Date:         Sat, 29 Jan 2011 07:40:44 -0800
Reply-To:     "Mark L. Hineline" <hineline@OCOTILLOFIELD.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Mark L. Hineline" <hineline@OCOTILLOFIELD.NET>
Subject:      Re: Friday rant: fabric stores and sewing
Comments: To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <006701cbbf66$3d3a6e40$6501a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

On Jan 28, 2011, at 7:40 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:

> n terms of great design , I do want to mention Mountian Hardware.
> I don't care what it is ..
> any Mountina Hardware garment or anything has been beyond perfect ..
> just incredible design and materials.

Yeah, Mountain Hardware is good stuff. Really, once you know what
you're doing, the hardest thing about sewing is finding good fabric,
and places like Mountain Hardware and Patagonia have a lock on it. For
most camping gear and so forth, Seattle Fabrics is great. But it's hit
or miss once you start looking for men's stuff, like corduroy, twill,
and shirting.

Patagonia stopped making something that I always thought was
brilliant: bombachas. Bombachas had button hems, so that you could
button them up for riding a bicycle, keeping out ticks, showing off
the nice argyle socks I got for Christmas, and whatnot. I guess they
just weren't big sellers. But the hems of my pants are the first
things that wear out, so I make my own, with cargo pockets, including
a pocket made especially for my Leatherman.

Another thing I do is when a long sleeve shirt starts to fray, I tear
out the collar, sew up the collar stand, and cut and hem to sleeves.
Summer shirts. I'm cheap.

Also, my chiropractor solved some of my back problems by telling me to
stop carrying my wallet in my back pocket (or anything else). So I
don't make real pockets in back. I just have some false stitching and
a button.

Mark