Sunday, August 7, 2016

New York City, Part 3: International Pleating and Blogger Meet Ups


Today's post on NYC talks about my visit to International Pleating and other bloggers that I met up with in NYC. My last, and final, post on NYC will cover the fabric and trim stores.


International Pleating

When the folks at International Pleating heard I was coming to New York, they suggested that I stop by for a visit wearing my new pleated skirt. When I asked if I could see pleating in action I was told that, no, that process is a closely guarded secret, but there's still plenty to see in their factory. I told Lisa that I needed a better reason to visit than to show off a skirt that THEY pleated and she replied, "Come to show us your skirt, stay for the company."

How could I resist a quip like that?! Besides, I wanted to ask for clarification about some of their pleating services such as mushroom and Fortuny pleating.

I actually stopped by their factory twice. The first time to meet them and chat about pleating. The second time, two days later, I dropped off a piece of fabric I bought in the garment district to have it pleated.

It was a very informative visit! I met with Lisa, who handles most of their online correspondence, and George, who runs the company. George's father, Leon, was also on deck.

With Lisa in front of one of their pleating machines
Photo credit: George at International Pleating

With George
Photo credit: Lisa at International Pleating

I very much enjoyed talking with Lisa and George! George is very passionate about pleating, so there was much to discuss, and we also had a lot in common, family-history-wise.

George and Leon

Lisa examined the hem on my skirt and pronounced it good. I told her that I had tried very hard to avoid a flared hem and yet it still flared slightly. She said that even hems on the purl merrow machine flare very slightly and she pulled one to show me.

Sunburst pleated skirt finished with a purl merrow hem

I purchased their pleating sample kit

After returning from NY, I wore my chiffon skirt to work where the hem had several unfortunate encounters with the wheels on my desk chair. Parts of the hem are rather torn up and I am now considering sending it back to International Pleating for a purl merrow hem (cost: $15). Lesson learned: don't wear a long chiffon circle skirt to work!

Mushroom and Fortuny Pleating

I have always thought that mushroom pleating and Fortuny pleating were, essentially, the same thing. In fact, neither of these terms have been defined officially and, in many minds, they are equivalent. But, as George put it, it's like having two recipes for Banana Bread—each recipe is different but both result in a similar treat. (I'm paraphrasing here.)

When George talks about mushroom pleating, he's talking about pleats created on a pleating machine. Fortuny pleating is done, at least at his factory, on a table using a proprietary technique. The result of both processes has a similar look and sometimes he combines both techniques. The fabric, the budget, and the desired effect, determine which techniques he uses. You can learn more in George's article, What is the difference between Fortuny pleating and mushroom pleating?

I'm eventually planning to have some mushroom pleating done, but I haven't yet identified the project. They now sell pleated fabrics on their website. You might also check out International Pleating's Etsy shop which offers some pre-pleated fabrics as well as other goodies.

P.S. Mushroom and Fortuny pleating are similar, but not the same, as Broomstick pleating, a popular craft from the 80s. If you aren't familiar with Broomstick pleating, which you can do at home, either google it, or read this excerpt from The Art of Manipulating Fabric.


Meeting Bloggers

A big part of my trip to NYC was meeting up with other bloggers. I've already mentioned meeting up with Carolyn, Robin, and Mary Glenn, but that was the tip of the iceberg! New York City is full of sewing bloggers!

One of my local sewing peeps, Wendy B (who is active on Pattern Review), was visiting New York at the same time. We met up for a quick round of fabric shopping.

Robin joined us for lunch at Indian Project in the garment district

The food at Indian Project was very good but, what they consider "medium" spicy I consider very spicy!
Photo credit: Wendy B

Robin and I playing on her last morning, at B&J Fabrics

Carolyn and I taking a break from shopping in the garment district
Photo credit: Carol of makeitanywear

While Carolyn and I were enjoying cold drinks at Pret a Manger, Carol of makeitanywear saw us in the window. It was nice to meet her!

Carolyn very graciously organized a blogger dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Hells Kitchen. In one fell swoop I caught up with old friends and met some wonderful new people.
top row: Oonaballoona, Aspen, Grace, Claudine
bottom row: Carolyn, Robin, me, and O! Jolly
THANKS so much, Carolyn, for a wonderful evening!
Photo credit: our waiter

It was a hoot watching Aspen and Oonaballoona play with the filters on Snapchat

After our day of museums, Mary Glenn and I stopped into Mood Fabrics where we ran into Peter of Male Pattern Boldness. He was choosing fabric for his next Mood blogger project.
Photo credit: Peter Lappin

Mary Glenn and I at Mood
Photo credit: Peter Lappin

A few more photos from the garment district:

I couldn't resist a pic with the Garment Worker statue—I approve of his technique!
Photo credit: Carolyn

Robin is giving him a hand!

The iconic Button statue

The Fashion Walk of Fame runs along 7th Avenue

Three posts down and one to go. My last post on NYC will cover fabric and trim shopping.

Have a great week!

28 comments:

  1. Love your travel tales! Wish I was there. And I love your red jacket - thing too.

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    1. Thanks, Lyndle! That textile is woven with an elastic thread, which puckers it up.

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  2. Oh you found the button! I really never noticed that you were taking lots of photos - so this is all serving as a lovely reminder of all we did and all the fun. I look forward to seeing your adventures with pleating (aside from the chair tangling issues!)

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    1. The button is right next to the garment worker! Some of these photos were taken by myself or with Carolyn. :)

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  3. Pleating, pleating - your info has got me thinking about trying. And, oh, how jealous I am of your blogger meetups. So many of those women have supplied me with hours of helpful reading. Karen

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    1. Oooh, do try some pleating! It's so easy for folks who live in NYC, but it's not so hard by mail, either.

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  4. My favorite part of this is is the photo at Pret -- a few weeks ago I visited the garment district for the first time while dd was taking classes at Ripley-Grier. Two of my main occupations were wondering if I would see any bloggers, and visiting all of the Prets (looking for the chocolate mousse they sell in the British stores, which apparently isn't on the NYC menu). Looks like I was there the wrong week!

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    1. I'd never heard of Pret a Manger before this visit!

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  5. I need to say, I told you so! LOL! I knew this adventure was a multi-post one! You're welcome on dinner. I'm glad you and everyone enjoyed it!

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    1. You are so right! And my next post is going to be another long one. :)

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  6. I'm smiling as I read the post because I can see how much fun it was and feel I was there. I know those women too, most of them, but only on the web.

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  7. Shams,
    I have just spent a most enjoyable hour plus with your latest posts on your NYC trip and the ACC event. Thank you so much. I have dearly wanted to visit the "Manus x Machina" exhibit, but sadly will not be able to do so. I love that you blogged some of the lesser photographed pieces. You commented the other day that blog redership is down. I wanted to let you know I am a faithful blog reader and love seeing the latest offerings from my favorites pop up in my inbox. So please keep up your lovely blog as you can. It is at the top of the list of my favorites.
    Peggy

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    1. Thanks, Peggy! I'm sorry you can't see the exhibit but I get it! For years now I've missed the Met exhibits and it was driving me to distraction. :) Maybe next year!

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  8. It looks like you had a great time. Loved the pleating segment. I never wear long skirts while sewing or working because my chairs all have wheels. I've ruined enough robes that I sew in when fitting.

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    1. Thanks, Nancy. Wait... you wear a robe while fitting?!?! I run around unclothed when I'm fitting. ;)

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  9. Thanks for all the photos and fun views of NYC. I also checked out the other bloggers you met up with - this is such a great way to see what sewers are doing and thinking. Thanks for all the time you take to share your experiences.

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    1. Thanks, Sheila! Yes, it's always interesting to meet up with other bloggers!

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  10. Thank you for spending all that time fixing the photos. I really enjoyed them!

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  11. Thanks for the etsy link for International Pleating. I have no idea what I could use these fabrics snd trims for but good to know where to buy the cool stuff!
    Somebody recently gave me a giant four foot button and needle ( nine feet?) that I need to hang. Now I know where it was modeled from. (Printed on foamcore so super lightweight).

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    1. Wow, Kathy, what a cool gift! LOL. I also just added a link to the shop on their website, which has even more pleated fabrics for sale.

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  12. Looks like you had an amazing time! Fantastic!

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  13. I was wondering how you liked your pleated fabric.

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    1. Hi Mary Glenn! I like my pleated fabric! But I don't like rolling over it with my chair when I'm sliding in to or out of my desk. I usually sit down, grab the fullness, move it out of the way, and then roll, but I still manage to get it caught sometimes. At least it's a lot of fun to wear!

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  14. Some of my favorite places! Botani is also the only place I know that has such a large selection of ribbing. I never find anything on Elliot Berman's website, but their store? Fabulous. You bought some wonderful fabrics! Glad you had a good time.

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    1. I've had the same experience, Nancy, where I don't tend to find fabrics on the EB website, but the store... OMG! I didn't really check out Botani's fabric, so thanks for the info on the ribbing!

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