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Posted by Karstens Rage on January 3, 2006, 10:46 pm
I really want to learn to sew. Im a cyclist and I would love to be able
to sew my own shorts and jackets and maybe even jersey's. My wife has a
sewing machine but I gather I need a serger to do the fancy stuff.
What I'm wondering is what is a reasonable project to start with and try
and how do I go about learning this stuff.
I have already sewn an ultralight wallet but it was more a feat of
getting the 1/2" grosgrain webbing to fold and sew through it and the
ultralight fabric. I thought I'd have a chance to make another one but
the original is still holding strong even through daily use (kinda
surprised me). I have also sewn a silk sleeping sack but that was just
LONG straight (if you squint) seams and a few folds to make a place for
my "pillow" and an outlet for my feet in case I get overheated (I sleep
very warm).
Sleeves and zippers and pockets, etc. baffle me. How can I learn? One
person suggested that I take an existing jacket that I have and put
webbed gussets in the pits for ventilation (the jacket would be really
nice if it had that) but I'm not even sure how to begin to approach
that. Is there a good book? Most of the books I looked at in the library
assume way more than I know. Even studying the pictures I couldn't
figure out how in the world they were doing half the stuff they were doing.
Any suggestions?
k
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Posted by Veloise on January 3, 2006, 11:33 pm
Karstens Rage wrote:
> I really want to learn to sew. Im a cyclist and I would love to be able
> to sew my own shorts and jackets and maybe even jerseys.
Nope, no interest in cycling on this NG. :)
> My wife has a sewing machine but I gather I need a serger to do the fancy
stuff.
Helps a lot, otherwise it's seam finishing treatments for hours when
you could be out riding.
> What I'm wondering is what is a reasonable project to start with and try
> and how do I go about learning this stuff.
How about helmet-mount ear warmers? Triangle pieces of polarfleece cut
to size. Add velcro straps. Easy, satisfying, useful, and cheap (no
$50/yd gore-tex to practice on).
Or add rear pockets to your not-favorite T-shirt, for practice, and
when you get good at it add them to your favorite T-shirts.
...
> Sleeves and zippers and pockets, etc. baffle me. How can I learn?
Be born to a sewing mama! Go get some $1/yd stuff and try making things
like a sleeping bag stuff sack or laundry bag or sofa pillow. (Training
wheels.)
> One person suggested that I take an existing jacket that I have and put
> webbed gussets in the pits for ventilation (the jacket would be really
> nice if it had that) but I'm not even sure how to begin to approach that.
I put zippers in mine. Open seam, insert zipper. Remove ALL the
big-head pins before sewing the body & lining back shut!
> Is there a good book? Most of the books I looked at in the library
> assume way more than I know. Even studying the pictures I couldn't
> figure out how in the world they were doing half the stuff they were doing.
> Any suggestions?
Seriously, I guess I would take a sewing class, offered at an adult ed
locale or fabric store near you. That way you could make a project that
you care about, have one-on-one tutoring, and get lots of sympathy and
encouragement from real people.
Bike shorts aren't hard to make. Green Pepper has a decent pattern and
fairly good directions. Lycra is not expensive, and you can make a real
distinctive pair to wow the rest of the bike club.
HTH
--Karen D.
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Posted by joy beeson on January 5, 2006, 10:59 am
On 3 Jan 2006 20:33:53 -0800, "Veloise"
> Karstens Rage wrote:
[snip]
> > My wife has a sewing machine but I gather I need a serger to do the fancy
stuff.
>
> Helps a lot, otherwise it's seam finishing treatments for hours when
> you could be out riding.
Or just don't finish the seams. I press open the seams in
my T-shirts, and like them better than the serged seams on
the T-shirts at Walmart.
On the other hand, I do hand-sew all the hems. <looks down>
Well the tail hem on this shirt is zig-zagged, but I
hand-sewed the second round of stitching on the neckband.
I use the same pattern for jerseys as T-shirts, just adding
five pockets. Well, adding three and moving two from near
the hem up onto the shoulders. (Being male, you could put
the front pockets in the same place they are put on
T-shirts. I once met a male who had a full set of three
back pockets on his chest. But he eschewed the three
pockets in back.)
If you are in the habit of opening your zipper for
ventilation, you will also have to add a zipper.
A wool jersey with a *separating* zipper in front is very,
very nice. Especially if it is loose enough to wear over
another wool jersey.
Joy Beeson
--
http://home.earthlink.net/~joybeeson/ -- needlework
http://home.earthlink.net/~dbeeson594/ROUGHSEW/ROUGH.HTM
http://home.earthlink.net/~beeson_n3f/ -- Writers' Exchange
joy beeson at earthlink dot net
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Posted by Veloise on January 6, 2006, 4:36 pm
I thought of another way to ease yourself into cycle-sewing: repair and
enhance your existing stuff.
--Add Reflexite (r) (tm) stripes to jackets, bags.
--Add nylon loops to saddlebags (hold blinkie lights). Add more to
commuter baskets to hold bungie cords and offer more lash-down options.
--Remove the elastic from the sleeves of that almost-long-enough
jacket, add ribbed poly cuffs to mitigate gaposis when reaching out on
the bars. (I did this to the saem jacket I put the pit zips in.
N-i-c-e.)
--Add ribbed poly cuffs to that pair of tights to cover your ankles.
On rec.bicycles.misc I explained how to repair a zipper (guy fell off,
lost the slider).
Doing small projects like this is extremely satisfying. They are hard
to mess up, as the enhancement makes the item 200% better than it was.
And you'll get the hang of using a machine and ACTUALLY SITTING DOWN TO
SEW!! (Like me working up the courage to shove off as tandem captain
for the first time after a venture on the same bike was, um, not good.)
Also, a yard of nylon webbing doesn't cost a mortgage, and if the seams
open while riding you won't get arrested.
HTH
--Karen D.
check the group's archives for our advice on bifurcated garments for
'bent riding
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Posted by small change on January 4, 2006, 12:53 am
Karstens Rage wrote:
> I really want to learn to sew. Im a cyclist and I would love to be
> able
> to sew my own shorts and jackets and maybe even jersey's. My wife has
> a sewing machine but I gather I need a serger to do the fancy stuff.
> <snip> Any suggestions?
>
> k
I make about 90% of my cycling gear. Everything but the socks. I've even
made winter booties. Any machine that has a three step zig zag and a few
stretch stitches will do almost anything a serger can do.
For cycle gear, you'll want to get comfortable handling knits and fabrics
that have some lycra in them. Mostly, it's just practice and knowing a few
techniques.
The Singer books on Sewing Essentials and Sewing Activewear are excellent;
check your library.
I'd stay away from modifying until you have some good skills. Start with
some simple projects like stuff sacks etc just to get comfortable with
handling fabric. You could do a simple knit t-shirt. Someone mentioned
Green Pepper, personally I think their sizing is really screwed up but you
can try if you want. Thier shorts pattern is OK, but careful with the
jersey pattern, the neck is way too small. I would suggest looking at the
Kwik Sew offerings. Many of their patterns are suitable for basic knit tops,
and then you can move on to cycle specific patterns. The Jalie jersey
pattern is excellent, and has really good but very simple instructions,
probably not a good first knit project.
Take a look at my tips page
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/tips/tips.asp
I've got links to fabric sources, pattern suggestions, how to for many
projects, links to outdoor specific sewing discussion, home made cycle
clothing galleries and more.
just for grins, here's the direct link to the jerseys:
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/tips/pgallery.asp
Penny S
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