![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on August 25, 2006, at 1:44:16
As many of you know, I have a New Toy -- I mean, Tool... And today I finally felt well enough to take it out and run it through some of its paces.
It's lovely, and suddenly I can sew better than ever before. Just truly wonderful.
First project is a new apron. My husband has complained that the apron we have now is not manly enough. It's got brightly colored polka dots on a white background, with white eyelet ruffles around the edges. So, I'm making him a new apron. It's blue. Of course, it's light blue, and it has little kittens rolling around with balls of yarn on it -- but it is undeniably blue. ;-D
This machine is just amazing -- all the dials go up to eleven, and everything! OK, so that part isn't true, but it really and truly does sew sideways. And it has a button that cuts the thread at the end of a seam. And a knee lift lever. And all sorts of things.
And it sews SIDEWAYS! It makes the little boxes for bound buttonholes at the touch of a button. (Of course, I use those boxes for hand buttonholes, but they're always the hardest part of the buttonholes for me, so I'm thrilled by that feature.)
So, I'm very happy, and thrilled, and now all I want is to sew some more. Only, of course, I'm afraid of not doing it well enough, but at least this is just an apron. With incredibly cute fabric.
Next maybe is a dress, out of red bandana-print fabric. Or maybe it's a skirt, out of embroidered black linen/rayon blend. Or perhaps a new top, with princess seams and the side fronts on the bias...
Or maybe it's time to start a new quilt...
Posted by wildcardII on August 25, 2006, at 6:02:50
In reply to I'm wriggling with excitement!, posted by Racer on August 25, 2006, at 1:44:16
i swear i have a dirty mind..lol
seriously though, that's great!!
Posted by crazy teresa on August 25, 2006, at 7:46:30
In reply to I'm wriggling with excitement!, posted by Racer on August 25, 2006, at 1:44:16
How fun! I'm jealous! It's so gratifying to sew, isn't it? eBay has great deals on fabric, especially crabdaddylonglegs.
Posted by curtm on August 25, 2006, at 10:08:41
In reply to I'm wriggling with excitement!, posted by Racer on August 25, 2006, at 1:44:16
I was reading the first line of your post and my mind fell way in the gutter. Sorry
((((((Racer))))))
~~~~wiggles~~~~
Posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2006, at 10:19:22
In reply to BaD CuRt, BaD, sHaMe On YoU » Racer, posted by curtm on August 25, 2006, at 10:08:41
Oh curtm I'm as bad as you!!!!!!Love Phillipa
Posted by wildcardII on August 25, 2006, at 11:03:04
In reply to BaD CuRt, BaD, sHaMe On YoU » Racer, posted by curtm on August 25, 2006, at 10:08:41
GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE ;o)
Posted by llrrrpp on August 25, 2006, at 12:07:42
In reply to MINE TOO...READ MY POST LOL » curtm, posted by wildcardII on August 25, 2006, at 11:03:04
Racer!
Fantastic. I haven't been up to date on sewing technology . I don't have a sewing buddy right now. In hs I had several.I think it's fantastic. I've never made bound buttonholes. Are they like mini double welted pockets? I avoid all hand sewing like a plague, as I do ironing.
If a machine can be invented that will press the seam as I sew it, and do all the steam shaping and everything. Well... I'm in.
I'm so jealous. Wish I lived nearby so that I could take a few lessons with you.
will the new apron have a manly carpenter loop on the right hip? Will the new apron have pockets? ruffles?
For GOD's SAKE, don't do hong-kong finishes on the apron. It shouldn't even have seams, probably.
One apron design that might appeal to the dirty minds on the social board includes a transparent pvc panel that runs down the front of the apron. Perfect for those erotic cooking evenings, and easy clean-up after any activity.
lol
-ll
Posted by Tabitha on August 25, 2006, at 12:13:08
In reply to I'm wriggling with excitement!, posted by Racer on August 25, 2006, at 1:44:16
That's great Racer. I'm glad you're happy, and props to you for using the word "wriggling" in a post topic.
I read some good sewing & craft blogs, maybe you'd like them:
http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/
Posted by curtm on August 25, 2006, at 12:18:36
In reply to Racer- I know what you're talking about!, posted by llrrrpp on August 25, 2006, at 12:07:42
Actually I think I would like sewing, particularly quilts. I have an awesome idea for it. If I had good equipment, a place to do it, and better meds, I would make a hobby of it. Want to hear about my idea?
It involves taking a picture and turning it into basically a pixeled picture and sewing fabric of each color onto the quilt to make the pixeled picture. (sort of like Bob's picture was. The colors must match exactly to blend. Then seen from a distance, it would look like a smooth picture. It should only take about 75 years to make ONE!
Posted by Racer on August 25, 2006, at 12:31:09
In reply to Re: Racer- I know what you're talking about!, posted by curtm on August 25, 2006, at 12:18:36
> Actually I think I would like sewing, particularly quilts.
You know, I think you're probably right. I think you probably would like sewing, and quilting. You seem to have that sort of mind -- kinda intuitive, curious, and focussed.
>
> It involves taking a picture and turning it into basically a pixeled picture and sewing fabric of each color onto the quilt to make the pixeled picture. (sort of like Bob's picture was. The colors must match exactly to blend. Then seen from a distance, it would look like a smooth picture. It should only take about 75 years to make ONE!That's actually a specific technique that a couple of art quilters have done. (I'm not an art quilter -- I'm a "we need something to cover the bed with" quilter.) I don't know what to suggest googling, but there are some great pictures out there of that sort of art quilt.
Maybe you should start trying...
Posted by Racer on August 25, 2006, at 12:46:42
In reply to Racer- I know what you're talking about!, posted by llrrrpp on August 25, 2006, at 12:07:42
>
> I think it's fantastic. I've never made bound buttonholes. Are they like mini double welted pockets? I avoid all hand sewing like a plague, as I do ironing.Yeah, bound buttonholes look like mini-double welt pockets. I like 'em, but they are hard to make neatly. There's also something called a "Spanish Snap" buttonhole, which is similar, but leaves only a little edging around the buttonhole. Kinda like a faced buttonhole... I like those for just a hint of contrasting color.
And hand sewing isn't really that bad. It's an acquired taste, maybe, but once you get into it, it's not bad at all. I took a class, many, many years ago, in hand stitches. That made it kinda fun for me, and learning about the joys of beeswaxing thread made all the difference in the world! Much more pleasant to stitch with waxed thread...
>
> will the new apron have a manly carpenter loop on the right hip? Will the new apron have pockets? ruffles?No loops, but it does have ruffles and pockets. My husband is impressed. Not, I think, exactly what he had in mind, but at least it's not as loud as the one he's been wearing...
>
> For GOD's SAKE, don't do hong-kong finishes on the apron. It shouldn't even have seams, probably.LoL! No worries, nary a seam finish in sight. Other than narrow hems -- a dream with the overcasting foot -- the only seams on this are enclosed, so it's easy as pie. And it looks lovely. I used the blanket stitch to attach the waistband to the bib, so it looks as though I did a lovely hand stitch along that seam, but it was really me with my foot pedal going, cackling with maniacal glee!
Here's a picture of the pattern I used: http://simplicity.com/assets/4987/4987.jpg I made the one shown on the big picture, although on this one I didn't put ruffles around the skirt, and on the polka dotted one I didn't put ruffles on the inside neckline. But they're both cute, and the one I just finished is just cute as can be!
Lemme just tell y'all -- I love this machine! It is so very great! WHOOHOO! Makes me look like a brilliant seamstress!
Posted by llrrrpp on August 25, 2006, at 12:50:26
In reply to You'd be surprised... » curtm, posted by Racer on August 25, 2006, at 12:31:09
I think you could do it too, curt. The sewing technique is fairly straightforward. You'd be sewing tiny squares into long rows, and then sewing long rows together to form the main field of quilt. The key is to keep the tiny squares organized so that you sew the rows and field in the right order.
There are computer programs for turning photographs into the pixilated pictures. I'll leave it to your ingenuity to look one up. And if the photographs are of cloth samples, or scanned cloth samples, you could really come up with something cool. It would take a lot of hues and shades of fabric. And a lot of effort to purchase, catalog, and scan all the samples. Personally, I might go completely bonkers with this kind of work, but YOU- yes, you've got the right attitude. Better get doped on coffee though, I estimate it to take at least 100 hours.
Better make it a photograph that has special meaning to you :) so that you don't give up at the point where you've already bought all the stuff, and have put in a lot of the effort of cutting and organizing squares. This is where I usually bail.
-ll
Posted by curtm on August 25, 2006, at 13:12:05
In reply to Re: You'd be surprised... » Racer, posted by llrrrpp on August 25, 2006, at 12:50:26
If I did it, I would do pictures of Harley Davidson motorcycles (which I don't really care for) and sell them at the Sturgis motorcycle rally for about $500 at least.
Posted by llrrrpp on August 25, 2006, at 13:19:46
In reply to Re: You'd be surprised... » llrrrpp, posted by curtm on August 25, 2006, at 13:12:05
Oh yeah:
Announcement on the radio-
Y'all be sure to check out Curt's Quilting Corner. Special Deals for the Harley folks!
Col. Panic is calling. gotta go!
-ll
Posted by wildcardII on August 25, 2006, at 13:36:53
In reply to I'm wriggling with excitement!, posted by Racer on August 25, 2006, at 1:44:16
anytime i see handmade quilts, rugs, clothing etc. at flea markets or stands on the side of the road i always buy something and pay decent money b/c it's so hard to find things that an individual puts not only their time into but their passion...i think it's great you enjoy something so much!
Posted by NikkiT2 on August 25, 2006, at 15:04:32
In reply to LOL! No Hong Kong finishes on it! » llrrrpp, posted by Racer on August 25, 2006, at 12:46:42
Not only have I never used a sewing machine..
I don't even own an apron *ashamed look*
N x
Posted by Racer on August 25, 2006, at 16:48:54
In reply to You're so gown up!!, posted by NikkiT2 on August 25, 2006, at 15:04:32
> Not only have I never used a sewing machine..
>
> I don't even own an apron *ashamed look*
>
> N xThat only means you don't know how to sew, and you haven't learned the dress up potential of aprons...
Whoops! Never mind...
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.