Sewing lessons being applied to this shirt on this go around:

1. Used the ultimate measurements on the last shirt to adjust the pattern slightly. The "Large" on the original pattern immense and cut inches off to tailor it to my taste. Hopefully did not shrink it too far, LOL.

2. Instead of cutting the pattern pinned to the fabric, marked the pattern on the fabric (still using that crayon. Tailor's Chalk ordered).

3. Used weights, not pins, to hold pattern down while marking. We have some Cornhole weights here I used.

4. Used good shears (Ginghers I restored and aharpened!) The difference in neatness is HUGE.

5. IRONED more than I needed to keep stuff flat.

6. Used scraps and am testing tension BEFORE sewing anything on the clothing item, instead of messing things up and redoing them.

Lessons:

1. Need less black colored gear, more glow in the dark stuff. Packing stuff up was a PITA. Lost my pen (black) three times in the dark/dirt. Going to have to buy bright colored pens or spray paint them, LOL.

2. Non DEET mosquito repellent worked, but the mosquitos still would land on my arm (but not bite).

3. Headlamp is maybe too bright, worried someone would call 911 for the flashing lights on the hill. Or report an alien landing.

4. Mosquito spray does not work against pincher bugs/spiders/whatever the heck tried to crawl into my pants/underwear (!). Need to bring a packable chair.

Issue not apparent on this photo: Joining the handles and the rest of the bag was very messy. I tried to clone what is done on the Chicobag, but what is inside, what is outside, etc. was not clear to my befuddled brain last night (jet lag). So, I ended up with unfinished edges on the OUTSIDE of the handles. I fixed all of that by wrapping the edges a few times and hemming them closed, but it was not very elegant, AT ALL.

On the other side of the bag, I had to sew another piece of cloth across a massive rip in the bag. There was a rip in the fabric, and I didn't notice it. (the ripstop was 50 cents as a remnant, for that reason).

The edging on the Chicobag is very neat... I think it's separate edging sewn around the edge of the bag. Mine is just stitching of the material, which is not very neat and not very elegant. #lessons

Lessons:

1. Duct tape and attic insulation (or padded envelope) version is a lot easier to construct. That's what I usually use for this. Also, very repairable (slap more duct tape on it when needed, ha ha). I decided to sew a bag because a big insulating and reflective bag, while great for SOTA/hiking/POTA, not great for possible need to put this on a plane.

2. Figuring out the 3D of a bag with seam allowances is definitely more challenging.

3. Transition between bag and edge, edge and lid are iffy... lack of experience and understanding how those are handled. it's a lot easier to clone things than try to figure it out when you have zero experience in how things are done. I'll get those, eventually.

Probably should scout up some patterns for equipment bags for some of these issues.

#Random lessons:

1. Ran out of thread. Needed to buy more. Substituted a different thread, hopefully will hold up fine.

2. Upholstery thread is much harder to work with than normal thread.

3. End of the spool of thread was near impossible to use, due to change in tension.

4. Should have gotten softer cushions. The firmer cushion was hard to cut even with a electric paring knife. Used the firmness recommended for the Eames, but this was actually softer.

5. Exact shape and size of material is not that important, as long as the material covers the face of the cushion. It's all pulled back and stapled anyway.

6. Vinyl is extremely, extremely, extremely stretchy... must adjust everything to accommodate for that stretch.

7. Bought too much material... Probably an extra yard. Now I need to figure out what to do with that material. Used an estimate for an Eames, vs. the Eames clone I have, and there is no backing on the clone (thus less material)

8. Hardest part of this was the arms, particularly getting the welting evenly sewn around the edges.

9. Snap button didn't work, covering the old buttons and new buttons with fabric by hand was the best way to do this, and looks and works fine.

Important lessons:

1. NEED TO HAVE PLIERS to pull the nail/whatever that is in your tire. NO PLIERS? NO FIX. (no pliers are in the kit)

2. It's a LOT easier if there is some kind of lubricant available to insert the plug. This kit doesn't include lubricant, but the folks who had the flat's brother (who came to help, and knew how to use the kit) says it's a lot easier with lubricant to get the plug into the tire. (Edit: apparently the kits typically come with rubber cement as lubricant)

More #lessons from the #bike and #train trip.

5. I thought the mileage of the bicycle trails along the beachfront of Santa Barbara would take up all my allotted time. it turns out, your speed of travel on a bike in Santa Barbara is SO MUCH faster than walking AND driving (and so much easier than trying to deal with traffic lights and parking) that I crossed town three times while I was there.. and could have actually have seen the whole town on bike. In fact, the amount of time you spend looking for parking in Santa Barbara (having done that before) far exceeds the time required to travel by bicycle. If you are physically capable, bike > car in Santa Barbara downtown. (cont). #SantaBarbara