{"id":1094,"date":"2019-10-25T08:00:29","date_gmt":"2019-10-25T12:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/?p=1094"},"modified":"2023-02-03T12:01:38","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T17:01:38","slug":"taking-diy-new-heights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/outdoor-living\/taking-diy-new-heights\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking DIY to New Heights"},"content":{"rendered":"

The possibilities of things you can make with a sewing machine are limitless! Sailrite\u00ae customer Gregory Palmquist had a fleeting idea to sew his own kites after he was underwhelmed by the selection of mass-produced kite kits. This seed of an idea has grown into a bigger hobby that has led to more sewing projects, including patio furniture, beach bags, totes and more. With tools, supplies and how-tos from Sailrite, he\u2019s been able to take his sewing skills to incredible heights!<\/span><\/p>\n

It all started when Gregory was young. Like many kids, he grew up watching his mom sew on an old Singer sewing machine, and he would tinker around with it occasionally. Fast forward to junior high school and a woodshop class that was at full capacity. \u201cSome of the boys, including myself, went to home economics class instead. We made stuffed dolphins for a project. Mine came out pretty good for a 12-year-old boy.\u201d This early experience with sewing would pay off in a big way later in life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gregory has always been fascinated with aviation. As a boy, he made his own kites out of newspaper and sticks. A few years ago, he was given a used Kenmore machine and, on somewhat of a whim, he decided to try his hand at sewing kites. \u201cI was at one of the big box home stores getting ideas on materials to put together a quickie box kite. I finally decided to go all in and do it right. I found plans online and just expanded the dimensions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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He makes his kites out of ripstop sailcloth and webbing. After several attempts on the Kenmore, he quickly realized his second-hand machine wasn\u2019t up to the challenge. \u201cSome of the nylon webbing reinforced areas are thick and the Kenmore just couldn\u2019t handle it.\u201d Next, he tried sewing on a Pfaff, but it still didn\u2019t hold up to his kite-making demands.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not wanting to give up his budding hobby, Gregory began the search for a better sewing machine that would be able to handle his needs. \u201cI researched many machines when I came across the Sailrite\u00ae Ultrafeed\u00ae LSZ Sewing Machine. Immediately I knew this was the machine for me. The portable size, the power and the price point were winners.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

After the Pfaff failed, he finally \u201cdrank the Kool-Aid\u00ae\u201d as he put it and ordered an Ultrafeed LSZ. \u201cHow did I survive all these years without this machine?\u201d He recently upgraded his Ultrafeed with the Workhorse\u2122 Servo Motor in the Industrial Sewing Table. \u201cFor a 58-year-old guy who\u2019s been in engineering, I appreciate the power and efficiency of the Workhorse Servo Motor coupled with the Ultrafeed and Industrial Table. Move over peanut butter and jelly because this is the perfect pairing ever!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gregory has sewn four large kites on his Ultrafeed. He started with a basic Eddy design and progressed to the complex Compound Cody, a modern double box design based on the original Cody War Kite designed and patented in 1901. His first kite, the Eddy, measured 6 feet tall x 6 feet wide. Gregory sews them during the wintertime, using the dining room table as a work station. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"patio<\/p>\n

The new patio set Gregory sewed using his Ultrafeed LSZ.<\/p>\n

Since his kite sewing was so successful, Gregory\u2019s wife asked him if he could fix some things around the house. She put him to work replacing the tattered awning on their patio swing. \u201cThe 1″ Swing-Away Binder is a super tool! I used polyester thread throughout for UV resistance. Sailrite had everything I needed.\u201d Next up was replacing the swing\u2019s seating cushions and sewing a new barbecue grill cover for a matching and cohesive outdoor seating area.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHaving some leftover material, I threw together a bag for the missus. My wife is a nurse, and the girls at the hospital loved it! They were floored to hear that her husband made it.\u201d This led Gregory to search for some of the Sailrite bag-making tutorials. He watched the \u201cHow to Make a Beach Bag\u201d<\/a><\/strong><\/span> video and began making beach bags, totes and other bags. Gregory said watching Sailrite\u2019s tote videos brought his sewing up to a professional level. \u201cThey\u2019re a huge hit with the ladies. I couldn\u2019t have come this far without Sailrite \u2014 thank you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"tote
Gregory showing off some of the beach bags he’s made.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although Gregory doesn\u2019t get to fly his kites as much as he\u2019d like, he can\u2019t bear to part with them. \u201cWe\u2019re in Rhode Island, and I never did have much time to take these big boys out to fly during the summer. I did consider selling them, but I don\u2019t want to part with my labor of love. There will be time eventually.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What does Gregory like best about sewing and the DIY experience? Not only is sewing a creative outlet for him, but it\u2019s practical too. He\u2019s been able to sew bags for his wife, spruce up their patio, sew his beloved kites \u2014 and who knows what other uses he\u2019ll find for his Ultrafeed. \u201cI\u2019ve got so much inspiration and the creativity is just flowing out of me! This newfound medium has allowed me to express my artistic creativity. My creations are purposeful and give me satisfaction.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who We Are<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Sailrite is your one-stop DIY shop! We are a passionate crew of do-it-yourselfers who strive to equip you with the supplies and how-to knowledge you need to tackle your next project. Do you want to learn upholstery, leatherwork, canvaswork, hobby sewing, bag making or more? We have the fabric, tools, hardware, sewing machines and notions you need to master any DIY. And even if you’ve never sewn before, our tutorials and how-to videos are designed for beginners and experienced crafters alike.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start your DIY journey today: www.sailrite.com<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The possibilities of things you can make with a sewing machine are limitless! Sailrite\u00ae customer Gregory Palmquist had a fleeting idea to sew his own kites after he was underwhelmed by the selection of mass-produced kite kits. This seed of an idea has grown into a bigger hobby that has led to more sewing projects, … Continue reading Taking DIY to New Heights<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1103,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[13,7],"tags":[39,32,33,20,37,70,25],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/kites-collage.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/padSoq-hE","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1510,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/home\/sewing-upholstery-ultrafeed\/","url_meta":{"origin":1094,"position":0},"title":"Sewing Upholstery With the Ultrafeed\u00ae","date":"June 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"All DIYers, whether they're a sewer, woodworker, crafter or other, have the same thing in common. They love the satisfaction they get from accomplishing a project on their own. Cory Springer is no different. She owns a small upholstery business in Virginia, and one of her favorite things about sewing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/upholstery-collage.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":713,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/automotive-rv\/driven-to-sew\/","url_meta":{"origin":1094,"position":1},"title":"Driven to Sew: A Lifelong Hobby","date":"May 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The DIY spirit can take any number of forms \u2014 there\u2019s no end to what you can create with the right supplies, a good idea and a little extra time on your hands. That\u2019s exactly the same mindset held by Sailrite\u00ae customer and long-time crafter Louis Cossey. Following his retirement\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Automotive\/RV"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/LouisCossey5-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":908,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/outdoor-living\/diy-awning\/","url_meta":{"origin":1094,"position":2},"title":"Outdoor Awnings: A Dream Home DIY","date":"August 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Debra Brown is well acquainted with the world of sewing, having started her first project as a teenager. But what began as a fun, sporadic hobby turned into necessity years later when Debra and her husband moved to Portland, Oregon, and purchased a beautiful Cape Cod home built in 1937.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Outdoor Living"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/image8.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1110,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/hobby\/green-sewing-upcycle-diy\/","url_meta":{"origin":1094,"position":3},"title":"Sewing for a Greener Future","date":"November 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Do you think about your carbon footprint? When you see trash or discarded items lying around, do you ever wonder if they could be turned into something useful again? Enoch Cincotta does. A self-starter and small business owner, he turns trash into treasure \u2014 literally. He takes discarded objects and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hobby"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/back-pack.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2419,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/hobby\/diy-cosplay-costume-ultrafeed\/","url_meta":{"origin":1094,"position":4},"title":"Boldly Sewing: Adjusting an LSZ for Home Projects","date":"May 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"In episodes of the classic sci-fi show Star Trek, landing parties exploring uncharted planets needed three pieces of equipment: a communicator to contact the crew still on the Enterprise starship, a phaser for defense and a multiuse device called a tricorder. Self-proclaimed Trekkie and Sailrite\u00ae customer Adrienne Killey would add\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hobby"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Generations-cosplay.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2381,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/outdoor-living\/ultrafeed-sewing-patio-enclosure\/","url_meta":{"origin":1094,"position":5},"title":"Creative Quarantine DIYs With the Ultrafeed\u00ae","date":"March 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"David Thiesmeyer isn't new to the DIY world. He tackled his first big sewing project \u2014 a mainsail cover for his sailboat \u2014 well over 10 years ago. He considers himself a \u201cDIY type of person\u201d and takes pride in sewing great projects. 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