Climbing with the Polka Dots!

Hurray! Let there be DOTS!

Guess what I found at my new supplier, today?

As you may know, I've made two different versions of the popular Polka Dots cycling cap. Of course, no longer available due to discontinued fabric from my supplier. It's difficult to obtain the red dot pattern fabric. I'm thinking most fabric designers are not in tune with the Tour de France.

Today, Richard and I was about to leave the fabric shop with our notions when I saw, from the corner of eyes, the familiar red dots on white. I immediately zoomed onto it and purchased as much as I could.

I love it, it was meant to happen since I didn't find what I first was looking for. Next, I will wash the fabric and rework the design because the fabric seems like a lighter cotton.

This will be fun project!

The first glimpse of Winter...

It's Summer but it's already time for Winter cycling caps!

It maybe August but we're already getting under way for new winter cycling caps. Todays a good day for it, rainy around 16 C and feeling like wet Vancouver. Perfect for Richard to come up with three new names for the new fabrics.

I bought the fabric a few weeks ago, washed and dried it and about to begin cutting. So exciting going to my suppliers and  hunting for fabric/colors for new caps. I have fabric from last year and plan to re-introduce two previous models. There's demand for solid colors and something may come from it.

This is just the beginning...

Bring it on Podcast!

Stage 2: Bikes, Books, & Beers from Bikes, Books & Beers on Vimeo.


I'm having fun producing the Podcast's. I love the behind the scenes detail of directing Guy & Richard. Enjoying being the camerawoman and loving the post production aspect of it. Yesterday was a cloudy and dark and we had to solve the lack of lighting in our 'studio'. Never fear we have the daylight balance lights available and thank's to our background in photography we rigged up an appropriate lighting setup. Placing the two lights apart and aiming them as high as we could close to the ceiling to evenly disperse the light. It worked well.

After using Vimeo I'm convinced and happy to use it. It took me a while to choose from all the other video providers but Vimeo is simply the best, so easy to use.

They're planning a different setup for the next podcast. I don't know if it's possible. But I do like a challenge!

20 steps to my cycling caps!

Getting ready to sew the darts.

I mentioned to Richard the other day about our cycling caps and wanted to know how many steps it takes.  Every hat maker has their own method and not to mention standards. I thought it would be fun to compile a list. Here goes…

1.              Designing the cap.

2.              Finding a name & description

3.              Buying the fabric & trim

4.              Washing all fabric & trim

5.              Cutting the fabric & interfacing

6.              Assembly of darts.

7.              Ironing

8.              Tucking in all the loose threads

9.              Assembly of all panels

10.          Finishing  the inside cap

11.          Sewing the stripe on the cap

12.          Assembly of the brim

13.          More Ironing

14.          Sewing the inner band

15.          Sewing the Galstudio logo

16.          Trying the cap for size

17.          Sewing the elastic

18.          Finishing the inner band

19.          Threading

20.          Putting on the hang tag.

 After all those years as a production manager, I still think in terms of breaking down a project into shorter tasks. It comes in handy as I now have Richard in production!

Oh, and let's not forget. The secret ingredient that is part of all the steps in making a good cycling cap...
LOVE!

Finishing the Orangeman!