Sewing Factory start date!

Kathleen on May 21, 2015

We’ve scheduled the cut and sew portion of the children’s coat sewing project (all donated of course) to begin September 4-7th.  We’re still looking at ways to house all of the out of town workers flying and driving in for this first-ever, event -so if you’re local and game to be hospitable, definitely let us know! You’ll have a chance to correspond or speak with whomever you choose to host so it won’t be too awkward. I will be hosting at least five people but maybe as many as 8-10.

The design portion of the project is slated to begin July 1st and we anticipate using designers from our area for this. Again, if you’re interested, send an email to factoryATabqfiDOTcom and include your full name, telephone number and list any skills and interests you have. Read More

Sewing factory training -The kid’s coat sewing project

Kathleen on May 18, 2015

kids_coatLate summer, we will be doing a full production run staffed completely by volunteers. We’ll be making children’s coats that will be donated. We will do it all, soup to nuts. We’ll design the coats, make the patterns, grade them, mark them, print the marker, spread the fabric, cut it, organize the job for sewing and then lastly, sew it all.

There will be an entry fee (tax deductible -if the not for profit status is set up by then) to pay for the fabric and guts -and also, to ensure volunteers are committed to the project. In return, you’ll learn first hand how a design is executed from design on through production and delivery -to say nothing of learning how to sew with industrial methods and even on industrial machines. Just think, your first sewing factory experience! Members will have first dibs but I am sure we’ll also be looking for experienced stitchers in the community who want to up their game and do something challenging, fun and for a worthwhile cause.

 

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New sewing factory set up is underway!

Kathleen on May 18, 2015

keep_your_work_at_homeWe closed on the new sewing factory building in Albuquerque on March 13 but the seller didn’t vacate until last week. That said, remodeling is underway. We’ll be adding skylights (some are in already!), feedrail in both buildings and purchasing 2 48 foot long cutting tables for the shared workspace.

I hired a mechanic from El Paso to advise me on the ideal placement for the feedrail and lighting. He’ll also be sourcing the feedrail and tables from his contacts in El Paso. Ideally, the facility will be ready for business the first week of June. Subscribe to ABQFI (at right) to be notified of updates by email.

Oh, and if you don’t know what feedrail is, it is a nifty way to plug in sewing machines overhead. It is very flexible because you don’t use outlets per se; or rather, the feedrail itself is one long outlet. This allows you to move sewing machines to wherever they are needed without worrying about plugs along the wall. We’ve had flexibility built in from the get go; all of the industrial machines are on casters so they can be rolled around instead of having to use a pallet jack to move them. This article (from Fashion-Incubator) shows common items one would find in a good factory. It shows the kind of fabric spreader I will be buying too. Read More