Men Who Sew

wrote in message
ups.com...

When I restored my '51 International half-ton truck, I sewed
up the upholstery for the seat. People (men, mostly) ask me who did
it, and when I tell them that I did, they say "Huh! Wish I could do
that!" I've done upholstery for several boats I built as well as my
Jodel. I make other stuff from fabric: logbook bags, pouches, storage
containers for the tiedown ropes and chocks and for survival kits for
our Citabrias. Whenever I see another $5 sewing machine in a garage
sale I grab it, especially if it's better than the one I'm using.
(Same goes for old electric irons, for shrinking aircraft fabric; the
new ones aren't nearly as accurate at holding temperature.)
Sewing ain't hard. Just need to think it through, take old
stuff apart to see how it was done, and go at it. Saves money and
allows you to do more of the total job.



Agreed. My mother was an excellent seamstress, and started teaching me at a
very early age. I keep intending to by one of the new low cost machines, and
due a few upholstry projects for myself. Just never seem to find the time.

Real men should be able to do most everything! I even have some laundry
techniques I'm proud of.

wrote:
Whenever I see another $5 sewing machine in a garage
sale I grab it, especially if it's better than the one I'm using.
(Same goes for old electric irons, for shrinking aircraft fabric; the
new ones aren't nearly as accurate at holding temperature.)

Just to prove that we're not real men, we're going to now argue about
what is the best iron.

I bought a Sunbeam travel iron to do fabric work with. Best $15 I've
ever spent. I calibrate it with a digital thermometer. It has little
clicks that help you dial in the setting. Unlike the older irons that
have a mechanical control, this one has a digital sensor. It brings the
temp up fast and holds it dead on. The older irons would range
somewhere around 10 degrees of the setting.

It's also half the size of the standard iron, the handle folds down and
part of the handle is a water bottle for the steamer. The bottle is
removable. Put the handle down and remove the water bottle, and the
iron becomes very flat, and able to reach into some cramped corners.