Has anyone ripped out a chamois?

[koala]

I've ripped out lousy chamois from tights, then used the tights over a pair of shorts with a good chamois. Why do manufacturers persist in putting low-end chamois in their winter line?

[OakLeaf]

I've ripped out lousy chamois from tights, then used the tights over a pair of shorts with a good chamois. Why do manufacturers persist in putting low-end chamois in their winter line?

I've done that too, but actually it was (at the time) a very nice natural leather chamois that was outlasted by the even nicer PI wool tights.

Having watched my mother - an accomplished seamstress - learning to sew stretch fabrics, and having heard even more of her frustrated stories when I wasn't watching, I'd be very hesitant to attempt a chamois replacement myself. But if you have experience doing that, or know someone who does, I'd say go for it!

[motochick]

For those who have done the chamois transplant surgery, are you sewing it in by hand or with a machine? I undid the front of one of my pads to remove some excess material and need to sew it back onto the shorts.

Thanks,
Brenda

[malkin]

I was planning to do it by machine with a stitch meant for stretch fabrics. My favorite stitch for stuff like this is usually the zig zag one where each zig (or zag) is made up of 3 little stitches. This allows the stitch to stretch both lengthwise and crosswise.

I may have found a less invasive fix by wearing my smartwool boy-undies so I don't have to feel the clammyness of the ickypad next to my skin.

[motochick]

Well, I don't know how to sew and my neighbors did not want to try to do it for me.......so, with my hubby helping me stretch the lycra, I sewed it back on by hand. I rode a short 34 miles and it seams OK. Time will tell.

Brenda

[malkin]

Way to go!

You might want to put a drop of Fray-Check on the ends of the stitching or on any spot that starts to show a little wear. Fraycheck is a sort of gluey liquid that comes in a little squeezy bottle, won't leave hard spots if you only use a drop, is washable, but kinda stinky at first and takes a couple minutes to dry...in short, in the sewing box, it's the best thing since beeswax.