All cool Mark.
re the Patagonia stuff ..
my friends in the outdoor retail biz used to call it Patagucci since it was
so expensive ..
like $ 400 for a top end shell jacket.
  Also founded by the famous climber Yvon Chinaird and known for putting 10
% or something like that in to green and good causes.  And they were the
first to come out with fleece made from recylcle plastic bottles.

In terms of great design , I do want to mention Mountian Hardware.
I don't care what it is ..
any Mountina Hardware garment or anything has been beyond perfect ..
just incredible design and materials.   like 'perfect fit' on a jacket, but
you can move around well in it too, don't overheat, etc.

12 sewing machines !
that's as many vanagons as I have ( 7 or so for sale btw ) .

nice post of yours
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark L. Hineline" <hineline@OCOTILLOFIELD.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 7:01 PM
Subject: Re: Friday rant: fabric stores and sewing

> When I was in grad school more than 20 years ago I ran across a
> Patagonia catalog. I was in San Diego, but I'm from Maine, and in
> Maine if you want clothes you go to Bean's at 3:00 in the morning to
> avoid crowds.
>
> The clothes in the catalog were a revelation in two ways. First, they
> were really well designed (and, as soon as I examined them in a store,
> I knew they were well made, too). Second, they were Synco-class
> expensive.
>
> Since I knew how to sew, having grown up in a household where everyone
> could sew, I used my summers to sew and get better at it. After a year
> I was not only doing Patagonia knock-offs just by looking at the
> pictures, I was also learning to tailor.
>
> Now I have 12 machines: my original Brother; an Italian Necchi; a
> Bernina 830 and a Bernina 810 (these are my go-to machines); two
> Singer 66s (spare parts!), one with a hand crank; three Singer 99s; a
> Singer 201; a Singer 301a; and a Singer serger. The 301a is currently
> my take-it-in-the-Vanagon machine, but I might get a Bernina 811.
>
> Straight stitch machines are great, but for finishing seams you really
> need more stitches or a serger.
>
> When you guys pointed out that aircooled engines in good tune sound
> like sewing machines, I thought -- oh, right! Okay.
>
> Oh, yeah, and I also have a Swiss multi-knife from Bernina and Wenger
> that's all sewing tools!
>
> As for fabric stores, I used to feel uncomfortable in there. But now I
> know that when it comes to sewing, I. Am. The. Man.
>
> Okay, boast and brag mode over.
>
> Mark
> 1982 Westy