Comments for Kitchen Counter Economics

Comment on Things Worth Knowing: Fixing Glove Fingers by Duchesse

Duchesse — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:25:14 +0000

J.M. Weston, Fratelli Rosetti (among other excellent makers) and a little bespoke Toronto shoemaker: you need superior shoes to start with, so they have something to work with. Many of my shoes have been successfully cobbled. Like jewellers, there are levels of skill and interest in shoe repair, but in a small town or city one is unlikely to find them anymore. Even in my Little Italy the trade is dying out. But when you find one, they can keep a pair of shoes on your feet for decades.

Darning is a lost art; I have the technique passed on from my mother, and an old wooden daring egg in my sewing box.

Comment on (Collar) Stay…just a little bit longer…. by Duchesse

Duchesse — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:51:41 +0000

According to men’s style writers like GQ’s “The Style Guy” and Alan Flusser, the button-down collar shirt is worn with a sports coat (tie is fine) but never with a suit. Yes, you see it, and I also see young bucks wearing spread-collar dress shirts with no tie, and a suit, or even with jeans.

But my dashing husband would have none of that. A button-down is a sports shirt, to him, though he wears a blue linen Brooks one with a seersucker suit on hot summer days; he says the suit is so casual it demands it.

Anyway, collar stays! You are very skilled, and hats off!

Comment on (Collar) Stay…just a little bit longer…. by Ruth

Ruth — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:59:27 +0000

I have sewn for over 40 years and have to say, that is the first time I’ve seen something like that! Guess you learn something new every day! I’ve made shirts for my husband for years and have the opposite problems you do. He’s a large man–54 in chest and a long body–so finding a good pattern was tough. I had one that completely wore out and never thought about making one out of interfacing before it did. I’ve actually found a replacement now so that will be the first thing I do. He’s tougher about fabric choices and I have a hard time finding things he likes to wear. Thank goodness he doesn’t work in an office anymore! Are you using a pattern that has the two-piece back? The top is two pieces and the shirt body is sewn into it? I always liked those since they reinforced the collar better and seemed to hang better to me.

Comment on (Collar) Stay…just a little bit longer…. by htwollin

htwollin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:41:58 +0000

Peter – This is the very first time I have ever seen it in a men’s shirt pattern and the reason probably is because it was from the 1970s. It was just mind-boggling to me.

Comment on (Collar) Stay…just a little bit longer…. by Peter

Peter — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:31:16 +0000

Good for you, Toby! I have never seen one of those in a men’s shirt pattern, nor have I bothered to draft one myself. I guess I’m not rigid collar type…or just lazy.

Comment on Making a Man’s Shirt – a la Coop by htwollin

htwollin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:52:06 +0000

Duchesse – I remember my mother just drooling over Viyella and mumbling about trying to find Viyella fabric to make us dresses since they would be warmer than the usual.

Comment on Making a Man’s Shirt – a la Coop by Duchesse

Duchesse — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:57:55 +0000

Though the style will be of the period, men would not have had access to that print, which is merry and modern. So DH will have the best of both worlds, as well as a shirt that fits impeccably. Lucky guy!

In northern Michigan in the 1950s and 60s, Dad wore Viyella shirts and then a Pendleton shirt jacket on top of that, then turned the thermostat way down.

Comment on Saving Energy: Basement Windows by Keely

Keely — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:10:46 +0000

I haven’t tried it myself, but my sister swears by bubblewrap as a cheap form of doubleglazing. They used it in all the empty rooms of the old farmhouse they live in last winter and it made a noticeable difference in just a few days. We’ll be using it this winter too.

Comment on Why can’t I find…..? by Nola

Nola — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:40:45 +0000

I know just how you feel. Even trying to find something on-line is iffy because you have to take the word of the seller that it really is the color you want, or the weight, or size. Around here I just wait. Eventually we go to a city and I get the chance to look there. If I find something on sale I get it. I have even started looking at second-hand/used clothing stores. I found a really great color of sweater and just had to unravel it to make it into something that I wanted and that fit. I’m cheap, so sue me. If it works, use it.

Comment on Why can’t I find…..? by Shiphrah

Shiphrah — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:30:40 +0000

Yep. You’ll have to knit it. I just looked at my catalog from Halcyon Yarn (way too dangerously close by me) and Jaeggerspun #3 looks like what you want. But it ain’t gonna come cheap, or even inexpensive. And you have to enjoy knitting! Bartlett and Peace Fleece both have something that looks close to my eye, but might tend a little too much toward pink for you. I’d look at Brown Sheep Nature Spun and Cascade 220 as well.