@swachter@toot.boston avatar

swachter

@swachter@toot.boston

Product manager on hiatus, feminist, rock climber, geek, maker. I make and sell geeky/nerdy bags and jewelry. Currently recovering from ten years in tech, spending most of my time #reading, #sewing, and working with #polymerclay. Lives in #somervillema but grew up in #batonrouge #louisiana. #mlis from #uw #seattle. Move slow and fix things. Leave the world better than you found it. She/her

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swachter, to random
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

Just got to hold a tiny tiny baby. So good.

bikepedantic, to random
@bikepedantic@transportation.social avatar

Tufts Swimming Signup Hunger Games starts in 13 minutes. LFG.

swachter,
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

@bikepedantic You’re giving me flashbacks to grad school course registration

swachter, to random
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

question: If I see an object in the wild and I can figure out how to make or adapt some feature from it in my own designs, is that patent infringement? I make and sell bags and often see neat things out in the world (eg, a particular closure mechanism or way of rigging convertible straps) that I’m interested in incorporating into my own work, but don’t want to 1) be a bad person and 2) have any hostile attorney-type conversations more than absolutely necessary.

(YANML, TINLA, etc disclaimers fully apply.)

swachter, to science
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

FOR GREAT SCIENCE!

These will all be for sale this weekend at Somerville Open Studios - come see them in person at the Armory mezzanine, stop , 12-6p Saturday & Sunday.

https://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/web/artists/artist_profile/2346

A black tote bag with a pattern of solar system planets and stars and nebulas and suchlike. There are several science-related books in the background.
Four science themed bags. Two are made of bright blue fabric with penguins on it, one from a solar-system themed fabric, and one from fabric with a periodic table of the elements pattern, a white background with brightly colored hexagons and chemical symbols and weights.
A messenger bag made from fabric with the periodic table of elements print - the background is white covered in hexagons. Each hexagon had a brightly colored outline and a chemical symbol and weight inside it. There is a bright red zipper pocket in the flap and a cargo pocket on the side holding a water bottle.

swachter, to cycling
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

Seems like a good day to post my themed collection - I’ll have these for sale at Open Studios this weekend!

https://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/web/artists/artist_profile/2346

Two brightly colored bike-themed messenger bags. The one in front has a cream background with a pattern of teal cruiser bikes and autumn leaves and flowers in a watercolor style. The bag in back has a navy blue background with a pattern of lime green, teal, and aqua bakfiets (Dutch cargo bikes). Both bags have zip pockets in the flap and side cargo pockets to carry water bottles, as well as many internal pockets (not visible).

swachter, to random
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

Just went over to the Armory to check out my space for open studios. Damn, it’s weird to see that place empty.

swachter, to random
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

Today was mostly working on a single messenger bag - I've made several at this point, but I'm still not totally happy with some of the ways things come together and there was entirely too much realizing that I'd done things in the wrong order and having to rip back. I'm also trying some new closure mechanisms - deep gusseted pockets with button flaps (got to use the automatic buttonhole on my machine, which is always nailbitingly stressful) and adding a buckle to the front flap for some additional security.

swachter, to random
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

Spent most of the last two days cutting out and interfacing a huge stack of messenger bags. I’m hoping to have these ready for on May 4-5 - I’ll be selling stuff in the Armory and will have lots of tote bags, aprons, and messenger bags for gamers, bicyclists, and nerds of all varieties!

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

Sometimes you realize what a dirty gossip you are, I saw this pop up on YouTube, and thought, "Yeah baby, tell me that Filthy Yarn Scandal."

Y'all I don't knit, I'm not involved in this, but now I kind of want to be. Please everyone guess what the drama is!

swachter,
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

@RickiTarr Oh god I’ve now spent the entire morning learning about various fiber dramas, the popcorn is delicious and I hope you’re happy.

swachter, to random
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

I have to say, having an unknown piece of electronics begin smoking aggressively is a damn effective way to end an otherwise lovely chat between Randall Munroe and @pluralistic. Gotta remember that one for the next time I want to get out of a meeting.

greene, to random
@greene@wandering.shop avatar

Can anyone recommend me a reasonably affordable respirator that has removable filters and protects against airborne viruses like flu and COVID?

swachter,
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

@greene Have you looked at Envomask? https://envomask.com/product-category/respirators/ It’s a bit less intimidating aesthetically and reasonably comfortable. I do have to wipe the seal down with alcohol wipes often to keep from developing pimples.

swachter, to food
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

Spouse left me unsupervised, it’s drizzly and gross out, scones were the only logical course of action.

swachter, to FiberArts
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

I’ve been experimenting with some new pocket options. In no small part because I wanted to be able to include a slip pocket even when I don’t have enough fabric to create a separate pocket. I’m pretty happy with how these are looking - I poked at a bunch of tutorials before eventually following none of them and all of them simultaneously.

Also this fabric is cute af and I am dyiiiing at how adorable they’re going to be.

swachter, to Canada
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

We’re heading up north to see the eclipse next week. folk in , specifically , any fun places for fabric, ribbon, yarn, webbing etc that I should look up? Especially any place that sells locally made materials?

DanielMenjivar, to FiberArts
@DanielMenjivar@mastodon.social avatar

Spent the afternoon cutting out a pattern in my room. I sew a lot of dark fabrics, so I’m always on the lookout for quality white marking tools.

I recently found some “extra fine” 0.9mm white chalk refills for cartridge pencils by Prym (on Amazon), so also I bought a mechanical pencil and emptied out the graphite to give it a try.

Of all the marking tools I’ve bought for sewing (lots!) this gives the thinnest, most accurate lines. I love it! @sewing

A Pentel brand mechanical pencil, a small plastic Prym-branded white chalk refill container and a thin clear ruler all sit atop grey fabric marked with cutting lines for pyjama pants in white chalk.

swachter,
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

@DanielMenjivar @sewing YES! I have the sew-line version of this, which comes in an assortment of handy colors, and I love them.

swachter, to Bags
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

Finally got my act together to take some decent photos of the two recent rainbow dice messenger bags.

A messenger bag with two large cargo side pockets. The bag flap has an orange zippered pocket and a pattern of rainbow colored TTRPG dice against a white background. The strap is black and has rainbow hardware.

DanielMenjivar, to FiberArts
@DanielMenjivar@mastodon.social avatar

Let’s talk about seam guides, @sewing!

What are your favourite seam guides to use when ? Do you use the same one every time, or vary it depending on what you’re sewing? Do you always use a seam guide, or just sometimes? Never? Do you prefer to align w/ the right edge of the presser foot and move the needle position on your domestic sewing machine? Tips? Tricks?

Personally, I try to use mine as much as possible and pick one depending on what I’m sewing (or how long it takes to install).

swachter,
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

@sbourne @EllenInEdmonton @Libellule @DanielMenjivar @sewing Same - loads of practice before I was able to use it consistently (and if I’m being honest, I still have a hard time getting it started - any tips?). But it is so satisfying once you get the hang of it - I used it to hem my wedding dress and loved it.

swachter,
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

@DanielMenjivar @sewing I’ve never used seam guides, but I use a 1/4” quilting foot as my default foot these days. One of my machines has various seam markings on the throat plate and the extension table, the other has a few strategic pieces of electrical tape 😅. I do use my stitch-in-the-ditch foot any time I want a nice even edgestitch, which is often.

swachter,
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

@DanielMenjivar @sewing I don’t think the story is any more complicated than it’s the first tape my hands hit when I rummaged in the junk drawer 😅

swachter, to random
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

I love the questions that living in brings up. Questions like, “Are squashed rats compostable?”

swachter, to random
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

Setting up a small business is unreasonably frustrating and confusing.

swachter, to FiberArts
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

In honor of Superb Owl Sunday, please enjoy some pictures of a diaper bag I made on commission for a friend of mine. She requested a ludicrous number of pockets and for it to be convertible from backpack to messenger bag or stroller bag.

The exterior of the bag, underneath the flap. There are two zip pockets on the front. The pattern of owls has been carefully matched up so that no owls lost their heads.
The full bag with flap closed. The exterior is a cream colored canvas with charming owls in assorted colors. There is a zipper pocket in the flap. I cannot explain to you how many pockets this thing has. So many. And so many cute owls. The bag is sitting on a bright red locker-style shelf from ikea and there are several happy plants in containers around it.
The rear of the bag. The strap is fully convertible from a backpack style to a messenger bag. Also there are more pockets on the back, again carefully lined up so that owl integrity is maintained.

swachter, to FiberArts
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

A couple shots of what I was so excited about last night. Fully lined, with no turning gap visible.

A picture of the grey lining inside. There are origami folds on the corners of the interior as well. You can also see where I put my needle through the metal bracket at the zipper end. Mistakes were made.
A wider view of the whole bag. It is Very pink and Very derby themed.
This is the magic trick. You move the turning gap to the zipper and make dual W-folds for both interior and exterior at the desired finished width of the bag.

DoubleTreble, to crochet
@DoubleTreble@cupoftea.social avatar

@crochet
#crochet
Quick update on progress of the Persian Tiles project

Three crochet flowers in pink and purple

swachter,
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

@DoubleTreble @crochet Oh, that's absolutely lovely! Well done!

swachter, to FiberArts
@swachter@toot.boston avatar

This object has arrived at its intended recipient, so I can show it here - this is a wee project bag for my niece, featuring her own artwork that I embroidered onto a felt square and stitched to the bag. Apparently this made her (happy) cry so I think I did good.

Pattern is the Kato project bag from Kandou Patterns (https://www.etsy.com/listing/702002990/drawstring-bag-sewing-pattern-beginner), fabric is from the Languid collection from Kaufman. Niece’s artwork is here: https://www.tumblr.com/cosmos-and-whatever/738280130912436224/hey-i-hope-everyone-has-a-nice-new-years-and-i

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