Chris
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elfkin.bsky.social
Chris
@elfkin.bsky.social
240 followers 93 following 1K posts
It’s all about #sewing, #art, #fashion, and #lgbtq shenanigans.

The elf in the custom #couture #tailoring business Elfkin (https://elfk.in).

Made with parts from 🇬🇷🇬🇧🇩🇪.

It should go without saying that all Black and trans lives matter.
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elfkin.bsky.social
The muslins of Jeff’s shirt and jeans are ready for fitting.

Yes indeed, I do just draw on details like pockets at this stage as all I need to do is confirm placement and scale.

#sewing #ElfkinCouture
A pair of jeans and short sleeve shirt with a banded collar, both made in plain muslin, lay flat on a cutting table. They have been arranged to show front pocket placement on shirt and back pocket of jeans, both drawn in with green marker.
November 20, 2025 at 11:17 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
Today’s unanticipated #sewing side quest is the replacement of the right princess panel on Lisa’s #NeoVictorianBlouse. I realized too late that its squiggles run opposite all of the other panels. Now I get to unpick all ~750 stitches in the 2 attaching French seams. Fun. #ElfkinCouture
The bodice of a blouse made of transparent bronze silk chiffon that’s been appliquéd with regular squiggles of frayed edge silk satin. The bodice’s center back seam hasn’t been sewn, so it lays flat. It’s clear that the panel joining the front to back right has its squiggles facing in the opposite direction from all of the others.
November 18, 2025 at 10:13 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
Back at the #sewing machines to finish the pockets on Matt’s jeans.

Details of note:
- I bonded the back pockets of this stretchy denim with silk organza to stabilize them with pleasing results
- front pocket bags are oriented so that wearer always sees the nice side
Two back leg pieces of a pair of dark indigo jeans under construction. They are laid over each other so that they’re mirrored at the waist to show one piece with the back pocket (typical 5-point) face up and positioned to sewing. The other leg piece shows the back pocket piece face down and showing the layer of translucent white silk organza. Closeup of front pocket area of same jeans. The piece is shown from the inside with the top folded down at the waistband to show the right side. The blue paisley bandana cotton used for the pocket lining can be seen to show the top (saturated) of the lining when the wearer looks at the inside of the front pocket as well from the inside of the jeans themselves.
November 17, 2025 at 11:19 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
With my denim topstitching machine back in service, I also cracked on with Matt’s bell bottom jeans today.

Now that my 3 main #sewing machines are in their own tables, I’m able to work two garments at the same time without ever having to change threads, tensions, etc. It’s utterly dreamy.
Front and back pieces of a pair of dark indigo jeans under construction. The legs are rolled up, and one of each piece is shown from front and back. Pocketing is light blue paisley bandana cotton. On the back of over of the front pocket facings is an elfkin label with “#18” hand written on its lower right corner.
November 15, 2025 at 2:48 AM
elfkin.bsky.social
The bodice and sleeves of Lisa’s #NeoVictorianBlouse approach doneness. The zipper that she brought me with the fabric is way too visible through this whisper thin silk chiffon. Gonna need to find a better match. #sewing #ElfkinCouture
Bodice of a high necked blouse shown flat on a cutting table. It is made of bronze/gold silk chiffon that has been appliquéd in a regular pattern of matched gold vertical squiggles. The effect is almost like animal print. Closeup of same blouse to show how visible the tape of a cream colored zipper is through to the bronze fabric.
November 15, 2025 at 1:37 AM
elfkin.bsky.social
And with the dinner gong about to sound, all of the pattern pieces for Jeff’s jeans and shirt are adapted and cut. Sewing assistant Kane will enjoy #sewing up muslins for these while I pick away at Lisa’s blouse and Matt’s jeans. So multi. Very task.
A pile of pattern pieces for the garments mentioned in post. They are drafted on translucent white paper with blue grid marks and are marked in blue pen.
November 13, 2025 at 2:35 AM
elfkin.bsky.social
Cherno Alpha is back from the shop, and what a difference a professional #sewing machine mechanic makes! I can edgestitch till the cows come home with nary a slipped stitch in sight.
Back pocket piece from a pair of jeans under construction. They are made of dark indigo denim. Across the center are denim colored reinforcing stitching in a double chevron pattern that meets in the middle of the piece to form a diamond. Accrued the folded top edge is a line of mustard yellow topstitching. The piece lays atop a white machine table with a silver machine bed in the background.
November 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
elfkin.bsky.social
Working up the pattern adaptations for Jeff’s jeans and shirt so that #sewing assistant Kane can stitch the muslins when he’s in tomorrow.
A pile of pattern pieces for a pair of jeans. Pieces are drafted on translucent white paper with blue grid marks. A written guide for the jeans adaptation rests atop the pattern pieces.
November 12, 2025 at 6:11 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
After 2 hours of fiddling, it’s safe to say I lack the skills to tune up my Singer 111W so that it doesn’t skip when edgestitching. Luckily the used machine dealer that I bought him from offered to let me bring the machine in and sit with a tech who will teach me how to tune him properly! #sewing
Closeup of two pieces of dark blue denim with mustard yellow topstitching. Where the stitching is on the edge of a seam, there are many skipped stitches.
November 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
The silk chiffon for Lisa’s #NeoVictorianBlouse is so fine as to be more idea than substance. So I’m starting it off by staystitching every. Single. Edge.

Did I spend an hour last night tuning Jamie to sew a single layer of this stuff? You bet your sweet bippy I did! #sewing #ElfkinCouture
Closeup of a piece of bronze silk fabric on a black sewing machine bed. The material is so thin that it’s highly transparent. There are tiny machine stitches 1/8th inch from one edge.
November 8, 2025 at 5:31 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
Matt’s bell bottom jeans are all cut and marked in lovely Italian denim. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCollection
Individual pieces of a pair of dark indigo denim jeans lay flat on a gridded table. They are accompanied by pocket pieces cut from baby blue paisley cotton bandana fabric.
November 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
In addition to taming a heaving scrap hamper (it's been piling up since July), I managed to get @Drub's #DandyShirt washed, pressed out, and boxed up for shipping.

This color/print combo is so that I may make one for myself.

#sewing #fashion #ElfkinCollection
A button front shirt with a pintuck pleated front placket, narrow winged collar, and French cuffs. It is made of rust red cotton shirt with floral (roses and bees in white on a red background) accents at the yoke, inner collar band, and cuffs. Closeup on collar of same shirt to show that undercollar is faced with same floral fabric and yoke and inner collar band.
November 6, 2025 at 1:53 AM
elfkin.bsky.social
Lisa’s #NeoVictorianBlouse is all cut and marked. This silk chiffon with the appliquéd strips of charmeuse is just about the softest I have ever felt. It’s going to be a treat to wear. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCouture
Bronze-gold transparent silk with long, squiggly strips of opaque shiny gold silk is shown cut and placed on top of the corresponding pattern pieces for a blouse.
November 5, 2025 at 1:38 AM
elfkin.bsky.social
Now for my next trick, Lisa’s #NeoVictorianBlouse. Step 1: validate alterations from fitting muslin, copy pattern to oaktag paper, and add allowances. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCouture
In the foreground: pattern pieces for a blouse on a mix of plain white paper and transparent white paten paper with blue grid markings. The front most piece, the side princess panel, is labeled “NEO VICTORIAN BLOUSE, V1.0.” Midground, the muslin fitting garment of the blouse made in cream colored poly chiffon. In the background, a large roll of beige oaktag paper.
November 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
Drub’s #DandyShirt is back from seamstress Karyn, and it’s time to put in the buttonholes and buttons. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCollection
Closeup of the front buttonhole placket and undercollar of a tailored dress shirt. The main fabric is a rust red, and the undercollar is a complementary dark red printed with white roses and bees. Buttonholes are done in matched dark red thread, and their threads tails are still attached.
November 3, 2025 at 7:55 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
Chad is doing his best to model Lisa's tulle baby doll t-shirt, which is now done! All hand stitched with waxed silk thread. It was a lot of fun to make this piece. Very meditative in its way. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCouture #art
November 1, 2025 at 7:39 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
Making bias binding from silk georgette is akin to trying to wipe your ass with plastic wrap. I do not recommend it for a good time. But it’s gonna look amazing as a finish for the hems on Lisa’s tulle baby doll tee. #sewing
Strips of black silk bias binding lay on a gridded cutting table with an assortment of rulers.
October 27, 2025 at 11:51 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
I’ve been using this kloodge of a table for Jamie, my old Singer 201, for years now, and it’s somewhat less than ideal. Very excited to head down to the used #sewing machine dealer this morning to get a proper table for Jamie as well as a dedicated table for Cherno Alpha (Singer 111W).
A black enameled Singer sewing machine sits on the keyboard shelf of a white computer desk. The keyboard shelf has been lowered to allow the machine’s bed to sit flush to the table. Orange cardboard boxes have been joined with pink duct tape in order to fill in the gap in front of the machine.
October 27, 2025 at 4:39 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
With the first half of Nick’s order in the mail, I’m jamming to get Lisa’s tulle baby doll t-shirt done. The bodice is all (hand back and overcast) stitched together. Now to do up the sleeves. #sewing
Two short sleeve pieces with gathered caps. They are made of black dot tulle.
October 24, 2025 at 7:48 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
It was 64°F (~18°C) in the bedroom this morning. Fergal activated Snuggle Bun mode. #cats
A ginger cat’s head pokes up through a swaddling of orange blanket.
October 23, 2025 at 4:46 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
My side quest to find a reliable method for dyeing pearl/shell buttons is finally yielding positive results. These were held at ~190°F in a 10:1 solution of water to liquid aniline dye (Rit for natural fibers) for two hours. Far superior to all previous attempts.
Four different pearl shirt buttons dyed fuchsia.
October 20, 2025 at 4:46 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
Pugsley and Fergal can’t even with this #caturday. #cats
A ginger tabby and a solid black cat lounge on a burgundy sofa. The ginger cat is curled in a ball with his paw touching the tail of the black cat, who is stretched out on his side.
October 18, 2025 at 8:16 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
It took five years to reach blooming size, but my nematanthus is finally showing off why it’s known as the goldfish plant. #BloomScrolling
Closeup of an orange-gold flower. It’s about an inch long and shaped like a fat goldfish with yellow lips.
October 16, 2025 at 9:05 PM
elfkin.bsky.social
The snuggle is real. #cats
A ginger cat stretches along the length of a man’s legs. The cat’s paw, which is mostly white, stretches out toward the viewer.
October 16, 2025 at 2:52 AM
elfkin.bsky.social
Now for a change of pace… Lisa’s tulle baby doll t-shirt. It needs to be completely hand sewn, so I’m trying to do a little bit each day. At least it’s all basted up from the final fitting, so I can just pick it up and stitch away. #sewing
Black tulle with red rose appliqué lays on a green table.
October 15, 2025 at 12:16 AM