Wonder Clips and other random stuff

(clip) I like the idea of using your gift coupon to get FREE wonder clips! I enjoy getting the free items for giving blood, or doing something I am going to do anyway. If you need or want the pants, it might be good to go ahead and finish making them. But maybe if you take them apart, just hold off on doing anything else with the cloth until you think thing through for a bit to see if any other ideas come to you. You probably have enough other scraps to make the quilts, or maybe someone else will bring extra scraps for quilts. Just my 2c worth! Barbara in FL

I used to wear DH's old gi quite a lot. They are very comfy and of necessi ty allow a broad range of movement so that they are perfect for any number of activities. So I would finish the pants and probably make the top as we ll. In fact I have several times over the past few years considered making a gi or something similar, as my current exercise program is limited to mild yo ga and the ancient art silk weaving exercises. Clothes that allow such a r ange of movement would be perfect for that. I just haven't got around to i t yet as I have been making a ton of cot quilts, rag dolls, other toys, and various winter outer wear, for the local DV shelter.

I would consider the fabric usually used in making a gi to be a bit light f or shopping or laundry bags unless it were doubled.

The fabric could certainly be re-purposed for quilting or perhaps even othe r clothing. Bear in mind that white cotton does not have to stay white.

NightMist

I don't think I have ever had a karate or judo GI that was light weight material. I have a Judo gi that the pants a quite heavy weight canvas, and the top is does not appear to be a denim or canvas, but it is a double-weave of some kind and is fairly heavyweight material.

In another class I was in, the instructor required (it could have been "recommended," but I am pretty sure it was required) that the uniforms were at least 12oz, or perhaps even 16oz denim ("premium" uniforms).

A few years ago I was in a Japanese sword class, and I made a hakama for that class, and I used a farly heavy weight denim for those, much heavier than any commercial hakama I have ever seen.

I am not sure what the weight of the material of the partially made pants I have is, or even how to find out, but I am pretty sure I never would have made a karate uniform out of anything less than medium weight (>= 12oz) denim.

ht for shopping or laundry bags unless it were doubled.

And there is the difference in schools, and possibly locations. The few schools we had here back in the day would hand out patterns or offe r mail order for a gi. If I recall correctly the suggestion for a gi that DH got was firm cotton, heavier than shirt weight, but not so heavy as upho lstry, and black. That I recall at all was because my MIL complained that it was really hard to find plain cotton at the time. She finally got some at Woolworths, because they caught on and ordered some plain cotton in blac k. It was akin to a midweight poplin. Nowdays we have but one school and they offer everything you need to make a gi, including after class sewing sessions, because they require the studen ts (I imagine exceptions for the littlest ones) to make their own.

When DD3 was starting Kendo in college, I helped her make her keikogi and h akama. we blew for 7 and a half ounce hemp, and threw it into the indigo p ot. Saved a mint over buying it, even with the pricey fabric, and with what the rest of her gear cost that was kind of important. I gotta say, hemp we ars like iron.

NightMist

It would be quite interesting to know the reasoning behind that requirement.

While it is indeed true that at one time companies like Century Martial arts or Martial arts online did not exist, and one had to make their own clothing whether it was am MA uniform or something else, that does not make making a uniform a "traditional" part of martial arts.

I am very glad that they provide sewing machines and essentially sewing lessons for those who do not know how to sew, and knowing how to sew, or at least how to do some basics, are useful skills, but I think today it is somewhat an unreasonable assumption to expect someone to do either of those things.

A tai chi class I was in recently did not require any sort of uniform, and what most people wore something like sweat pants or athletic shorts and a t-shirt. I suppose you could have worn a regular karate gi if you wanted as well, but no one did, so wearing one might look out of place, though.

If some specific uniform was required, though I might have just bought it, or I might have tried to find a appropriate pattern and make it.

I have never used hemp in sewing, but I have heard very good things about it, and a lightweight material (7 1/2 oz.) made of hemp might be all that is needed, but in denim, I wouln't use anything less than 12 to

Even if a 7 oz material in hemp is heavy enough for a martial arts uniform is enough, I might use the heavier weight material any way since that is what I am used to.

ke a gi, including after class sewing sessions, because they require the st udents (I imagine exceptions for the littlest ones) to make their own.

No sewing machines, they sew by hand. I asked the guy I know in the class. He told me that it is an exercise in mind set, a meditation on patience, responsibility, and movement. It is one of the schools where you start with Qigong. I know that may soun d redundant, what I mean is they start you with Qigong and you do not get t o move to the more martial practices until you have made sufficient progres s. Yeah, some of the people who took classes in hard disciplines are complaini ng about their lack of progress. Interestingly the people from the judo cl ass at the YMCA seem to be doing rather well. So my guy tells me anyway, i t's his first ever training. He was telling me about the training because I sew and do the ancient art silk weaving exercises (ba duan jin). I've bee n doing the exercises for quite a while so he thought I knew something abou t qigong. Actually I learned them from a friend who saw me sewing in tailo r's posture, so I really do not know much about qigong. I just know they h elp shake the kinks out and seem to help keep new ones from forming.

NightMist

Hello Brian, Hope you find a way to use up the white material. I have these wonder clips you are talking about and I use mine to make hot pads with Insulbrit e and put the clips to hold the binding as I like sewing my binding closed by hand. They have such a home made look. The wonder clips hold just about anything you need to use them for. I am also for you belonging to a quilt guild because the needy really need quilts. Keep up the good work. Sandy$