be aware that some parts have more than 10 layers when completed. I say this for those of you who might be thinking of using double sided tape. Don't!, you'll regret this later.


Hot Seal The Edge Before Sewing

In the above image, Fig 8, you can see panel B underneath. Make sure you line it up as per this image.
The tops are lined up and you should have the 2cm hem allowance of panel B hanging out the bottom.
Also be aware of placing the two right sides together making sure the folded seam will end up on the back of the sail.
The seam of panel A is seen on top in Fig 8.
Proceed to sew them together along the dotted sewing line I have drawn.

Once you have this done, fold the excess seam allowance twice to create another double folded seam.
Make sure you fold the seam allowance onto panel B. This is also important.
Sew the second seam.

Note: I know you are taught to always fold light on to dark but in this case, it is the position of the seam that is important not the colour combination. In my case it works out ok, but you might have different colours.
The next image shows what you should have ended up with. The view is from the back of the kite.
 

Details Of The First Together Seam
Step Three.
Now you can proceed to sew another panel A to this. Look at Fig 12 and repeat step 2.
 

Line-Up, Heat-seal And Sew

If this step is done correctly, you should end up having it looking like the image in Fig 5 below. Again, we are looking at the back of the kite. When you look at the corner where all three panels meet, you will see that we have created a small square. This has come about by using our 2 cm hem instead of a smaller one and by using a straight stitch rather than a zigzag stitch. This tiny square is where we will be placing a small eyelet for our lines to go through, thus holding them in place. But not before sewing on a small patch of dacron. This is dealt with in the next stage.

Note: By the way, that tiny square consists of more than 10 layers of fabric. This can be tricky but necessary for strength to hold the eyelet. Having an industrial machine is a definite advantage for this bit. Can you imagine if there was also double sided tape present in between these layers? That would give even my machine the hiccups.

Looking at the small square.
Step Four.
This step is quite straight forward, just complete the previous steps until you have come full circle, or should that be full octagon?

Step Five.
To finish off this particular stage, Sew a double folded hem all around the outside edge.
Pre folding the fabric around the entire outside edge will be helpful and make this task easier.
Fig 19 shows where you should be, at the end of this stage.
 

Where you should be at.
In the next stage we will be adding the dacron reinforcing and dealing with the pockets and spars.