Shirts for "a website nobody goes to."

March 10, 2012 6:56 PM

Dearest Metafilter, can we talk about new MeFi t-shirts?

And also, perhaps, hoodies?

What pithy catchphrases should grace this hypothetical casual wear? IAmKimIAm's recent "Mefi glossary of terms" MeTa thread may provide some food for thought.

Inspired by this post.

posted by killdevil to MetaFilter-Related at 6:56 PM (268 comments total)

Yeah, we could do new shirts if we had a pithy short slogan for them. I found a new printer/fulfillment operation that could do it.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:03 PM on March 10, 2012

Yeah, we could do new shirts if we had a pithy short slogan for them.

"Yeah, we could do new shirts if we had a pithy short slogan for them."
posted by Flunkie at 7:04 PM on March 10, 2012 [24 favorites]

[add to favorites]

"best of the web"

Note: Everyone needs a hug.

"hoppitamoppita"

GRAR.

"fighty."

"Are you a friend of Matt?"
posted by flex at 7:10 PM on March 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

I like the "ideological bonfires" autocorrect from a few days ago. I'd buy that for a dollar.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:11 PM on March 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

A [+] on the front of the shirt and a [!] on the back of the shirt.
posted by Phire at 7:15 PM on March 10, 2012 [72 favorites]

Grar monster.
posted by The Whelk at 7:19 PM on March 10, 2012

most obvious: "MetaFilter's Own"

or...
"MetaFilter: We Are Eponysterical"

"MetaFilter: We CAN have nice things."


(but if anybody wants to support "This Will Not Wendell", I'd have no objections)
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:20 PM on March 10, 2012 [4 favorites]

Er, grar monster

Or just shirts with the flag and favorite icons where the pocket would be.
posted by The Whelk at 7:21 PM on March 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

" breaks the guidelines"
posted by The Whelk at 7:21 PM on March 10, 2012 [5 favorites]

Four simple shirts, four colors, each with the goldish color of a user name

The Blue

The Green

The Grey

Professional White

written across the chest. Nothing else. Blue shirt for The Blue, and so on. Nothing on the back.
posted by Ghidorah at 7:22 PM on March 10, 2012 [13 favorites]

" Ask Me About Metafilter!"
posted by The Whelk at 7:25 PM on March 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

"mee-fite" on one
" Muh-fight" on the other.

Or other pronunciation jokes
posted by The Whelk at 7:26 PM on March 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

Imaginary Internet Friend.
posted by The Whelk at 7:26 PM on March 10, 2012 [7 favorites]

Green shirt: Is this shirt safe to eat? [+][!]
posted by mccarty.tim at 7:28 PM on March 10, 2012 [11 favorites]

"Metafilter doesn't do t-shirts well"
posted by Ghidorah at 7:29 PM on March 10, 2012 [24 favorites]

Blue: [in Comic Sans] Helvetica
posted by mccarty.tim at 7:32 PM on March 10, 2012 [10 favorites]

I was durfing before it was derp.
posted by mccarty.tim at 7:34 PM on March 10, 2012 [4 favorites]

i would like a lol butts hoodie

or a butts lol one

ok i want both actually
posted by elizardbits at 7:36 PM on March 10, 2012 [4 favorites]

Metafilter: Yeah, we could do new shirts if we had a pithy short slogan for them.


Shirt idea:
Metafilter
(Insert pithy short slogan here)
posted by karathrace at 7:36 PM on March 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

A Shepard Fairey-style picture of Matt emblazoned with HOPE ME.
posted by davidjmcgee at 7:36 PM on March 10, 2012 [69 favorites]

$5 friends
posted by MustardTent at 7:39 PM on March 10, 2012 [6 favorites]

Professional White

That is probably not a good idea.
posted by empath at 7:45 PM on March 10, 2012 [34 favorites]

HOPPITA
MOPPITA
GRAR
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:45 PM on March 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

fighty
posted by chococat at 7:46 PM on March 10, 2012

Metafilter: Pithy short slogan.
posted by carter at 7:53 PM on March 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

maybe we could also entertain cloth bags or aprons! i would totally shop with a bag that said HOPPITA MOPPITA GRAR
posted by nadawi at 7:58 PM on March 10, 2012 [8 favorites]

[flagged as fantastic]
posted by eddydamascene at 7:59 PM on March 10, 2012 [9 favorites]

Oops Karathrace had a similar idea. Okay how about (riffing off oneswellfoop):

"MetaFilter: We Are Eponysterical."

I would also totally cook in a Metafilter apron.
posted by carter at 8:00 PM on March 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

Note: Everyone needs a hug.
posted by crunchland at 8:02 PM on March 10, 2012 [3 favorites]

i know it's too much for what we're talking about, but i'd totally rock a "can i eat it" apron with food safety stuff printed on it, maybe cooking temps, amount of time to keep leftovers, etc...
posted by nadawi at 8:05 PM on March 10, 2012 [25 favorites]

Never mind shirts, what about sexy underwear?

"This will Wendell"

"Is this safe to eat?"

"Butts LOL"

[+]

and of course, the classic:

"$20, same as in town"
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:05 PM on March 10, 2012 [12 favorites]

FIAMO!


I like the [+] / [!] idea


Hamburger
posted by edgeways at 8:08 PM on March 10, 2012

karathrace: "Metafilter
(Insert pithy short slogan here)"

Eh, that was my .sig (well, my name instead of "metafilter") in college. And I'm really not that funny.
posted by notsnot at 8:09 PM on March 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

ascii portrait of mathowie. because that wouldn't be creepy for him at all to encounter his face as represented by ascii in the world.
posted by nadawi at 8:10 PM on March 10, 2012

And I think the mods should get ones with the 'staff' logo on the back.
posted by carter at 8:10 PM on March 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

It broke my teeny, cheesy heart when I missed out on the Special Snowflake shirt. But I wouldn't hate "MetaFilter: We CAN have nice things."
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 8:11 PM on March 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

WHAT.
THE.
FUCK.
MEFI.
posted by notsnot at 8:12 PM on March 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

I would enjoy a "flag it and move on" shirt exactly like the "keep calm and carry on" shirts, with [!] in the spot the crown goes in.
posted by SMPA at 8:14 PM on March 10, 2012 [130 favorites]

Professional White

That is probably not a good idea.

Yeah, I kind of noticed that later. Then again, who would wear one? I'm sure people whose computers are too good to be sullied by color wouldn't deign to wear something so gauche as a t-shirt.

(not white-background-ist)
posted by Ghidorah at 8:16 PM on March 10, 2012

Would you like some arty submissions, or sticking with font only?
posted by Glinn at 8:21 PM on March 10, 2012

this could actually start fights
posted by nadawi at 8:24 PM on March 10, 2012 [6 favorites]

Note: Everyone needs a hug on the back, with MetaFilter on the front breast side would be a really good shirt.
posted by lazaruslong at 8:25 PM on March 10, 2012 [5 favorites]

But I wouldn't hate "MetaFilter: We CAN have nice things."

I also would not be hating.

But "your favorite band sucks" would be funny. And I’d were it. Because it it would always have a spectacular chance of being correct.
posted by bongo_x at 8:31 PM on March 10, 2012 [4 favorites]

Note: Everyone needs a hug on the back, with MetaFilter on the front breast side would be a really good shirt.

Maybe instead of 'MetaFilter' just the 'MF' icon on the front.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:42 PM on March 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'd be happy with just the MetaFilter logo on a blue shirt, actually.

Kind of liking "MetaFilter's Own"...

the [+]/[!] option amuses me...

[add to favorites] also amuses me...

Make them all, I'd buy one of each.
posted by hippybear at 8:43 PM on March 10, 2012 [5 favorites]

Yeah, the MF would be better, ZeusHumms. Good call.
posted by lazaruslong at 8:44 PM on March 10, 2012

"Metafilter - I'm From The Internet"
posted by zoinks at 8:45 PM on March 10, 2012 [12 favorites]

I also agree with both hippybear and ZeusHumms/lazaruslong. Simple is good, don't necessarily need a pithy slogan at all. And the logo itself would be nice.
posted by zoinks at 8:47 PM on March 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

Endorsing:

[+] on front, [!] on back

[add to favorites] across chest

Flag It
and
Move On
[!]

combining a couple ideas from above: Logo on front, MetaFilter's Own on back.
posted by batmonkey at 8:49 PM on March 10, 2012 [3 favorites]

"If the wearer of this shirt is a corpse, contact ColdChef and AVENGE MY DEATH!"
posted by ColdChef at 8:52 PM on March 10, 2012 [51 favorites]

It would be great if it wasn’t blue. I don’t like blue.
posted by bongo_x at 8:55 PM on March 10, 2012 [3 favorites]

i'd wear a "coldchef has a posse" shirt.
posted by nadawi at 8:55 PM on March 10, 2012 [9 favorites]

I mean, if you have the opportunity to print an invitation for hugs on a t-shirt, I think you should take it!
posted by lazaruslong at 8:59 PM on March 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

I would buy underpants with "butts lol" or "lol butts" on them.

I would maybe buy a t-shirt with "Imaginary internet friend" or "I'm from the internet".

Most of the other suggestions I would approve of and chuckle at, but maybe not buy, especially given what shipping to Australia is likely to cost.
posted by lollusc at 9:10 PM on March 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

Something like this, maybe?
posted by Greg Nog at 9:11 PM on March 10, 2012 [14 favorites]

BE NICE TO ME

WE ALREADY BANNED SCOTT ADAMS
posted by shakespeherian at 9:23 PM on March 10, 2012 [3 favorites]

This shirt is over 30 days old, and has been closed for archival purposes.
posted by davidjmcgee at 9:25 PM on March 10, 2012 [5 favorites]

I vote for Greg Nog's idea, with the logo on the back or small at the bottom of the text.
posted by The Whelk at 9:48 PM on March 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

This thread reminds me of something Gator said in a previous T-shirt thread (the one that finalized The Whelk's "I [+] MetaFilter" idea):

I still want a "what would jessamyn do?" t-shirt.

As far as I can recall, there have been MetaFilter-related blue shirts and grey shirts, but there's never been a green one. I think it would be neat to see "what would jessamyn do?" on a dark green shirt, with the Ask MetaFilter logo on the back.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 9:57 PM on March 10, 2012 [20 favorites]

I always wanted this diagrammed sentence on a t-shirt. It was linked on the blue a couple years back.
posted by heyho at 10:17 PM on March 10, 2012 [4 favorites]

I suggest someone tosses the info dump into Wordle for a tag cloud. I myself would not be comfortable wearing a t-shirt that said everybody needs a hug on the grounds that strangers may try to hug me.
posted by b33j at 10:20 PM on March 10, 2012 [3 favorites]

"hoppitamoppita"

What is this? I still spend an average of an hour or so a day here after all these years, and I have no idea.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:31 PM on March 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

But "your favorite band sucks" would be funny. And I’d were it.

Head over to the Onion's store. They can help you.
posted by drjimmy11 at 10:35 PM on March 10, 2012

MetaFilter

HAVING NO IDEA
HOW PEOPLE GOT
THEIR CATS WEDGED
IN SCANNERS,
OR WHY,
SINCE 1999
posted by not_on_display at 10:38 PM on March 10, 2012 [45 favorites]

Here you go.
posted by drjimmy11 at 10:38 PM on March 10, 2012

Take it to MetaTalk
posted by Flashman at 10:39 PM on March 10, 2012 [4 favorites]

SCIENCE!
posted by Miko at 10:51 PM on March 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

"Please don't do this."

I pine for "tl;dr," actually.

Metafilter: like it was my profession.
posted by Occula at 11:19 PM on March 10, 2012 [4 favorites]

Can we also do [add to favorites] on undies?
posted by rhapsodie at 11:39 PM on March 10, 2012 [9 favorites]

Therapy.
posted by esmerelda_jenkins at 11:45 PM on March 10, 2012

It didn't get far as a meme, but I sort of wish a "MegaFiller" shirt was a thing.
posted by Dixon Ticonderoga at 11:58 PM on March 10, 2012

.
posted by islander at 12:08 AM on March 11, 2012

IANY_, but
posted by islander at 12:31 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

b33j: I myself would not be comfortable wearing a t-shirt that said everybody needs a hug on the grounds that strangers may try to hug me.

It's happened to me a few times. Luckily they started out by reading it out loud, "Everybody.... needs ... a hug!" before making a move in my direction, which I blocked by flinging up a hand, STOP mode, and saying hastily, "Yes I know it says that, but it doesn't actually mean that I am in need of a hug from anybody" especially you, strange man "right now. It's just a general observation. Thanks though!"

I'd love to buy a [+] / [!] shirt.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 1:24 AM on March 11, 2012

hoppitamoppita .

White on Mefi blue.

Also [+][!].
posted by From Bklyn at 1:50 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Note: Everyone needs a hug.

He said NEW, I already have that shirt its OLD

"Counting beans since 1999"
posted by infini at 3:01 AM on March 11, 2012

Meh-Fi.

And "I went to a meetup and I all got was this lousy t shirt"
posted by MuffinMan at 3:11 AM on March 11, 2012

Chiming in for a hoodie option. I'd break my pretty tight ban on colour for the love of an Ask green hoodie. Although a grey hoodie with "The Grey" printed on it appeals to me.

Wait, would it be "The Grey" or "The Gray?"
posted by Jilder at 3:16 AM on March 11, 2012

MetaFilter: what is this I don't even
posted by empyrean at 3:33 AM on March 11, 2012 [6 favorites]

R T F A
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:36 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

How about"Metafilter: Ponies for all!"
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:37 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

I can't miss a chance to plug for "Increased GRAR levels harsh my general life buzz."

Seconding "I'm from the Internet" with the Metafilter logo.

infini: " "Counting beans since 1999""

Silly, it's overthinking beans.
posted by IndigoRain at 4:09 AM on March 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

Last few thoughts, and then i'm going to bed.

"Mathowie is my homeboy."

"[Marked Best Answer]"

"MEFI: Australian Shift"
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:30 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Still lobbying for baby/toddler onesies with [+] on the front. BECAUSE YOU'RE MY FAVORITE YES YOU ARE!

But yeah, "I know more about the internet than you can possibly imagine" would be my favorite slogan. We laugh because it's funny, and we laugh because it's true.
posted by the young rope-rider at 4:32 AM on March 11, 2012 [13 favorites]

Silly, it's overthinking beans.

You sure its not actually "Plating beans since 1999" then?
posted by infini at 4:48 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

[more inside]
posted by Mister Bijou at 4:51 AM on March 11, 2012 [13 favorites]

I would love a new t-shirt in a bigger size. My last "large" is about large enough for a 6 year old.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 4:51 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

"The moderators gave me special dispensation to wear this shirt"
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:19 AM on March 11, 2012

"Can I eat this?"
posted by infini at 5:22 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

In high school they used to make shirts for the senior class with the name of the school and year on the front and the names of everyone in the senior class on the back. I'm sure we could do something similar here - a simple MeFi logo on the front and the names of every single member on the back.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 6:25 AM on March 11, 2012

I would buy shirts with Cortex's deletion reasons on them. I'd pay double for "Do not fucking spam our site, Tao Lin."
posted by davidjmcgee at 6:46 AM on March 11, 2012 [11 favorites]

a simple MeFi logo on the front and the names of every single member on the back.

They make fonts that small?
posted by radwolf76 at 6:46 AM on March 11, 2012

I'm pining for the MeFi baseball shirts with our usernames on the back as floated in a previous t-shirt thread. Having missed the previous t-shirt runs, I'd be all over this.
posted by arcticseal at 6:48 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

I too would just like to throw in my vote for baby onesies and kid t-shirts.

That is all.
posted by zizzle at 6:58 AM on March 11, 2012 [4 favorites]

They make fonts that small?

We could put it in a QR code.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:59 AM on March 11, 2012 [14 favorites]

"HURF DURF BUTTER EATER"
posted by briank at 7:05 AM on March 11, 2012

And put that QR code on blue, green adn gray condoms
posted by infini at 7:07 AM on March 11, 2012

what I don't even
posted by drlith at 7:13 AM on March 11, 2012

I'm from the Internet. I'm here to help.
posted by whalebreath at 7:15 AM on March 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

Grar Monster 4-ever, though the drop shadow in Greg Nog's idea is pretty menacing (and would immediately alert passersby to our COMPLETE WORLD KNOWLEDGE.)
posted by mintcake! at 7:22 AM on March 11, 2012

I'm seconding "tl;dr" and maybe RTFA on the back.
posted by Max Power at 7:30 AM on March 11, 2012

I was quoting SCIENCE

Now that Scientist has an official Metafilter scientist list, this might be fun for a Science-y Mefi-themed t shirt.
posted by Philosopher Dirtbike at 7:36 AM on March 11, 2012

SILENCED ALL MY LIFE
posted by to sir with millipedes at 7:38 AM on March 11, 2012 [11 favorites]

A question mark over a plate with a can of beans on it.
posted by Anything at 7:39 AM on March 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

I would buy a hoodie. Also a t-shirt, since my old ones don't fit anymore.
posted by rtha at 7:52 AM on March 11, 2012

Metafilter: Needlessly shirty
posted by ericost at 8:00 AM on March 11, 2012

I'm still holding out for a jumpsuit.
posted by The Whelk at 8:18 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

I ended up with an "everyone needs a hug" shirt in the last round, because they ran out of Special Snowflake shirts by the time I ordered.

So I vote for Special Snowflake again.

But the [+]/[!] idea is fun too, very inside baseball.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 8:20 AM on March 11, 2012

[more inside]

Would be great for MetaFilter underwear.
posted by grouse at 8:21 AM on March 11, 2012 [6 favorites]

Hoopitamoppita: mattdidthat wrote a poem.

It's kind of long, but it does contain the lines " ... easy snark, easy hurf / Little grar, little durf" and "just a sockpuppet licking a battery".

(I would really like a T-shirt "just a sockpuppet licking a battery" on it.)
posted by nangar at 8:27 AM on March 11, 2012

Also voting for " [+] [!] " and "hoppitamoppita".
posted by nangar at 8:32 AM on March 11, 2012

The important thing is to have a reason for deletion tattooed on your chest for when you take the shirt off.
posted by fuq at 8:57 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Voting for: [+] / [!] and Special Snowflake.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 9:01 AM on March 11, 2012

Me in my old-skool MeFi baseball shirt in early 2003 (with evanizer [I miss evanizer]).
posted by languagehat at 9:05 AM on March 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

That reminds me, can we have a t-shirt that says "I miss _____________" (I'd fill amberglow)
posted by infini at 9:13 AM on March 11, 2012

The baseball shirt is very cool. Also, no front and back writing. One side only.
posted by bquarters at 9:31 AM on March 11, 2012

Wait, unless there was a name on the back of the baseball shirt. Hmm.
posted by bquarters at 9:33 AM on March 11, 2012

I think it had the user name and number on the back.
posted by carter at 9:38 AM on March 11, 2012

hardcore taters
posted by lurkElongtime at 9:47 AM on March 11, 2012

I would enjoy a "flag it and move on" shirt exactly like the "keep calm and carry on" shirts, with [!] in the spot the crown goes in.

I can't be the only one who already has this shirt, can I? I'm having trouble finding the links now, but mattdidthat made up a version of this a few years back.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:48 AM on March 11, 2012

Why just one tagline? Why not ALL OF THEM?

Or at least the top 40 by popular vote!

Then, we arrange them on the back of the shirt in small type à la band tour T-shirts. Like this
posted by Tom-B at 9:49 AM on March 11, 2012

"what would jessamyn do?" on a dark green shirt

I favorited this, but just in case we're not counting favorites as votes today, this is my vote. With or without the MF logo on the back.

Second choice: hoppitamoppita
posted by Bruce H. at 9:52 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

That's pretty excellent, Tom-B. I'd buy that shirt.
posted by hippybear at 9:52 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Also, Flag It and Move On & add to favorites
posted by Tom-B at 9:53 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Why just one tagline? Why not ALL OF THEM?

They make QR Codes with that many pixels?
posted by radwolf76 at 9:56 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Also Ask and Meta ones with top 40 questions and top 40 snappy comebacks by mods!
posted by Tom-B at 10:06 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

DTMFA
posted by essexjan at 10:10 AM on March 11, 2012 [4 favorites]

I also think there should be a Metafilter baseball hat that says "My other hat is a Fedora"
posted by essexjan at 10:10 AM on March 11, 2012

IANAL.
posted by Diskeater at 10:12 AM on March 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

hoppitamoppita gets my vote on a purple t-shirt with polka dots

because.
posted by infini at 10:24 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

for hypothetical undies, you could maybe do "this is free-form, go nuts"
posted by ifjuly at 10:26 AM on March 11, 2012 [7 favorites]

His thoughts were red thoughts: "R T F A"

*ahem*

IRFTA!
posted by hydrophonic at 10:38 AM on March 11, 2012

I like the ones that are clearly MetaFilter-specific. Things like tl;dr and "we can have nice things" originated elsewhere. I'm also torn on the "Note: Everyone needs a hug" thing because as someone else said above, that could encourage strangers to try to hug me, which would not wendell.

I very much like the [+] [!] idea. Also "MetaFilter's Own."
posted by tzikeh at 10:47 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD AND SKULLS FOR HIS THRONE"
posted by ob1quixote at 10:56 AM on March 11, 2012 [7 favorites]

"First, be smart from the very beginning."
posted by logicpunk at 11:02 AM on March 11, 2012 [14 favorites]

Ooh yay! I somehow missed the last round of shirts, and my torso has yet to forgive me. So I also vote for Special Snowflake (unless someone wants to send me their shirt, then I'll change my vote to whatever you'd like)!
posted by antonymous at 11:08 AM on March 11, 2012

i was thinking baby onesies with [more inside] on the butts, but now i think grown up undies with IANAL on them would be far more stupidly hilarious
posted by elizardbits at 11:37 AM on March 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

Therapy.
Get a lawyer.
See a doctor.
DTMFA.
posted by desjardins at 11:38 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

I know what taters are.
I sell cookies out of my trunk.
posted by desjardins at 11:40 AM on March 11, 2012

Filtrate Me
Flame Trite
Matter File
Meat Trifle
Matt Relief
A Trifle Met
A Left Remit
Rattle Me If
Eat Me Flirt
posted by MuffinMan at 11:48 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD AND SKULLS FOR HIS THRONE"

This has kind of been done.

SNARK FOR THE SNARK GOD AND FLAGS FOR HIS POST

would be more in line, although... obscure
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:52 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Anyone whose previous T-shirts have gone too small, pls send to this tiny human. TIA!
posted by kamikazegopher at 12:04 PM on March 11, 2012

I am feeling mildly compulsive and have compiled a list. It's not even a comprehensive list. I think I will post this and then consider going outside. Is there a good site to do a vote?

On a tshirt, onesies, kid t-shirts, hoodie, and or undies.

Friend of Matt

"what would mathowie/jessamyn/cortex do?"

Mathowie/Jessamyn/Cortex has a posse
(popularity contests! woot!)

Shepard Fairey-style picture of Matt emblazoned with HOPE ME.

"best of the web"

Note: Everyone needs a hug.

GRAR.

[+]

[!]

* special snowflake
or just
*

Flagged as: Fantastic
Flagged as: Other

MetaFilter's Own

"flag it and move on" shirt like the "keep calm and carry on" shirts, with MeFi logo in the spot the crown goes

MetaFilter logo on a blue shirt

"If the wearer of this shirt is a corpse, contact ColdChef and AVENGE MY DEATH!"

"Imaginary internet friend"

Wordle tag cloud from info dump

Take it to MetaTalk

SCIENCE!

"Please don't do this."

"tl;dr,"

[add to favorites] on undies

Therapy.

DTMFA

MetaFilter: what is this I don't even

what is this I don't even

R T F A

"Increased GRAR levels harsh my general life buzz."

"I'm from the Internet"

"I know more about the internet than you can possibly imagine"

deletion reasons

Do Not Want.

Want.

ascii portrait of mathowie
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2465/3922085624_45b87ee7fa_z.jpg?zz=1
http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1259/1224885197_c80cb2383a.jpg

haters gonna hate.

some version of Brand New Day

"First, be smart from the very beginning."

if ($usernum eq 1) {
print "I am Mathowie";
} else {
print "I am not Mathowie";
}
posted by Mom at 12:10 PM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

+1 for SILENCED ALL MY LIFE
posted by slidell at 12:17 PM on March 11, 2012

I still think a "what would jonmc do?" would be a hit.
posted by jonmc at 12:25 PM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

Baseball shirts (w/member number, username)

Cycling Jerseys (Tour de FU? ...perhaps not)
posted by bonehead at 12:31 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

"CHECK THE CLOCKS, QUICK!"

I want a T-Shirt with solar chip sleeves and new blue piping.
posted by clavdivs at 12:47 PM on March 11, 2012

YMMV.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 12:54 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

OK I'm getting one of everything - where do I send the money?
posted by Dr Dracator at 1:04 PM on March 11, 2012

> Baseball shirts (w/member number, username)

Yeah, that's what the back of mine looks like (except it says LANGUAGEHAT 14752). Thanks for posting that and saving me the trouble of finding an image.
posted by languagehat at 1:12 PM on March 11, 2012

If we get hoodies I like the idea of a zip-up American-Apparel-style sweater with "MetaFilter" on the chest and "MeFi's Own" on one of the arms.
posted by Phire at 1:25 PM on March 11, 2012

Here is the thing: I don't have a use for another shirt. I'm a tall guy. Normal shirts simply don't fit. They aren't long enough in the torso. I have a zillion shirts already with cool logos (from video games in the 90's) that don't fit but I can't part with. I have to buy my shirts from yuppie stores in order to get shirts that fit. So I am anti-shirt.

What I think would be cool and I would buy is a MeFi bandanna/kerchief. Just a moderately sized square of fabric with the MeFi logo repeated across it diagonally. A versatile fashion accessory! A handy polishing cloth! The perfect shroud for deceased pet tortoise! So many uses; I carry one all the time (but it is just the usual red or blue print). And a handy snot rag also.
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:32 PM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

Seconding:

[flagged as fantastic]
[+] [!]
*best of the web*

And suggesting:

Favorite
Favorited by others

with a prominent user number, of course.
posted by ceribus peribus at 1:46 PM on March 11, 2012

What I think would be cool and I would buy is a MeFi bandanna/kerchief.

Left pocket: You're willing to give taters.
Right pocket: You love getting taters.
posted by radwolf76 at 1:59 PM on March 11, 2012 [7 favorites]

"Wisecracks don't help people find answers."
posted by box at 2:12 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

That reminds me, I still need to get my t-shirt signed by Vacapinta, restless_nomad. and taz.

I WANT MY TWO DOLLARS!!!
posted by Afroblanco at 2:22 PM on March 11, 2012

Gold cuff links with blue or green enamel.
posted by joost de vries at 2:25 PM on March 11, 2012

BTW, here's the design used for the original FIAMO shirt, which I think is quite lovely.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:37 PM on March 11, 2012 [5 favorites]

I like the idea of Team [X] shirts, a la Twilight:

TEAM MATHOWIE

TEAM JESSAMYN

TEAM TAZ
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:11 PM on March 11, 2012

"that website where the users think all internet memes come from"
posted by Burhanistan at 3:15 PM on March 11, 2012

TEAM VACAPINTA FOREVER.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:22 PM on March 11, 2012

TEAM CORTEX ALL THE WAY.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:28 PM on March 11, 2012

GO TEAM PB
posted by not_on_display at 3:30 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

TEAM restless_nomad
posted by a humble nudibranch at 3:38 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Ask/GuessMeta
posted by a humble nudibranch at 3:39 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

You know, I was being completely serious when I asked what you people are on about with the 'hoppitamoppita' upthread.

Now I think you're gaslighting me to make me feel like I have alzheimer's or something.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:40 PM on March 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

I've been here for 10 years and I have no idea what 'gaslighting' means.
posted by item at 3:45 PM on March 11, 2012

stav:

"Hoppitamoppita" is a grar-alike.
posted by Rock Steady at 3:48 PM on March 11, 2012

I'd go for the "[+] on front, [!] on back" option, or the MeFi logo + "MetaFilter's Own".
posted by JiBB at 3:49 PM on March 11, 2012

I've been here for 10 years and I have no idea what 'gaslighting' means.

Are you crazy?
posted by carter at 3:50 PM on March 11, 2012 [5 favorites]

I've been here for 10 years and I have no idea what 'gaslighting' means.

There is no cabal.
(that should be in fine print on the sleeve somewhere)
posted by ceribus peribus at 3:50 PM on March 11, 2012

Hoppitamoppita = all worked up, mixed with some grar and fighty.

Gaslighting = presenting false information to make a victim doubt their own memory, sanity, and judgement.
posted by JiBB at 3:54 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

On the off-chance that you are serious, "gaslighting" is a term (which is easily googleable) to describe a sort of psycological torture involving the subject questioning their own reality. It comes from the film "Gaslight," in which a husband subjects his wife to this via dimming the lights ever so slightly over a long period of time, making her feel as though she's losing her mind.
posted by Navelgazer at 3:56 PM on March 11, 2012

There is no cabal has the right hint of injoke and slightly menacing.

I also like I Know more amount the Internet.... And the flag and favorite symbols are always welcome.
posted by The Whelk at 4:00 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

I like "there is no cabal" but I think that originated elsewhere, and far preceeding MeFi.
posted by Navelgazer at 4:01 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

But yeah, "I know more about the internet than you can possibly imagine" would be my favorite slogan. We laugh because it's funny, and we laugh because it's true.

Just FYI, one of the members here printed such a shirt, I purchased one, and then they were discouraged from continuing to sell them unofficially.

I like it, and would like to see it official.
posted by odinsdream at 4:05 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

"AskMe about banjos"
posted by arcticseal at 4:09 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'm psyched about another shirt and will just add the request that it (or at least one of the options for it) would not make my life more difficult walking around the city being female in public. E.g., except for pajamas I would not go for a 'favorited by others', an 'everyone needs a hug,' or a 'can I eat this' shirt.

I love the [+][!] idea, and many others as well.
posted by Salamandrous at 4:14 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

I thank you. It's a word jessamyn made up, then? I am a big fan of making up words when the perfect ones don't exist, but I must admit this one is definitely not something I'd heard before or would associate with Metafilter.

I've been here for 10 years and I have no idea what 'gaslighting' means.

Well, OK, but gaslighting is a word in common usage, while hoppitamoppita (which makes me think of Italian muppets being tortured by being forced to stand on a red-hot iron floor) isn't. Yet.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:35 PM on March 11, 2012

"MetaFilter" on the front, and "AskMe how to dispose of a dead body" on the back.

(No, not really, but fuck that was the best thing ever.)
posted by tzikeh at 5:14 PM on March 11, 2012 [4 favorites]

Really? That answer was shitty advice. Don't keep piles of evidence in your house, for chrissakes.
posted by Burhanistan at 5:22 PM on March 11, 2012

I mentioned this in the last MeFi Apparel thread, but I would strongly recommend using these hoodies: Hanes F280 "Ultimate Cotton" 10 oz (hat tip to Devil's Rancher for providing the info). My husband has one from the Achewood shop and I routinely steal it from him and am so sad they don't offer them any more.


Oh uh I guess Devil's Rancher works or worked for a place that screenprints shirts so maybe we could have mefi's own shirts made by a mefi's own?
posted by subbes at 5:22 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

There is no cabal.
posted by theora55 at 5:28 PM on March 11, 2012

Don't keep piles of evidence in your house, for chrissakes.

I'll keep that in mind. It was still freaking awesome.
posted by tzikeh at 5:28 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh uh I guess Devil's Rancher works or worked for a place that screenprints shirts...

Indeed. I printed the 10th anniversary shirts, & the last round, as well. It's, like, my thing, man.
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:36 PM on March 11, 2012

Also , yeah, my Achewood Here Comes A special Boy shirt is one of my faves of all time. Onstad's an enigmatic guy, but he was a great client when his stuff was ongoing. I miss that strip.
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:53 PM on March 11, 2012

Achewood is in fact updating again. Not much better than monthly, so far, but signs at least of life.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:04 PM on March 11, 2012

I just had a look - that's good news. Last time I checked, it'd been since feb. '11 or so. Off to catch up!
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:07 PM on March 11, 2012

Also ONESIES and Little People sizes.

"Next Gen MeFi" or something.
posted by taff at 6:31 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Annnnnddd... Devil's Rancher is finished catching up with Achewood.
posted by Navelgazer at 6:33 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

7XL, all cotton (not cotton/polyester blend), Mefi blue, large white ❄ on front, large white * on back. Would buy ten.
posted by flabdablet at 6:38 PM on March 11, 2012

"My other shirt is an old baseball shirt with my user number on the back."
posted by davidjmcgee at 6:39 PM on March 11, 2012

Front: "I'm From the Internet"
Back: "I'm Here to Help."
posted by Glibpaxman at 6:54 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

I wouldn't mind a shirt with flashing LED lights spelling "INTERNET!" and equipped with "mosquito" speakers on the shoulders to keep those damn kids off my lawn.
posted by Navelgazer at 7:04 PM on March 11, 2012

I love baseball jerseys, so I really like the username/number repeat idea. Also, [+]/[!] Would be great in almost any configuration, and I'd shop with a hoppitamoppita bag.
posted by notashroom at 7:41 PM on March 11, 2012

I like baseball jerseys, but good ones can be expensive.

As a completely out of left field thing, what about a custom button from http://www.flashingblinkylights.com/ ?
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:03 PM on March 11, 2012

AskMe about my MetaFilter

or

Ask Me about AskMe

I would totally buy a hoodie, preferably non-zipper-y.
posted by juliplease at 8:08 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

I really think those baseball shirts are the best. Especially with username and number on back. OK, my two cents (in two-comment form) are officially in.
posted by bquarters at 8:21 PM on March 11, 2012

A black shirt with the blue logo on it would be spiffy
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 8:45 PM on March 11, 2012

my Achewood Here Comes A special Boy shirt is one of my faves of all time.

I will give someone a slightly used kidney for this t-shirt; I'll throw in a lung if it's a kid size.
posted by the young rope-rider at 8:54 PM on March 11, 2012

We've already started printing out TEAM PB shirts, but thanks for bringing the idea to our attention.
posted by maryr at 8:55 PM on March 11, 2012

I would be fine with just the MetaFilter
logo on the breast, with

"It's SCIENCE!"

on the back, but ...
the shirt should be AskMe green, not blue.


About that logo -- ideally it would
be embroidered,
with my user name above
and my number underneath...
in a MeFi-approved font.

I realize that's too much, but
really -- please,
an AskMe shirt, in green?
posted by Rash at 9:42 PM on March 11, 2012

I would love a bandana! I have so many t-shirts that I don't wear.

In our house we refer to the delicious roasted red pepper and walnut dip muhammara as hoppitamoppita
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 11:54 PM on March 11, 2012

'Metafilter' on the front and 'first, be smart from the very beginning (as mentioned above) on the back. In a zippered hoodie (in grey or forest green). I'd buy one!
posted by h00py at 3:50 AM on March 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

"Got taters?"
posted by Grither at 5:23 AM on March 12, 2012

The person who originated the hardcore taters thing has asked us to drop it, and so I hope out of respect for that, Matt would never put it on a t-shirt.
posted by IndigoRain at 6:07 AM on March 12, 2012 [5 favorites]

Flag It And Move On
posted by pwally at 6:59 AM on March 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

LMFIAMO
posted by MuffinMan at 7:01 AM on March 12, 2012

zizzle: "I too would just like to throw in my vote for baby onesies and kid t-shirts.

That is all."

Onesies that say something like "Future Snarker", that is.
posted by Deathalicious at 7:18 AM on March 12, 2012

Front: Metafilter

Back: Ask me about defenestration.
posted by Danf at 8:01 AM on March 12, 2012

My other T-shirt is a fedora
posted by idiomatika at 9:47 AM on March 12, 2012 [3 favorites]

I've a preference for the variety of jessamysms floated about. Presuming jessamyn is okay with it, of course.

Otherwise I'd put my vote in for "What would Jessamyn do?"
posted by CancerMan at 11:25 AM on March 12, 2012

Mattdidthat made [+][!] shirts a long time ago. I know because I own one. If I remember correctly, mathowie said in a different thread that he wasn't interested in making [+][!] merchandise, so he was fine with it existing as fan art.

But clearly the world is longing for official [+][!] merchandise.
posted by roll truck roll at 1:29 PM on March 12, 2012

Another vote for something in the [+] [!] and/or FIAMO theme. Also, I love the GRAR! monster.

Intrigued by the idea of an apron with Should I Eat It and food safety info...tho that seems to call for some sort of XKCD-style infographic. (Nerd crossover art!)
posted by epersonae at 2:29 PM on March 12, 2012

taters FYI.
posted by the young rope-rider at 2:49 PM on March 12, 2012 [3 favorites]

I've vote "MetaFilter's Own" with the MetaFilter done as the logo.

It feels more characteristic of metafilter itself rather than generic internet, but not too esoteric either. And amongst all these ideas it'd be by-far the funniest if a famous person here wears it in recorded public view. If asavage buys one shirt, you want him buying that one. lol

I'm vaguely amused by the prospect of a metafilter tie actually, but two rules :

(a) It should not be made by whatever idiots make Zazzle's ties, their ties are absolute garbage.

(b) It should not say MetaFilter, that's just crass for a tie. I almost didn't buy xkcd's tie simply because it said xkcd.

How about a tie that says "I have no idea how these people got their cats wedged into their scanners, or why."
posted by jeffburdges at 3:09 PM on March 12, 2012

I would buy that Mefi Tartan tie so fast it would require an explanation from CERN
posted by The Whelk at 3:38 PM on March 12, 2012 [5 favorites]

Like the comments on your local news site, except the opposite.
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:21 PM on March 12, 2012 [4 favorites]

I bet if you made shirts in the three main MeFi colors (blue, green, and grey), and each one had a MeFi gold stripe across the top of the chest, we'd all instantly recognize each other and no one else would.
posted by Mikey-San at 6:29 PM on March 12, 2012 [10 favorites]

Or we'd be SEMME members?
posted by maryr at 9:16 PM on March 12, 2012

Gold that close to the collar brings to mind either Starfleet or vaultec uniforms.
posted by The Whelk at 9:19 PM on March 12, 2012

Didn't think about possibly looking like something out of Star Trek. Not quite what I was going for. Good catch.

sadface
posted by Mikey-San at 9:38 PM on March 12, 2012

This is why I get paid the big bucks.
posted by The Whelk at 9:42 PM on March 12, 2012

You get paid?
posted by shakespeherian at 9:46 PM on March 12, 2012

You ....don't?
posted by The Whelk at 9:52 PM on March 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

Matt always just mumbles something about '...lucky to be alive.'
posted by shakespeherian at 9:53 PM on March 12, 2012

Oh buck up, I'm sure that slave collar isn't leathal, more like an invisible fence shock.
posted by The Whelk at 10:00 PM on March 12, 2012

the young rope-rider: "Still lobbying for baby/toddler onesies with [+] on the front. BECAUSE YOU'RE MY FAVORITE YES YOU ARE!"

Alternatively, a onesie with a [!] on the bottom.
posted by Deathalicious at 7:14 AM on March 13, 2012 [2 favorites]

"Still lobbying for baby/toddler onesies with [+] on the front. BECAUSE YOU'RE MY FAVORITE YES YOU ARE!"

Alternatively, a onesie with a [!] on the bottom.

Better yet, combine those ideas. :)
posted by bardophile at 9:01 AM on March 13, 2012 [3 favorites]

I vote for "MetaFilters's Own". It actually makes me feel kind of misty!

On the other hand, I, and only I, would love, "Why you dead, Ricky?"
posted by thinkpiece at 9:29 AM on March 13, 2012

WE HAVE A TARTAN??
posted by Jilder at 9:39 AM on March 13, 2012 [2 favorites]

I want a shirt with this comment, from Sidhedevil:

"Unless you think of my contempt and derision as a valuable prize, in which case YOU MAY ALREADY BE A WINNER."
posted by sugarbomb at 11:21 AM on March 13, 2012 [4 favorites]

(except it says LANGUAGEHAT 14752)

Just like this. Also, @minus exactly 100 numbers, from the same meetup (Northampton MA, April 2008).

I'm a fan of the [+] [!] idea.
posted by LeLiLo at 3:21 PM on March 13, 2012

flex: ""best of the web""

Only if it's struck through, with DEPRECATED below.
posted by Chrysostom at 5:48 PM on March 13, 2012

i want [!] and [+] but only if they're carefully positioned over my nipples like power terminals with the phrase "metafilter's own electrifying hamburgers!" in the middle and also this is in comic sans because.
posted by Mikey-San at 7:37 PM on March 13, 2012

I just wanted something simple that I could wear with pride.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:58 PM on March 13, 2012 [2 favorites]

Metafilter gold stars, but Jessamyn's gets to be bigger than everyone else's badge.
posted by arcticseal at 12:20 AM on March 14, 2012

Metafilter Tartan?
posted by LN at 6:47 AM on March 14, 2012 [8 favorites]

LN: "Metafilter Tartan?"

Oh you glorious bastard. I'm going to spend all day on that site now. Here's my attempt. Too much yellow, maybe?
posted by Rock Steady at 8:37 AM on March 14, 2012

I like tartans with a single stripe in the middle of the block, so here's my variation.
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:03 AM on March 14, 2012 [3 favorites]

Mwahahaha, Rock Steady. I guess I was channeling every logger everywhere with my attempt. I like yours better!
posted by LN at 10:46 AM on March 14, 2012

Pick one, dear god, so I can have a skirt made in it.
posted by Jilder at 5:46 AM on March 15, 2012

Here's one with green dominant, for Ask fans.
And a grey, perhaps for mods?
And a black one for Music.

I found it a lot easier to just edit the URL rather than use their UI. The encoding is trivial: a sequence of colour IDs and thread counts.
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:20 AM on March 15, 2012

I found something called Spoonflower that will print on a variety of fabrics including a decent poplin at $20 a yard. Obviously it's not woven but still is colour fast so I think we could actually do tartan or other patterns on bandanas for non-outrageous prices. If someone has a serger to cut up the fabric into appropriate squares with the proper edge binding, we could actually do this. (Custom tartans seem to require a minimum order of like 40 yards and up, and I didn't even bother pricing it out.) If we figure $20 gets us enough fabric for 4 bandanas at 18x18, we could probably not go in the hole with shipping, labour, etc turning them out at $10-$15 per.

This isn't an offer, just what happens when I've had too much coffee and am procrastinating.
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:33 AM on March 15, 2012 [2 favorites]

titanium_geek proposed a MeFi Tartan way back in October 2011, with Spoonflower suggested as a resource then as well, seanmpuckett. Some disagreed with printed tartans, and suggested using a weaver instead which would cost considerably more but be a bit more authentic.

The topic was touched upon in Podcast 66.
posted by Deathalicious at 9:04 PM on March 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

I personally like this version by usonian (who happens to be a weaver!)
posted by Deathalicious at 9:07 PM on March 19, 2012 [8 favorites]

Deathalicious: "I personally like this version by usonian (who happens to be a weaver!)"

Oh, that is really good. I'd chip in to get a scarf made out of that.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:01 AM on March 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'd buy a usonian kilt!
posted by arcticseal at 6:36 AM on March 20, 2012

Me too! I wanna Metafilter tartan!
posted by LN at 6:50 AM on March 20, 2012

TARTAN TARTAN TARTAN
posted by The Whelk at 6:55 AM on March 20, 2012

usonian's tartan reminds me a LOT of a shirt my dad wore. This is a good thing.
posted by epersonae at 8:39 AM on March 20, 2012

I love that the MeFi tartan discussion has been rekindled! It is possible to get smallish runs of custom tartan woven. It's not cheap, although maybe not as expensive as you might think. I haven't done exhaustive research, but probably one of the most reasonable priced options would be Marton Mills in Yorkshire, UK. If I read their price sheet correctly, the minimum order for a custom weave would be 13 meters at about $60 USD per meter, and I'm pretty sure that's double-width fabric. Larger quantities get a little cheaper per yard.

Not sure if there would be an additional setup fee, and of course shipping and tariffs across the atlantic (assuming most interested parties are in the US) would pile up too; I'm guessing we'd be pushing $1000 to get a 13m bolt of MetaFilter tartan woven and shipped. For a traditional 8 yard kilt you'd need 4 yards of double-width fabric, although I'm guessing there would be greater interest in a lighter-weight fabric for things like ties & scarves.

If actual interest is very small indeed I might be coerced into weaving a small run of scarves, with the caveat that I am a fairly novice weaver and have about a million other irons in the fire.

Of course, to be an "official" tartan it would have to be registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans. I think the application fee is £70.
posted by usonian at 9:38 AM on March 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

So, if I'm understanding that right, we are talking $1000 for 3 kilts and a few ties and scarves? Or would the ties and scarves have to be made out of a completely different fabric? If we charged $80/yard that would be $300 per kilt just for fabric, but it would get us over $1000. Is that outside the realm of reasonable to pay for a kilt? I'd pay $40 for a half yard, if we could buy it in that small a quantity.

Perhaps a Kickstarter project, publicized on MetaTalk and the Sidebar? I have pretty much zero knowledge of weaving or Kickstarter, but I'd be happy to help in whatever way I could to get this off the ground.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:26 AM on March 20, 2012

Look we need the tartan robes so we can identify each other in the wastes.
posted by The Whelk at 10:30 AM on March 20, 2012 [4 favorites]

I don't need all that much fabric for a baby kilt.
posted by the young rope-rider at 11:24 AM on March 20, 2012

Rock Steady, I've watched one custom weave project unfold at X Marks the Scot and the way it seems to go once the ball gets rolling is that people say "I would be in for X yards!". After a couple of weeks, those get added up and somebody gets a quote from the mill. They bring it back to the group to see if everyone is still in and give stragglers a last chance to get on board. Presumably funds are pooled via paypal (or Kickstarter would be a logical tool) I think some mills are willing to cut lengths and ship to individuals, otherwise the coordinator winds up in charge of parceling out and shipping each order. People having kilts made often just have theirs shipped right to the kiltmaker.

Ties and scarves would want to be made out of a lighter-weight fabric than kilts, and would still be a separate undertaking from just getting the fabric made. For end products like that it might be worth getting a quote from Scotweb if there was an appreciable amount of interest.

Printed fabric from Spoonflower, while not as alluring as a real custom weave, would be suitable for ties (they offer a cotton/silk blend) and a lot cheaper and easier for everyone to order as much or as little as they want.
posted by usonian at 11:32 AM on March 20, 2012

Well, let's get a MeTa post up about it. I'd say offer it by the half-yard in either of two weights for a sufficient price that the price of the order will be easily covered, and then adjust the price down once we have exact totals. We can prevail upon the mods to put it on the sidebar (and maybe even a top-of-page banner, like is done for the MeFi Mall in the holiday season?). I'll make the post if this sounds like a good way to do it, but I'm happy to defer to someone with more experience in this sort of thing.
posted by Rock Steady at 12:45 PM on March 20, 2012

There are kilts from anywhere between £ 35 and £ 600, Rock Steady, but usually once your over £ 100 your talking real Scottish wool, or customized tartan, or whatever.

I'd recommend exploring the existing tartan options more closely, especially for kilts, maybe find a mass produced tartan people don't mind declaring the metafilter tartan.
posted by jeffburdges at 12:54 PM on March 20, 2012

T-shirts.
posted by infini at 2:40 PM on March 20, 2012

The idea of a kilt made from usonian's pattern (which is AWESOME) is utterly thrilling to me, but I can't justify dropping that much skrilla on it, given that I don't even have a kilt of my own family's tartan. But god damn, that is one bitchin' plaid.
posted by Greg Nog at 2:47 PM on March 20, 2012

I need a vest in that tartan, a green jacket and yellow pants, and white shoes. And then I will fight The Batman
posted by The Whelk at 2:54 PM on March 20, 2012 [2 favorites]

What will your superhero name be?
posted by the young rope-rider at 3:08 PM on March 20, 2012

The Mefite.
posted by The Whelk at 3:09 PM on March 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'm in for the tartan, not sure I can justify the kilt, but if we can price it out and the finances make sense...
posted by arcticseal at 12:02 AM on March 21, 2012

If you're the enterprising sort you can make your own kilt. The 4-yard box-pleated kilt, which was the predecessor to the now-ubiquitous 8 yard kilt, has made a bit of a comeback. There's a companion guide for making those too.
posted by usonian at 6:58 AM on March 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

Well, breeze my balls and call me Caledonian, the above links are sure as hell gonna send me down a dark road.
posted by Greg Nog at 12:25 PM on March 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

down that road lies woad.
posted by The Whelk at 12:26 PM on March 21, 2012

Count me in if we do get a tartan made. I'd love a shawl.
posted by LN at 12:12 PM on April 5, 2012