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Bike Craft link love: “let it shine” edition

As the days begin to shorten and my morning commute gets darker, I’ve started to obsess about visibility. I know, I know. I could go buy one of those boxy neon yellow vests with the reflective trim—and honestly that works fine for my utilitarian, put-your-head-down-and-pedal commute through sketchy Tukwila. But it’s not exactly what I want to wear when I’m out running errands or meeting up with friends.

I’ve been playing around with unique ways to add reflective touches to the clothes I like to wear (with an eye on developing a couple new items for my Etsy store), and I wanted to share some of the cool tutorials and inspirations I’ve come across.

So grab some reflective ribbon and light it up!

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First, and absolutely most inspiring, is Tin Lizzie. She’s a cyclist and seamstress out East with an awesome flair for combining reflective shine with super chic style. Check out her awesome projects using reflective ribbon (which she lovingly refers to as “grown-up sparkles”). The “Tron” dress is incredible.

(Click on any image to go to its respective blog post, and then just keep wandering through her blog to read what she has to say. You can always come back to me again.)

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A close second for creative awesomeness is Breaking Chains and Taking Lanes. She’s lead a few demos (in Edmonton, which is unfortunate for those of us not in Edmonton) on how to apply nifty graphics out of retroreflective materials repurposed from industrial manufacturing.

She’s also got a good explanation of exactly what “retroreflective” means (essentially, the light bounces straight back at the source).

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Want to learn more about the techniques of adding some shine to your own wardrobe? Nona Varnado has a nice video of a workshop she led for an Etsy Bike Craft Night.

I like her theory of placement: Use reflective tape in such a way that you’re instantly recognizable as a human on a bicycle by a car, so they can know to avoid you.

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How cool are these reflective patches? Suddenly I have a desperate need for an embroidery machine.

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This is super cute: a DIY reflective flower to put on your handlebars. From Giver’s Log.

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And forget about adding reflective accents to things—what about just using the reflective materials to make accessories? Like these adorable bows from One Two Three Speed, or this flower crocheted out of reflective yarn from Two Knitting Kitties, or these reflective flower pins from Maked.

Get your cheerleader fix: Cycle the WAVE

Tags

Cycle the WAVE, Issaquah, ladies, Mom

Seriously, folks. When was the last time that you had an entire high school cheer squad waving their pompoms and yelling “L-E-T-S-G-O, let’s go, let’s go!” as you pass by?

Maybe never, if you were a band and drama nerd like myself.

You should all be totally jealous, though, because I got cheered on last Sunday. And not by only one cheer squad—no. I was cheered on by something like 4 or 5 different high school cheer squads, all because I rode with Cycle the WAVE.

I mean, I am pretty rad like that.

Mom joined me for some WAVE cycling action, along with one of her fellow teachers, Kristina, and my friend Robin. Now, this story is really about how awesome my mom is. (For the record, both my parents are awesome. But this story is about my mom. Dad and Rob were out shoe shopping while we were on the ride–you know, like guys do.)

But, back to mom.

Ever since our drizzly Mercer Island Ride, she’s been hunting down places to ride out by her house. That’s not an easy feat, given that my parents’ farm is surrounded by sketchy, shoulderless country roads where drivers flaunt the 50mph speed limit.

A cyclist’s main enemy out there, however, are the mangy half-wild dogs that some of our neighbors “keep.” They spend their days tearing after car traffic, and their natural view of cyclists is “Hey—easy prey!” As kids, whenever we’d ride our bikes out there, mom would ride with heavy rocks in one hand to pelt at them when they’d come snapping after us.

All that to say that if mom wants to ride her bike, she loads it on her car and drives somewhere where it’s not a nightmare to ride. That amounts to a 30 minute drive or more, but if you know my mom, you know that nothing so trivial has ever held her back.

She’s caught a fever, and she’s going to damn well ride her bike.

So on Sunday, we assembled in the Issaquah High School parking lot with a huge mob of other women on bikes, and set out on the 25-mile course.

The going was pretty slow at first, while hundreds of women at varying skill levels made their way out onto the course. I took it easy, chatting with Robin while Mom and Kristina chatted ahead of us. Eventually the crowd began to thin as the faster riders eased toward the front and the slower riders fell behind. Our pace picked up, but Robin and I kept up a steady conversation until I looked up and my mother was gone.

Long gone, up ahead.

Not content to be one of the pack, she and Kristina were a half-mile ahead of us, burning past slower riders like nobody’s business. Apparently I was not in for an easy ride.

The ride itself was incredibly fun. Besides the cheer squads posted up along the route, we were treated to a posh rest stop, traffic-directing husbands with cowbells, and firefighters handing out Hot Tamale candies. The 25-mile “Girly Girl” route was gorgeous, with lovely wide roads, smooth hill climbs and fun descents.

Mom’s riding a Scott with front suspension and some fairly burly tires (to deal with the burly countryside she rides in), so she fell behind a lot on the hills even though she’s in pretty good riding shape. (I’d post a picture of her calves, but I think she’d be embarrassed. But damn, my mom’s got some awesome calves now!) When we got to the rest stop, she confided that she’s thinking about buying a second bike. A road bike, this time, so she can go riding with some of the clubs that go out together in Yakima.

“I want a really nice one,” she said, musing. “And I don’t think I’ll tell your dad how much it cost.”

(Don’t worry, Dad—really nice road bikes run around $300-400 tops. Way, way less than a tractor costs. It’s all good—just check out her awesome calves!)

I tried to snap this shot when a car was going by an the sign said “30.” But trust me, Mom was going way more than 1mph.

If you’ve never done Cycle the WAVE before, you really should check it out next year. They really treat you right, with a yummy lunch, tons of swag, free massages and more. This year, we also had the pleasure to join one of Kelli Refer’s (of Yoga for Bikers) yoga sessions. She’s got a couple pictures on her website. It felt crazy good after the ride!

So, cheers! Here’s to my mom, here’s to Robin and Kristina, and all the other ladies out on their bikes! Thanks to the Cycle the WAVE folks for organizing it, thanks to the student volunteers and the vendors and Kelli and the musicians and the volunteer husbands and the firefighters, and a big big thanks to the cheerleading squads.

You made this theatre and band nerd’s day.

How to take your measurements

I’ve had a couple questions lately about how to take your measurements. These have mainly been coming from people looking to buy a custom merino wool jersey, but whether you’re shopping for ready to wear clothes, sewing your own or commissioning a custom garment, it’s helpful to know just what’s meant by arm length, bust and hips.

I mean, sure, we all know what those words mean—but what exactly do I mean when I ask you to send me some cold, hard numbers?

Well, let me tell you.

When I make clothes for myself, I have the luxury of trying it on and checking the fit as I go. When I make clothes for someone I’ve never met (like the gentleman in the UK who just ordered two jerseys), I’m constantly checking the garment-in-progress against the person’s measurements, taking into account garment ease, etc.

The numbers are all I’ve got, and if they’re accurate, they’re all I need.

To take your measurements, you’ll need:

• A flexible measuring tape
• A friend
• This handy dandy chart (one for ladies, one for gents [PDF downloads])

Tips:

• Wear snug-fitting undergarments, like a tank top and leggings. Ladies, wear the bra you intend to wear with the finished garment.
• Stand straight and relaxed.
• Keep the tape measure taut, but not so it cuts into you.
• Don’t try to suck in your gut. You want your finished clothes to be comfortable.
• It’s absolutely best if you have a friend to help you, but it’s not impossible to do on your own.

For the Ladies

Bust: With your arms at your sides, and wearing the bra you intend to wear with the finished garment, measure the fullest part of your bust. Keep the tape parallel with the floor.

Waist: The easiest way to find your waist is to tie a string snuggly around your middle, then bend and twist until it settles at your natural waist. This most likely isn’t the point that your trousers sit at, by the way.

Hips: With your heels together, measure the fullest part of your hips.

Arm: Place your hand on your hip with your elbow bent 90 degrees. Measure from the center back of your neck across your shoulder, to the elbow, and down to the wrist. I’ll add a couple of inches to this measurement when I make your jersey, so that your wrists stay covered when you’re riding.

Shoulder Width: Measure flat across your back, from the end of one shoulder to the other.

This isn’t a commonly asked-after measurement, but I like to know it because for ladies our bust measurements don’t always correspond to the measurement of our actual frames. That is to say, most ready to wear clothes are designed for B-cup gals. If you’re a size C or larger and buy a top based on your bust measurement, more often than not it’ll fit too large in the shoulders. And that sucks.

Torso length: Measure from the nape of your neck (that first knobby vertebrae you feel) to your lower back, at a point that’s level with where you took your hip measurement. When I create your jersey, I always add a couple extra inches to this measurement to make sure you have plenty of coverage when you’re hunched over those handlebars.

For the Gents

One of the major issues that a lot of guys have with ready to wear clothes is arm length and torso length. Say you’re a tall, muscular sort of guy. If you buy a shirt simply based on your torso measurements, the sleeves will often be too short because the manufacturer targeted that girth to a short, stout guy rather than tall, muscular you.

So grab that tape measure, and let’s get you something that fits you perfectly.

Chest: With your arms relaxed at your sides, measure around your chest level with your armpits. Keep the tape parallel to the floor.

Waist: The easiest way to find your waist is to tie a string snuggly around your middle, then bend and twist until it settles at your natural waist. Measure at that point.

Hips: With your heels together, measure the fullest part of your hips.

Arm: Place your hand on your hip with your elbow bent 90 degrees. Measure from the center back of your neck across your shoulder, to the elbow, and down to the wrist. I’ll add a couple of inches to this measurement when I make your jersey, so that your wrists stay covered when you’re riding.

Shoulder Width: Measure flat across your back, from the end of one shoulder to the other.

Torso length: Measure from the nape of your neck (that first knobby vertabre you feel) to your lower back, at a point that’s level with where you took your hip measurement. When I create your jersey, I always add a couple extra inches to this measurement to make sure you have plenty of coverage when you’re hunched over those handlebars.

And that’s it! Go out armed with your new knowledge and seek out clothes that fit well and look great on you.

Upcycled bicycles: Northwest designers edition

Tags

chain ring, designers, Etsy, inner tube, upcycle

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of upcycling, which is definitely the most fun and inventive part of the 3 Rs (Reuse).

You might also have guessed that I’m a fan of bicycles. Normally I gear my crafty posts toward things that are useful to you when you’re riding your bicycle, but for this round I want to feature objects that are actually made from bicycles themselves.

This list is limited to Northwest designers, and I know it’s far from complete. Got someone to add? Leave a note in the comments!

Now, without further ado….

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From Seattle, the very cool chain ring clocks from Lampcycle. I saw these folks at Urban Craft Uprising last winter and bought a desk clock for Rob. According to the Etsy shop info, Leo’s set up a stand at Pike Place Market with his fantastic clocks. Can’t wait to check it out!

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Also telling time in Seattle is ReCycle Clocks . I’m digging this Cherry On Top Sprocket Clock.

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For a man who still rocks the uber-sexy French cuff, a set of valve cap cufflinks from Mancornas in Seattle.

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Tons of people are doing recycled inner tube jewelry (feather earrings are super popular), but my favorites designs are coming from Urban Lace Jewelry in Portland. Barbi and Aaron create bracelets, necklaces, earrings and even masks with incredible detail.

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And for your head, check out Bicycle Heroes. Nick and Chris make excellently tailored hats from recycled clothing and remnant yardage, and are pretty passionate about keeping production green and Hecho en Seattle.

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Seattle company Alchemy Goods has been around for forever, and has an impressive lineup of bags and other products. They use mainly recycled inner tubes and advertising banners.

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Julian of Rebicyclist makes belts out of inner tubes and tires. I had a chance to check out his booth at the Portland Saturday Market, and they looked very excellent.

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Bonus designer from Indiana because I love this and my mom’s from Indiana so it’s practically Northwest.

And wow. I love this. Actually, I love everything I’m seeing on Nufangled Wall Designs’ Etsy page. My imaginary apartment is totally chic enough for this sort of style. (My actual apartment is a bit too… eclectic).

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So tell me. Who are your favorite designers who work with upcycled bike parts? Feel free to shout out non-northwesterners–I’ll definitely be doing similar posts for other regions in the future!

No words needed: Joan of Arc armor made from bike inner tubes

Tags

bike craft, fashion, Inner tubes, kickass

Wow. Just, wow.

From Chicago designer Grace Duval. You can see more photos in her Flickr stream.

Via Ecouterre.

Updated: Now with an actual image!

Tutorial: Sporty collar separating zipper

Tags

coziness, cycling bolero, separating zipper, sewing activewear

One of my favorite ways to learn new techniques is to dissect a ready-to-wear garment and try to figure out how they did it. That’s why when I first started sewing activewear for myself and my husband, I spent hours mucking around with every active jacket I could get my hands on.

I’d be hanging out with friends, when all of a sudden I’d notice how cool their shoulder seams were, and pretty soon they’re standing there shivering in the cold while I poke and prod their clothing. I can be awful, really.

There are about a billion tutorials on inserting zippers of all sorts, but I’ve yet to find one that teaches you how to insert one in a activewear jacket the way they do in ready to wear. And please, if I’ve missed one, point it out to me in the comments!

Here’s my very own trial and error version of inserting a separating zipper in a sporty jacket so that the end of the zipper is enclosed in the collar.

I spent all this week working on cycling boleros, and so I’m definitely feeling like I’ve got the technique down. So, without further ado….

What the hell do you do with ramie, part 2

Tags

fabric, lovely, musings, ramie

I feel like I’ve been running around like a chicken with its head cut off lately. You see, when we get the 5-week window of pleasant weather called “summer,” we Seattleites do everything we possibly can, trying to cram three months worth of fun into just a few weekends.

We go to three barbecues every Saturday. We drop everything to go eat dinner on the first patio we can find. We have impromptu swim parties in Lake Washington. We scramble to go hiking and camping and paddleboarding because IT WILL ALL END SOON!

All that to say that I haven’t spent as much time as I would like in the sewing studio, and I’m only now getting around to playing with that ramie I bought a month or so ago.

I read a bit about softening linen, and decided to try to soften my ramie by throwing it in the laundry. That’s it, no special treatment. Just in the wash you go.

The first wash-dry cycle softened it somewhat. You can see that a bit of the luster is gone, but it’s still got that pretty translucence.

Before:

After:

So I threw it in again.

And again.

I ironed it at this point, using the hottest steam setting (which on my iron is labeled LINEN). The ramie seemed to react just fine to the heat, although as you can see there are still ghosts of wrinkles in the fabric. I may try one more wash-and-dry cycle with just the ramie to see if it helps shake the wrinkles.

Or I may just not worry about it, and use it to create something that still looks fine with some wrinkling. Because seriously I will never wear an item that needs constant ironing.

At this point the ramie (I keep wanting to capitalize it for some reason) has a moderate drape. Poppy’s modeling it for us, draped both on grain and on the bias:

On grain

Bias

I’m leaning towards making a bias drape blouse of some sort, either a sleeveless shell or a 3/4-length sleeve tunic. A skirt is out of the question because of the wrinkle issue. Hmm. Thoughts?

Gals & bikes: The Vagina Monocogs and Cycle the Wave

Tags

alleycat, Cycle the WAVE, ladies, Vagina Monocogs

Hey there folks. I don’t do a lot of event announcements here, but there are two coming up in September that every bike-loving lady in Seattle ought to know about.

The Vagina Monocogs: September 7-8

First up is The Vagina Monocogs (September 7-8). Robert’s been organizing a series race for the past few years known as the Rebel Without a Cog. It’s a fixed gear only event that’s historically had a very masculine turnout, and so this year he’s throwing a women’s SINGLE SPEED only event at the same time.

The idea is that anyone is welcome to compete on a fixed gear bike in the Rebel, but only ladies on fixed gears and single speeds can compete in the Vagina Monocogs. The two events will start, finish and cross paths with each other, which ought to make for a splendid, chaotic party.

(Don’t have a single speed? Come anyway! Through the magic of zip ties we can immobilize your shifting capabilities, thus qualifying you to compete.)

There will be events on Friday and Saturday, each with individual prizes, but to win the overall prize you have to compete in all 3 events.

Oh, and the overall prize? Registration to the Westside Invite in Los Angeles in November, and cash to get you there. Pretty cool, huh?

The events, from the website:

The Alleycat will be Friday night and consist of multiple checkpoints that will be revealed at the beginning of the race.

The Time Trial will begin on Saturday around noon, and riders will be let off at two minute intervals. You must complete each checkpoint in order. Fastest time wins. [Map here.]

The Circuit Race will be street circuit with 4-20 laps depending on the length of the lap. Work together and chase down the leaders or blow up on a solo attack.

So grab a girlfriend and come hang out, challenge yourself, make friends, and just in general have a blast.

This event is a fundraiser for the North American Cycle Courier Championships in Seattle next summer.

Cycle the WAVE: September 16

Cycle the WAVE is another cool lady-and-bike-centric event happening next month.

It’s an incredibly fun, supportive event with four lengths of rides women can choose from. From the website:

The 15-Mile Little Sister is a short and sweet 15 mile out and back route that travels marked bike lanes. The total elevation gain is about 640 feet which averages 42 feet per mile. Please click here for the Little Sister Map and check back for the Little Sister Cue Sheet.

The 25-Mile Girly Girl is a fun ride through the rolling hills of Bellevue’s quiet neighborhoods and includes Bellevue College. The Girly Girl Map is available. Please check back for Girly Girl Cue Sheet.

The 42-Mile Middle Sister offers a few more scenic miles. The Middle Sister Map is available, please check back for the Middle Sister Cue Sheet.

The 62-Mile Burly Girl is a great ride and will challenge the experienced rider. The Burly Girl Map is here, please check back for the Burly Girl Cue Sheet.

Last year I rode the Girly Girl route with my cousin, and I plan to do so again with my mom. I found that the route was really well marked (with guides point the way at tricky intersections), and the rest stops were great. I especially liked the fire fighters handing out Red Hots.

Oh, and the catered lunch and free massages at the finish line were rad, too.

Plus, the whole event goes to support the WAVE foundation, which works against domestic violence. How great is that?

Hope to see you out on the road, ladies!

Fall enters the sewing studio

Tags

arm warmers, bolero, fall, sewing studio

Here in Seattle it’s becoming popular to lament the end of summer. Sure, it’s the 26th of August, but we’ve only had summer for like 3 weeks now, and September is generally a beautiful month. We’ve got some more good days ahead of us.

But every time the sun goes behind the clouds, everyone shrugs their shoulders and says: “Well, I guess that was it.”

La-la-la-la-la! I can’t hear you! The sun is still out and summer’s not over!!

Outside, at least.

In the sewing studio, however, I’ve finally gotten some spare time to work on fall patterns for the Etsy store. Some items to keep you warm on those crisp fall days, when it’s still too warm to pull out the wool jerseys and sweaters.

That’s right, folks. I’m talking arm warmers, and super-cute-n-cozy bolero jackets.

Here’s a sneak peak at some of the prototypes–keep an eye on the blog to find out when they’re ready to go live for sale on Etsy.

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