Let's get started with the Sewing machine

 

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:

  1. When at the store, look for the COLOR

  2. If you find it, put some of the fabric on the palm of your hand and close your hand

  3. If the fabric gets very creased when you open your hand, you got a very good piece of fabric there!

  4. 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

  1. looking for patterns and getting them

  2. get a sewing machine

  3. learn how to use the machine

  4. get the fabrics

  5. 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 ;-)

 

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