quilting you say

Started working on my first quilt. 
Tons of old work shirts. Many record moments in the sites I have worked at. 
Figure I'lll make 4x6' panels and donate them to work for more decoration.

Tonight's lessons 
press it everything a few times. this was Not a corner to cut. 
Remember your outside seam allowance. Looks like this will get a boarder.

really want to get the gayglers panel  done before ATL pride so I can include the 4 shirts over the last 6 years

This was from the Moncks Corner, SC grand opening. Had a fun few years up there building the sites 

and a shot of my messy sewing room

sewing room overhaul

Dear reader (the one of you)

I recently was able to pickup 2 industrial machines from a friend

a singer 251-1 straigh stitch machine and a singer blind stitch machine

the 251-1 is somewhat limited. it does lightweight fabric with a max width of 3/8"
the blindsticth was thrown in,

I figure they are a good start to start learning industrial machines skills

this required more space so the 41 x 91" confrence / cutting table had to go.


natualrly i took the opertunity to make the cutting the table i always wanted
1 sheet of 3/4" MDF
3 9x9 cubbies
4 locking casters

its 4 square feet of bliss at a great standing height

mock up of the table

mounted 4 casters in the corners

mounted the cabinets to the base

another view

the top is mounted and its rolled to its normal place

in the end i'm happy with it and can't wait to break it in

Tis the season

Ah reader. Yes the one of you
The weather is changing
Time to think about summer wear
Bathing suits, shorts and shirts
Now to pick my first project.

Shorts!

i think some gym style shorts will go first. something comfy not too baggy but not skintight
something to wear around the house or pool

think some color blocking will be this project. mixing some material i bought a few months ago into shapes

should be entertaining using these patterns as a starting point

shopping weekend

all i can say is wow.

the singer 4210 was making me crazy an i was done.

found a computerized brother 6820 on craigslist for cheep and jumped on it

i have never used an electronic or computer controlled machine before. damn i was missing allot.
this thing doesn't even have to use the foot pedal. there is a nifty start button that can be hit by your thumb as you hold fabric. 3 speed settings to slow it way down and 50 nice stitched (I've already found my hem of choice for swimwear

i know it won't do heavy work but for light fabrics and projects i am in heaven.


did some project shopping at joanns . the husband picked up some fabric for some cargo shorts, gym shorts and some fleece pajama pants.
i picked up some fabric for the Male Pattern Boldness boxer sew along

finally got a cutting mat and some other goodies

more shorts

decided to make another pair of the crazy trunks about 10:30 tonight.
This time for my stout husband.

took my pattern and added a inch to the edges and mucked with the pattern.
cut it and stitched the shape together in about 2 hours.
had to make some pouch adjustments to work with the pattern upsizing, but i think the larger size will work.

todo: do a fitting to mark the waist
hem wiast with elastic or drawstring, hem and roll the leg holes.

woot was quick and looks like it'll be good
tried a new method for getting the pattern to line up better. wasted more fabric but i'm please with the results.

a diversion

I have had one hell of a frustrating time getting the right angles right (hah) 

so after remarking it 3x i decided i needed a break.

I decided to make my first box shorts.

quick and dirty with lazy seams and no frills.

I whipped it so fast i cut my waistband off and had to make a creative belt to make it work.

will wear this at the GayOA campground this weekend and probably make another better version for me and my husband.

now this fabric. can you believe it was only $2 a yard. i snatched up 5.5 yards just to have on hand

its a poly stretch that was more annoying the spandex

pattern was some old sport boxerbriefs

 the after. we will ignore the lazy added waistband questionable work.

and the pose

what can i say dear reader. they are slopy yet cute. will be wearing them to the pool this weekend.

was a fun project and i look forward to remaking these with time and care

xkilt marks the spot

Oh dear reader what is it about a man in a kilt.

the raw masculinity or just the hot legs who knows. In the end i just want one.
Years ago i bought a Utilikilt at folsom Street fair. wore it for the day while i was working with the bootblacks.
It didn't fit right. In the end I gave it to my ex who wore it better. I should have  learned that nice clothes don't fit me well.
To the present
I have been thinking about a kilt or three for years. some time ago i stumbled on the plans for a contemporary kilt on X Marks the Scott. This Xkilt is made with box pleats and requires about 3.5 yards of duck cloth/cotton/poly twill/ etc.

picked a green drabish duckcloth. not as heavy as i'd like but a good first try.
did something i never do on a project. washed it on hot, dried it on hot, and *gasp* ironed the fabric
well the rapture did not happen from these somewhat professional methods.

spread it out on my work table and started marking and doing the math,
arrrggg! i missed the under-apron measurement in my marking so i will have to start the marking again tomorrow.

I picked chalk pencil today that is my best friend. it reminds me of the old pre-mechanical drafting pencils

working to have this complete this week. assuming that i don't get distracted with another bathing suit