Can real men sew?

Greetings sewing group.

A few months ago I bought my first sewing machine. I always wanted one. As a kid, I had to hem my own pants and sew my own buttons and "customize" the square clothes my parents bought for me. You know ... tapering the pants, etc. I grew up in the 60's so tight pants were in for guys. Anyway ... finally got my machine and I'm having a ball!Went out and bought several yards of inexpensive material and just went at it! Searching the web for ideas and tapping my wife's friends for help. My male friends sort of look at me funny and say: A sewing machine? hmmm. I ride Harley Davidison motorcycles, collect Jaguars (cars) play piano, guitar, and harmonica in a blues band, do most of the repairs around the house (retired at 49 from AT&T), ski, golf, and tennis ... and now ... I sew. Just made slip covers for a wing back chair and an ottoman in holiday fabrics ... a few stuffed pillows for gifts (with zippers and piping!), fixed my wife's jeans (hems) and now am about to start on holiday curtians for the kitchen and breakfast room in time for our annual Christmas party. Then, I bought some real nice linen material to do the curtains in "my" bathroom. And I'm usually the only guy in Jo-Anns and when I tell "the girls" I'm sewing they're sooo helpful. This is fun. Just wanted to say "hello" and am enjoying reading all the postings and tips and just chatting. Happy Holidays!

"wendy" is on my online name.

Reply to
wendy
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Well, "wendy?" My aunts first boyfriend was a biker who sewed. Loved to sew jackets especially. but I think they called him snake. LOL Kitty

wendy wrote:

Reply to
Kitty In Somerset, PA

Welcome!

I grew up in the late 40s and early 50s, and sewed *all* of my clothes from about age 12 on.

You might ask them why they are "hmmmming" about your latest

*power tool*! ;-)

No need to be so defensive about it! Many of the best sewists in the world are/were men.

Sounds like the reception I get when I go into the local tool/hardware/lumber store. As soon as they discover I'm there to buy stuff for *myself*, they perk right up.

Sounds like you have fallen into a wonderful new hobby/vocation for your retirement. Enjoy!

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

My Father in Law, a 6'3" engineer who built RADAR during the war, made all his own trousers for many years as he could never get any long enough in the leg. he also made the suit my MIL wore when the two of them got married, and the one she wore to my own wedding. He made various tailored skirts and trousers for her, stuff for the grand kids, and tents foe Action Men! All this on his lovely old hand cranked Singer. :)

Yes, real blokes sew. Ditch the 'Wendy'. No-one here thinks it odd that blokes sew. We're always very glad to see you. Oh, and my 12 YO son is learning to sew, too. He's completed one quilt, has a couple more as works in progress, and I aim to get him onto clothes soon. :)

Reply to
Kate Dicey

A man who sews isn't weird. A man calling himself "wendy" makes the needle on the creepy-meter twitch...

My husband taught himself to sew back in grade school. Somebody gave him a ventriloquist's dummy and apparently the outfit was just too lame. He still uses both my regular machine and my industrial for various projects, especially if he needs it done right away. He's a tool and die maker and quite used to translating two dimensional plans into three dimensional shapes. NOBODY uses my serger but me, though. I don't even like seeing him open the case to look at the innards.

Kathleen "Take your hands off the Pfaff and back away slowly!"

Reply to
Kathleen

Hi "Wendy",

I'm with you, Bud. I'm a retired Mech. Engr. as of 9 yrs ago, and grew up watching my grannies sew. Sewed a few things (Halloween constumes) for the kids when they were home and got hooked on 50's vintage sewing machines when I retired for their mechanical beauty and operation. (I've worked on my own Jaguar 3.4 sedan engine and get the same vibes from it). I tune up and use my Singers 201, 300 and 400 series, 1200-1, Pfaffs 75, 77, 130, Necchi BU, Kenmores, Whites, New Home, Janome, Elna,etc. and haunt thrift stores for an old Bernina. I have an old Consew 28 walking foot needle feed for heavier stuff.

Started sewing seriously a few yrs ago when I started losing my legs due to post polio syndrome and needed a hobby to do sitting down. I've done curtains for #1 son's porch and functional stuff like bags and hobo purses from hippy-type materials, branched out into light leather goods like pouches and guitar straps and am pointed towards shirts now.

None of my friends who know me look at me funny for sewing, because they know with adult ADD I'm into everything anyway. [I've adopted the term ASD (Attention Surplus Disorder)instead of ADD, borrowing that term from a Susan Sontag essay.]

For me, sewing has replaced my engineering and design thirst which was slaked in industry and fits nicely with photography and woodworking.

I lurk here too, and contribute when I have something to say (or can't restrain myself), and there is a lot of experience available here from people willing to share.

Welcome.

JPBill (Just Plain Bill)

Reply to
w.boyce

~hemmed~

"wendy" is on my online name.

Well, wendy, my very manly, ex-marine son has was sat down at age 10 by his mother (moi) and he's been sewing ever since. He also makes his own chain mail for his SCA costumes. One of the more manly "pissin' matches" to watch are the smoke jumpers in Montana having *discussions* about who is most proficient at the sewing machine. The mend their own parachutes and clothing. None of the many men I know who sew are named "wendy". This could be more of a problem for you than sewing, JMHO.

Val

Reply to
Val

A friend had a young son who was afraid to venture onto Usenet with his own ID. So he used hers. After posting once with her name, he was flooded with date requests, the ghastliest p*rn and vicious hate mail. He didn't return to the internet for several years. Using your own name is sometimes a good idea.

Mike

Reply to
Michael Daly

I, too, sew and embroider with a machine. I am on a medical disability due to scoliosis and ruptured discs, so I can't stand for long--sewing is something I can do mostly sitting. I started because my wife and I moved into a new house and we had all the drapes to make--she worked full time and I sat around being bored. Figured what the hay, might as well try to get some of this done and took lessons at JoAnns--that was a trip! Anyway, I finished the drapes two weeks ago and am now going to start "redoing" some of the early and less professional looking ones.

Jon

Reply to
Jon

Not sewing, but my brother could crochet as well as I could and I taught him how to do it.

Reply to
Autumn

My engineer, who can sew but doesn't enjoy it does like my sergers. One morning when I'd had the flu for several days, I heard the serger come on... he'd decided to mend some old underwear, as he hadn't done any wash... Did a credible job, too.

My father could sew, too, but again, didn't enjoy it. My mom (who also didn't enjoy sewing, was crabbing about how something was sewing together, and my father said something about sewing was easy. At which point my mother told him that he could just finish the job himself if he was so smart... so he did.

I know quite a few guys who sew. And then there's my welding instructor... I don't know whether or not he sews, but one of his questions before taking on a student is "do you sew?". The ones who sew are used to using hands and feet together, and seem to learn faster.

Kay

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Reply to
Kay Lancaster

"There! I've made you a new set of warm night-gowns with four button-holes in each. See if they are not neatly done," said Rose, one day, some weeks after the new lessons began.

"Even to a thread, and nice little bars across the end so I can't tear them when I twitch the buttons out. Most superior work, ma'am, and I'm deeply grateful; so much so, that I'll sew on these buttons myself, and save those tired fingers from another prick."

"You sew them on?" cried Rose, with her eyes wide open in amazement.

"Wait a bit till I get my sewing tackle, and then you shall see what I can do."

"Can he, really?" asked Rose of Aunt Peace, as Uncle Alec marched off with a comical air of importance.

"Oh, yes, I taught him years ago, before he went to sea; and I suppose he has had to do things for himself, more or less, ever since; so he has kept his hand in."

He evidently had, for he was soon back with a funny little work-bag, out of which he produced a thimble without a top; and, having threaded his needle, he proceeded to sew on the buttons so handily that Rose was much impressed and amused.

"I wonder if there is anything in the world that you cannot do," she said, in a tone of respectful admiration.

"There are one or two things that I am not up to yet," he answered, with a laugh in the corner of his eye, as he waxed his thread with a flourish.

"I should like to know what?"

"Bread and button-holes, ma'am."

Reply to
Joy Beeson

well ... it seems like there's lots of guys out there sewing or sho know guys who sew. Great! It's a real craft worth developing. In this sci-fi hi- tech world it's refreshing to see some people using their hands and sense of creativity.

oh, and "wendy" is one of my golden retrievers.

Reply to
wendy

Good for you!!! And I bet your wife is thrilled, too.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

My silversmithing instructor said that those who sew have an easier time understanding how to make a 3-dimensional object from 2-dimensional materials.

Reply to
Pogonip

Yes, the abstract of working with "yardage" and working with "sheet" materials would be very similar.

me

Reply to
me

My brother-in-law was (is) an engineer. He taught himself to sew. He made slacks for my late sister who was an invalid for several years before her death because she had a problem finding ones that fit. He sewed a lot of things...don't know if he still does or not.

Reply to
Dottie

Just to further the idea that men sew, I was in Fabric Depot today (big Portland fabric store) -- I was doing a quick check of the Burda catalog, fellow across from me was going through the learn to sew patterns in KwikSew. He'd previously made himself a t-shirt (and had it on, a credible job), and was now after some lounge pants. He hadn't worked with KwikSew before, and I mentioned tracing the pattern instead of cutting it, and told him they were among my favorites for patterns that went together well. Saw him a bit later -- he'd collected several pieces of nice flannel, and was looking at some polar fleece and wondering if it sewed easily. We all assured him it did, so he went back for a polar fleece vest pattern, and I directed him to the WonderTape.

8-)

It's rare that I'm in there that I don't bump into some guy who sews.

Kay

Reply to
Kay Lancaster

I see in 3D... A flat bit of fabric/wood/sheet metal is just a 3D thing waiting to happen. :)

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

Wendy; I've got a brother-in-law who does not know what to make of me. I' ve worked on cars, built buildings, run a manufacturing business, cook, and SEW! It drives him nuts as "sewing is women's work" to him. Yet he would think nothing of going to a tailor (male, of course). I just laugh at him and call him a stereotype then go on about my business. He's too old to change and I'm not about to worry about what he thinks. Lots of outdoor types of guys sew. Go for it.

Here are a few of the sewing machines I have/use:

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sewing. I find it very relaxing compared to many of the other more dangerous things I do and machines I run.Jim

Reply to
James Riser

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