Changing Chamois (Irulan)

[trigurl]

I have a pair of shorts I hate b/c the chamois is terrible, I had them in the goodwill pile but took them out for some reason, anyway I was looking at them this w/e and realized I can take the chamois out and put in another one! duh, I don't know why I didn't think of that months before this :o

I took the old chamois out last night and have been looking for fabric to put in, I bet Irulan knows where to find this, does anyone else?????

[Irulan]

Seattle Fabrics sells a chamois for $11. I personally dont' like it but some people do. I also have directions on how to make a chamois out of ultrasuede and polartec here

http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/tips/shorts.asp

[RoadRaven]

Ah... I see Irulan has posted as I was waiting for reply page to load ...

I was going to suggest you go to her site because she has some awesome links and suggestions that she shares with us....

[trigurl]

Irulan, I checked your site out before posting, do you have a place there where I can find the chamois supplies? I can't find ultrasuede anywhere near me. Also I would like a good thick pad for longer rides, any suggestions?

I tried to make a pair of tights a few months back with no luck, I just don't know all the tricks to sewing lycra I suppose!

[Irulan]

Irulan, I checked your site out before posting, do you have a place there where I can find the chamois supplies? I can't find ultrasuede anywhere near me. Also I would like a good thick pad for longer rides, any suggestions?

I tried to make a pair of tights a few months back with no luck, I just don't know all the tricks to sewing lycra I suppose!

You'll just have to call/surf around for ultrasuede, even Joanns carries it. They usuall hide it tho as it's $55/yard.

Polartec you can get from any outdoor supplier. You can experiment with layering.

Sorry about the tights, what kind of problems did you have?

~I.

[trigurl]

Our Joann's is so small Walmart has more than they do and Hancock is no better :(

I forgot but I bought an ultrasuede dress off ebay for $4.00, I just wanted it for the fabric! I can use a sleeve for the chamois! woohooo.

What if I used regular fleece and doubled it? I want some padding for longer rides.

When I did the tights one leg went together great the other ended up 4 inches longer on one side than the other! I go so irritated I just quit working on them.

[Irulan]

Our Joann's is so small Walmart has more than they do and Hancock is no better :(

I forgot but I bought an ultrasuede dress off ebay for $4.00, I just wanted it for the fabric! I can use a sleeve for the chamois! woohooo.

What if I used regular fleece and doubled it? I want some padding for longer rides.

When I did the tights one leg went together great the other ended up 4 inches longer on one side than the other! I go so irritated I just quit working on them.

On the sewing boards, we call Joann's TSWLTH The Store We Love To Hate....

Regular fleece, you mean chain store fleece? First, yes you can "sculpt" a pad using multiple layers, and a wide zig zag but chain store fleece is crap for any number of reasons. You really should use Polartec by Malden. It's more stable, it won't pill, it last longer, it has better wicking properties, it wont' compress, etc.

When you have seam growth, it meand that you need to manupulate the fabric more. The feed dogs have a tendency to pull the under layer through the machine at a greater rate than the top layer. When you do your seam, make sure to secure the beginning, middle and ends and match any notches. Use you hands to help guide the fabric through. Stop every now and then, lift the presser foot and readjust the layers. You may have to pull on the botton layer some. If you monitor your progress along the length of the seam and make adjustments as you go, you should have better success. Or, get a walking foot ( even feed) attatchment.

[SadieKate]

You really should use Polartec by Malden. It's more stable, it won't pill, it last longer, it has better wicking properties, it wont' compress, etc.Also, because Malden treats all the employees top to bottom equally. They are a model employer through thick and thin.

[trigurl]

Thanks!!!

I had another bright idea last night :rolleyes: I used the old pad which was crap, cut out 2 layers of regular fleece and put that pad between them! I sewed it in last night it might be ok, except I used red thread on the top and black in the bobbin - which was the outside thread but I ended up with red stitching on BOTH sides :( kinda interesting but not what I really wanted.

They don't feel too bulky either, I may try them on the bike this w/e if Dennis will leave and take the rain with him!

I only paid $19.99 for these shorts last year so if I mess them up it wasn't too big a loss.

My machine didn't like sewing through all that either, it did but it thumped the whole time, I used a denim needle. I need a better machine to sew that kinda stuff.

[Irulan]

Thanks!!!

I had another bright idea last night :rolleyes: I used the old pad which was crap, cut out 2 layers of regular fleece and put that pad between them! I sewed it in last night it might be ok, except I used red thread on the top and black in the bobbin - which was the outside thread but I ended up with red stitching on BOTH sides :( kinda interesting but not what I really wanted.

They don't feel too bulky either, I may try them on the bike this w/e if Dennis will leave and take the rain with him!

I only paid $19.99 for these shorts last year so if I mess them up it wasn't too big a loss.

My machine didn't like sewing through all that either, it did but it thumped the whole time, I used a denim needle. I need a better machine to sew that kinda stuff.


thumping is the sound of a really dull needle. You should put a fresh one in every time.
here's why:
http://www.a1sewingmachine.com/needles.html

[trigurl]

ewww, that looks nasty! I found this denim needle in my pin cushion, I can't even remember what if anything I sewed with it! it has been doing that with the cotton I sew too, and I have changed needles, might be time for a check up.


Irulan, are you sewing for the general public yet? :D