HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Re: Family tartans
Date: 12 Nov 92 19:34:25 GMT
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <1992Nov12.050346.29979@cc.uow.edu.au>, karenb@cc.uow.edu.au (Karen  Barrett) writes:
> Has anyone else out there tried to trace their family tartan?  Can you
> suggest any helpful books/sources?  What happens if I do track it down
> in a book?  Has anyone had any experience ordering a specific tartan
> from somewhere?  (I hope I won't have to have it especially woven as
> I'm sure I couldn't afford it!)

Clan tartans are a highland Scots thing, so you'll want to try Scottish
dress, Tartan, Clan and Sept in searching at the library.  Most libraries
have some sort of book on the clan system and the associated tartans of
each clan.    Then you look up your family name and the clan it was 
part of.

My Scots ancestry, as far back as I can trace it, are McCauslands, a
variant of the name Mc Ausland, a family that was a member of the
Buchanan clan.  The usual Buchanan tartan illustrated is a rather
violent yellow, black and red number that looks like someone has been
swatting wasps... ;-)

However, in the Victorian passion for Things Scottish, people started
making variants of the clan tartans, including "ancient tartans" with
muted colors such as might be obtained by natural dyes, hunting tartans
in the blue/green/brown range, dress tartans, usually with a white background,
etc., etc.  My first reaction on seeing the Buchanan tartan was ee-yech!,
but the Hunting Buchanan is rather nice 8-)...

Two things you should know: there are some rather stiffish requirements
to meet to actually "be entitled" to wear a clan tartan... and truthfully,
I've never tried to see if I'm *really* a Buchanan...  The other is that
new tartans can be created and registered, not just to clans, but to
companies and regiments, and such.  And there are some tartans that anyone
can wear properly.

Finally, the plaids I saw in Scotland are MUCH heavier wool than we'd
normally find in US stores-- more like a heavy coating wool, though you
can find a lighter weight plaid occasionally.

Finally, the Scots make a distinction between plaids and tartans, and
I've probably butchered both terms in this post... Forgiveness is
hereby sought in advance.

Anyhow, knowing a bit of family history made my trip to Scotland more
interesting... even for my traveling companions, who had no Scots ancestry.

Kay Klier  Biology Dept  UNI
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: cfeem@ux1.cts.eiu.edu (Eleanor Midkiff)
Subject: Re: More holiday gift ideas...
Summary: Hanger patterns please 
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 20:35:41 GMT
Expires: ?
Organization: Eastern Illinois University
Keywords: Hanger pattern
Followup-To: alt.sewing

I for one would love to have a pattern for padded hangers.  thanks.

Eleanor

cfeem@eiu.edu

-- 
Eleanor Midkiff
(cfeem@eiu.edu)
From: euafri@eua.ericsson.se (Fredrik stman)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Re: working with plaid
Date: 5 Nov 92 11:51:21 GMT
Reply-To: euafri@eua.ericsson.se
Organization: Ellemtel Telecom Systems Labs, Stockholm, Sweden

Aviva Garrett writes:
>MAUREEN BURNS writes:

> >The fabric is an even plaid, and the problem I had was matching the armhole 
> >seams with the sleeve.  I know it can be done.  Every plaid jacket I see 
> >has beautifully matched plaids that look so perfect!

> >What did I do wrong?

> The trick is, when you lay out the pattern pieces, to match the
> plaid at the sleeve notches.


Anne Paulson writes:

> You can't necessarily match both front and back notches;  you only can
> if you matched the plaid at the shoulder/armhole corner.  And you
> might not want to match the shoulder/armhole, because it might make
> the plaid be in the wrong spot on the garment.


You can match sleeves to both front and back, height-wise. If you
manage to match side-wise, you are just lucky. It is not enough that
the front and back match side-wise, the width of the sleeve (cap)
matters too.

If you match the sleeves to both front and back, you probably can't
match front, side(s) and back under the arm, at least not for a fitted
design. This is because the front and the back need different lengths
to reach the shoulder (around the chest and around the back,
respectively). This *can* be amended by cutting the arm somewhat on the
bias, but then of course you will have a sloping pattern on the arm.

Which way you want to trade off the pattern matches you must decide for
each combination of design and pattern individually.

---
         ______                     _~
        (_/_ _  _  _/) _  . /)     / ) , _/)     _
       __/ _/(_(/_(/__/(_/_/Z_    (_/_/)_/__/))_(I_/)_
From: charleen@net.bio.net (Charleen Bunjiovianna)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Re: I'm a Bo-oo-zo and I'm okay..
Summary: It's a sad day for alt.sewing...
Date: 6 Nov 92 21:47:46 GMT
Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Biology

In article <1992Nov6.194852.28994@cbfsb.cb.att.com> motto@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (mary.rita.otto) writes:
>>Is it wrong to attempt to utilize a machine or a computer to assist in this
>>task?  
>The point was never that using a machine is wrong; the point (which so many
>of the flamers have missed) is the use of machines to eliminate human
>participation.  

I think most of us understand that perfectly well.  It's not as if the
point were even original or new:  the Luddites* were embracing your ideas
long before you were born.

You'd like to be able to dictate to people what they ought to want and
how it ought to be available to them.  No, thanks.  Never in my wildest
dreams did I ever imagine I'd have to construct a KILL file for alt.sewing.
Sigh.  

Charleen

*Ludd.ite \'l*d-.i-t\ n [Ned Ludd fl 1779 half-witted Leichestershire 
   workman] : one of a group of early 19th century English workmen destroying 
   laborsaving machinery as a protest
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: fran@Cadence.COM (Fran Peterson)
Subject: Re: cheaper buttons?
Organization: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 18:51:17 GMT

In article <1992Oct27.145035.3541@mailhost.bl.cad.slb.com> hackney@boston.sinet.slb.com (Kirsten Werne) writes:
>
>It's the Gunne Sax Fabric Outlet, and it's at 35 Stanford (between 2nd
>and 3rd off Brannon) up in the City.  Phone 415-495-7971.  Parking on
>                             ^^^^^^^^^
>
>OHHHHHHH!!!!! What city???? I wanna go!!!
 San Francisco, CA

 Good luck,

 F [:)

 "I don't need a comedian to keep me in stitches"


Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: janez@base.bellcore.com (Jane Zysk)
Subject: Re: Sewing on Velvet
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 92 18:07:29 GMT

In article <10683@vice.ICO.TEK.COM>, nancyh@vice.ICO.TEK.COM (Nancy Hill) writes:
|> I have a bridesmaid dress I need to make and the bodice is
|> out of velvet.  Now, I've heard that sewing on velvet takes
|> an expert and I've become properly intimidated.
|> 
|> Any experience out there?  Any hints?  Or am I being
|> bamboozled?
|> 
|> Nancy

	I made a rather formal Christmas dress one year.
	The bodice is velvet and the rest of the dress is
	satin.  I had no previous experience sewing velvet
	and I had no trouble at all.  I didn't do anything
	different or special...cut out the pieces, lined
	up the notches and sewed seams.  It worked out
	beautifully (and 2 other ladies tried to hire me
	to make the same dress for them!).

	Dive right in, I'm sure you'll do fine.

	Jane
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: suzka@hardy.u.washington.edu (Suzanne Soroczak)
Subject: More holiday gift ideas...
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 16:03:34 GMT

This year I am making several different gifts for my friends and family.

1) popourri hats to hang on a wall.  Needed: small crochet hat ($.79), 12"
lace and 12" colored ribbon ($1.00).  Lace doilie ($1.00) Hot glue gun.  
If you put the popourri in the hat top, secure with light pantyhose.  Place a
lace doilie over the back.  On the front of the hat attach lace and ribbon.
I also put a small ribbon on for hanging.  I've made several and they look
and smell wonderful.  The best part is they are easy and inexpensive!!!

2) hat boxes.  Needed:  cardboard box and lid.  outside material, inside
(lining) material.  Beads or other decorations.  This is a little more
expensive, but again I made with glue gun.  I used a silking material for
the lining and used different sized boxes so I could make them a matching
pair.  

3) I also spent about 2 days painting clothes pins.  Soldiers on one side
and santa claus on the other.  needed:  50 small clothes pins ($1.00) and
red, black, white, and blue paint.  I'm not the best artist, but they look
close enough to be cute.  I am going to attach them to all the packages I
give out.

Hope this helps some!  Thanks for the ideas too!

Sue
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: vusl@athena.cas.vanderbilt.edu (VU Science Library)
Subject: Re: Family tartans
Organization: Vanderbilt University
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 22:18:49 GMT

I am glad the topic came up, because I have what is probably a rather naive
question about plaids.  I really like the Black Watch Plaid.  I like the
colors and would like to make myself some clothes using the stuff.  
	Yesterday I saw a woman wearing a pair of pants made from 
a Black Watch, but the interesting thing about them was that the major
lines ran vertically instead of horizontally.  The fabric I have seen for
sale has the major lines (by this I mean the bold white stripe and the
thicker of the blue stripes) running perpendicular to the selvedge.  Is that 
considered the correct way to weave a plaid, or is it left up to chance?
What are the odds that I will find the stuff I want with the lines running 
the way I want?  
	Any thoughts or insights appreciated.
					Carlin
--
	Carlin Sappenfield - vusl@athena.cas.vanderbilt.edu
From: hackney@boston.sinet.slb.com (Kirsten Werne)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Re: Looking for good prices on Pfaff sewing machines...
Date: 5 Nov 92 17:05:03 GMT
Reply-To: hackney@boston.sinet.slb.com (Kirsten Werne)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Schlumberger Technologies CAD/CAM Division


Sorry to waste bandwidth, but the mail keeps bouncing...besides, maybe someone
else is interested :).


I bought my machine (a New Home, bought it used) at Neverett's in downtown
Nashua, NH.  I checked the yellow pages and they do carry Pfaff.  I have been
very pleased with both their service and their prices (they do offer deals).
There number is (603)883-5409.  

Also, for whomever was looking for commericial machines, I just noticed in
their ad that they sell and service commericial sewing machines. 

Good Luck,

Kirsten Werne
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: shannah@netcom.com (Teri Miller)
Subject: Re: What makes a Bozo alarm go off
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 22:31:54 GMT

motto@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (mary.rita.otto) writes:
>
>   Would sewing still be the same rewarding experience for you if you
>   selected a "clip-art" picture of the garment, fed in your measurements,
>   dropped the fabric and thread and notions into a hopper, pressed a button
>   and in a while the program would laser cut all the pieces and then
>   precision stitch them together into a completed garment?  For me, all
>   enjoyment would be lost.  For me, the joy is in the designing and the
>   creating.
>
I see nothing wrong with that, *for you*.  However, no matter how one
slices it, sewing involves some sort of tool.  A needle.  A loom.  A
pattern.  Scissors.  A sewing machine.  A computer.  Whatever.  Where
does one draw the line?

I know a woman here at work who always looks great, yet to the best of
my knowledge, never sews her own clothes.  She always buys ready-to-wear.
Granted, that doesn't mean that she enjoys sewing, but who cares?  Are
you going to call her a bozo for not having sewn her own clothes?

Or only if she says she'd like to learn someday?  Or only if she says
she would like to "sew" her name on a vest using a sewing machine with
lettering capability?  What if she says she would "apply" her name?  
Does that make it okay?

If I had the capability to select a "clip art" picture of a garment,
feed in measurements, put the raw materials into a hopper, and get
a finished garment out of it, that would be great.  That would be the
convenience of ready to wear with the fun of choosing my own colors
and patterns.  Granted, I would lose out on the "fun" of trying to 
ease in sleeve caps, trying to make even buttonholes, and ripping out
seams, but I could give that up, and spend the time on quilts or
stained glass instead.

So, if I don't object to the "clip art" method, does that make you
a bozo for objecting to it?   How would you feel if I were to get on
the net and call you hopelessly old-fashioned, and allude to the 
possibility that you're computer-illiterate?

I feel you did basically the same thing to the gentleman that you
called a bozo, and that it was really uncalled-for.

I joined this group because I felt it was a place that was tolerant
of various skill levels and methods.  I was hoping to learn a lot from
people in the group, and not to be belittled because my methods or
values vary from others' in the group.  If asking a question about
computerizing something as boring (in my humble opinion) as monogramming
is met with flames, I'm not going to feel comfortable asking questions
about things like using a machine for French Heirloom Sewing (with all
due respect to Susan Oliver).  Are you going to flame me for daring to
use a sewing machine on fine Maline laces and 100% cotton batiste?

If so, please save your breath - my methods might not be the traditional
methods, in all cases, but they work *for me*, and I don't particularly
care of they win the "Mary Otto" seal of approval.
From: ICMXV@ASUACAD.BITNET
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: RE: Quilt Block Exch/Answer
Date: 5 Nov 92 20:13:19 GMT
Organization: Arizona State University

For about 2 years now a group called Round Robin has been exchanging
quilt blocks once a month.  The woman in charge is Anne Gockel at
alg@cornell.edu

Send her a note and she'll send you the description of the group
and how to join and you can decide if this is for you.
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: lkoch@troy.hssc.ksc.nasa.gov
Subject: More Gift Ideas
Organization: NASA
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 18:49:57 GMT

One of the things that I have recently started sewing was ties.  The  
current fashion trend includes ties for women so I have made a couple I  
wear to work and always gets compliments.  I then cover buttons with  
matchine material and glue earring backs on it.  

Also, my sister told me a way to make a decorative scarf that are a big  
hit up near Detroit where she is from.

I've also taken store-bought sweatshirts and made jackets out of them that  
has also been a hit.

Just a few new ideas.
From: morrison@cup.hp.com (Bobbie_Morrison)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Lycra fabric outlet in SF??
Date: 9 Nov 92 21:08:18 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.8 PL6]

Does anyone know of a fabric outlet store in the bay area that sells
a wide variety of lycra.  We are looking for brightly colored and
sometimes patterned high stretch lycra.  

Thanks.

--Bobbie Morrison
  morrison@cup.hp.com
From: chamberl@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Anne Chamberlain)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Re: Apron pattern
Date: 5 Nov 92 13:20:51 GMT
Reply-To: chamberl@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Anne Chamberlain)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD


So no one has the pattern for the apron with the Cathedral Window Pane
bib?  Does this mean I'm going to have to REALLY clean out my basement?

Anne
From: sallyh@StarConn.com (Sally Holmes)
Subject: Re: Calif. here I come
Keywords: thanks
Organization: Starnet-Public Access UNIX--Los Altos, CA  415-949-3133
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 04:44:39 GMT

dmd@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (debra.m.dicke) writes:

>Suggestion for a neat quilt -- I'm in the process of saving
>scraps from all the clothes I've made my daughter and I'm
>going to make her a quilt. 

Yes, I'm doing this too! - but not with scraps: it's a great excuse to
buy an extra quarter yard or so of every fabric I use for her, on the
grounds that I'll need it for the quilt. :-)

Sally

Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: cris@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (cristine.a.letourneau)
Subject: Re: bozo alarm
Keywords: tolerance
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 22:01:13 GMT

In article <1992Nov5.205115.3579@cbnews.cb.att.com> msm@cbnews.cb.att.com (melanie.s.maher) writes:
>
>Next week: people who buy the store brand of macaroni and cheese
>when it's on sale for 3/$1 instead of making it from scratch. :)
>
>Mel

Yeah - that's me, except around here you can get it 5 or 6/$1.  

Ob. sewing question:   is the fabric offered in quilt catalogs for 
$7-9/yard really that much better than what I can get on sale for 
$3/yard at home?  I realize that the selection is better and you're 
paying for convenience, but is the quality better?

Cris
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: carolyn@bucket.rain.com (Carolyn Peterson)
Subject: Re: More holiday gift ideas...
Organization: Rick's Home-Grown Un*x
Date: 11 Nov 92 17:37:57 GMT



Last year I made tree ornaments with our children's pictures in them
that were big hits with the grandparents.  I used a small picture--
the friendship size for each one. 
 
How to: 
Cut out a cardboard donut to frame the picture 
Cut out a cardboard circle, the same diameter as the donut 
Glue a thin layer of batting to one side of each piece (the outside) 
Cover the batting with holiday fabric 
Glue lace or eyelet trim on the inside edge of the circle 
Glue the picture to the inside of the circle piece 
Glue the circle and the donut together 
Add a red velvet bow to the top of the ornament 
Attach gold cord to hang with

I will probably make more of these this year.  Most of the gifts I
have finished are clothing items that various people have requested.
I have also made two sets of placemats with matching napkins for
gifts.  
-- 
-----
Carolyn Peterson
carolyn@bucket.rain.com

Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: fran@Cadence.COM (Fran Peterson)
Subject: Re: Sewing on Velvet
Organization: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 23:45:23 GMT

In article <10683@vice.ICO.TEK.COM> nancyh@vice.ICO.TEK.COM (Nancy Hill) writes:
>I have a bridesmaid dress I need to make and the bodice is
>out of velvet.  Now, I've heard that sewing on velvet takes
>an expert and I've become properly intimidated.
>
>Any experience out there?  Any hints?  Or am I being
>bamboozled?
>
>Nancy

I don't think it takes an expert but it does take patience in cutting
out,pinning and/or basting and sewing.  Just take your time and make sure
you lay your pattern pieces all going the same way with the nap.  

I can remember my first velvet sewing experience some 20 plus years ago
and I felt scared too but like I said a little patience and you'll
be sewing it like a piece of cotton.

Good luck

F [:)

Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: motto@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (mary.rita.otto)
Subject: Re: What makes a Bozo alarm go off
Organization: AT&T
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 20:31:23 GMT

In article <TIGGER.92Nov6001551@satyr.Sylvan.COM> tigger@satyr.Sylvan.COM (Grace Sylvan) writes:
>Something machine made (run by a human, remember that) is simply
                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Actually, what Michael was looking for was a machine where you put
a post-script file in at one end, and an embroidered emblem came
out the other end.  I don't see any creativity in that machine
operation.  The same with machine weaving - the machine is programmed and
all the operator does is reload the fiber as needed.  The original
programmer may have been creative, but the operator has no such option.
>*different* than handcrafted, in my book. I know that the knit shirts
>I can produce with my serger are superior to anything I'd do by hand,
>partially because I'd probably try and do it as quickly as possible by
>hand, being my children will outgrow them quickly. Having a serger in
>my house has opened up entire areas of clothing making that I had not
>been able to do before.
And I am all for the preservation of your ability to continue in that
creative endeavor.  And I am opposed to those who would say that the
"home-made" is ALWAYS "inferior", "cheap" and less desireable.  I
never (no matter what my detractors said) said "we should do everything
by hand".  The point I was making was that first women doing hand embroidery
were replaced by fewer women doing machine embroidery and now Michael is
looking for a way to replace those women with a computer which will
control the machine.  Converting to the machines seriously limited the
number of stitch-types which could be used (predominantly satin stitch)
and restricted creative possibilities.  .

Would sewing still be the same rewarding experience for you if you
selected a "clip-art" picture of the garment, fed in your measurements,
dropped the fabric and thread and notions into a hopper, pressed a button
and in a while the program would laser cut all the pieces and then
precision stitch them together into a completed garment?  For me, all
enjoyment would be lost.  For me, the joy is in the designing and the
creating.

Mary Otto
From: charleen@net.bio.net (Charleen Bunjiovianna)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Airplane quilt
Date: 6 Nov 92 00:47:39 GMT
Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Biology

Some years ago, in a different life, I saw a design for an airplane
quilt block in a quilt book.  But this was a long, long time ago,
maybe 15 years.

Now, my beloved is a pilot and I haven't made a quilt in years, but
I would love to make him an airplane quilt for Christmas and know
that something I had lavished many hours and much attention on was
keeping him warm through the winter.  And I know he'll use it; he's
one of those pile-the-blankets-on people.  Native Californian, thin
blood, you know. :-)

Has anyone ever seen such a design?  I'll be going to the library
tonight to start searching, but I thought I'd ask here, too.

Thanks,
Charleen
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: mcm@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Re: Duvet Covers
Date: 11 Nov 92 14:37:53 CST
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

In article <valerie.720113116@femto.engr.mun.ca>, valerie@jeeves.engr.mun.ca (Valerie Fortier) writes:
> Can some knowing person out there tell me if I can make a 
> decent duvet cover for a fluffy, puffy holofil comforter
> out of the same size flat bedsheets?  I have heard tell of
> this for several years, however I'd hate to invest in two
> sheets at $30 bucks a piece and end up with a duvet cover
> that looks like two sheets sewn together.  I have heard that
> corners may pose a problem.  Would this duvet then also fit the 
> real goose-down filled duvets on the market for when I get one?
> Also which closures would be more suitable, a button type 
> or a zipper (has anyone hear of ribbon ties as a closure??) 
> Any advice?
> 
> (I recently invested money into a fantastic brass bed, now 
> come the finishing touches to complete the look....oh joy! oh joy!)
> 
> Signed,
> Val
> 
> vfortier@jeeves.engr.mun.ca

I was in your shoes a couple of years ago.  I had just purchased a down
comforter and needed to protect it.  My first shot at it was to sew two sheets
together.  It looked just like what it was - and it looked lousy.  Since then I have
machine pieced a quilt top, backed it with my favorite of the 3 fabrics I used,
left a slit in the center and I tie it closed with ribbons.  It would look even
better if I had actually hand or machine quilted the top and then turned it
into a cover, but it looks pretty good.  I did put a layer of muslin behind the 
cover in an attempt to add body and it did add some without having a huge
impact on the cost.  I don't regret for a second that I used an expensive
fabric for the backing because with a thick down puff inside, you see the
backing constantly.  The ribbon idea works fine.  They do come untied fairly
regularly but it doesn't cause any problems.  I also sewed ribbons to the
corners of the quilt and the corners of the cover on the inside to help keep it
all aligned. 
Newsgroups: alt.sewing