Messages

My main issue with sergers and clothing is that any more seams are serged rather than sewn with a conventional sewing machine.  Serged seams, when they tear, generally lose the entire seam whereas a conventionally sewn seam will just pop 3 or 4 stitches.  I can see using them for hemming drapes and so forth but any seam that is going to be torqued, like center seams in clothing, need to be sewn more securely.

I really like the cutter (knife) doing its thing.  I'm excited to finally (in a few months) have the time to learn how to use my serger.  I also have a long arm that I've never gotten anywhere with.  The gentleman who services my industrial machine said he would work with me on the long arm.

I use my domestic (Bernina) for sewing, embroidery and quilting.  I purchased two different types of rulers/templates so I can do most of what you see on quilts entered into shows.  I'm currently quilting a t-shirt quilt that I've made for my oldest brother.  It measures 106 x 106 and it's doable on the Bernina but cumbersome.  Would be much easier on the long arm if we were friendlier for each other.

Retirement fun ... I can hardly wait.  82 days and counting.

Virginia

My shop is in the basement.  Obviously it limits, to some extent, what projects I can do.  But I'm always climate controlled.  We remodeled an old storage room into a large multi-purpose room (laundry, bathroom with a corner tub with whirlpool and changing area for alteration customers).  Landlord doesn't b*tch if I crank my music up pretty loud so I'm good.  Seriously, I wouldn't change a think about my work space.  My back is fused at L5/S1 so I don't need to be doing the larger projects anyway.

What brand of serger is it?  I bought a Juki that I can actually do a 5 thread overlock with.  Only stitch I can do involves 3 stitches and it worked well the couple of times I did it.  I was supposed to work at our local "Buckle" for 6-8 weeks while their alteration spet was out for knee surgery.  One day a week.  Mostly hems but some actual alterations.  At the Buckle you don't cut off the existing hem, you cut material off about 1/4 inch above the existing hem.  serge the two pieces together, press and then narrowly top stitch.  If done correctly, you can hardly see the top stitching.  That's where I fell in love with serging as the knife clips off any unevenly cut fabric while serging.  Fabulous! 

One of my retirement goals is to become better friends with my Juki.  I have a book with small projects you can make which is supposed to make you serger friendly.

When Bob & I first started shopping together, 35+ years ago, I picked up a can of asparagus.  Bob saw what I was holding and rather loudly asked me WTF did I think I was going to do with that.  I told him that I loved asparagus.  "I don't eat that sh*t" he retorted, again rather loudly.  We had our first heated discussion in the canned fruit & vegetable isle of whatever grocery store we were in at the time.  38 years later and he still hates asparagus and I learned not to press the issue.  Only vegetable we didn't agree on other than mushrooms.  I DO NOT eat them and for some reason he knows not to press me on the issue.  All other vegetables we both either like or don't like so it's all good. 

It's been long enough since I ate asparagus that I either have forgotten about asparagus pee or didn't notice it last time I age it.

V - bench seats are just prone to wrinkling.  I had a customer ask me to add fill to a sofa bench seat and even though the casing was bulging when I was done -  after they sat and got up there were wrinkles. 
Welcome back to the site   - seems like the last email I remember was - go Bernie - and the knee healing.  Anyway we have tried to stay on upholstery subjects but sometimes low responses initiate alternative subjects which seem to be fine with the group.  We have a new administrator who hails from Norway - Inger is doing a great job - she diverted a problem when the hackers were taking over the site.  Photos w/photobucket are pain but not impossible with perseverance !
I picked up a serger probably more your meat and potatoes - haven't used it yet - still wondering what it will do for me :)

Regards,
SA

Steve:

I have a serger, only have figured out how to do one stitch.  GRRR>   

Was going to fill in at "The Buckle" while their alteration spet was out for knee surgery.  Worked one week and their serger was my best friend.  I just made sure that I had new thread color tied to the old so that I didn't have to figure out how to thread it.  Worked one week.  The next week, got bit by the neighbor's dog the morning of my shift. With 13 stitches on my left index finger and it needing to be elevated, that ended that.  Oh, well.

Getting friendlier with my serger is on my to do list when I start social security this August.  I think I'm down to under 100 days.  LOL.  Not like I'm counting or anything.

We are going to restretch using the deepest staples and putting staples literally right on top of each other.  If it still wrinkles, I will tell him that if he is offended, we need to switch back to cloth.  Otherwise, I'm out of ideas.  Also will tell him to NEVER ever stand on that seat again.  He could have moved it so that they were standing on the base.

We were out for breakfast this morning at one of the other restaurant's I've done.  After a customer sitting next to us on a booth seat left, I went over and examined the seat.  Sure enough, it was wrinkled.  We were there for about 45 minutes after the guy left.  The wrinkles had not completely dissipated  but they were much less noticeable so I see what Paul was talking about vinyl recovering.  I did about 2/3 of the booths and they are constantly moving the seats around so I have no idea if I did the work on this one or not.

I try real hard to stay apolitical so will avoid your remark about my being "go Bernie".  I'm in a concerned wait and see attitude -- I will say that much.  Also had some concerns about Hillary but not near as much.  No more politics for me now.

Thanks for your advice and we'll see what shakes out.

I should have more time for posting once I get done with Hastings restaurant.  2 more booths to go and then get him happy with the wrinkle issue.  I'm definitely ready to be done as I ordered the fabric last May (for both restaurants).  GI was a drag as they were supposed to do tear out and renig'd so it took forever to finish it.  So it goes.

Thanks!

We'll see what the morrow brings.  If they don't recover, we'll stretch them again on Tuesday when I recover the one pictured. Just really frustrating as I generally stretch things once and it's good to go.  The GI location I had 28 booth seats and never had to restretch one of them.  So it goes.

I don't know why the picture isn't showing but if you click on the link, the picture appears. 

Think I did it.  I needed to click on the picture not the location, if that makes sense.

http://s629.photobucket.com/user/virginiafahnestock/media/DSC_0002%201_zpsk3eddpte.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Is it not a good idea to try and do this in vinyl or is simply need to be tighter and people should not stand up on it?

http://s629.photobucket.com/user/virginiafahnestock/media/DSC_0002%201_zpsk3eddpte.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

http://s629.photobucket.com/user/virginiafahnestock/media/DSC_0002%201_zpsk3eddpte.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Duh, it's photobucket not photoshop.  Have tried 3 times to upload this picture to photobucket and I keep getting an error message that it can't load it.  I'll keep trying and post the picture as soon as I can.  Grr.

You're absolutely correct Paul.  All of the social media sites are making money off the backs of the users.  There is no privacy despite what they say.  Too many people have set their privacy as they are supposed to for optimum privacy and still have had issues.  The only way to secure your information is to stay off sites such as FaceBook and the like.

Thanks Paul!

We replaced the foam with a very good quality foam.  I've used this stuff in 3 or 4 other projects and have not had this issue.  If it doesn't recover, I told Tony that we would pop the staples and see how much tighter we can get it.  Going back to my military days, I could have bounced a quarter off that booth seat.  I will also let them know in no uncertain terms that they are NOT to stand on them.

Very frustrating as this is my last "big" upholstery project.  Start drawing SS the 3rd of August.  Will keep my shop open but am limiting the size and scope of projects.  I want to do stuff that I want to do as that is just impossible these days.  I won't mind doing dining room chairs and porch furniture.  Will still do my formal wear and custom machine embroidery but my goal is to not spend any more than 10-15 hours a month working.

Just tried to logon to Photoshop and it no longer recognized me.  I signed up again but I did not see an option for the free Photoshop I used last time.  Has Photoshop gone "Pay for Play"?

If the seat was tight as a drum when you delivered it I'm thinking the guys stepping on the seat made the vinyl stretch and unusual amount. Or the springs stretched or the webbing, whatever is under the foam may have stretched. A seat is made to support a butt. Not someone climbing all over it. How big where these guys and where these your guys or the restaurant's guys? Did the seat have to be attached before the back?

Thanks for your response kodydog.  Further clarification is in order.

Those seats are too large for my vehicle plus the owner is responsible for tear out; so, I go to the restaurant early in the morning and we work until about 30 minutes before opening and then stop and clean up.  I was gathering my tools when they decided to stand on the seat to install the backs.  There is no reason that the backs cannot be installed prior to placing the seat on its base.  There are no springs or webbing or anything like that.  Cushions are foam on plywood or the like, stretched and stapled on the back of the plywood.  They sit on top of a wood base.  Backs have large screws sticking out the back and they fit into holes in the back base.

I had just recently gone back to Facebook when CA came to light.  I deleted my account and haven't looked back.  My productivity has greatly increased!

Geez do I need help!  I'll post a picture later.  When last I posted, I told y'all that I had scored doing two restaurants.  One here in GI and one in Hastings.  Finished GI with no issues other than the owner didn't provide the tear out crew he promised so labor wasn't bid correctly and I kind of lost my behind on it.  Just as I was about to finish GI, I tried to do a favor for a neighbor and his boxer bit my left "bird" finger.  13 stitches later and 6 weeks off work but I healed with no residual issues.

Winter made some difficulties in getting to Hastings but finally did.  73 chairs and I got those done with no problems.  There are 4 booths.  All booths have the base meeting in 90 degree angle.  Seats and backs were originally done in fabric.  Owners wanted the backs in fabric and the seats in vinyl.  I've done two of the bases and backs.  Backs are done with no problems.  The first seat has major wrinkles but I figured it was because I needed to cut slightly less vinyl than I would have for fabric.  Did that with the second one shorter and we stretched this morning.  When we flipped it and put it on the base, it looked great.  Vinyl was as tight as a drum with not a wrinkle to be seen.  The guys stepped on it when they put the backs in place, got done off of it and it's just a mass of wrinkles.

As I said, I'll post pictures of the original probably tonight.  There's a bridesmaid dress down stairs that goes out tomorrow so I have to finish the hem on it tonight so I can steam it tomorrow morning.  Once I'm done with the dress, I'll dig out my photo shop password and get that picture uploaded.

I'm wondering if we should have stayed with fabric.  I also remember in the recesses of my mind, that I did a boat seat that was similarly configured.  I sewed cord on the back of the center seam and we tightened with that (to keep wrinkles down).  Never got any complaints from the customer so I don't know if there were any residual issues or not.

Hoping y'all can give me some advice!!!