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The idea of pods is to support the “Sociable” aspect.ie a groups of people who get together to make bags (drink coffee and eat cakes). No reason that you cant’t be a solo podder, but some like the social side and some like the way a group can specialize,so one person gets the material. another cuts out etc. In particular some people hate giving out bags and it is easier to operate together, rather than on your own then.
No reason you should not do it your own way.or change at a whim.
Yes we have had a lot of fun from this sort of thing.
An evening show suggests you will have 3 hours or so which means 6 bags per machine assuming you start from pressed kits and your clients have average skills. You can have more machines but you will need a helper for each 2-3 machines and space to match. I don’t recall that we have ever got over 8 machines ourselves, but that was for multi-day events.
Any machines can be used but the modern electronic type are easiest for users and re-threading etc. Speed limiters are good too. Make sure helpers are familiar with their machines or have a troubleshooter for problems. Encourage helpers to assist each other too.
Expect some sewers to have never used a machine before and some to be terrified of them. Persevere with them as they will be the most delighted with what they achieve.
Have a plan to enable disadvantaged sewers. With a little forethought almost anyone can make a bag. Some electric machines don’t need foot pedals for example if you know how!
Manage the queue (line?) who wait for a turn. The big no-no is people waiting for an hour and not getting a go before you close. A row of chairs is good, chase off standers and thin the chairs out towards the end.
Have a cache of finished bags to give away on a whim.
In the past we have done demos using hand crank and bag decorating ( felt tips glue etc for kids)
Think insuranceHave fun and good luck
Don’t think I will ever forget peering across the table and through the water haze at a member of the public calmly inspecting a seam while the water ran down his face and the bag dripped on the floor. Without comment he continued to sew it up while I tried to work out the expression on his face.
Just as well we had no electrics to worry about.Sorry about the pics I intended to take some but got distracted!
Nice day. I won a snake in the tombola, better than in the bran tub I suppose.
I am waiting for inspiration for its deployment. My son is presently waving it about by its tail.
Interesting observation and news to me.
I wonder if all bags are like that, and if not how you could spot the one which compost fully? Not a great tea drinker myself so I am rather short of data
Steam railway???????
And you never told me !!!!!!!!!!
It’s a bit weird to think of all those bags out there finding, via unknown paths, their hidden niches to be useful in, only to suddenly be glimpsed again years later.
I toy occasionally with the concept of a pod ID stamp, rather like a postmark, to go on the label, or possibly replace it. A serial number could be included perhaps. Never quite seems worth the effort though.
Well today’s the day.
News is full of “Baggolypse” and ” Riots at checkouts” , but I wonder what will really happen??
Impressive totals
Had been a bit quiet of late. Should have guessed you were working up to a big one.
Well done, do keep us updated.
Tricky one. There are some horrible threads about which make you think you have fouled up when it is not actually your fault (or your machines) at all. Usual culprits are from China and India and are unbranded, but there also good threads from those sources too so that is not entirely helpful. European and American branded threads are usually quite to very good, but can be expensive, especially on small reels. ( I suspect many actually derive from India/China)
Good thread has uniform diameter and little if any surface fluff. It looks solid rather than see through and you need to snap it rather just pull. The resulting end looks neat rather than wispy and drawn out.
While single substance thread can be identified, composites are vague and, assuming you avoid exotics, (darning, embroidery silks, waxed etc ) all seem to be designed to work in machines. Some threads are advertised as “Suitable for overlockers”, but seem to be fine in lock stitchers.
Personally I favour cones for serious bagging on electric machines
Much cheaper per meter
Reliable thread – people who use them will not accept rubbish.
Less re-threadingBut
Bulky
A drag if you aim to match fabric and thread
Tricky to feed on hand-cranksIf you do get dodgy thread, try it on the bobbin, the demands are a lot less there.
Useful sources which are cheap and fair quality include Ebay and Lidl!
Best of luck
Dreamy bags – going to be a challenge to improve on those!
That’s an interesting thought. I wonder what the reaction of the shoppers would be.
I thought Beattie did rather well, but then perhaps I am a little biased!
Story going round says that transmission was delayed because of Jeremy Clarkson. The idea is that when he dropped out of the Beeb schedules there were some rapid changes among the ITVs to try and grab his audience and we got sort of left out some how. Stranger things have been known (but perhaps not much stranger).
Also the real reason Beattie was hovering over the “lone male” was that he had announced he had a phobia about sewing machines having got a needle in his finger more than once in the past. We were determined that was not going to happen this time. He actually did alright on the day. I think the hand cranks were more manageable. I was suspicious of a “setup” and was hovering close but out of shot (more or less) until they had finished.
We had a bit of trouble with the producer who wanted to make some sort of competition among the baggers. We were not keen as the ethos of Morsbags is that everyone wins. In view of this I think we were edited pretty fairly.