Categories
Craft: Vol 2 on the stands
My testosterone levels have reached alarming highs over the past year, what with all this building of automotive management computers and fuel-injection systems, motor rebuilding, horsepower extraction exercises, and various other grease-monkeying that has been absorbing all of my liesure time.
Thankfully, relief came yesterday in the form of issue no. 2 of the latest O’Reilly DIY mag, Craft:. In case you missed the first issue, Craft is the sister to Make magazine and follows the same basic format, but as the name implies, focuses on projects that are a little more craft oriented. You know what I’m talking about, fibres, paper, stitching, environmental accoutrements, home, garden, knitting, art, aesthetic engineering, printmaking. Crafts.
A cursory glance through Craft revealed a look at some really cool, post-victorian looking faux taxedermic sculptures by L.A. artist Liz McGrath, and a reintroduction to Daguerrotypes by Jonathan Danforth among many others. I can’t wait to read it.
In an uncanny coincidence, the vintage 1947 men’s sports shirt sewing pattern that I had bought on eBay a few weeks prior arrived in the same batch of mail.
You see, I don’t normally make New Year’s resolutions, but for some reason this year when asked about my resolution, I proclaimed that before 2008 I was going to make a shirt. So I hit ebay to find a nice pattern for a shirt and scored this 1947 shirt pattern (Simplicity #1961).
Sewing Time
Here you have the stout, 1974 Sweedish metal-bodied Husqvrana Viking sewing machine that I got for Christmas this year. This baby is all analog for certain, and features a neat interchangeable cam system for doing all sorts of fancy stitches. I like this machine much more than one of those new-fangled plastic jobs that you get at Costco for $200.
Opening up the instructions, I threaded up the machine and did a couple of test stitches, waiting for everything to end up in a big knotted cluster. Amazingly, it worked great, chewing with smooth authority through a couple layers of corduroy wouthout any complaints. Much better than than the thrift-store boat anchor that I bought years ago that never worked, and caused me to give up the whole idea of becoming my own tailor.
Ok, I think I’m ready to start the shirt.
I loved seeing the machine and the pattern. I hope you post your progress and any tailoring insights you gain along the way.. I have read most of the articles you wrote for MAKE Magazine. Will you also be writing for CRAFT?
Way to go Steve. Love seeing the old gal featured on Finkbuilt. Great pattern. Enjoy!
P.J. McEwan -
Funny you should ask! I do happen to have an article in this issue of Craft: on how to easily dress up everyones favorite toy, the carboard box.
http://www.finkbuilt.com/static/castle/preview.html
steve
Now you’ve done it! You’ve awakened that itch I’ve had for so long to learn how to sew your standard “dress shirt” so that I could actually have shirts that fit my tubby torso, short arms and large neck.
Can’t wait to see how your project goes.
Nice machine! My dad has that plaid shirt on the left. He really does! He wears it when when camping or duck hunting. (I don’t hunt animals myself though. I’m a softy). Have fun with it!
The castle- shown on your link to your CRAFT article pics- is fabulous! I’ll go try to find CRAFT. Thanks
My mom gave my wife an $800 Brother machine that makes lovely balls of thread whenever we try to sew anything. She gave my sister-in-law her 50-year-old Pfaff when she got the Brother, and has kicked herself ever since. My personal machine is an old cast iron Singer (one of those antique ones with all the cool scrollwork and engraving.) I can sew three layers of leather on mine and do straight and zig-zag stiches without a hitch. I’ve made upholstry, leather chaps, a dozen fleece jackets, and fleece and buckskin gloves. I’m just tickled pink with it. Love your Viking though. It looks like a cool machine along the lines of the Pfaff.
Wow – seeing that machine brought back memories. My Mom had just like it. I always thought the illustrations of the stitches on the side were really neat. She used that baby for about 30 years and just recently got a new one. She’s a hardcore quilter (is there such a thing?) and used it a LOT. Nice buy. Have fun!
Steve….we need custom 02 driving sport shirts with our club logo. I am a large. I envision a pinstripe from each shoulder down the outside of the sleeve.
Hugh – Deal, but only if we get to start wearing white half-helmets whenever we drive.
try wearing what you plan on making, while you are making it
if that makes any sense
i always do this, so i can re check how to do the cuffs etc
These comments have been invaluable to me as is this whole site. I thank you for your comment.
http://www.gesundheitshersteller.de