Mailing Address: March 11, 2022 11:05

57 Perfect Holiday gifts for Sailors December 7, 2019 11:35

This 2019 Holiday Guide for buying the perfect gifts for sailors, produced by yacht charter service, Yachting.com, features great gift ideas including a mention of Olde Dog Wallets! Happy Shopping! Follow the Link below.

57 tips for the Perfect Christmas Gifts for Sailors

Made in Maryland: Holiday Gift Guide 2018 March 14, 2019 12:52

Peruse locally made holiday gift ideas from the folks at Preservation Maryland, in their annual article that features an Olde Dog mention! Follow the link Below.

Made in Maryland: Holiday Gift Guide 2018

Happy Customer Pictures January 3, 2016 17:54

I love hearing from customers, send me an email to tom@oldedogsewing.com along with a picture of you with your bag, wallet, or Custom project to be posted on the happy customer list. Thanks all! 

"I love my Wristlet!" ~ Paula M. (6/3/2019)

"I love my Duffle Bag!" ~ Sandra R. (3/18/2019)

"I love this wristlet!! The color scheme is perfect! This is my second one. Perfect size and great quality." ~ Roybn B. (3/9/2019)

~ "It comes with me everyday when I go to the beach" ~ San Diego surfer

"Hi Tom, Thanks a lot for the great bag! I received the letter from the customs on 30th Dec and picked it up on the same day. My boyfriend loves it! Thanks a lot! :) Have a happy new year 2016!!!" ~ Couple from Germany

Ultralight Wallet Fabrics: Dyneema Cuben, Tyvek, Ripstop Nylon August 13, 2015 14:03

Olde Dog  recycled sail wallets, incorporate some of the world's most high-tech fabrics into Ultralight and long lasting billfolds and minimalist wallets. Three of the lightest fabrics used are Dyneema Cuben Fiber, Tyvek, and Rip-stop Nylon.

Our ultralight wallets have all the space of a conventional billfold while only weighting 0.3 to 0.5 ounces. These High tech fabrics make it possible.

Dyneema (Cuben) Fiber 

Dyneema fabric, aka Cuben Fiber, (both of which are proprietary names) is an ultra thin laminate fabric made with the world's strongest fibers. These High-modulus polyethylene fibers have a longer molecular chain which makes for a thinner fabric without sacrificing strength. This fabric is much lighter than Kevlar and 15 times stronger than steel on a molecular level. 

The picture above shows Cuben Fiber with some sunlight behind it. Here you can see the random cross-weave of Dyneema fibers that give the fabric is strength. The dark streaks are crinkles; and unlike Kevlar or carbon fiber, the structural integrity of the fibers remain in tact when folded or creased. Downsides to this fabric are it's high cost, and limited color availability. 

Olde Dog's Ultralight Cuben Fiber Wallets weight only 0.3 ounces. All billfolds wallets have six front card slots and one large pleated cash pocket. At the moment all wallets are being produced from recycled sailcloth. Once this supply runs out, we will offer this wallet in newly bought Dyneema Fabric. 

Tyvek

  Tyvek, originally produced by Dupont in 1955, is also in the polyethylene family, more specifically an olefin fiber. It is most widely known for it's use as a moisture barrier in the construction of new buildings. It is also used for protective clothing, and mailing packages. Our Tyvek billfolds weigh in at 0.4 ounces.

All Tyvek material used for our wallets is recycled fabric, found blowing in the wind on the side of the road. I do not intend to make Wallets from new Tyvek. Hopefully more discarded fabric will be found or sent my way. Otherwise, these wallets will be available only until the current supply runs out. 

Rip-stop Nylon

Rip-stop Nylon has also been around for decades, originally designed and manufactured for the US government for use as parachutes. It has a reinforced square weave that prevents holes or tears from spreading further and gives the fabric its name, Rip-stop. Before this fabric, when a parachute tore, it did so in every direction, causing immediate death; this fabric has saved many lives by preventing such large tears from happening. Still used as parachutes today, Rip-stop has evolved over time and revolutionized innumerable industries. It is used for everything from jackets and tents to high tech sails.

Our Rip-stop Billfolds Weight just 0.5 ounces, and available in several different color options. This fabric will also only be available until the current supply of recycled sailcloth runs out. 

The photo above shows Rip-stop nylon in our "Veho Minimalist wallet" design. This small front pocket wallet is ideal for carrying the bare essentials. It is also available in Dyneema Cuben Fiber.

If you have any questions or have a certain design of your own, please email me to discuss your project.

Thanks,

Tom A.
oldedogsewing@gmail.com
 

One of a Kind Bags - Reusing Upholstery Samples March 23, 2015 10:20

A Neighbor of mine is an interior decorator specializing in Hotels. Recently he was throwing out a bundle of sample fabric squares he had acquired over the years, consisting mostly of upholstery and curtain material, with some odds and ends of leather too. I was at the right place at the right time, able to get this wonderful gift from him, saving it from the big county garbage heap. The large bag was filled to the brim with all different patterns and prints. Most samples are about one foot squares, others are larger, about two feet squared; Altogether the once discarded bag of samples weighted 27 pounds.

Often at Olde Dog, when making bags from used sails or scrap canvas, we produce ten to fifteen products a time, depending on the amount of consistent fabric available. Considering all the fabrics in this bag are different, and there is a limited amount of each, in order for these samples to be made into products, each and every bag or wallet would have to be completely different.

So, We have added a One of a Kind Collection to the Olde Dog website, where you can find truly unique Handbags and Wallets. These are one-off items that will never again be duplicated. You can be guaranteed anything from this collection will be the only one made of it's kind, an absolutely original product. 

For the first couple projects, I of course choose some of my favorite prints from this wonderful little collection of samples. Some of these fabrics are heavily embroidered in magnificent colors and textures. The size of the fabric square determined the type and size of the bag to be made. In the case of all evening bags shown below, no fabric was wasted from the square, rather the inner lining was cut to match the dimensions. The two floral print Handbags also incorporate recycled sail cloth as the lining.         

With 27 pounds of fabric donated, there will be many new "One of a Kind" items coming soon check back to see what becomes of all this wonderful discarded material. 

Recycling your Used Sail March 7, 2015 10:07

The Life Of A Sail

Unfortunately nothing lasts forever. Sailors know this all too well as they will have to make many repairs and modifications to their vessels over the years to keep it afloat. The sailboat's engine, the sails themselves, sometimes get overlooked in this constant cycle of marine maintenance.

Your typical modern day sail is made from Dacron, which is a high density form of polyester. Some cruising sails remain hoisted on the boat for their entire lifespan, which becomes shorter if left unserviced. The exposed area of the leech and foot can become brittle and damaged by Ultraviolet Rays. You should have your local Sailmaker inspect your sails every two years to ensure their longevity. Even a properly serviced sail will someday reach a point where buying a new sail seems more attractive than repairing the old one.

On the other side of the spectrum, racing sailors will replace a sail every year or two just to ensure maximum performance. Many of these sails are made of Mylar plastic layers with either carbon fiber or Kevlar aramid bands laminated between them. Racing sails are also constructed from taffeta laminates, and lightweight nylon, depending on the type of sail.

A Sail's Afterlife

Considering that all of these sails are composed essentially of plastic fibers, it presents a significant problem to our every growing landfills. These forms of plastic are not commonly recyclable, though some companies, like Sunbrella, do recycle industrial canvas scraps back into new product. Your average sailor, however, cannot take his used sail to his sail-maker or community recycling center to get it converted into new fabrics. So, what happens to all these eco-unfriendly sails? I would bet most are being stored away in boat lockers and garages waiting to be deemed trash, or already at the county dump.

Damaged portions of a retired Dacron cruising sail can be cut away leaving the body of the sail behind. This is the majority of the sail, and in many cases remains in great shape structurally. Racing sails are also highly salvageable, often having much less wear and tear. Any sail fabric becomes softer over time, but still maintain its strength and water resistance.

While it no longer makes for a suitable sail, this material is perfect for outdoor pillows and cushion covers, that would look equally great inside. A used sail can be modified into an artsy backyard canopy, or a unique addition a child's tree house. Take it inside your home and use as window curtains, or even a stylish shower curtain. It could even make a great and portable projector screen.  

Any amount of accessories can be made from sail cloth, and each type of fabric is suitable for differing applications. Here at Olde Dog, we focus on big Beach Bags, Travel Duffles, Crossbody bags, and Wallets. All products are handmade in small batches or are altogether unique. Most all recycled fabrics are washed prior to fabrication.

Used sails have also been used to create temporary structures for people in need, most noticeably in Haiti after the devastating hurricane of 2010. Not only did American sail making companies donate a great amount of used sails for individuals to make into shelters, some even personally fabricated the structures that housed stranded Haitian families. Sailsforsustenance.com is one charity that currently helps Haitian subsistence fisherman, who are in need of sails to reach better fish-able waters, helping to feed the community.   

Help save the sails from the Landfill; if you have a used sail not in use, or know someone who does, contact a local handbag designer or canvas shop to have it made into your custom project. Or donate to a humanitarian effort. If you live in the Chesapeake Bay area, please contact me directly to donate your sail to a small artisan business.

Thanks, 

Our Sewing machines February 10, 2015 07:24

The primary workhorse behind Olde Dog. The Pfaff 138 is used to create most of the products shown on our online storefront. Georg Pfaff made his first sewing machine in 1862. This particular machine was made in the mid 1950's, in West Germany.

I also use another antique machine, a Precision from 1953, that is a Japanese replica of the Singer 93 from the same year, made with the same great quality. It was once used for everyday alterations at the Hochschild & Kohn department store in Baltimore, Maryland.

These older machines are as reliable and durable as they are beautiful. With all metal body, there are fewer breakable parts compared to modern day plastic machines. When a properly serviced sewing machine has been running for over fifty years, you can be pretty sure it will last fifty more years. These machines where meant to last lifetimes. If you are in the market for a sewing machine. I would recommend either an antique Pfaff or Adler. Purchasing an older machine will save you initial cost, and possible future repairs. 

If you have any questions concerning your sewing machine purchase, or repair, inquire by emailing Tom: oldedogsewing@gmail.com. Please ask about our process, or about your own custom projects. I also welcome suggestions for new product ideas. Stop by soon and see what's new at Olde Dog.