mapsedge | Making lycra rectangles, and the new cutter

Seamlyne has taken on a very interesting job. I really don't feel like I should provide many details as to the WHOs and the WHATs, but this I can say: in terms of scale it is by far the largest project we've ever taken on. If all goes as planned there will be more to do, and this may be the project that will finally let the business do what we've always needed it to do, which is help supplement my income. This is where the subject of TOOLS comes up.

You see, we have 2000 rectangles to cut, in, say, nine different sizes...a hundred here, four hundred there, another couple hundred over there. Scissors? Gosh, no Batman, that would be crazy.

Say this with me: ten inch vertical cutter.

Say it out loud, let the words taste the air: t e n i n c h v e r t i c a l c u t t e r

Draw out the "r" at the end of cutter. Cutterrrrr...

Goosebumps, yet? Yeah, me too. Hee.

It is a jig saw that walks upright, for want of a better analogy, and can cut a stack of fabric up to 10" thick. It dims the lights when you switch it on; it's loud; it vibrates the table; it will take your damn hand off as neatly as a lightsabre and it cut out three hundred 4" x 18" cotton/lycra rectangles in just under ten minutes.

It took half an hour to get the fabric - twenty four layers of it - laid out, but the cutting was done, as I said, very quickly. I'm totally geekin' out over it.

The only problem with the project so far has been we can't figure out the math. There's theory - "piece #1 is 9x16 so that means we can get x out of Y yards" - and then there's actual practice - "Did you leave enough on each end for the knife to grip?" and "Whaddayamean we're fifty yards short?!". Still, I expected this first round would be rough, and tried to prepare the customer for that. Let's hope he remembers that.

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of talking to you about how I learned to do piping. I think you taught the person who taught me... ;-)

Piping's been my Big Thang for years (right Rowan?), so it's entirely possible. Story? Or, email if you prefer: tailor at seamlyne.

I was just showing you my new costume & telling you about this neat trick I'd learned from Cathy on how to make A LOT of piping from almost any fabric. You laughed & said "yup, & she learned that from me."

Okay, okay...fist to forehead...Cathy, Cathy...damn, I feel bad I don't remember this person. (Not surprising, but still. Electric Light Orchestra is also making it hard to concentrate.) The name is resonating, though. Rrrr.

blonde, great seamstress, had been in Court in 91 or 92, very slight speech impediment, cute hubby who had also been in court (he made my crown). Cannot remember her last name, sorry, but she helped me w/ most of my costumes for my last year in KC.

YES! Cathy...um...oh poop. Yep, they were in Olive Branch Players..her hubby ****blank*** (David? ..tall and lanky) used to polish my boots while I was wearing them.

Oh, I hate when I can't remember names. Really lovely people.

Wherefore were people not talking to you?

I just took the role that was offered, as any good actor would. Ah well, change is difficult for everyone, even me.

I think his name WAS David. Tall, brunette, looked GREAT with a beard & a little goofy w/out.

Steve....not David.

Cathy Bazzy. Cathy and Steve ....Bazzy was her earlier married name but damned if I can remember his last name.

Knapp! Steve Knapp...they got married the next year and I think she fainted during the wedding. Gods, the things we remember.

I had to cheat and look in my Renfaire file at old newsletters. That is one box I have gone through and sorted. And I found all sorts of old pictures and want to go update my "faire memories" postings but no time right now, dammit!

Jim used to call her cathybazzyface as an endearment (it was meant in a good way).

Ah, yes, I remember her! And I even vaguely remember showing her the piping thing. Daughter was Zadda. Her mom was great, but she was really hard to be friends with.

Yes, Zadda was a cutie, but spoiled, as i remember. Kathy and Steve were great and dear people.,..they moved away but I don't remember where.

My only real issue with Zadda was that there was no middle ground with her: she either gushingly loved you or knife-swingingly hated you, and one never knew what it was going to be one moment to the next. Very volatile. Strange, because her mom wasn't that way. Cathy was always nothing but sweet. I have my theories, amateur psychologist that I am.

*chuckle* Yeah, I'll bet. I'd enjoy hearing those theories sometime.

she had cocker spaniels & a ferret.

Right!

Yeah, me too....I'm the one they're talking about at Cy's when they say, "We're gonna pipe her coffin" ...which is really funny since I don't plan on using one!

Cathy....um, which Cathy?

Have I got her name wrong? I'd like to remember her correctly. She was one of the few people who continued speaking to me that year. ;-)

Making lycra rectangles, and the new cutter

I'm reminded...

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damned if I know...

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that's right!

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and...

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see above...