Cover for 14ft yurt
One of the toughest sewing challenges I had to face: recovering a 10 year old yurt, who’s old cover had disintegrated over time. Challenge lay in timing and weather conditions: as it is a Airbnb. Client had given me less then 48 hours to make this cover, in-between guest. There was no electricity in the yurt so sewing machine was stationed in separate building few hundred meters away up the hill, this is significant because to account for time walking between yurt and sewing machine. In addition I was asked to make exact same copy of the previous yurt cover.
Making process
As the timing was of an essence, it was important to plan. Weather was changing from sunny in the early mornings to rainy and windy evenings, when it was impossible to work outdoors (doing measuring and fittings), but easy to get pattern-cutting and all sewing done.
First sewing machine was set up. Measurements done, starting with most complicated part of a yurt cover: roof. Making roof is most time consuming as it is necessary to fit every pattern piece, every time one is sewn onto the next one. This means measuring every pattern piece and it relation to others while placed on to the yurt and working out placement of the sewing lines, very similar to what is dress fitting for talored clothing.
Secondly, when weather turned and it was impossible to work outdoors, it was time for most time consuming job: making of a crenelation band. It is a lower part of the roof ( a sequence of a tunnels, which holds tightened band). This part holds roof stretched around the wall so wind does not get under the fabric and lift it off.
Lastly one of the complex parts for the yurt is star cap, in the middle of it is a clear round PVC window sewn in star-shape where ends are roped down to hold it in place. Roof cover with crenelation band and star cap are intricate to make as the have multiple patter pieces wich need to be adjusted for perfect fit.
Other parts of the yurt cover are walls, the biggest part but easiest to sew because essentially it is a large rectangular piece. And cummerbund, which is not seen from the outside but important part as it a one-piece band which goes around the yurt where roof and wall wooden structure meets holding them in place and in circular shape.
The yurt cover is finalised with the roping, securing it to the platform