iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Someone’s special order #NaNClutch is all done and ready to ship! #sewing #fashion

A bright orange envelope shaped bag with an orange belt wrist strap and a shiny brass button at the peak of the flap.

Reposted by Chris

victorstew.bsky.social @victorstew.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The garment shown laid flat and hanging. I am pleased as punch with the finished product. I just need to give it a steam and I'm all set. I love how whimsical and fun it is with the mix of colors and patterns. #upcycled #patchwork #sewing #streganona

241

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Well that’s a smart looking bag lining, even if I do say so myself. #sewing #fashion #NaNClutch

The lining of a clutch bag made of pink and orange floral on a white background.

180

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Why yes, it is time to cut the fabric for a custom #NaNClutch (+passport pocket) order that came in from earlier this week.

A long stripe of pink fabric next to a long stripe of orange fabric, partially covered on the top by pattern pieces and in the middle by complimentary floral fabric.

020

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

File under: there’s a first time for everything. In 40+ years of buying and #sewing fabric, this is 1st time I’ve seen any mark on a plain weave fabric to indicate the facing (“wrong”) side. Related: pinholes in the selvage will always feel flat on the facing side and bumpy on the right side.

The corner of a swath of pink fabric stamped with “FACE SIDE” in blue ink held above the tub of a washing machine.

250

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

I’ve been using the three kaftans that Bernie ordered this year as an excuse to finally get my head around the commercial technique for bias binding a neckline (no pins, pretty mitres, only ironing at the very end). And y’all, I’ve seen the light. #sewing

0100

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Second round muslins of Relâche’s #SummerBrunchShirt and leather shorts (eventually, presently bull denim) near completion. #sewing #fashion

A pair of mostly assembled denim shorts atop a mostly completed short sleeved shirt.

0110

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

The hunter green sample of the now postponed but still forthcoming ready-to-wear #DandyShirt, along with its rose sibling, are as done as they’re getting for now. All is on hold while I secure a new source of re-orderable cotton shirting. #sewing #fashion

A button up dress shirt with French cuffs made in dark green. The yoke, cuffs, and inner collar band are a complimentary green on olive floral ditz print.

A button up dress shirt with French cuffs made in rose pink. The yoke, cuffs, and inner collar band are a complimentary lavender on dusty rose ditz print.

0130

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Elfkin generally relies upon pre-transistor technology, but I let some modern tech in. To wit, MySQL is fab for keeping track of ~200 bobbins for 4 different #sewing machines. Thus begins 30 linear yards (27.4 meters) of side hemming on the fabrics for Bernie's kaftans. #fashion #ElfkinCouture

A laptop screen opened to show a database table of bobbins in front of three individual and separate piles of folded fabric. Left-to-right: purple and yellow hibiscus on white; stylized 1960s-ish orange and pink flowers on shimmery gold; red and white magnolia flowers on French blue. Next to the laptop, three bobbin cases fanned out next to a rotary bobbin holder.

040

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

For those following along on my accompanying side quest to master the standard commercial #sewing method for dress shirts, it took me 2 hours after lunch to attach and finish sleeves, close and finish side seams, and attach the collar. Slow by factory standards but warp speed in the Elfkin workroom!

0120

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

The rose sample of the forthcoming ready-to-wear (in sizes XS-XXL) #DandyShirt approaches completion with just the cuffs left to attach. The hunter green sample is somewhat less integrated but will come together in no time. #sewing #fashion

A mostly assembled rose pink dress shirt with pink floral accents on the yoke, under collar, collar band, and cuffs. It’s very tall French cuff pieces lie atop it, flat and unattached. To the left and behind the rose shirt, its twin in dark green lies in a neat pile of pieces.

070

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

All pieces are cut and ready to sew for the first two proper samples of the ready-to-wear #DandyShirt. With a little luck, these will be available for actual, factual sale in men’s sizes XS-XXXL in about three weeks. #fashion #sewing

Cut pieces for a button front men’s shirt in hunter green and dusty rose lie in discreet and separate piles on a table.

060

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

After what feels like eons #sewing nothing but plain muslin, colors and prints have returned to the workroom! Bernie chose these four saucey digital print rayons for this year’s kaftans. #fashion #ElfkinCouture

Large pink and orange feathery florals on shimmering gold ground.

Large watercolor hibiscus flowers in yellows and purples on a white ground.

Huge scarlet flowers that look like single petal camellias or maybe magnolias on an electric blue ground.

091

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Cherno Alpha and I spent the morning stitching up a canvas muslin of Relâche’s #MéridaLeatherShorts. It’s been a season since the old beast (a Singer 111W so old he has no reverse) has had anything to do. I’ll put on the waistband after lunch, and that’ll be that. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCouture

A pair of shorts in plain muslin canvas lie next to the head of a brutal looking silver sewing machine.

060

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

That’s muslin #1 of Relâche’s custom #SummerBrunchShirt all done and dusted. Moving right along to the muslin of the accompanying shorts. #sewing #fashion

Muslin of a short sleeved shirt with a button front and banded collar.

0110

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

WeHo City is piloting municipal fiber internet along our stretch of Sunset Boulevard. Which I love! Less enjoyable, the stereo jackhammer crews working at two different corners of our block. It’s been going for 90 minutes straight. <eye twitch>

000

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Presto change-o, that’s Raye’s pants sloper turned into a pattern for a pair of #MéridaLeatherShorts. Now for muslins! #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCollection

Pattern pieces for a pair of shorts lie upon a gridded table.

060

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Moving right along, Raye’s virtual fitting went swimmingly last week, so their slopers are ready to be adapted into all of the things! First up, a #SummerBrunchShirt. #sewing #fashion

Pattern piece for a shirt front lies on an expanse of pattern paper.

060

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

The Muses haven’t wanted to do anything that’s not the forthcoming RTW #DandyShirt, but I managed to lure them away for a while to find complimentary solids to go with this wonderfully theatrical print that Raye provided to use as the back panel of their custom #SummerBrunchShirt. #sewing #fashion

A highly stylized Japanese print next to a swatch book for solid color poplin fabrics.

1100

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

As one does on a Monday morning, I’m timing my two buttonhole-capable machines to see which is fastest. The old 201 stitches a buttonhole ~2.3x faster than the new HD6800. Even if a double pass buttonhole on the 201, is *still* ~20% faster. And I repeat: vintage #sewing machines are the best.

A modern, gray plastic sewing machine next to a vintage black enamel sewing machine.

170

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Step 2 of the quick quick pro shirt #sewing method is the same as any good method: prep the collars, sleeves, and cuffs. A big difference is that the collar and cuffs are finished on all edges except where they attach to the body. For those keeping track, this took me 1.25 hours.

0120

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Thought I’d share details of the lickety split pro shirt #sewing method I’m practicing with muslins of the RTW #DandyShirt. The strategic use of interfacing to define collar, cuff, and placket shapes is essential.

Rough cut scraps of muslin with fusible off collar and cuff pieces attached.

Front plackets, one shown open to expose interfacing strip.

080

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Muslin #2 of the RTW #DandyShirt has been fitted. Just a couple more tweaks to the back neck and back armscye, and I should be there with my standard Gay Medium size. #sewing #fashion

A plain muslin shirt and accompanying pieces lie flat on a table.

190

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

My experiments in home made Earl Grey tea continue. Ready for sampling this morning is a super floral blend that is, naturally, primarily bergamot with the addition of rose, orange blossom, and Fiori di Sicilia. I. Am. In. Heaven. #food

220

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Relâche’s #ElfkinCouture order includes a commission for a custom sun shirt type thing made of some beautiful shibori silks that they’ve collected. The winning design is this very The Dude Abides beach tunic. #fashion

Pencil sketch of a male form with an arm extended as though leaning against a wall. The form wears a baggy tunic with a laced front and hood.

030

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Oh hey, did I mention that I picked up a new #ElfkinCouture customer out of the blue yesterday? A former colleague is back on the dating scene after a long hiatus and wants to look his best. He’s a triathlete, so I won’t have to work *that* hard at it.

040

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

This Chinese perfume plant (Aglaia odorata) is no great garden beauty, but the fragrance! It’s hard to beat year round blooms that smell of lemon zest. Though marketing chains that it “thrives on neglect” are a total crock. #gardening

010

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

The first batch of home made Earl Grey tea has been brewed into a cuppa, and OMG!!! Utterly delicious as milk tea. My only regret is waiting all of these years to try doing this. #food

230

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Old Zak is fitted with his straight stitch foot, and all of the pieces are prepped for a muslin of the ready-to-wear #DandyShirt. It’s another chance to practice the super fast shirt #sewing technique that I’m trying to master. <cracks knuckles>

Pieces of a button up shirt lay on a table next to an old industrial sewing machine.

0100

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

I'm adapting my #DandyShirt design to ready-to-wear in standard sizes. If you've followed me for any amount of time, you know that I have Thoughts™ about standard sizes. Not nice thoughts. But there's no escaping them now. I may need a Silkwood shower when I'm done here.

130

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Now that I’ve recovered from the shock of current silk fabric prices, it’s time to stitch up fresh toiles of Raye’s slopers. We had a great virtual fitting yesterday. Now I need to confirm all of the pattern alterations. Also, I get to try my new rotary cutter! #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCouture

Pattern pieces for a basic shirt and pants. A still boxed Olfa cutter lies atop the pattern pieces.

070

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Out sourcing kaftan fabrics today, and I may need smelling salts. The freshly imported Italian silks are now $160/yard. They were $80/yard last year. And $40/yard the year before. I’m so fucking done with this absurd grift that we call the U.S. economy.

040

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Am I the only old stoner who finds all of the premium flower less and less enjoyable for having ever increasing amounts of CBD? It’s only the budget brands that seem to have <0.05% CBD* for at least the past year in LA. *Any more than that and I can feel my pulse in my teeth.

010

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Summer approaches which means that it’s time to start sourcing fabrics for this year’s kaftan commissions. First stop is the secret silk loft at my local, International Silks & Woolens. #sewing #fashion

390

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Dental implant #3 (of 8) has been bolted in, and I now have a complete half mouth's worth of teeth again. I'm gonna chew so many things as soon as the anesthetic wears off.

050

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Is this is an LA thing?… A friend sends a lovey message saying that they want to hang. So I immediately check my calendar and propose dates. Friend’s replies can be distilled as, “I’m just too busy to friend!” Young me took this as a challenge to “make it work” somehow. Middle aged me is like 🤷🏻‍♂️.

110

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

That’s the muslin of Matt’s #DandyShirt all done and ready to send. That no-pins elite seamstress method rocks! It kills me to say, but the quality is as good as I’d get with fancy couture fuckery in about a quarter of the time. Someone move the coffee table. I wanna do cartwheels of joy! #sewing

0120

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

There are now samples for each of the colors in which I’ll be offering the #NaNBag at launch next month! I just need to procure some more snaps and swivels to finish them off. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinBags

Six samples of an envelope shaped clutch bag, all but lower right (wool) made of cotton. Tldr: brown with tan lining, orange with pink lining, pink with orange lining, cyan with butter yellow lining, butter yellow with cyan lining, dusty lavender with burgundy lining.

Closeup of brown, orange, and pink bags showing various floral fabrics used for linings.

Closeup of lavender, yellow, and cyan bags showing various floral fabrics used for linings.

190

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Also heading out in today’s post, #NaNBag samples for @queer.cool and my friend Paula to test out. #fashion #sewing #ElfkinBags

Two envelope shaped couch bags, one pink, one orange. The pink one has a pink velvet wrist strap.

0121

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

And that's toiles of Relâche's slopers stitched, pressed, and ready to ship for a first fitting. Related: how adorbs are these shipping bags that @socalgecko.bsky.social designed for me?! #sewing #ElfkinCouture

1130

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

This just in: slopers for new #ElfkinCouture customer Relâche. So nice to have a working brain at my disposal today! #sewing #fashion

Hand drafted pattern pieces for a shirt and trousers.

0100

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Moar #NaNBag samples! Cyan, butter yellow, and chocolate round out the colors I’ll be offering. I’m feeling like the inner lining fabrics are going to be a randomized element of surprise with each bag as time goes on. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinBags

Solid color fabric squares in the colors described in post folded back on themselves to artfully display the colors and paired lining fabrics.

1130

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Outer and inner bits of the orange and magenta #NaNBag samples are ready to come together. Yes, Virginia, each uses the other as a lining color for the outer flap pockets. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinBags

Large squares of pink and orange fabric, each with a corner turned up to show that it’s the other color on the opposite side. Next to them, inner lining components for the bags made of sunset Madras and orange floral.

041

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Now to get on with the rest of the #NaNBag samples. Starting with pink and orange. Natch. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinBags

A bundle of pink fabric paired with pink thread and orange floral print. Another bundle of orange fabric with sunset tone Madras and orange thread.

1130

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

These samples of the #NaNClutch (official name - explainer in comments) in Italian wool coat fabric have come as far as they’re going to for now. Right one has all final tweaks. The ajisai appliqué will be a customization option. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinBags

Two envelope shaped bags perfectly sized for a smart phone made of lavender wool next to a pile blue hydrangea appliqué.

Closeup of inside of one bag showing lining made of red on white toile de Joie print fabric.

Same bags down next to each other, one with a piece of the blue hydrangea appliqué placed on its front flap.

270

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

The linings for the first proper samples of the needs-a-name envelope bag are done. Plus notes on a last set of revisions to the pattern. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinBags

Two linings for small clutch bags. They are made of red on white toile de Joie print. The lining includes pockets for coins, bank notes, phone, credit cards, and pens.

180

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

It’s time to be making samples of the origami envelope clutch bag (it desperately needs a name!). I shopped my stash and pulled this cotton print procured in Nice a couple of years back to use for the inner lining on the lavender wool version. #sewing #ElfkinBags #fashion

A square pattern piece lies on the back of a swath of puce on white toile de Joie print fabric. Above and to the left of the pattern piece are two rectangles cut off the same fabric shown face up.

180

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

I have no regrets about tossing some of every kind of viola seed into the garden a couple of months ago. #BloomScrolling #gardening

Two purple violas. One has a dark violet center surrounded by a band of yellow that changes quickly back to dark violet all the way to the tops of the petals. The other has a yellow center and striations of purple and white radiating from the center outward.

A yellow viola with darkest purple veins against bright yellow radiating briefly from the center and then shifting quickly to grayish yellow.

Plummy purple violas with yellow centers.

Pastel purple violas with yellow centers.

0122

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

The most tiniest little Epidendrum orchid I ever did see. Each flower is *maybe* 1"/2.5cm tall. On display at the Sakuya Konohana Kan botanical gardens in Osaka. #BloomScrolling #ElfkinInJP Related: I never regret traveling with a macro lens. #photography

A trio of fuchsia orchid flowers. One faces directly at the viewer while the other two face outward from center to the left and right. The top three petals are long and narrow with pointed tips. The bottom two petals are curled and swoop up like fangs. The center is a pinprick of dark violet with a halo of yellow that fades quickly to white which then fades into the fuchsia of the petals.

0161

Chris @elfkin.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

My personal color consultant, @socalgecko.bsky.social , accompanied me to Mood to help choose fabrics for the utility clutch bag’s production run. This Italian wool coat material is almost as soft as cashmere! #sewing #fashion #ElfkinBags

Three different fabric swatches. Top: indigo hydrangeas printed on natural color slubby linen. Bottom left: burgundy silk broadcloth. Bottom left: speckled lavender wool.

0110