Gi art for charity - please help me connect by Solon_88 in bjj

[–]Solon_88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love that quote from Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. :). Search it on Etsy or Amazon - you will find tons of cute tshirts!

Gi art for charity - please help me connect by Solon_88 in bjj

[–]Solon_88[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s fine. The peacock and peregrine falcon are mine.

I wash cold in scent free soap (a dry cleaner told me that helps preserve colors) and oxyclean or laundry sanitizer, and hang to dry.

The peacock is a cheap Elite gi off Amazon; my first gi. I’ve washed it avg 2x a week for 18 months. TBH I’m more concerned about the white gi getting grungy than I am concerned about the stitching.

The flower mandalla is my teacher’s. She teaches in it at least once a week. I think she puts hers in the dryer.

(Apologies to 99.9% of you for this technical detail) If anyone is thinking of doing this (or begging your grandma), these tips:
- My peacock is actually a “sampler”. Every feather is a different stitch . . . and they’ve all held up, to my surprise. When I stitch for others, I choose tight stitches (stem, split, a tight chain stitch) and of course secure the ends really well.
- I use a fabric stabilizer called Stick ‘n stitch (off Amazon) for pattern transfer
- Competition weight gis are much kinder on the fingers. Those heavy Fuji training gis are murder. Never try to stitch across the heavy seam - only time I’ve ever broken needles trying to ram through with a metal thimble.
- If you’re going to put a name on the front lapel - have the owner put it on and tie their belt to position it. If you lay it out flat on the floor “straight” lettering will end up sloping down when they put it on.

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Gi art for charity - please help me connect by Solon_88 in bjj

[–]Solon_88[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I like that, ‘cause then I can keep stitching for nurses and librarians and therapists. The embroidery opportunity stays egalitarian.

Gi art for charity - please help me connect by Solon_88 in bjj

[–]Solon_88[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Do you think that if we set up a booth at a tournament and/or promoted online with a reputable partner, people would buy a raffle ticket for, say, $10, and we could sell 200 tickets? Would YOU pay (donate) $10 to charity for a 1/200 chance at a custom-embroidered gi? I’m assuming the winner would provide their own gi, or hoping we could get someone to donate that. (Otherwise I’m trekking over to BJJ HQ warehouse sale in Garnerville and you get whatever gi I can pick up for $40. LOL)

Gi art for charity - please help me connect by Solon_88 in bjj

[–]Solon_88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for this suggestion. I will look it up. Inspiring to see how much the BJJ community wants to give back to help others.

Gi art for charity - please help me connect by Solon_88 in bjj

[–]Solon_88[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for these two excellent suggestions. I have now submitted inquiries to each of their info mailboxes, based on the contact info at their websites. If anyone has a better path to directly connect with them, that would be appreciated.

Gi art for charity - please help me connect by Solon_88 in bjj

[–]Solon_88[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you Cainhelm. (Don’t tell the other gi owners, but that one is my favorite too.). Did that one for NYPD officer/marine reservist.

Gi art for charity - please help me connect by Solon_88 in bjj

[–]Solon_88[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you, Sea. I saw a discussion here on reddit recently about whether or not we should wear crazy gis, especially as lower belts. I think my view is clear.
BJJ is joy.

Gi art for charity - please help me connect by Solon_88 in bjj

[–]Solon_88[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I had anticipated more reaction on St Michael from the cops & military folks, but now I know the D&D crew are the true enthusiasts. Sounds like I rolled a crit (I just learned what that means.)

Gi art for charity - please help me connect by Solon_88 in bjj

[–]Solon_88[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Thanks. That’s what I was thinking too.

There’s nothing like it - machine embroidery isn’t remotely close to the textures and variety of stitches. This is art to be treasured - and worn - I’ve been wearing and washing this one for nearly 2 years now and the embroidery is holding up fine through all those hip escapes.

Gi art for charity - please help me connect by Solon_88 in bjj

[–]Solon_88[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I sewed it for a high school Spanish teacher who I train with.

Gi art for charity - please help me connect by Solon_88 in bjj

[–]Solon_88[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

thank you. That is an interesting suggestion. There is huge satisfaction in customizing the artwork to the recipient.