Chris
@elfkin.bsky.social
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.
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.
Pinned
Chris
@elfkin.bsky.social
· Jan 25
Moving along with Nick’s #PinstripeTrousers, slant pockets are going on the front legs. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCouture
January 22, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Moving along with Nick’s #PinstripeTrousers, slant pockets are going on the front legs. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCouture
A key to elfkin’s growth in 2026 is the introduction of limited edition ready-to-wear #fashion in standard sizes XS to XXL. Which explains this sheaf of commercial blocks that I picked up at the print shop yesterday. #elfkinRTW
January 21, 2026 at 5:49 PM
A key to elfkin’s growth in 2026 is the introduction of limited edition ready-to-wear #fashion in standard sizes XS to XXL. Which explains this sheaf of commercial blocks that I picked up at the print shop yesterday. #elfkinRTW
Two weeks of rains over the holiday followed by two weeks of warm daytime sun has the garden bursting with fragrant delights. Lemons, jasmine, and Chinese perfume tree are all in bloom. Plus a few cosmos they’ve held over from autumn. #BloomScrolling #flowers
January 19, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Two weeks of rains over the holiday followed by two weeks of warm daytime sun has the garden bursting with fragrant delights. Lemons, jasmine, and Chinese perfume tree are all in bloom. Plus a few cosmos they’ve held over from autumn. #BloomScrolling #flowers
It took 2 years to work out a scalable production model for elfkin that won’t leave me unpicking buttonholes in hell for all eternity. And this Planet Money episode about the garment industry in my home town explains why.
www.npr.org/2025/07/11/1...
www.npr.org/2025/07/11/1...
Made in America : Planet Money
What people might picture when they think of "Made in America" ... might not look like the "Made in America" we have today.The U.S. does have a domestic manufacturing industry, including a garment man...
www.npr.org
January 19, 2026 at 1:17 AM
It took 2 years to work out a scalable production model for elfkin that won’t leave me unpicking buttonholes in hell for all eternity. And this Planet Money episode about the garment industry in my home town explains why.
www.npr.org/2025/07/11/1...
www.npr.org/2025/07/11/1...
It’s a little too rinkydink to be a thing I would want to use on the regular, but this gridded cardboard mat that I picked up at Mood yesterday did make keeping this silk on the square much easier. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCouture
January 16, 2026 at 8:46 PM
It’s a little too rinkydink to be a thing I would want to use on the regular, but this gridded cardboard mat that I picked up at Mood yesterday did make keeping this silk on the square much easier. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCouture
I just finished my re-read of Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy and am now casting my version of the movies in my head. Joe Manganiello is definitely playing Zeb, Rita Moreno is Pilar, and Aubrey Plaza is Toby. I could also see Hunter Doohan as either Crake or Adam. #books
January 16, 2026 at 4:36 PM
I just finished my re-read of Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy and am now casting my version of the movies in my head. Joe Manganiello is definitely playing Zeb, Rita Moreno is Pilar, and Aubrey Plaza is Toby. I could also see Hunter Doohan as either Crake or Adam. #books
And now for double extra fun, I'm finishing up the year end bookkeeping. Just need to reconcile November and December against account statements.
See also: so many parts of running a small biz are sooooo unsexy.
See also: so many parts of running a small biz are sooooo unsexy.
January 16, 2026 at 12:37 AM
And now for double extra fun, I'm finishing up the year end bookkeeping. Just need to reconcile November and December against account statements.
See also: so many parts of running a small biz are sooooo unsexy.
See also: so many parts of running a small biz are sooooo unsexy.
Went to Mood this afternoon for Jeff's shirting (a super summery cotton voile) and some stretch denim options for matching jeans. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCollection
January 16, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Went to Mood this afternoon for Jeff's shirting (a super summery cotton voile) and some stretch denim options for matching jeans. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCollection
Though the situation looks increasingly dire, the people of Iran are giving me hope this morning. May we all be reminded of the power of protest.
January 14, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Though the situation looks increasingly dire, the people of Iran are giving me hope this morning. May we all be reminded of the power of protest.
After several sessions of unpicking and draping, I think I've found the root cause of the problem with Lisa's #NeoVictorianBlouse. I need to test but believe that the back left panel is on the wonk. It follows center back for longer than it should and must be twisting that shoulder with it. #sewing
January 14, 2026 at 12:28 AM
After several sessions of unpicking and draping, I think I've found the root cause of the problem with Lisa's #NeoVictorianBlouse. I need to test but believe that the back left panel is on the wonk. It follows center back for longer than it should and must be twisting that shoulder with it. #sewing
I was gonna post this as a thread but it got unwieldy. Guess I'm writing blog posts again? So if you're wondering what goes on at elfkin between the (increasingly scarce) social media posts, click on through!
www.elfk.in/blog/once-mo...
www.elfk.in/blog/once-mo...
Once More, With Feeling — elfk.in
The answer: none of this grinding on a project, to the exclusion of all else, until it's done. That shit's a recipe for burnout!
www.elfk.in
January 13, 2026 at 8:03 PM
I was gonna post this as a thread but it got unwieldy. Guess I'm writing blog posts again? So if you're wondering what goes on at elfkin between the (increasingly scarce) social media posts, click on through!
www.elfk.in/blog/once-mo...
www.elfk.in/blog/once-mo...
I’m closing out the #sewing day with Nick’s trousers. Pocketing is all cut, and now I’m going to test the wool that I’m using to see how it responds to the fancy iron work that comes next.
#ElfkinCouture
#ElfkinCouture
January 13, 2026 at 12:19 AM
I’m closing out the #sewing day with Nick’s trousers. Pocketing is all cut, and now I’m going to test the wool that I’m using to see how it responds to the fancy iron work that comes next.
#ElfkinCouture
#ElfkinCouture
Next up in the queue: a fresh muslin of Jeff’s shirt along with some button options for the final version. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCollection
January 12, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Next up in the queue: a fresh muslin of Jeff’s shirt along with some button options for the final version. #sewing #fashion #ElfkinCollection
I’ve been terrible about posting since I started with a new approach to working through orders last week (more on this later). But I’m still here, queer, and #sewing away in the elfkin workroom. First up today: alterations to Matt’s jeans. #ElfkinCollection
January 12, 2026 at 5:20 PM
I’ve been terrible about posting since I started with a new approach to working through orders last week (more on this later). But I’m still here, queer, and #sewing away in the elfkin workroom. First up today: alterations to Matt’s jeans. #ElfkinCollection
If you’re having a rough re-entry into the daily grind this Monday, Pugsley would like you to know that he’s willing to share his sunbeam if you wish to escape. But you’ll need to bring your own shoe to lounge on. #cats
January 5, 2026 at 5:16 PM
If you’re having a rough re-entry into the daily grind this Monday, Pugsley would like you to know that he’s willing to share his sunbeam if you wish to escape. But you’ll need to bring your own shoe to lounge on. #cats
I read through the first half of "The Palmer/Pletsch Complete Guide to Fitting" this afternoon. Holy shitballs! Borderline heretical but clearly genius.
If I can get the hang of it, I'd be able to develop customers' slopers at warp speed. And with much less wasted muslin.
Color me excited! #sewing
If I can get the hang of it, I'd be able to develop customers' slopers at warp speed. And with much less wasted muslin.
Color me excited! #sewing
January 4, 2026 at 4:13 AM
I read through the first half of "The Palmer/Pletsch Complete Guide to Fitting" this afternoon. Holy shitballs! Borderline heretical but clearly genius.
If I can get the hang of it, I'd be able to develop customers' slopers at warp speed. And with much less wasted muslin.
Color me excited! #sewing
If I can get the hang of it, I'd be able to develop customers' slopers at warp speed. And with much less wasted muslin.
Color me excited! #sewing
My birthday gift to myself just arrived. I’ve been wanting to try the Palmer/Pletsch tissue fitting method for years as it has the potential to greatly speed up custom pattern development for elfkin’s couture customers. And I finally feel like I have the head space for new techniques. #sewing
January 3, 2026 at 1:29 AM
My birthday gift to myself just arrived. I’ve been wanting to try the Palmer/Pletsch tissue fitting method for years as it has the potential to greatly speed up custom pattern development for elfkin’s couture customers. And I finally feel like I have the head space for new techniques. #sewing
Just had my first two dental implant crowns installed. Feels weird to have opposing molars again after almost six months of holes and mismatched gaps in my mouth. But I’m super excited to like, chew food again!
December 19, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Just had my first two dental implant crowns installed. Feels weird to have opposing molars again after almost six months of holes and mismatched gaps in my mouth. But I’m super excited to like, chew food again!
I was too clever for my own good thinking that I had correctly accounted for the stretch in the denim I used for Matt’s jeans in the (untested) pattern adaptation used for his jeans. They’ll have to be taken in a bit before he’ll be able to wear them. <womp womp>
December 18, 2025 at 10:58 PM
I was too clever for my own good thinking that I had correctly accounted for the stretch in the denim I used for Matt’s jeans in the (untested) pattern adaptation used for his jeans. They’ll have to be taken in a bit before he’ll be able to wear them. <womp womp>
A fresh muslin of Jeff’s tailored jeans is done to test changes made to yoke and back pockets. And of course to show options for this sea turtle illustration (which will ultimately be topstitched).
P.S. I used the pen plotter on my Cricut.
#sewing #ElfkinCollection
P.S. I used the pen plotter on my Cricut.
#sewing #ElfkinCollection
December 18, 2025 at 7:14 PM
A fresh muslin of Jeff’s tailored jeans is done to test changes made to yoke and back pockets. And of course to show options for this sea turtle illustration (which will ultimately be topstitched).
P.S. I used the pen plotter on my Cricut.
#sewing #ElfkinCollection
P.S. I used the pen plotter on my Cricut.
#sewing #ElfkinCollection
I’m testing out some options for adding a bit of sea turtle embellishment to Jeff’s tailored jeans. Will use these on the muslin I’m stitching up today. #sewing #ElfkinCollection
December 17, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I’m testing out some options for adding a bit of sea turtle embellishment to Jeff’s tailored jeans. Will use these on the muslin I’m stitching up today. #sewing #ElfkinCollection
Apropos of my previous post, we went to Disney Hall for a Chanticleer concert last night. Including hubby and myself, I counted exactly seven attendees wearing masks. Staff, on the other hand, were almost all masked up which tells me that they know that venue is a giant cootie catcher.
December 16, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Apropos of my previous post, we went to Disney Hall for a Chanticleer concert last night. Including hubby and myself, I counted exactly seven attendees wearing masks. Staff, on the other hand, were almost all masked up which tells me that they know that venue is a giant cootie catcher.
Among the “how to stay healthy” tips that accompany the breathless reporting over the early crest/unexpected mutation of this winter’s influenza wave, I cannot help but notice that “wear an N95 mask” is never mentioned. We truly are the dumbest fucking species on earth.
December 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Among the “how to stay healthy” tips that accompany the breathless reporting over the early crest/unexpected mutation of this winter’s influenza wave, I cannot help but notice that “wear an N95 mask” is never mentioned. We truly are the dumbest fucking species on earth.