My girlfriend and I are trying to make the wrap tunic for me, but our pattern is getting difficult. We have the body sewn together, but it doesn't say anything about putting a hem in it so that you don't see the rough edges, there are no instrustions for the edging or piping or anything.... We're beginning to get discouraged. I know you've made it before, so I was wondering if you might be able to help us.
Yeah sure, I’d be glad to help! If you message me off anon, we can chat that way and I can try to help answer any specific questions you have. Otherwise, I’ll do my best to put together a comprehensive answer for you with pictures over the course of the next couple days.
Don’t get discouraged, you can do it! It’s a hard pattern, but you’ve done the main construction, now all that’s left is the frills!
Good news all! My sinus surgery is scheduled for December 9th! This means I should be completely recovered in time for Winter Holidays. That’s too late for me to open Christmas commissions, but it does mean I should be back in the saddle making uniforms by New Years =D
It honestly feels like my sinus infection has gotten worse since I started this treatment. Maybe because things actually are being shaken loose and are just also traveling into the other sinuses. Maybe because I’m getting independently sick. I don’t know. But I feel like absolute hell.
Due to recent developments in my health, I'm sorry to say that commissions and all sewing projects are officially paused until I can resolve whatever's happening in my face. I'm so sorry. I can't express how much your patience means to me.
I’m sure many of you have been anxiously awaiting the results of my ENT appointment, and the result is: Yep, there’s stuff in my face that shouldn’t be, so we’re gonna try everything I’ve already tried but all at once.
So I’ll be on antibiotics and steroids using a nasal wash and nasal spray every day for the next two weeks, and then we’re gonna scan my head again and see if that’s changed anything. Fingers crossed the mass attack on my sinus invaders gets things done.
Reblogging this here too so everyone knows why they haven't been seeing much progress lately. Apologies to everyone who's waiting for a commission slot to open. They will reopen eventually. Shortly after my sinus passages do.
I took Lucille to the shop and expressed my concerns and they gave her a listen, and after a couple minutes they said, “She sounds fine. I can’t charge you for a tune up on a perfectly healthy machine. Bring her back in 6 months.” So I guess I was just being paranoid about her noise and she’ll do fine as long as I don’t try to sew Super Heavy Duty Fabric on her again. (Which is fine by me because I don’t even like pinning heavy duty fabric, much less sewing through it.)
So that means I can get started on my next project right away! Hurrah!
It feels good to check another project off my list, but I think I’ll need to take Lucille in for repairs before I start on my next commission. She’s just making more noise than I’m comfortable with, even when I’m going very slowly.
Got the zipper attached, pleats tacked, and collar made! I think I'll hold off on the collar for tonight and instead work on hemming the bottom while watching the debate.
My sinuses show no signs of improving soon, but I desperately miss sewing, so I'm going to get back in the saddle despite the pain. My plan is to first finish up the current suspended raffle prize and knock out my October commission, then start pattern hunting for this Team Rocket couples cosplay I want to do. Fingers crossed my sinuses will be treated by the end of October so I can really reopen this blog.
Another update: My sinuses are still killing me, but I’ve been away from Lucille too long and I need to get back to her. So I’m going to finish all the commissions currently in my queue and then start opening one (or possibly two) commissions per month, so I also have time to work on personal sewing projects. (Right now I’m planning a Team Rocket couple’s cosplay.) Those non-Trek projects will be going on this blog, but they’ll all be tagged #nottrek so you can avoid them if you wish.
Sorry for so much inactivity lately. I hope to have some updates for you soon!
Apologies for the inactivity on this blog. I've been very tired and in a lot of pain from a persistent sinus infection, and nothing is less appealing than bending over a sewing machine right now. Sorry folks.
Shoutout to @boldlysewn for making this amazing Captain Kirk skant for me to wear at DragonCon!!! I love it so much and I got so many compliments on it today! <3
I made the little utility belt to go with it so I could carry my phaser and communicator, and I was very pleased with how well it matched the costume itself!
Woop woop, construction is done! All that's left is all the handsewing, which with my busy schedule means yall probably won't get to see the finalized product until it's on @vgersix.
hey! do u have any tips on sewing with a machine? I want to learn bc I want to make a kai winn cosplay but I only know how to hand sew haha (also all ur projects are looking amazing!!)
Oof, that is a… really broad question. Hmm. This is gonna get long.
Well the first tip is practice a lot.I’m sure you saw that one coming, haha. If you know someone who’s willing to let you borrow their machine or practice on it, bring a lot of scrap fabrics and just… practice. Straight seams, squiggly seams, going back and forth over the same seam… just get used to the feel of the machine. Practice will also help you get used to the sound of the machine. If it suddenly starts making unusual noises, stop and remove your fabric so you can figure out what’s wrong.
The next tip is to use reference marks on your machine for sewing straight seams. While sewing, focus on keeping the fabric aligned with your reference mark rather than on what the needle is doing. A lot of machines have a little grid with various seam widths, but if it doesn’t or you need a measurement that doesn’t have a clear reference mark, you can get a piece of tape and make a reference mark for yourself, like this:
That mark would give me a ¾ inch seam. You can also use the edge of the presser foot (the metal dealie that presses down on top of the fabric) as a guide. That’s what I usually do.
Also make sure you’re using the right needle to make things as easy as possible on your machine (and reduce needle breakage!) If you’re using a thick fabric, you need a thick needle. This guide is pretty helpful. Also replace your needles after each project. You can get a ton of needles for hella cheap online.
I used to struggle with threading the machine correctly, so I recommend keeping a scrap of fabric around to do a line of test stitches every time you rethread. Incorrect threading can seriously heck things up, and it’s better for you to heck up a test scrap than your actual material.
Speaking of tests, I strongly suggest making a muslin test version of new patterns. This will help you work out fit and figure out any complicated bits before you start poking holes in your fancy final fabric. You can use super wide stitches for this to make it go faster. Of course you don’t have to do this! You can just power ahead if you’re confident in your abilities, but I find making a test version super helpful for unfamiliar patterns.
Edit: @asarutobi reminded me of this: Make sure you backstitch over the ends of your seam. This secures the ends to prevent the seam from opening. I usually secure the first three and last three stitches, like this:
This got a lot longer than I intended, so I’m going to leave it there, but if you have any other questions, feel free to send them my way and I’ll do my best to clear them up. Good luck with your cosplay! I believe in you!
My plans for this weekend are to finish the commission sent for resizing on Saturday and get that in the post, and hopefully get the pieces for my next skant commission cut out before I meet up with an old friend for dinner. Then Sunday I’ll try to get the skant all pieced together and maybe hemmed before mom arrives to help me with some awkward angle stuff on my personal cosplay project.
Hello, how are you? I have you haven't been too overwhelmed. Anyway. I just say that I love your work. I hope that I can learn to do cosplays too when I have the money. Anyway keep being amazing. Live long and prosper.
Hello! Thank you for this kind message; it really means a lot to hear people are enjoying my work. ^-^ I actually have been feeling pretty overwhelmed lately, but I’m sure that will fade after Dragon Con, when I have a bit more time to space out my projects. Pre-con scrambling is no joke!
Good luck with venturing into cosplay! There’s always so much to learn; every new project will require new skills so it’s an exciting adventure every time. (My latest project is requiring me to learn to make foam armor. Thank Surak for the dozens of tutorials people have put on the internet.)
