DanielMenjivar

DanielMenjivar, 11 days ago

🧵 2/3

I taped just outside the viewable video area on my cutting table using white gaffer tape under the cutting mat so that I can be sure things are in frame without having to check a screen. And I still have the flexibility of filming my whole table whenever I want, with only minor adjustments necessary.

I even have a decent amount of off-camera space on my table for my laptop, stream deck, tools, etc.

Whether I’m filming or not, nothing will be in the way of #sewing comfortably! @sewing

DanielMenjivar, 11 days ago

🧵 3/3

Best of all: my dog still gets to sit in his favourite spot by the window without being in camera view, and without any fear that he’s going to bump into a camera or knock anything out of place.

Setting this up the way I want has required a lot of trial and error, testing, cabling, climbing a ladder, sweating, trying new ways, etc. but I’m very happy to see it starting to come together.

I’m hoping to finish this weekend and start shooting #sewing videos on Monday, but we’ll see! @sewing

DanielMenjivar, 11 days ago

This reminds me of a flyer I saw the last time I was at the fabric shop. There’s a lady here in #Toronto that offers PDF #sewing pattern printing, assembly, cutting out your size, etc. Sounds like a cool way for her to make a few extra bucks! @sewing

DanielMenjivar, 13 days ago

My latest #YouTube #sewing video is now live! @sewing

https://mastodon.social/@dmblog/112525578594240659

DanielMenjivar, 14 days ago

@susiemagoo @sewing I guess it’s like ripped jeans: the younger generation will think I’m very hip!

(Especially if I use that word, “hip”! LOL)

DanielMenjivar, 24 days ago

It feels great to be done #sewing my latest project, but now there’s what feels like a monumental task ahead of editing the video for #YouTube. @sewing

But before I get to that, I need to shoot #video of a new sewing project this week first.

If my health allows, this week I’ll be recording voiceover for a previous video, getting this latest one in queue and shooting footage for a new third video that may actually come first… At this rate, I may need to buy an additional hard drive soon!

DanielMenjivar, 21 days ago

I’m probably not shooting any new #video this week after all, but I’m having a very fun time setting up overhead cameras, lighting, microphones, audio gear, stream deck, software, cabling, etc. in my #sewing room. I’m trying to set it up so I can record long-form #YouTube videos without much if any setup, but also something that will work well for live streaming in 4K 60fps eventually too. And of course, all without getting in the way of actual sewing in an already tight space! @sewing

DanielMenjivar, 19 days ago

@Stoffsuchti @sewing So far I’ve setup four iPhones and two iPads, which work well for what I need (overhead ironing station, overhead cutting table, closeups on #sewing machines, etc.)

I also have a security camera mounted on the ceiling and the webcam on my MacBook Pro if I absolutely need them…

I was at a camera shop after my doctor appointment today, considering upgrading my old DSLR body so I can use all my nice lenses, but I don’t think I’ll spend that kind of money anytime soon…

DanielMenjivar, 26 days ago

Just released today! A new #sewing pattern by Thread Theory, Bamberton Shorts. @sewing

https://threadtheory.ca/products/bamberton-shorts-pdf-mens

Available in a huge selection of sizes for both men & women.

DanielMenjivar, 21 days ago

Here’s a photo of a some #sewing samples & muslin I made (to fit my wife) while pattern testing Thread Theory’s Bamberton Shorts last month…

Now that the pattern is finalized, I’ll be making her a modified pair in some sea foam blue cotton/linen she picked out this past weekend, then shooting a video of me making a pair for myself. @sewing

https://threadtheory.ca/products/bamberton-shorts-pdf-womens

Sea foam blue cotton/linen fabric sits atop a pair of Bamberton shorts in muslin fabric; two spools of thread rest on top of the fabric.

DanielMenjivar, 2 months ago

@Lpm1 @sewing I use a formula for determining knit neckband length according to the amount of stretch in the fabric, which you can see explained here if you scroll down: https://dmblog.com/copying-pyjamas#pyjama-top

As others have said, you want to cut it so that it stretches more horizontally than vertically. Offset the neckband so the join is not at centre back, then mark quarters and pin. Stretch only the neckband as you sew; make sure not to stretch the shirt. #sewing

DanielMenjivar, 2 months ago

@Lpm1 @beverly_gardner @sewing #sewing A tell-tale sign of “homemade” t-shirts is when the collar seam is visible right at centre back.

Home sewers often do this probably because it’s easier to use the seam & centre back as reference points when dividing in quarters, but it doesn’t look nice there.

RTW and factory-made shirts offset this seam 1” away (towards the back) from the left shoulder seam which looks much nicer since it hides it better. (Not right at the shoulder seam to reduce bulk.)

DanielMenjivar, 2 months ago

@Lpm1 @beverly_gardner @sewing #sewing I’ve also noticed many t-shirt patterns omit the crucial step of finishing the collar seam after it’s been serged. To me, it’s as ugly as looking at unfinished raw edges on wovens.

But it’s not just that the exposed serged collar seam looks ugly when the shirt is hung on a rack or folded; binding the rear portion of the collar seam also serves the practical purpose of reducing stretch there, and even stabilizing the shoulders when it extends that far.

DanielMenjivar, 2 months ago

@valhalla @beverly_gardner @Lpm1 I think offsetting it makes it less noticeable because our eyes are naturally drawn to the centre of things? I don’t know for sure, I just know that when it’s offset, the seam is much harder to see, almost hidden.

The first couple t-shirts I made, I too made a huge effort to have it exactly at centre back until the correct way was pointed out to me. And now that I’ve gotten used to offsetting the collar seam, it sticks out to me a lot when it isn’t.

DanielMenjivar, 2 months ago

@valhalla @beverly_gardner @Lpm1 @sewing #sewing Here’s a comparison of a RTW shirt next to one of the first t-shirts I made years ago so you can appreciate the effect of offsetting the seam.

I also included another shirt that does a good job of illustrating how ugly the serged seam can look when the collar is unfinished.

Last year I had posted a blind challenge to see if people could correctly identify my shirt vs RTW, here’s the photo from the final reveal.

See alt text for descriptions!

A raglan shirt with the collar seam at centre back, but more obvious is that the serged collar was not finished properly, so the collar looks very ugly from the front of the shirt when hung on a hanger.
The final reveal photo from a blind challenge from last year on Mastodon. The text on the photo reads: My shirt is A, the factory shirt is B. The factory collar seam was covered in a single step with a double needle straight stitch. It's a lot neater than mine! My shirt preserves more stretchiness by using a chainstitch for this, as opposed to the straight stitch on the factory shirt. My shirt collar was joined by a serger so the seam can't be pressed open making it noticeably bulky. It should also be off to one side instead of in the middle. The factory sleeve was hemmed before sewn closed to make it easier/quicker/cheaper, but my cuff was hemmed in the round which makes the sleeve seam much more comfortable on the wrist.

DanielMenjivar, 2 months ago

@beverly_gardner @valhalla @Lpm1 @sewing #sewing I am not the t-shirt police! LOL You can show me your stuff, no judgment. 😉 I’m not perfect either and still learning. Always.

I share things I’ve learned with the hopes that others can benefit from it too. I worry that with the character count limitations and me trying to fit everything into a single post, my good intentions are lost sometimes? Or that my tone comes across the wrong way? I hope not.

DanielMenjivar, 2 months ago

@beverly_gardner @Lpm1 @sewing It really is not as much #sewing work as it looks. Once you do it a couple times, you quickly get the hang of it.

What helped me get nicer looking results without needing to be fussy/perfect about it can be seen in this blog post: http://sansmedia.it/blog/2017/11/16/t-shirt-back-neck-binding-tutorial Basically, rather than trying to be a machine (since most of us don’t make 100 t-shirts a day), this method allows you lots of wiggle room while still getting clean results.