Alley Pup Threads

About

Story

I first saw a story on CPR about RTD, our local light rail train operator, switching out their wool seat covers for vinyl. Long story short, bugged RTD until I got a name of the company doing the work, did some dumpster diving, added said wool to a jacket, and have been hooked on sewing since.

I've sewn something on most days since that thanksgiving night in 2023. Learned a lot, made a lot. Destroyed lots of nice stuff trying to make something cool. Hate and love the thread ripper. And everyone I've met in the sewing community has been awesome and super encouraging.

Thank you to everyone out there who told me I should be doing this.

Seize the time

-Emory

What I Make

I enjoy making and altering all sorts of things.

Fabrics

Many of the fabrics I use are used or repurposed. Alleys, yard sales, thrift stores - all good sources for material. I always wash things so they're nice and clean.

Some fabrics are new. I like to buy bargain boxes (and various hardware, thread, etc.) from Rockywoods up in Loveland. Lovely folks to work with, and local. Love a good trip up to Loveland to grab my orders in person.

I also recommend The Craft Box up in Wheat Ridge, CO, and ReCreative in Denver's Santa Fe Arts District.

I really like to work with denim, cotton canvas, laminates like X-Pac, Cordura and similar durable pack fabrics, and ripstop nylon. I work on many more fabrics than that but those tend to be my go-tos for random projects.

Machines & Workshop

I work on a couple of thrifted sewing machines, and have a couple more that need mechanical work that I've yet to learn. But soon.

My sewing lab is a small room I built within the garage out of, you guessed it, cheap repurposed materials.

Trades / Donations

I could be interested in various trades or donations.

Some things I'm looking for include: