Check out my finished suit pants!

So how DID I ultimately hem those gray pants?

Lose sleep no longer!

Check out my finished pants over at the Mood Sewing Network today.

Too long?  Too short (though 1.5" longer than earlier pic)?

Whatcha think?

Why I Bought a Bernina

Friends, there is a fine line between decisive and impulsive.

Scratch that.  In life, it's better to be decisive than impulsive.  But one person's decisive may be another person's impulsive.  Does that makes sense?

Long story short, I bought a Bernina.   It should be here within a week.   I was, admittedly, a little impulsive about the purchase, but very decisive too!  Here's why I bought it:

1) Having sewn with so many different kinds of sewing machines in the last four years, and with Bernina being such a major player, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.  How can I recommend -- as I have here and elsewhere -- vintage black Singers and throw out superlatives when I haven't tried all the big brands?

2) If I don't like it, I can sell it.  I got a good deal, provided it works.

3) If I do like it, well, then I'll be really glad I took the plunge.

The machine I do most of my sewing on now -- a vintage Kenmore 148.141 -- is terrific.  But I don't think I'd have received a hundred comments if I'd written about vintage Kenmores, whereas a post about Berninas inspired a torrent of recommendations (along with a few naysayers). There must be something to the Bernina mystique.  I'm determined to find out what it is.

4) While I could have gone to a sewing machine store (in my case, my neighborhood quilting shop) and tried out Berninas there, that would have limited me to only contemporary models.  I was more intrigued by the older machines.  Plus I like supporting people who sell used stuff (provided they're honest and I believe most are).  Needless to say, used is generally cheaper too.

I feel very fortunate never to have been stuck sewing on an inferior sewing machine.  I've bought roughly twenty-five vintage machines and they all had their charms.  I couldn't keep them all,  however, so I passed some of them along -- they all left in better condition than they arrived.   I've sold Singers, Pfaffs, Elnas, Kenmores, Whites, and Necchis; I never regretted purchasing them: that's how I learned what I liked.

I want to thank those of you who helped convince me to give Bernina a shot.  However it works out, you inspired me to be decisive (and a little impulsive too).

Have a great day, everybody!

Tall Shopping in the UK - 2Tall & Others

Every now and then I get news of a new range of tall clothes or a new store opening. Sadly, some of these do not survive for very long. One that caught my attention recently was 2tall,a UK web store for tall guys. I very much hope this store will stay around.

Right now, their range is not huge but covers the necessities and includes some items I have not seen before in the UK. With trouser inseam from 38 inches upwards and T-shirts with options for men of 6'8" and above, this is clearly not just another "Big & Tall" store. They have T shirts in tall and extra tall, casual shirts from Life & Limb, jeans in 38 inch and 40 inch inseam from Mustang and Mish Mash, a small selection of chinos and a good choice of shoes.

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Bill's Khaki's : A Plethora of Pants with Extra Long Inseam

I had never heard of Bill's Khaki's until I did one of my regular checks on Sierra Trading Post for some tall bargains. It's a family business that has been producing all of its garments here in the US out of a renovated warehouse in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania since 1990.

All of their pants come unfinished (except jeans, which is a shame but there are plenty of other places to get jeans) which means that you can get a 36 inch inseam wih a cuff or even a longer inseam without a cuff. If you order via the website you can specify the inseam length you need. There is quite an array of colors, styles and fabrics, from a classic twill to more exotic seersucker or chamois cloth for the more adventurous.

Prices at Bill's are not the lowest and since I'm always on the lookout for a bargain I suggest you have a look at Sierra Trading Post Home Page while they have some stock left. They don't have so many styles but you may find something you like.

Extra Tall Range at Lacoste

Shopping in an outlet mall recently, I saw a sign on the Lacoste outlet window that caught my eye - "See our Big & Tall selection". I didn't have high expectations as I've almost given up looking for tall clothes in standard shops but I had to give it a try.



Afterwards, I checked online and sure enough, Lacoste does have a men's tall section (yes, actually tall, not just Big & Tall, which is impressive). Before you get too excited, what they mainly have is some very expensive T-shirts. Still, this is all good quality stuff and there are some tall sweaters, shirts and pants.

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Long Inseam Jeans from around the Web

After a bit of a break, Clothing Tall Men is back with a couple of options for tall men's jeans from some less obvious places.

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Lee Jeans - selection of 36 inch inseams for tall men

Lee has been making denim work clothes since 1889 and with sixty or so years of producing jeans for casual wear, you can rely on them to know how to make a decent pair of jeans. Although their range doesn't extend to a 38 inch inseam, tall men are well catered for with a wide range of 36 inch inseam jeans. Don't be fooled by the Big & Tall section on their web site - this only offers extra wide waist and does not include the long inseam jeans at all (why do designers even bother calling this Big & Tall?)

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