Thumb Wrestling

**kevinkinney** · 8th August 07, 08:50 PM

Ouch,

I'm 19 pleats into 26 on my Regimental weight Mackenzie Seaforth tank. My fingers aren't happy with me. Remind me not to challenge Barb T. to a thumb wrestling match.

I should go back to climbing, then I'd develop the finger strength I've lost from copping out and using machines to sew for me.

Kevin.

**Barb T** · 9th August 07, 07:17 AM

Yeh - ouch. I find that if I haven't been sewing for a few weeks, my thumb feels like someone's been pounding on it with a hammer after I've finished pleating a kilt. But, it goes away fast. Just stick it out, and the bruised feel will go away.

Did you see the thread about making a decent thimble? http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=18607

Barb

**cacunn** · 9th August 07, 11:36 AM

May I suggest some single malt liniment - taken internally. If nothing else the pain will move from the thumb to the head by morning.

**Ruanaidh** · 9th August 07, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by cacunn

May I suggest some single malt liniment - taken internally. If nothing else the pain will move from the thumb to the head by morning.

Yup - works every time.

**Perldog007** · 10th August 07, 06:04 AM

Well now I have something else to look forward to. After four shots in the dark attempting contemporary kilts - number six will be based on "The Art of Kiltmaking".

11 oz remnant from F&K (poly/wool) is inbound and I guess I can add a bottle of Maclelland's Highland to the materials list. an eminently drinkable value single malt, at least to my uneducated pallet, we will save the Laphroig till the kilt is ready to wear.

Life is too short to drink blended.

-- Doug

**Peter C.** · 10th August 07, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by cacunn

May I suggest some single malt liniment - taken internally. If nothing else the pain will move from the thumb to the head by morning.

Hmmmm,,,,, I wonder if that works the other way round. I wonder if stitching the pleats in a kilt the morning after will move the pain from the head to the thumb.

int:

Peter

**Perldog007** · 10th August 07, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by Peter C.

Hmmmm,,,,, I wonder if that works the other way round. I wonder if stitching the pleats in a kilt the morning after will move the pain from the head to the thumb.

int:

Peter

A far sturdier soul than I will have to work that one out

**kevinkinney** · 10th August 07, 05:54 PM

I took your collective advice, though I modified it a bit.

Normally I do laundry by the ton, shrinking canvas, and fulling up our wool in the industrial machines at a laundromat attached to a rural bar.

Most nights it's boring, but last night was surreal. I arrived at 7:00 PM to find the place packed. Most patrons wash while they drink, and Thursday is a big night for celebration in Northern, MN. With 52 blankets to 'fluff' and 3 machines open, I bought a 1.5 liter Killians <no kidding> and settled in for 5 hours.

The length of a wash cycle is just about the time it takes to stitch one pleat. I found a table with good light, tied a clamp off to the leg, and began to sew. Usually boredom forces the laundromat patrons to converse. As many are drunk, the exchanges are colorful. Not a single person from either side of the building said a word to me all night. It was odd, but productive.

Now I've finished the bulk of the work and can coast into the final steps before a good pressing.

Cheers,

Kevin.

**Peter C.** · 16th August 07, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by kevinkinney

I took your collective advice, though I modified it a bit.

Normally I do laundry by the ton, shrinking canvas, and fulling up our wool in the industrial machines at a laundromat attached to a rural bar.

Most nights it's boring, but last night was surreal. I arrived at 7:00 PM to find the place packed. Most patrons wash while they drink, and Thursday is a big night for celebration in Northern, MN. With 52 blankets to 'fluff' and 3 machines open, I bought a 1.5 liter Killians <no kidding> and settled in for 5 hours.

The length of a wash cycle is just about the time it takes to stitch one pleat. I found a table with good light, tied a clamp off to the leg, and began to sew. Usually boredom forces the laundromat patrons to converse. As many are drunk, the exchanges are colorful. Not a single person from either side of the building said a word to me all night. It was odd, but productive.

Now I've finished the bulk of the work and can coast into the final steps before a good pressing.

Cheers,

Kevin.

Some people are ill at ease with men in kilts, I guess a man in a kilt sewing was just too much for them.

Peter