Thursday, October 9, 2008

Priceless

Alternate titles for this post:

1. What I Did This Afternoon Instead of Working

2. How Spoiled Is My Son?

3. Why I'm Glad I Have An Embroidery Machine and Software, Even Though I Don't Use It Much

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Apparently the football coach sent home order forms during summer workouts. Equally as apparent — none of them made it to our house. Typical teenage brain fade, I suppose.

The coach decided this year that instead of wearing game jerseys on game days during school hours, he'd have all the players buy "kits" of various game day paraphernalia. (I'm sure there were some profits that made it into the football slush fund too!) DS wasn't really paying close attention. He knew he didn't want or need the cleats or the shorts or most of the other things in the kit. And by the time he realized he actually *did* want and need the polo shirt (read: the coach expected him to be wearing it), it was too late.

Last week, we bought a navy polo shirt so he could at least look similar to his teammates. He tried to describe the embroidery on the official shirt, but we just weren't connecting with the description. I told him I needed to actually see one. So, last night he brought home his friend's shirt and then expected me to perform digitizing magic today so he'd have a "real" shirt tomorrow.

Abracadabra!

I only use my digitizing software about 3 times a year so I always end up fumbling around before I remember what I'm doing. But a couple of hours later, I actually had a workable design. And even though I really didn't have the extra time, I forced myself to also make a couple of tests. I'm glad I did, because a few adjustments were then made and the final stitch-out is nearly perfect. (See, "muslins" are necessary for all types of "sewing!")

My tests:



The friend's original shirt:



DS' new knock-off:



It's pretty darn close, DS is happy, and there's no way a bunch of teenage boys and/or football coaches will ever notice the differences. I think I'll keep my mouth shut.

50 comments:

  1. I'd say one DS owes his mom an afternoon at her favorite spa... ;)

    You rock, Deb!

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  2. Awesome job! It sure is handy to know digitizing.

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  3. LOL I would never know the difference.

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  4. What a great Mom you are! What kind of software are you using for digitizing?

    Kathy

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  5. What a great save.... good job, great match....

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  6. Great Job--as usual! Is there ANYTHING you can't do???

    Isn't it amazing the stuff we don't find out until the last minute? Picture Day? Back to School Night?
    It was nice of you to bail him out but that's what we Moms do, huh?
    I did sorta the same thing with softball shorts for DD in her Senior year. Coach (male) ordered these shorts made of knit material that HAD NO STRETCH--I mean NONE! They fit only the size 0 girls of which there were about two. The rest were panicking So we went and bought black knit softball shorts and I scrounged around until I found a close enough design in my design stash (our school has Viking as a mascot). So no digitizing, just a little lettering added to the design and Volia! Softball shorts she (and the other girls of course) could play AND breathe in--always helpful to be able to breathe in sports! Male coaches of female sports should have supervision when ordering uniforms!
    BTW, my DH and DFIL wear embroidered polos to the football games that look quite a lot like the merchandise they sell at the games only the shirts are much more nice and comfotable. We donate enough money and time into the sports boosters etc! I wear a women's polo embroidered with a Viking helmet with my son's number below. I have had many ask where I got it and I tell them I made it. Someday I may sell them as a yet another donation/fundraiser!

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  7. Wow it's perfect. Yes definitely keep your mouth shut or you'll be inundated with requests to make more!

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  8. WoW! Perfect!

    I hope DS realizes what a talented Mom he has.

    I so enjoy reading your blog and have often been inspired by you to try new (to me anyway) techniques.

    Thanks Debbie.
    Regards, Flo in Germany.

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  9. That's very impressive -- it looks identical. Sorta makes me wish had an embroidery machine too...

    Ali

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  10. You are such a great mom! When your son is 30-something and his children are coming to him with last minute projects, he will remember this!

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  11. Very cool! I should pull my embroidery stuff out and put a bull on everything my dd owns. We usually get school shirts and transform them into something else, like purses.

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  12. Wow! Nice job! Better watch out, or you'll have a new job... ;)

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  13. You are Wonder Mom! Your son is very lucky you are so talented. I love your blog and your football tee shirt transformation is just what I needed. Our Phillies are doing great this year and I am transforming my husband's Large tee to fit me. Looks like he needs XL this year. Thanks for all your great blogs.
    Elaine

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  14. Mom to the rescue! I certainly can't tell the difference.

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  15. Every time you whip up something like this I start getting Embroidery machine hankerings.

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  16. Boy, does your son owe you! LOL! Very nice.
    Is there nothing you can't do?

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  17. Great job. What a great mom. I'm sure he appreciates this.

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  18. Wonderful job! I can't tell any difference so I wouldn't say a word to anyone.
    Glad to see your blogging again, I was missing you.
    I bought a Coverstitch machine and received it yesterday....because you use it so much, I thought I had to have one.

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  19. He's like my crew and knew mom with all the magic machines could pull a rabbit out of the hat( not as well as you in this situation probably) and save him which you did beautifully. mssewcrazy

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  20. great job! what does he owe you?? ha ha

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  21. I love to see mom-love manifested in sewing. It's a beautiful thing.

    Well done!

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  22. Wow, you're amazing! I have all that stuff and use it fairly often and can't conjure up something that nice. What a good mom.

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  23. Absolutely amazing! I didn't know machine embroidery could copy and do this with a home machine! Great job and what a good mom you are!

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  24. Wow! What an amazing resemblance to the original. When I first looked at the logo, I as immediately struck by the fact that it looks almost exactly like the Kansas State University wildcats logo. Anyway, DS owes you big time for coming to the rescue.

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  25. Ok I can't even see the difference, so I'm positive a bunch of boy-o's won't be able to!! Yours might look a smidge better, if anything.

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  26. debbie, you are my hero, this is so awesome, it really does show how awesome it is to have a sewing machine in the home, well in your case an embroidery sewing machine

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  27. Wow! That's amazing! What kind of digitizing software are you using? I havent taken this venture yet.

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  28. It looks like the original. You did a fantastic job :)

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  29. WOW, you use you're software only a few times a year, and you're design looks that good,, i wish i could remember "how" to use mine when using it only that often...

    Mickie

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  30. Wow, my admiration of your skills has just jumped up a whole new level. Really, you are amazing!

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  31. Debbie,
    How far are the schools in this article from you? http://www.azcentral.com/sports/preps/articles/2008/10/13/20081013hsrout-ON.html
    I feel bad for Estero, and their coach!

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  32. You're such a fantastic mom! It looks identical - WTG!

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  33. That is awesome. I dont see a difference.
    Teresa

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  34. You did a great job! I did the same thing with my grandson's school uniform shirts. The school said that we had to buy the polo shirts at a certain place, already monogrammed for $17, and they were not very good quality.

    My "single-mom on a tight budget" daughter bought ONE of each color (they SHRUNK!), plus some nearly identical shirts for $3.99, and I copied the mongoram and have done all his shirts since. I can only digitize really simple designs, using the program that came wtih my machine, but maybe I'll buy a digitizing program someday.

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  35. Having nothing to do with this post, but I hope that you are doing well. I know that you are working full time, but you are missed.

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  36. Boy, I'm missing Debbie, too. I keep checking & checking. Hope you're posting again, soon.

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  37. Miss you too! Pop in and say hi, hey? It's ok if there's no sewing or photos, just your warm smile is enough :)

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  38. Miss you so much! Checking all the time. Hope you are okay.

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  39. Hey Debbie - we miss ya!! Hope everything is ok.

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  40. Debbie, it's been a month now. Come out Come out where ever you are!

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  41. Debbie, this is muffet...thinking of you.

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  42. Hope you are just busy and everything is all right. Miss You!

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  43. I am thinking good thoughts for you and hope all is well. You are missed.

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  44. Hope everything is okay too, and we miss you!

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  45. I think it looks great ! Close to the real thing , if not better :)

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  46. Absolutely awesome! Great job and what a wonderful mom you are!

    Sewing Machine Parts

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Thank you for each and every comment. I appreciate them all, but I have to be honest and let you know that I'm usually bad about answering questions. I hope you understand that there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want to do.

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