new these machines of mine were probably $1500-3500 each in todays moniesTeddyUrsadorable said:
Blacksmith said:
Sorry, I will respond properly soon. My weekend got cut by 50% with my Mommy because the government here has brought in strict travel regulations, which basically meant I had to leave the safer Cape and head back to the really bad Gauteng province. So I am now home alone again, when I should be in Cape Town with my Mommy. Life stinks and this pandemic is so unfair!!KnappFlannel said:Thanks babyann! I hope you have a great visit with your mommy. I can't tell you how many nights I've been up squinting at my monitor drafting patterns or sewing until 3, 4, or 5 in the morning and then having to drag my ass into work that morning
. I might be a little crazy in that regard, but I am over the moon I've finally started to find fellow abdl sewers out in the world. It strengthens my resolve to continue forward knowing there is an "us" of abdl sewers rather than just a "me."
It's a funny thing, I don't mind posting pics of my early attempts with knits, but something I haven't posted are pics of screws -- I repair and restore vintage sewing machines, and I can't tell you how many screws I've stripped out and have to search out replacements for because no matter how much I focus or how hard I try, I still cannot manage small screws very well with how things are even after 2.5 years of repairing machines. And I cannot sell machines with stripped out screws to the sorts of customers I have.
One thing I have picked up though is, if you have even a halfway decent sewing machine, once you 'learn' how your particular sewing machine acts, it will do most to all of the 'fine level' guiding and fabric movement for you, if you can figure out and provide the 'larger level' direction it needs.
I know how difficult it can be trying to figure out sewing things on your own. If you, or anyone else for that matter, might like to see some tutorials for a technique or have a technical/construction question, may be I could put together a short video or two ad hoc? Obviously I cannot assist anyone in person, but a video might be the next best alternative or at the very least make things a little less lonely.
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I'll keep an eye out for questions, and again I hope you have great visit with your mommy.
I just looked over South Africa on Worldometers' COVID page: you're in the middle of your third COVID wave. Your waves are quite sharply-peaked with low, calm valleys in-between. Hope y'all catch a break real soon!babyann said:
Yes, the figures are not good, I know. But I had taken the chance and an offer of a lift to travel the 1500km from Jo’burg to Cape Town so I could spend a really special long weekend with Mommy there. But then on Sunday evening our President brought in new restrictions which included no travelling between provinces for anything other than work. So the couple who gave me a lift down, told me they would be heading straight back early Monday morning (rather than Wednesday morning). I am too scared to fly, because of Covid, so Mommy said I should catch the lift back with them. I think I started crying when President Ramaphosa first announced it…and I haven’t really stopped yet. So now back in the worst effected area, and it is going to be a long, long time before I get a chance to go down again or before we can get vaccinated here (at present only over 60’s can register). It is really horrid. But thank you for the wishes.BobbiSueEllen said:
Really well done!KnappFlannel said:
I'm so sorry to hear that! That really stinks. I can appreciate how terrible extended 'alone times' can be especially when it seems there is no end in sight.babyann said:
Those shortalls are LITERALLY AMAZING HOLY COW... I'm really fond of overall/shortall styles hahaKnappFlannel said:
Thank you so muchRainbowConnection said:
! Seeing your comment really brightened my day. 
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here is a picture of a cloth diaper that I bought years ago that looks similar.KnappFlannel said:(1987-88) Pampers clone pocket diaper pt 1
This is my reproduction of the fit, style, and look of a mid-late 80's Pampers diaper as a reusable pocket diaper. The material is 'sandwich' PUL. Two layers of poly knit fabric are coated on one side each with a thin layer of polyurethane, and then the two urethane coated sides are pressed together and chemically bonded. The resulting fabric is dense, bulky, and loud...and very very waterproof.
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The voluminous all-the-way around interior gusset was sewn to the body as 4 separate pieces and double-stitched into shape. The front gusset area secures right at the crotch line and the back gusset wraps over and around the rear forming a very nice seal all the way around.
View attachment 57962View attachment 57963And I completely forgot to take pictures of the absorbency used to stuff it...I used 2 xl prefolds from Changing Times and two bamboo french terry soakers -- really though, you don't even need specialized diaper fabrics at this 'pocket' volume. It will 100% hold a full size bath towel no problem
As this is a test piece I sewed the gusset elastics in two different ways, and I think the left side definitely looks better.
The pocket diaper attaches at the waist with velcro tabs and at the crotch leg intersection with unobtrusive velcro squares on each side.
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There is so much I could write about the amount of research and design re-design that went into the pattern drafting and construction of this thing -- I'm happy to talk shop if you want more info about something.
These are super cute!! Good work!KnappFlannel said:
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Yes, yes yes! I am back where I need to be, with my Mommy now. But…my sewing machine is back in my flat in Jo’burg. Hopefully this will be a permanent move, if I can find a job, but I will only move my stuff down here once I can get that security. One thing for certain though, is that I cannot live apart from my Mommy. That is absolutely clear now. I feel I can dare to breathe again here. I might do some knitting again though while I am here, until I get my machine sorted out. I knitted fingerless gloves for Mommy 2 years ago and I noticed that She has almost worn them out, so I will make her some more.KnappFlannel said:
I made-ish one of those, some years ago: just a quicky project of making a bib and straps to button onto some training pants (plastic outer, terry inner) which I wasn't otherwise happy with.KnappFlannel said:
