{"id":3300,"date":"2025-04-22T15:05:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T19:05:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/?p=3300"},"modified":"2026-09-01T12:09:54","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T16:09:54","slug":"from-fabric-to-formula-quantifying-seam-durability-stat-344","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/projects\/from-fabric-to-formula-quantifying-seam-durability-stat-344\/","title":{"rendered":"From Fabric to Formula: Quantifying Seam Durability (STAT 344)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Harper<\/a>

Harper Treschuk \u201825, Varya Kluev \u201825, and Tegra Ilunga ’27 test seam durability in the FabLab. They used a Janome sewing machine, digital scale crane and C-clamps to hold the fabric.<\/p><\/div>\n

A trio of statistics students\u2014Harper Treschuk \u201825, Varya Kluev \u201825, Tegra Ilunga ’27\u2014collaborated with the Makerspace and FabLab to design an experiment that measured how stitching techniques, fabrics, and threads affect seam durability. Through a series of trials, they tested multiple factors to determine which combinations created the strongest and most reliable seams.<\/span><\/p>\n

This project was developed for Statistical Design of Experiments (STAT 344) taught by Richard D. De Veaux, Chair and C. Carlisle and Margaret Tippit Professor of Statistics. This course teaches students how to optimize outcomes by adjusting several contributing variables. The goal of this project was to measure how different sewing materials and techniques influence seam durability and to apply statistical analysis to identify which factors had the greatest effect. By combining data-driven experimentation with hands-on work, the group explored the meeting point between precision engineering and creative craftsmanship.<\/span><\/p>\n

The idea for the project began with Harper Treschuk\u201926, who wanted to merge statistical analysis with a personal connection to sewing inspired by time spent creating with their grandmother. The group saw this as a chance to transform a familiar art form into a measurable scientific experiment. Their curiosity led them to explore a question rooted in both sustainability and performance. Natural fibers are often considered more environmentally friendly, yet there was a question about whether they could withstand the same level of stress as synthetic materials. The team wanted to understand how thread, fabric, and stitching techniques interact to affect seam durability.<\/span><\/p>\n

The students identified seven factors to test, including stitch length, thread type, fabric type, and needle size. In the first phase, they tested extreme values for each continuous factor, such as very short and very long stitch lengths, to see how these variations influenced the outcome. After analyzing the initial results, they refined their approach and focused on the factors that showed the greatest impact, aiming to locate the ideal combination for maximum strength.<\/span><\/p>\n

To measure seam durability, the group used a digital scale crane from the Makerspace to apply tension to the seams until they broke. By recording the point of failure, they created a continuous variable that could be analyzed using statistical software. This approach allowed them to quantify their results and make evidence-based conclusions about material performance.<\/span><\/p>\n

The team met with David-Keiser Clark, Manager of the Makerspace and FabLab, on April 23 to plan their experiment. By April 27, they completed their first eight test runs. On May 9, all experimental runs were finished, and on May 16, they presented their final results.<\/span><\/p>\n

The experiment was carried out using the FabLab\u2019s workspace and Janome sewing machine, along with a digital scale crane and C-clamps (to secure materials during testing) from the Makerspace. The students worked with cotton and synthetic fabrics, two types of thread, and Singer needles. They used R and JMP to analyze the data. The FabLab and Makerspace provided not only the equipment and materials but also technical support and creative ideas for measuring seam strength accurately.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ensuring consistency across trials proved to be one of the biggest challenges. The team realized that reusing the same fabric samples weakened the material, which could compromise the results. To solve this, they cut identical fabric pieces for each test to maintain uniform conditions. Another difficulty was measuring tension without specialized industry equipment. Initial tests with the digital scale crane and C-clamps yielded an innovative and reliable way to apply force consistently and record results accurately.<\/span><\/p>\n

Through this experiment, the students gained a deeper understanding of how statistical principles can be applied to practical, real-world problems. They learned that data can inform design decisions and that careful experimentation can reveal valuable insights about material behavior. Beyond the numbers, the project showed the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. It blended the precision of statistical methods with the creativity of sewing, resulting in a project that connected science, sustainability, and craftsmanship.<\/span><\/p>\n

The team expresses sincere gratitude to David for his guidance, materials, and inventive testing ideas. His encouragement and expertise helped make this interdisciplinary project both achievable and rewarding.<\/span><\/p>\n

Post Script<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Our team sewed 44 pairs of fabric squares together to measure the durability of seams, and we wrote this statistical report, <\/span>Optimizing Seam Durability with Natural Fibers<\/span><\/a> (PDF), based on our findings. The runs were limited to one piece of cotton fabric and one piece of polyester fabric, so future Fab Lab enthusiasts are encouraged to generalize these findings to fabric swatches that have different weights and stitch counts. Generally, polyester fabric and polyester thread supported a stronger seam, and reinforced stitching made a major difference. The smaller effects that our group noticed were extra strength conferred from a smaller needle size (75\/11 versus 90\/14), shorter stitch length (1 mm versus 4 mm), and backstitching over the start and end of the seam to secure it. Top thread tension didn\u2019t make a big difference in the small window in which we manipulated it (1.5 to 4) but of course it\u2019s important to make sure that the top thread is not way out of balance with the bottom thread while sewing. <\/span><\/p>\n

While the goal of the final project was primarily pedagogical, designing a fractional factorial experiment to efficiently screen many factors at once, we all developed deeper ties to sewing by the end of it. Harper operated the Janome machine \u2013 she had previous experience from high school but learned a new setting, the reinforced seam type, in the quest to capture the factors that would make each seam the strongest. Varya and Tegra became experts at operating a digital scale crane, clamping the test squares to the device and measuring the maximum weight the seam could tolerate before it ripped. The experience brought Tegra down memory lane as it reminded him of his Fabric and Fashion course from secondary school.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A trio of statistics students\u2014Harper Treschuk \u201825, Varya Kluev \u201825, Tegra Ilunga ’27\u2014collaborated with the Makerspace and FabLab to design an experiment that measured how stitching techniques, fabrics, and threads affect seam durability. Through a series of trials, they tested … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2890,"featured_media":3301,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[63,69],"class_list":["post-3300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-projects","tag-fablab","tag-makerspace"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2890"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3300"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3311,"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300\/revisions\/3311"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}