Planning is Essential

Hello all once more!

Yes, I have returned at last and with a few tips. And a new layout!  Whilst I was working on a commission for my good friend, I started thinking about my normal habits when sewing and how I have a way of taking extra-double-super-special-chocolate-covered caution when working on projects. Especially when they’re not for me. So I figured I’d give some tips about taking said precautions that will help your projects look so much nicer.

• Pins are you best friends. Use a lot of them.

Being a personal fan of the dressmaker pin, I find these babies quite handy. I use them even when putting together the smallest things. I think that no matter how skilled you get, pins will always come in handy. Sure they seem to take ages to put in, but the result it well worth it. Also make sure to put them perpendicular of the seam, it’ll make the sewing process much quicker. And the best thing about your pins is that, no matter how bad you treat them, they’ll always love you.

• Zigzag stitch along the edges help prevent fraying.

It’s true! And this is especially a good idea when your fabric frays like crazy.  Like the fabric for my friend’s jacket, it’s really great fabric, but if I pull one thread the wrong way, well, yeah. This wasn’t necessary on the edges where I used biased tape, but all of the inside seams I edged with this stitch and it looks substantially cleaner and nicer.

• When planning to paint a design. Draw first!

I don’t care how much of an expert you are, we all make mistakes at one point or another, and you don’t want that point to be when you’re working on a cosplay, commission or otherwise. Drawing it out on paper beforehand helps you figure out size and spacing. It’s also a good idea to put note on the paper as to how you’re going to paint your design, which direction, etc. Drawing out the design on your piece with tailors chalk or a marking pen is also a good idea as it helps you plot your design before finalizing it. I’ve personally made enough mistakes to know for a fact that all of this planning is essential if you want your design to turn out good.  A decent example is my Claire vest, and I’m not gonna lie, I’m crazy in love with how it turned out.

• UNF, dat biased tape!

Yeah, I’m kind of in love with this stuff now. I personally think it makes hemming a much simpler task. Not mention it’s perfect for projects like the Steve Burnside’s jacket that involve different colored edges. Augh, just, yes. This stuff! It really really made the hemming process easier, so much so that when I got to do a real hem I fussed about until I got myself down to doing it. This last tip seems more like a review than a tip, not to mention it’s a bit repetitive, but I can assure you that, especially when projects have different colored hems, this stuff comes in handy.

Welp, those are the main biggies that I’ve got for now. They’ve certainly helped me a ton, and not only during this project at hand. I certainly hope that they help everyone else!

Until next time!
Love,
Sana