How to Stitch Coated Webbing

Although coated webbing currently holds a small share in the accessory market, its popularity is growing for waterproof outdoor products. Like other accessories such as webbing or rope, coated webbing should be processed to complement the design of the final product. Common connection methods for coated webbing include stitching, riveting, and melting, with stitching being the most prevalent due to its wide application in various industries like apparel, home textiles, footwear, and bags. However, even though stitching is not a novel technique, there are several considerations when stitching coated webbing.

1. Material

Coated webbing is typically made from nylon or polyester webbing with an outer layer of plastic. While nylon or polyester webbing is easy to sew, the addition of a plastic layer requires attention to the type of plastic used. Different plastics have varying properties and hardness levels. There are three common materials for the coating layer: PVC, TPU, and silicone. Generally, PVC and silicone coated webbing are softer, while TPU webbing is harder, making it more challenging to stitch.

Moreover, the hardness of the plastic material is significant. For instance, PVC coated webbing at a hardness of 50A is softer and easier to sew than that at 90A.

2. Thickness

The thickness of the webbing significantly impacts the stitching process. Regardless of the coating, thicker nylon webbing is more difficult to stitch than thinner webbing. For PVC or silicone coated webbing, a thickness of 2.5 mm can be easily stitched, but for TPU coated webbing, a thickness of 1 mm is more suitable for stitching, as 2.5 mm is too rigid.

3. Needles

Due to the plastic layer, coated webbing lacks the small gaps found on the surface of woven webbing, making it denser. Therefore, when stitching coated webbing, it is important to consider the type of needles and sewing machine. Those designed for fabric sewing are not suitable for coated webbing. It is generally recommended to use needles and sewing machines intended for leather, as coated webbing shares similarities with leather straps in terms of hardness and thickness, and some even have surfaces akin to leather straps.