My Dream Embroidery Machines

Since launching our indiegogo project,  folks have asked us, "What is our dream embroidery machine?"


Well, this was a quest in itself. Embroidery is so popular that you can actual find machines ranging from $500 to $12,000 dollars! Obviously, the lower end $500 machine would not satisfy the needs of a trained seamstress (like myself). This machine would benefit the entry level crafter that wants to experiment with sewing and embroidery.

The 6-needle embroidery machine.

My eyes are on the second level industrial embroidery machine (above image). This is a 6-needle embroidery machine and would be fantastic; advance hoop setting (specializing for hats), 1000 stitch per minute - the works. This machine is made for production. But it does not sew. The price is in the 5-digits.

I swear by my 1967 Singer Fashion Mate sewing machine. Since working with my Pfaff serger, I have found a new love for the Pfaff brand. So, for half of the price of the 6-needle machine, I can have a fantastic sewing and embroidery machine. Bear in mind, this is NOT industrial machine. It would take me more time for production. Pfaff stands for high quality, I would still be able to produce a high quality product at a longer time.

Having said that, I would be HAPPY with either machine. Of course, these machines will not produce a custom logo, so I will have to purchase a special embroidery software. And, then we will be ready for custom embroidered cycling caps!

Carolle

TGIF: New Wallets/Pouches, Francophone Women's Entrepreneur & Shipping to Malaysia

New La Piccola's and Piccolo's!

Last evening I had a wonderful opportunity to present Red Dots Cycling at the Vancouver Francophone Women's Entrepreneur monthly meeting. It was a success, in front of an enthusiastic group of 30 business women. I started off the meeting with my 10 minute presentation and shared, quite proudly, with our recent success in Bicycling Magazine. I was the intro of the evening with the main portion following about how and why to build your business with LinkedIn. I'm grateful to go to the monthly meetings and it's important for me because I learn important business tips/strategies  and it also keeps my French alive!


Here's an update on our rubber madness week...

It's almost at the end and with the help of the blue monster sewing machine we will be ready for November's Make It Show in Vancouver! Everyone loves a deal... here's a link on how to receive $1 off admission! Hope to see you there!


We have tons of new La Piccola wallet designs ready and especially a special Skull custom design. We plan to have new wallets/pouches sometime up on the website by the end of next week.


We are becoming more global...

Today, we are shipping two winter caps to Malaysia... a first for us!


Have a great Friday everybody!

Carolle

We'll be ready!

Hope to see you there!

The Return of the Blue Monster

To ramp up our rubber inner tube production, we will also introduce a brand new product...

This weekend is the return of the Blue Monster sewing machine!

Stay tune for the continuing adventures as we sew our way through the rubber inner tube jungle with the help from the Blue Monster...

And, we will endeavour to save as many used inner tubes from the evil landfill!

Update: First Time Sewing

I'm giving my first time sewing, a whirl!

Our week with the blue monster sewing machine, I coin this phrase out of respect, is nearing the end.

Carolle and I rented this Sailrite sewing machine from Mason Sewing Machines in Vancouver, and preceded to make enough inner tube stock for the upcoming craft shows. Our first show is June 23 at the MEC BikeFest.

As I write this post, Carolle is finishing up on a new design we started at 3:30pm. Now, it's 6:41pm and we're almost done. We've tabulated the time spent and we figure seven days at 10 hours = average time spent with the blue monster: 70 hours. Not bad, good (exhausting) time spent.

While Carolle was grappling with the blue monster I was directed, for the first time, on her sewing machine. I've never used a sewing machine until now. I discovered fun and frustration trying to grasp threading, learning zig-zag & straight stitch, filling countless empty bobbins, screaming with broken thread, and re-gaining my composure. Really, the bottom line it's fun, the steep learning curve aside. I learned how much fun her machine is, it's forty-four years old. I guess it's liken to an old Italian steel bike, hint: my Marinoni. She takes very good almost god-like care with it; cleaning, oiling it basically pampering it with the knowledge that it will return the favor. And, it does. Something about an mechanical machine devoid of plastic it's all metal and built tank tough.

She experienced, for the first time, the uncanny displacement of hearing her sewing machine without working with it. Carolle still finds it weird.

I had my turn at the blue monster and I can tell you it's big, clunky, non-ergonomic, noisy (no complaints from our neighbours, yet) a sloth due to it's slow speed. But, it sure works well a good domestique in the line up of sewing machines. It will work with pretty much anything, as long as you feed it.

We've made incredible leaps at filling our rubber inner tube stocks including a some new products.

I'm feeling good putting out a full week's run with both machines going at the same time... and having fun with both!

Richard

A rare sight...

The Sailrite (aka blue monster) at rest.

Blue Monster

Sailrite Ultrafeed ZigZag blue monster!

It's super busy around here with heavy rubber inner tube production in our work studio.

We are busy getting ready for our first show, The MEC Bikefest June 23rd here in Vancouver. The sewing machine we rented is good for our needs, in fact, we are glad that we can rent to own. This Sailrite is made specifically for heavy fabric (ie. sail fabric). And, it can sew through rubber inner tube quite efficiently. We can now design new products we couldn't dream to do before. It's slow but it can go through pretty much anything (rubber that is) without a blink.

It's heavy around 60 pounds all metal, almost indestructible just don't forget to oil it when it needs it. It's a workhorse.

The only pet peeve is that it's not meant for intricate work, some of our designs are intricate... detail oriented. That means, we have to modify some of the designs keeping it simple as possible.

We have this blue monster until next Monday... and then we'll decide!

A Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine & the Shocking Pink Alley

A shocking pink alley greeted us!

Carolle and I set out this morning on a mission: to check out about possibly adding a heavy duty  sewing & embroidery machine to our business.

Our current sewing machine is a 1968 Singer Fashion Mate. Read about Carolle's story here. The machine is a workhorse for us... we love it. It does so much more than it was designed for. We plan on using it and we're hopeful to add another heavy duty sewing machine to help speed up our inner tube production.

The choice in sewing machines is extremely wide and it's difficult to choose due because we have to keep within our budget. We may have found a heavy duty machine but it's a jungle out there when it comes to embroidery.

Stay tune for more details on our continuing sewing machine quest!

 Our Workhorse Star!

Richard