This
introduction is based on my own experiences, it doesn't try by
any means to be a complete guide or reference.
I am not an
artist as people like Auggie Romero can be, but trying to learn
and improve as much as I can
A bit long, if
you have to go to the restroom go now!
THE SEWING MACHINE
For making little 1/6 or even 1/11
uniforms you DON'T need any special sewing machine, the quality
of the machine is not important (but toy sewing machines won't do!!!),
nor the size of the machine. A specially BIG or a specially SMALL
machine is not required, ANY no matter the one from your grandma
from early century or a modern one is OK
I am not an expert on sewing
machines. I never 'touched' one until I got mine as my 30th
birthday gift from my girlfriend, that has been the ONLY joe 'related'
item she ever gifted me, but I won't complain...
It is a simple but reliable
SINGER, but is proving to be one of my best tools for customizing
I got lot of sewing and
stitching advices from my mom, my girlfriend and some friends, I
realized how helpful these tips were when I started my first
custom made thing, pants... So guys and gals, don't hesitate and
ask them for advice!!
I think I still must have a bag
with 50 or 60 pants, the first ones I ever made, awfully made,
completely asimetric, a complete mess, but I think that is the
way to learn.
Pants is probably the easier
thing to make and the faster as well. The thing gets though when
you decide to make a pant wider or tighter or when you try to
make your first riding breeches.
Another thing neither my mom
nor my girlfriend nor my friends could help me were when starting
to stich POCKETS. I personally think that if you get to make
perfect pockets and collars you probably will be able to do
virtually anything. I am still working and learning on pockets
stitching and making, trying to add them volume and kinda more
functionality is not easy and the solutions big makers or
customizers regarding pockets are not what I am looking for yet.
Hey! this a hobby, I guess sooner or later I will find the way.
After all the fun about all this is improving little by little
The first Practice you should
do with a sewing machine is just folding a piece of fabric and
stitch as close as you can of the edge, also just stitch lines
trying to be as parallel as possible and at aproximate same
distance one of other.
Any sewing machine has
stitching line size, it is up to you to decide which size is
better for you, I personally select around 2 mm for 1/6 Joe scale
and 1 mm for 1/11 madelman figures
Also most sewing
machines have another kind of stitching line options, zigzag, etc...
If you machine does will be helpful but it is not too important
The sewing maching
also has some reference lines, that is the ones you should use as
a guide, THE guide when stitching
Also most of the
sewing machines allow you manual stitching instead of using the
pedal. Quite useful for stitching small or critic pieces!
FABRICS
Lightweight or
heavyweight fabric, that is the controversy. I learned to love
both, it all depends on what kind of outfit you are making and if
you are lucky enough to find the EXACT color you need.
The best thing I
can say about buying fabric is:
When at
the store, look for the COLOR
If you
find it, put some of the fabric on the palm of your hand
and close your hand
If the
fabric gets very creased when you open your hand, you got
a very good piece of fabric there!
Anyway if
is not very creased, your ironing machine is your 'friend',
don't forget it
Also the needle
you have to use will be different depending if you are working
with lightweight or heavyweight fabric.
PATTERNS.
A lot of us including me, have
been looking for 1/6 scale patterns here and there like crazy.
It seems that the patterns have
the secret of making a cool looking uniform. It doesn't work this
way all the time
Believe me when I say that
patterns are not that essential and it is a question of evolution.
The more you learn and practise, the more you will learn to
sharpen the patterns according to your needs.
I was asked to provide patterns
more than one time.
Look, the wrong process is
looking for patterns
and getting them
get a sewing machine
learn how to use the
machine
get the fabrics
try to make something
with the patterns you got
Because if you follow these
steps, it is more than probable that you quit between step 2 and
4.
I am saying this under my own
experience.
Some friends of mine have asked
me for patterns. Although I don't like to give this kind of info
(does a cook make public his best recipes??) I supplied some to
some guys.
One of the funniest examples
was a guy -I won't say his name, but he will probably know I am
talking about him when he reads this- who once told me:
'hey, those german unis looks
cool, please lend me your patterns, I want to make some as well!'.
I gave him my patterns 3 years
ago, he didn't understand how they should be stitched and in what
order, it took me 3 hours explaining the process but he still
didn't know how to manage it.
He didn't even got to cut the
fabric pieces....
Don't try to make the building
making the ceiling first..
Nuff said.
My best advice as always:
practise, practise, practise.
Will try to upload some basic
patterns in the future: pants, shirt/tunics.
Information enough so you can
start making your first outfits and try to evolution for
yourselves.
It would be more than advisable,
that if you have a vector graphics sofware (=CORELDRAW), use it
to make and print your future patterns. It gives you the
possibility of changing and correcting small details and have
them stored.
All by now.
Next chapter will be the 'how
to make pants' thing. Don't worry, will include the patterns ;-)