Showing posts with label sewing machine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sewing machine. Show all posts

Friday 5 January 2024

Warm up Sale: 25% off select caps!

 

Pride Racer Cycling Cap
All Photos © Red Dots Cycling

We warming up to start 2024! Enjoy -25% off select cycling caps! How about a gift for yourself or a friend? Now’s the time… and Free Shipping available! 
Ride on here and enjoy the savings… Happy New Year!
L’enfer du Nord Winter Cycling Cap

Friday 6 October 2023

Thanksgiving weekend sale now on!

 

New: Hunt Club Winter Cycling Cap

All Photos© Red Dots Cycling

Celebrate with us this Thanksgiving Weekend. Our sale starts now… gear up for your autumn rides this long weekend and ride with Red Dots Cycling to save 20% on Fall/Winter caps! Free shipping available!


Shop here

Limited Edition: Dogstooth Fall Cap


Saturday 1 July 2023

TdF & Canada Day Sale!

 

New: Bilbao Cycling Cap
All photos© Red Dots Cycling

Canuck Cycling Cap


We're celebrating! Le Tour de France starts in Bilbao, Basque Country and it's Canada Day! Enjoy -20% off selected in-shop caps and get Free Shipping!


Thursday 18 May 2023

Long Weekend Sale Now: -25% off caps!

 

New: Bilbao Cycling Cap

Photo© Red Dots Cycling


We're starting our Long Weekend Sale now! Enjoy -25% of selected cycling caps including our newest: Bilbao, Amore Rosa and Allez Allez Allez! 

Don't wait too long, limited quantities. Free Shipping available!


Friday 9 December 2022

Happy Holidays -20% Off Sale!

 

King Dutch 
All photos: Red Dots Cycling

The Holidays are upon us. We're going to help you celebrate by giving you -20% off selected cycling caps!
Happy Holidays!

Shop here


Monday 29 September 2014

Handmade Caps = Handmade Ribbon

Vive le France Ribbon!
Just finished sewing our custom tricolor handmade French ribbon for 
a new batch of Grand Départ Cycling Caps - upcoming!
photo Red Dots Cycling






Friday 4 July 2014

TGIF: Road Holland Custom Cap For Bike Virginia, Making 50' Of Custom Ribbon, TdF & New Cap Update.

The Road Holland serious & stylish duo: 
Jonathan Schneider (left) & Richard Grossman (far right)
Photos courtesy from roadholland.com





TGIF opens with our recent custom cycling cap collaboration with our friends of Road Holland: the makers of excellent cycling jerseys based in Florida. Richard Grossman contacted me requesting custom caps for their Bike Virginia cycle event. It was a success and may I say Jonathan and Richard look supremely dapper in our custom cycling cap paired with their cool Hilversum jersey - that I also own.  We thank Jonathan and Richard!








The always entertaining Jonathan at Bike Virginia including our custom Road Holland cycling cap...






Once again, we are busy with yet another custom cap order - so busy we've decided to bring in the extra artillery...


Tour de Custom Ribbon...
When the going gets tough our Pfaff 96 gets going!
photo Red Dots Cycling




I have been recruited to work on our Pfaff 96 mechanical sewing machine, we lovingly nicknamed - The Panzer. See photo above - that's me making 50' of custom handmade ribbon for our current order!






We are excited the Tour de France is tomorrow. And, Carolle and I will be up early to watch it live - around 5 AM.


An update on our new cycling cap: Due to unforeseen circumstances we've delayed the launch of our new cap. We planned on introducing it for tomorrow's stage 1 of the Tour only to be delayed until next week!





Richard



Sunday 2 March 2014

New Classic... Flandrien Cycling Cap

Flandrien cycling cap
photo Red Dots Cycling





We love the classic season with a particular fondness for the grittiness for the Belgian riders called Flandriens. The foul Flemish weather, cobbles strewn roads are the perfect setting to produce a type of rider that accepts self-sacrifice and grim suffering in glory. In the past, we had a few Belgian cycling cap variations and this time around Carolle and I re-designed a true classic... Flandrien Cycling Cap!

With the aid of our wonderful embroidery machine, we create a custom embroidered detail in honor to a ...Flandrien.




Our custom embroidered detail.
Photo Red Dots Cycling




It is made from pre-washed linen/cotton for a comfortable wearing cycling cap. We sew in a pre-washed 100% cotton wicking band - so please go ahead and sweat over the cobbles. And, lastly no Flandrien is not complete without the Belgium light blue under brim.

Be inspired, ride hard, embrace your inner... Flandrien!




Richard


Friday 1 November 2013

TGIF: Custom Embroidery Cycling Caps: California Bear & Manx


Our California Bear embroidered custom cycling cap.
photo Red Dots Cycling






Since September, we have been on a torrid pace busy working on custom embroidery cycling caps. We're proud to show two examples; the California Bear custom cycling cap for an American client and our current project, the Manx cap for our client from the Isle of Man. And, it doesn't look like it's stopping soon, we are also working on custom embroidery caps for two teams in Canada and the US.

It's fun to finally take advantage of our wonderful embroidery machine!




On the hoop...

The Manx
photo Red Dots Cycling



Friday 25 October 2013

TGIF: In Praise For The Panzer

photo Red Dots Cycling




TGIF is the day for a tribute to my Pfaff 96 sewing machine affectionately dubbed, 'the Panzer.' 

We're currently producing a small batch of Piccolo inner tube pouches for a special order for a UK bike shop, and enjoying it with the help from the Panzer. I use it especially for rubber. I have much praise for this all mechanical machine. My Panzer can handle almost anything - effortlessly sewing through the tough rubber. It's super strong. After a session I take care to clean and lubricate it ... ready for more inner tubes. 

It's wonderful!


Carolle






Saturday 29 June 2013

TGIF: Tour de France, Tour de Pfaff & Canada Day Sale

Vive le Tour!
photo Red Dots Cycling




TGI-TDF!

Today is the start of the 100th edition of the the Tour de France and we couldn't be happier!





Humming along...
(l to r): Blue monster, Panzer &  the wonderful Phaff embroidery machines.
photo Red Dots Cycling



It really is a factory here as we are busy working with the blue monster, panzer, embroidery and serger machines. Our anticipation for the Tour de France is equally matched with finishing our upcoming limited edition cycling cap and recycled rubber wallet. We will work through the long weekend to finish and I can tell you  - we are excited!




Thanks to Sabine of Pfaff for my free 5-pack titanium needles!
photo Red Dots Cycling




One can never have enough needles...

When I saw the free 5-pack needle offer from the Pfaff Facebook page, I decided to pay Sabine of Pfaff on Granville a visit. It's so nice to visit her surrounded by all those beautiful old mechanical Pfaff sewing machines. She suggested a 5-pack Titanium quilting needles and I'm so happy to receive them Free! 

Afterwards, we made our way downtown to the iconic Dressew store to pick up zippers and ribbon for our special caps and wallets. Richard found a mini French flag to celebrate le Tour.





This Monday, July 1st is Canada Day!

To celebrate we will have a Canada Day Sale! Check back this Monday for even lower prices on discontinued items and our new cycling caps ie. Venga! Venga!, Cappello da Ciclismo Nero, Viva La Corsa Rosa & Tempo. Remember for one day on Monday July 1st,  our prices will be slashed even further!



We get a warm and fuzzy feeling when we received this Tweet ...

Thanks Andrew!











Saturday 22 June 2013

TGIF: Summer Sale, Achtung Panzer! & Ready with Velcro for Rubber Week!




In preparation with rubber week,  we have been using our new Pfaff 96 sewing machine.

It's fabulous. The older metal machines are meant to sew through virtually anything... built tough like a Panzer. That is the new nickname of our new beloved Pfaff sewing machine. It's well made, sturdy and made to work efficiently for many years. It's difficult to pinpoint the exact year of the 96. There is not enough information online to make a positive id. One clue is the 'Made in West Germany' label on the back of the machine.



Achtung Panzer!
photo Red Dots Cycling




Made in 'Western Germany'.
photo Red Dots Cycling


Built tough like a Panzer.


We already started with first prep of the new and improved inner tube wallet. Richard has cleaned and cut the tubes for me to sew the fabric. We will have a more detailed post on our new wallet upcoming!




Love Velcro!
photo: Red Dots Cycling



We love Velcro. We use quite a lot of it in our wallets. There's something magical about the common fastener. It comes as a two-piece loop and hook and mates naturally to form a tight closure. We have a new supplier and purchase two rolls to last for quite sometime. And, the price couldn't be beat!



Our Spring Sale is now our Summer Sale on selected caps, pouches and wallets. We decided to extend our 25-40% Off Sale while quantities last!





Friday 7 June 2013

TGIF: Pfaff Time!

Photo Red Dots Cycling



We have been Pfaff Again!

Thanks to Sabine of Pfaff on Granville for a few goodies we picked up yesterday!

When we bought our dream machine, we had a bag of goodies as part of a special promotion. I'm excited to discover  a box of 12 huge spools of embroidery thread. Any sewer knows that one can never have enough of thread! 



The special bonus promotion I received with my Pfaff Creative 3.0!

Photo Red Dots Cycling



And not to mention the Pfaff exclusive scissor collection!

I'm in Pfaff heaven! I don't know all the specific tools, but I'll soon happily, figure it out. One thing is that I do admire the Pfaff craftsmanship! It's always fun to visit the Pfaff store. They have so many goodies and have extended their line of sewing machines. Sabine is most welcoming and she gives demos on all of the machines. And, she also encourages you to try the machine. The Pfaff display is worth a look showcasing most of their wonderful machines throughout their history. 

When I purchased my embroidery machine, I mentioned to Sabine that I wanted another machine just for rubber... and MAYBE they would have an older machine for me to use. Well, Sabine quickly said that they would find an old machine for me. I didn't want anything too new, I wanted an all-metal tank of a machine, to replace my old beloved Singer Fashionmate.

When I picked up my bag of goodies I was surprised in what was waiting for me! It's a Pfaff model 96! It is an older machine and I tried to find out the origin of the machine online. What a wonderful machine it is! Made in West Germany all mechanical and built like a Panzer. I have tested some rubber and it will be perfect!

Along with my serger and embroidery machine - I'm extremely happy to have another Pfaff in my family! 


Thanks to Sabine of Pfaff on Granville for her expert help and to make it easier for me to find my dream machine!




Part of the amazing machines on display!

Photo Red Dots Cycling



Sabine points out the details of my new Pfaff type 96!
Photo Red Dots Cycling

Carolle



Wednesday 5 June 2013

I Sew Labels

Sewing Along!
photo Red Dots Cycling




Carolle is spending more time on the computer figuring out the design. And, that means I can participate in the sewing part of the cycling caps. After it's programed, I gently guide the fabric and presto - a label is sewn, automatically the thread is cut and it's finished. This Pfaff is a wonderful machine!

My new job -  sewing on labels!



The finished label!
photo Red Dots Cycling




Richard



Friday 31 May 2013

TGIF: Welcome Our New Embroidered Logo! & Extending the 25-40% Sale!


Introducing our new Logo,
on the classic Cappello Nero.
photo: Red Dots Cycling




This is a cause for celebration!


Not only it's TGIF... we also designed and made our first Red Dots Cycling embroidered logo! This is a major change to our cycling cap. We added a size label, description label, a new wicking band and... the new embroidered logo!

It all took time, plenty of hard work (Carolle you are the best!) and we are happy that this is the final cap version. We are proud of our new logo and pretty soon you will see it in all of our cycling caps!



The new 'r & d with 3 red dots
photo Red Dots Cycling




It's fitting our new embroidered logo appears on our classic and popular - Cappello da Ciclismo Nero Cycling Cap!



This is the first logo made on our new embroidery machine rendered on a free online software. It's quirky and crashes but it is free. For now, we are making it work for us. Eventually, our next goal is to acquire the proper software for our machine.


Good News!

We decided to extend our popular 25-40% Off Sale because we want to make room for the new cycling caps with embroidered logo. Happy shopping on excellent deals!




Richard

Friday 24 May 2013

TGIF: First cap made from our new Pfaff, new Logo & How to wear a cycling cap by Gianni Bugno,



Cappello Nero Rosso
photo: Red Dots Cycling




TGIF time!


We just made our very first small run of Cappello Nero Rosso caps on our new Pfaff machine!

We love it! The machine is fast and works so efficiently that we believe we will save in production time. The New Nero Rosso's are now in stock.


Carolle is busy working on a Red Dots Cycling logo design destined to be embroidered. I can't reveal it until it's finalize. So, we are at the fine tuning stage and it's progressing well.


We think highly of Gianni Bugno, former world champion (twice in 1991 & 1992), stage winner in all Grand Tours and classic winner. He is a cool guy and remains in cycling as a RAI TV helicopter pilot and president of CPA (Association of Professional Cyclists). We love this video of the former world champ revealing 'how to wear a cycling cap.'

I think he would look even better with one of our caps!






Wednesday 22 May 2013

My First Thoughts on my New Pfaff Creative 3.0

Simple embroidery,
this took a matter of minutes to complete.
photo: Red Dots Cycling




We have our new machine!

The Pfaff Creative 3 is anything like my old Singer Fashionmate. A stark contrast of two technologies. The Singer was a mechanical workhorse, easy to understand and you can sit in front of it and just sew away. My new Pfaff is full of features that I'm happy to have. I don't recommend this machine for the first-time seamstress. It maybe overwhelming at first. Having basic sewing knowledge would make it easier to be able to get the most out of this machine. One thing that surprises me is that the Pfaff should never be oiled. For me, this is what I always do every month for maintenance. Now, all I have to do is dust it.




Two boxes equals Pfaff Fun!
One holds the machine and the other holds
the embroidery module.
photo: Red Dots Cycling




When I first opened the box I took it out and tried many different stitches that I normally use when making my caps. I couldn't help myself by trying more decorative stitches. This amazing machine comes with 250 stitch patterns. Mind blowing when my old Singer offered only two. The main reason why we chose this machine is it will replace my broken Singer as my new sewing machine and embroider as well.

Why do I know Pfaff? Well, I have a Pfaff serger I purchased from Sabine at Pfaff in Vancouver. That was back in 2006. I've used my serger as much as I sew. It is an essential part of my sewing room and works effortlessly without any problems. Based on my experience with Pfaff, it just made sense to step up to the new machine. I want to thank the ever helpful, Sabine of Pfaff in Vancouver!

It comes loaded with embroidery designs, but I don't think flowers and animals would make a good cycling cap design. What I'm interested to do is to design custom logos and import the designs into the machine.

This machine is very efficient producing the Celtic design I downloaded free online. It took minutes to produce as all I had to do is sit back and be amazed. New technology is simply wonderful. I envision our cycling caps to look even better with your teams' logo or a teams' name.

As you know, we did not reach our goal in the embroidery crowdfunding project. This means, at this time, I am unable to design logos. But, I'm exploring other options in order to digitize my logos. One thing at a time and one step closer to offering embroidered team cycling caps - Richard and I are excited!



Carolle





Humming along!
photo: Red Dots Cycling



Friday 17 May 2013

TGIF: Think Pink! Our New Viva La Corsa Rosa, Pfaff Time & Victoria Day Sale!


Our new...
Viva La Corsa Rosa!
photo: Red Dots Cycling





Our busy week is ending and there's plenty to rave about!

We love Giro d'ltalia pink, and we are pleased to announce our newest cycling cap... Viva La Corsa Rosa!

Made from comfortable wearing and naturally wicking linen/cotton. Our attention to detail is so Giro - we've added a hot pink under brim with hot pink stripe with a side detail of the Italian tricolore all the way to the brim. Also included, because sweating is part of the fun, is our new thick 100% cotton wicking band. It's made to absorb your sweat. So go ahead and sweat it out! Now available in Small/Medium (21"-22.5") and Medium/Large (22.5"-24").

We're approaching the dramatic mountain stages and we hope you are enjoying the Giro -  Viva La Corsa Rosa!




Full on pink love!
photo: Red Dots Cycling




photo: Red Dots Cycling




Today, we 'test drove' what will become our new sewing/embroidery machine... the new Pfaff Creative 3.0 -  it just arrived in store today!

Compared to our former Singer Fashionmate 257, it's really a world apart. Not only the Pfaff sews, it embroiders to perfection. Sabine, from the Pfaff store in Vancouver, showed me how the Pfaff embroiders my name! The results are truly spectacular the quality is perfect - it's exactly what I'm looking for in a machine!

I'm so excited, I'm preparing my sewing corner!


This is a long weekend for us here in Canada. It's Victoria Day on Monday any holiday is a good reason to celebrate! 


We are having a Victoria Day Weekend Sale! That means; 25-40% off on most items in our shop, for a limited time!

Enjoy the Giro and take advantage of our Sale!



Carolle



Friday 19 April 2013

TGIF: Venga! Venga! Cycling Cap, Tempo/Paris-Roubaix are back & Singer Fashionmate Update.

Richard with the new Venga! Venga! wool polyester
cycling cap!
photo: ReddotsCycling




Due to increasing demand for a lite wool blend three season cycling cap, here it is...

This is our new cycling cap called, Venga! Venga! It's a wool polyester brown/black plaid, comfortable enough to wear during Autumn, Spring and perhaps during summer. Wool has natural properties keeps you warm in cool temperatures and breathes well when it's warm.

What does Venga! Venga! mean? Crazed Basque cycling fans yell, 'Come on, Come on!' when they see their favorite cyclists ride by. Think of the Tour of the Basque Country or any race wherever the Basque based Euskatel team is riding. Along with a chocolate brown stripe we add a hint of Basque Orange to show our allegiance. This is a sneak peak look and we plan to go into production next week.


Also, we are working on re-stocking our favorite 3-season cycling caps. We now have ample stock on two favorites; Tempo and Paris-Roubaix!


My beloved Singer Fashionmate 257 is currently in the Singer ER. At this point, there's little chance for survival as I keep my fingers crossed for good news. I need to look at options for another sewing machine. It's emotional, I've had it since 1972 without a glitch. I'll found out next week as to the prognosis.


Our indiegogo campaign is about to hit $1000! Imagine what we can do with a new embroidery sewing machine on our new Venga! Venga! cycling cap!




Monday 8 April 2013

SOS Singer Sewing Machine with Help From Jen & Jim





It's so important to have friends to count on, in a time of need.

This past weekend, we were reminded how good our friends are. We worked on Paris-Roubaix Sunday, waking early at 4 AM for the exciting race. The day started early enough. Joey was over to work on his costume for his upcoming play. So, time was divided between his project and our ongoing huge custom cap order.

My Singer had been purring along, like it already does. Then suddenly, I noticed a muffled sound that reminded me that I needed to perform some maintenance. The sound grew consistent and loud. To my horror after lifting the top lid I discovered one of the gears was broken in half! Probably the only piece of plastic in this almost all metal Singer 257 sewing machine.

I had to quickly make a decision. Again, by this time my day was rather long and I'm tired so the thought of not having my sewing machine working (this is the first time ever) to finish my order didn't quite cause a panic. I was cool as a cucumber and I contacted my friends Jim and Jen for help. I've known these two for a long time, true friends. We've done so many crazy things together even crossing Canada, in three days in a snow storm, in a pick up truck.

Jen was so nice and invited us over to pick up her machine. She had it ready to go and showed me how to thread it. Now I can finish my custom cap order on time...

Thanks to the power of two good friends... Jen and Jim!