NPRINS

Dear readers, I don't know if you have seen the (new?) McCall's patterns at their website - but something strange is going on.  More than half of their recent patterns are posed with bikes.  Hey, I love bikes and sewing!  My favorite bike/sewing blog is Bicitoro's blog.   I too wish to do more posing with bikes in my posts.  I guess I need to step it up myself. Here's a sampling of their recent pattern poses: McCalls 6694:  What in the world is this model doing?  She has five inch pointy heels on and is carrying a track bike around on her shoulder?  Or is the bike mounted to the wall?  I'm not sure.  Trendy (throw the bikes in!) but distracting pose. McCalls 6709: I actually like this jacket very much - I can see it tailored for bike commuters (add secret pockets?) and high-vis tape at the seams?  This pose isn't bad  - but I would vote for a more sensible heel.  But, hey, who am I to judge  - if one wishes to we...

Dear readers, I don't know if you know this - but I am an avid cyclist and challenged myself to make the following bag:  So, I finally finished a small bike saddlebag - let me just say I need to improve the design. This is what I was shooting for: Or                                   Both the above bags are manufactured for the fantastic  Rivendell Bikes. Compare: Well, I went a bit heavy on the reflective type and binding.  Side picture (above) From the back (above). Yes, I did insert a zipper under the overly large flap - next time I will make the flap out of leather, I think.   Did I mention leather is difficult to sew with - I used a roller foot (bought for this project and other oilcloth projects) - and leather needed (except when I forgot and used a jeans needle, oops). I ordered the straps (not yet received) from a business owned by a local couple bike-bag making team, called ...