/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

buying cosplays for 7 years?! jfc you could own an embroidery machine by now!

My mom taught me, grandma taught her, they were poor af so it wasn't *fun* for them like it is for me though. I think you'll be very glad you learned! Practice makes perfect.

I learned mainly by reading books and trial and error. Taking lesson is certainly viable, as long as you find a decent teacher.

>7 years
Why the hell did you wait so long?

>>7339342
I learned to sew in high school. I thought this was the dumbest idea since i figured i'd never use it. This is one of the few times i have to say thanks mom for being right lol. After i took the class i probably didn't get around to using the skills until senior year or after hs. I made a cloak for a renaissance fair in almost a day and a half with VERY lightweight cotton. It was easy but i look back on all my old projects with some level of disgust but also to see how much i've grown, skill wise, since then. It's a great direction anon. Best advice i could give you is practice. Get some thrift store clothing, seam ream it apart. Learn how to sew it back together. Cutting on the grain. What it means and why it's important.
I havent been sewing very long myself but definitely keep your ideas simple at first. Don't go overboard and pick something along the lines of Trinity blood or something too detailed. I started out with just a silent hill nurse costume but then that drifted right into liquid latex. Was totally worth it and love every moment of it. Good luck anon and pardon my rambling.

Trial and error, youtube tutorials, asking for help.

I cant imagine buying costumes for 7 years. If you want to learn, head to joanns and pick up some cheap fabric from the remnants bin. Its also fun to take thrift store clothes apart and put them back together. Helps you learn how stuff is consturcted

I learned by myself. I didn't know anyone who could sew, so I just got myself a sewing machine one day, sat down, read through the manual lots, read online guides and watched video tutorials.

And like >>7339354 said, you learn LOTS from trial and error.

>>7339352
Are you me? I learned from my mom as well when I was young; however, I also started studying fashion part-time to speed up some of the learning process and start producing clothes to sell. As >>7339354 said, trial and error is a pretty good way to learn, but I find learning from books frustrating for sewing. For this I prefer videos or classes as I like to learn how to make something by watching how it's made. You have to find what method suits you best, but a combination of these methods will be most effective. Good luck and practice practice practice!

I was 15 when I started, almost 22 now. So I'm not pushing 30 or anything.. but I really feel like I wasted a lot of time. More focused on watching anime/playing games back in the day, but now I have a job I can afford things my parents wouldn't buy for me back in the day, like a car to take me to sewing classes. They would buy me cheap-o cosplays though.

Trial and error, asking for help, practice and asking friends their opinion. Learning new techniques on forums.

No one is born knowing how to sew. It's easier for some people, but if you really like to do it , it makes for a great skill.

>>7339342
Wow op you sound a lot like me, Ive been cosplaying for 7 years only knowing the basics on how to sew in straight lines and barely read patterns. It wasn't until late last year I decided to take my cosplaying more seriously and took a class on costume construction in theatre at my college. They taught me so much in 5 weeks that I completely brushed past in 7 years so if you can take advantage of some electives in university do it.

I took "fashion" classes in high school in gr. 11 and 12. They taught us a bunch of basics.

My mom has also been doing since she was very little (her grandpa was a tailor, and all women tended to sew when she was young out of necessity, but she actually liked it). TBH I really should have let her teach me how to sew earlier rather than waiting for classes because I don't have such a strong talent/bond to it, not like she did. So there were several years where I stopped sewing altogether. In fact I didn't even start cosplaying until last year.

But I can honestly say that it's such a great, fun, useful skill to have. When I wear my handmade clothes I get so many compliments and get to wear pieces that are unique to me.

For learning, classes are great just because sewing is so hands on. If you want to spend money on that, definitely go for it. Otherwise, I find books and video tutorials are a good combo. If I read about a french seam in the book, I can look up how to do it in a video.

But more than anything the most important part is practice. I love practicing from premade patterns, just because it drills good habits (like finishing seams for example) into you. When you're coming up with stuff on your own for a costume it's a lot of trial and error, but the more you practice the more you will know about how stuff is put together.

And seriously, it's never too late to start

>>7339342
Hey anon, I'm also in your situation. I've been int cosplay for 2 years, but I barely have time to learn anything else than school and my major. I even want to study for the written test for Driving.

Hopefully, from what anons told ya, these should work (sorry for my bad english btw)

If any of you are still in college, you could try to get a job at the theater department's costume shop. That's essentially where I learned to sew. I knew a little beforehand, but I actually learned the technique on the job.

>>7339342
My mother & grandmother used to give me little handsewing projects to do to keep me out o f the way & quiet while they were making things.

I took sewing in high school, then used this as a base to start doing my own projects for cosplay. Now, I use books, online tutorials and Youtube.

I would like to go to night school and do some pattern drafting courses though, just so I know the most efficient way to do things.

The only formal class I ever had was middle school home ec. I made a really shitty pillow. From there I did a few crafty projects with my moms guidance but when I got into cosplay I basically taught myself. I learned a lot from online tutorials and surprisingly cosplay panels at cons.

>>7339342
When I was younger I learned to hand sew from my mother, but she never taught me how to use a sewing machine. Senior year of high school I finally learned how through a class. Just basics. I think a class is a great idea because they teach you what's important and why: cutting on the grain, terminology, etc. and add their own experiences to it.

My mom teaches me how to sew. In return, I teach her how to do simple computer things.

Neither of us can believe how hard it is for the other one to grasp. I can't believe how many times I've told her how to copy and paste text, and in return she's taught me countless times how to thread the bottom thread. I think it's a funny generation difference.

I learned to sew from my mom, trial and error, and various internet tutorials. I wish I had taken a class because I feel like I learned all of this at a depressingly slow rate. Maybe I will do that this coming year. Ugh. A class is definitely a good idea though OP. If you are taught good habits at the start instead of noodling around, you're sure to waste less money and make a better product.

Friends were cosplayers for a while before me, they helped me get started out the first 2 years (read: essentially made my cos for me) and taught me how to begin (patterns, pinning, etc... I was like noob lvl 0 0%) and most importantly how to use a sewing machine. Last year we were all really busy with school/work and didn't have any time to meet really to work on stuff together so it kind of forced me to just do it on my own lol training wheels off. I don't have any fancy skills and I'm pretty slow, but I sketch and plan like crazy before I actually start cutting fabric so by the time I do I have a very good idea of where I'm going. I like to think that I made a decently constructed outfit for my first try at it :) Practice makes perfect and don't be afraid to just get started and jump into doing something simple first just to get the hang of it, good luck!

I received a sewing machine from my aunt (who does upholstery) for a birthday. I spend an entire week at her house, sewing along side her. I made an ungodly amount of pillows (12?) from a bunch of her old fabric. I still have the machine, and I still drag it out when I need something sewed.

I can't for the life of me draft patterns, however. I've kind of given up on that front.

OP, I'm sort of in a similar position.
I only ever bought two costumes, and the rest were handmade, but they were with friends that did most of the work; by myself I'm completely useless. I'm a costume design major, so I'm really, really hoping that they whip me into shape, because as long as I've been doing this, you'd think I'd at least be able to read a pattern by myself.

My mom sort of showed me the basics, but I didn't really start it as a hobby until I took a sewing class in high school. After that I bought a new machine at home and just started practicing. I had recently discovered lolita and couldn't afford shit (this was back when only a couple brands even shipped overseas, and I was a poorfag teenager) so this fueled my desire to improve my skills.

The first few things I made sucked, but I've gotten a lot better. OP after you get the basics down, I recommend starting with some simple commercial patterns just to get comfortable with garment construction. As for specific techniques, there are countless blogs out there with great photo tutorials that show you how to do pretty much anything. Also I get old bedsheets and tablecloths at yard sales to use for cheap garbage practice fabric. Nothing sucks more than screwing up on fabric you paid a lot of money for.

Took a Fashion BTec at college. I tried to teach myself before that, but I couldn't use patterns or anything and knew nothing about construction, so it was pretty disastrous, haha. Before that, I learned the very basics of how to control a sewing machine when I did some work experience with a tailor.

I took a fashion class in high school for a week before I had to switch out do to overcrowding. Youtube tutorials and the stupid dvd that came with my machine were my friends in the beginning.

I want to learn sewing, not for costumes, but to make stuffed toys. Is a sewing machine useful for this?

I think it is great you learn to sew. Making costumes yourself can be horribly stressfull at times but you add another aspect to your hobby that can be fun and make you feel very proud.

I myself learned the absolute basics from my mother/grandmother and in school (catholic girlsschool... I was the worst in class and always got scolded for not having any talent lol). But that's just basics and in cosplay. Every project is different so even if you have the basics, know how to operate a sewing machine and what a pattern is, you might need individual help at first. Don't be afraid to ask friends or other cosplayers then! I'ven been doing my own stuff for almost 10 years and I still ask other people all the time how they make things.
Also, when it's about sewing, it is great if you have a general reference work for advanced sewing, that covers up all the techniques for various collars, sleeves etc. My aunt gave me one of those and I still use it a lot even though I don't always sew as tidyly as they suggest /cough

So I think it is great to start taking lessons at first, especially if you want to have someone watch over the progress you make and give you helpful feedback. It will give you the fastest positive results.
Also, you should invest in a really good book that covers up all the basics and advanced techniques in easy language and with many pictures (i think it is really hard to wrap your brain around some stuff and im usually kinda smrt lol).
And never be afraid to ask others. Most cosplayers are happy to help, if you ask politely.

>>7339342
I learned how to hand-embroider at school when I was 5 years old. My mom taught me basic stitches and how to use a sewing machine around the same time.

I don't remember exactly how I was taught because it's just an instinct to me now, but I do remember that my mom would just give me scraps of fabric and teach me different stitches, and I learned them by just repeating the stitches until I got it. It was the same with the sewing machine. Eventually, when I wanted to make stuff like clothes, I did the same thing.

When it comes to cosplay, you can learn how to sew any pattern well by just making a few "rough draft" shirts/pants/whatever out of cheap fabric until you feel confident in making it on the final draft. It's similar to how an artist draws and redraws a few thumbnail sketches until they decide on their finished product.

Do any of you crochet (or knit, I guess) too? If so, how did you learn?

>>7344629
I do both, and both of them were my mom and my friend teaching me the basic stitches. After that, it was youtube and google if there was a stitch I didn't know how to do, or an abbreviation I didn't understand.

>>7340737
Depends on the size. If you want to make large pillow sized plushies then a machine would be useful. Otherwise, I'd suggest sewing by hand. You might be slow in the beginning but you'll get faster and more accurate results, especially around small curves. I actually prefer handsewing because it gives me more control over what I'm doing so I always make stuffed items by hand.

So I contacted my private instructor, what should I tell her that I want to do? Make costumes? Construct clothes? I don't know how to put it except my weeby anime cosplay crap?

>>7344730
Just say that. Pretty much all seamstress have at least one friend who cosplays themselves or rakes in dough making them

>>7344679
thanks for the advice, for one thing I'd like to make a pillow like this. Any books/websites about sewing that are particularly useful for a beginner?
I have a friend whose machine I can borrow, he's pretty good with it but I don't want to burden him with having to teach me every last thing.

>>7344914
meant to attach this

>>7344914
There's a few good intro books out there, but I have this one and it's pretty comprehensive (saved me from having to buy a new one for my fashion class). It even has some beginner patterns for pillows, bags, a cute stuffed mouse and other things.

>>7339785
I'm the anon who posted >>7339766
Holy shit
I just remembered that my college has theatrical costuming classes (which would involve sewing). I'll definitely take that course if I get a course cancelled, Thanks!!!!

>>7345077
Just a note, from an actual theatre major-- some theatre colleges require a costuming class even for actors, so they may fill up incredibly fast, and even if you do get in, they may remove you to make room for a major. But most do have job positions that you could apply for, and they never say no to volunteers when it comes to working on a show!

I guess I kinda lucked out, my grandma is a sewing teacher so I learned when I was young. I can give you some suggestions based on stuff she did with her students though.

>only buy the basics to start off with.
Don't pick up any patterns or expensive fabrics yet. Your teacher can help you figure out what is in your skill level and what fabrics are best for it. Grandma had more than a few people go and buy complicated wedding gown or costume patterns, buy expensive (and usually inappropriate) fabric, and then screw it all up because they weren't up to it yet.
>shop around a bit for a good teacher
Talk to people who have already taken the class if possible. Find out what kind of projects you'll make, what the class provides for tools/materials, what the average age of students are.
>a lot of good research material is out there for free
Libraries will usually have decent sewing books. The older the better, honestly. Old school sewing tends to be more high detail and perfected. Youtube is a great place too, especially if you can find someone showing how to work your brand of sewing machine.
>practice tricky techniques on small projects
For your own sanity, don't try to do anything for the first time on a cosplay. Go to Walmart, buy some $1 a yard cotton (or equivalent to what you intend to use for the finished piece), and do it over and over again. Make a purse or a pillow or something small out of it. Just please, don't try to do pintucks or mitered edges or perfect ruffles for the first time on your dream Madoka cosplay.
>if you're ever not sure, make a muslin
This is related to the last one. A "muslin" is a prototype made of cheap fabric. It doesn't have to be actually made of muslin, just any cheap fabric with the same basic qualities as your good fabric (stretch, drape, etc). Use it to test fit, figure out how to do sleeves or darts, work out where things should attach, etc. You can take it apart and redraw a pattern from it too.

>>7346080
Oh also, try to join a sewing club or guild. I belong to the American Sewing Guild and they're very nice, mostly older ladies but some areas are more mixed. They're very helpful and usually do a project per meeting, followed by general sewing chatter and helping each other figure out patterns or fabric choices. I think you can attend two or three meetings before deciding to join and paying the yearly fee, but its worth it to join. You get a discount at some fabric chain stores too. Since joining I've learned how to use different machine feet, how to do all kinds of bows and flowers, how to miter corners, how to work with different interfacing, and even learned how to spin and dye yarn and fabrics.

>>7344920
You know that's an actual pig, right?

>>7339342

My mum taught me. Her mum taught her.

Grandma used it to make some side money back in the 40s and 50's. Grandpa made her stop because people would cheat her. So she only sewed for her family after that I assume.

Mom learned cause it's just what you did then. Mom used to proudly tell me she would sew an outfit on Friday to wear on Saturday night.

I learned because I am an amazon like most of the women in the family and I really wanted a sun dress that was popular that year but they we all for shortass people. Mom told me it would be easy enough to make and thus she taught me how to read a pattern, thread the machine, and what all the dials do. I didn't realize it then but she's a good teacher. She was very good with me.

Later on, perhaps a year or two after I picked up cosplay.
First costume I only sewed on little things. Mom did the cutting and piecing.
Next costume I got to sew the hem and buttons
Next costume I chose the fabric and cut it out
Next costume I sewed the basics together
Next costume I did all on my own with mom there to answer questions
Next costume I did it alone.

OP, I am just learning to sew. I am doing it on my own, I have no one to help me. I use Youtube and sewing forums if I need help.

Here's the thing though: don't assume making cosplay is cheaper than buying cosplay. Before you even start making anything, you need muslin (and lots of it if you plan on sewing often), thread, patterns, a good pair of fabric shears, pins, etc.

I'm not trying to discourage you, just don't automatically assume it's going to be cheap. I started sewing because I didn't want to buy cosplays either, thinking I could do it on my own for less. That's not really the case if you want to cosplay WELL. But...it is fun and the benefit is that you will have everything made custom to your body, plus you can alter your own clothes. It's a handy skill to have.

I was actually taught how to use a sewing machine by a tripfag back in 09, sewed with a friend who taught me some nifty tricks throughout the year and I've been sewing on my own since 2010. basically i taught myself nearly everything else. i also took some theater craft classes for a year and a half which helped a TON. if you go to a school with a theater department, check and see if they have a costume shop where you can get credits and learn a thing or two~

>>7346094
Not OP, but holy crap! There's an ASG right by me! Noice.

>>7345037
I'll try to get my hands on this. It's not on torrent/ebook stealing sites, oddly, since it seems enormously popular

>>7346099
O rly?

I mad my first jumper skirt yesterday. it's really more mori/otome. the fabric seems too busy for mori, but it's the right theme (rabbits n shit), but the dress style is more otome. anyways, I'm quite happy with it!
I ad actually half made the bodice a couple of months ago and got lazy, but I just decided to finish it all yesterday. I finally learned how to install an invisible zipper!

>>7346796
Join it! I'm still trying to find a new group since I moved, but have been to two different ones in my home area and they're both pretty awesome. There's also usually a table of freebies, leftover fabric and patterns from ladies clearing their stashes out. One met on Tuesday mornings and one met on Wednesday nights so you might have to look a bit at when their meetings are.

>>7347432
how did you find the group, if you don't mind me asking?

>>7347456
Different anon here but I've found most local groups or guilds advertise at craft stores, conventions or online. Just try googling 'sewing club + your city' and you should get some results.

In the past I I found a felting group through a craft convention. The ladies were all really sweet and I visit them at every show. They always seem to remember me and get really enthusiastic about a young person being interested in the hobby. I also stock up on supplies from them because their stuff is always really nice and reasonably priced. Plus, I feel a bit better if I know my money is going to benefit their club as opposed to some giant company.

>>7347456
If its ASG, you can go to their website and click Chapter Locations on the left side of the screen, and just put in your zip code.

God dammit, this shit is so much harder than it looked on YouTube. I can only do a straight stitch and even then I'm having hiccups. I'm never gonna' get my duhream cosapray at this rate.

Siggy, I thought sewing was ridiculously hard, too. Then I realized my problems were being caused by not sewing straight, thus screwing up seam allowances. I took a block of post it notes and taped it to the seam guide on the throat plate.

Problem solved. I get a perfectly straight stitch every time.

The big four (Butterick, McCall's, etc) usually use 5/8 seam allowances, but if I have to change it for some reason, I just take off the scotch tape, move the post it notes where I need to, and re-tape it.

>>7350862

Thank you, anon. I-I'll never give up!

>>7350862

do you have a picture of this? I would like to see if this is something I should do.

My mom's grandma was a seamstress for about 70+ years. She made her own clothes, her own alterable dressform, I wouldn't be surprised if she's made her own fabric at some point as well.
My mom learned from her for fun, and she taught me and my sister.
We started practicing by making tiny pillows from scrap fabric. Using thrift store clothes is a good way to practice as well.

>>7351655
Siggy and anon, I can't post the link because I keep getting a message saying "our system thinks your post is spam."

If you google "sewing straight post it notes", it's the second link, called You Sew Girl: how to sew with nice even seam allowances.

I was a hot mess with my first project and I didn't even finish it b/c of all the frustration. Not even two months in, and I'm sewing much better and the only thing that changed was using the post it notes.

I'm already working on costumes and corsets and making them is a lot easier thanks to the handy dandy trick :)

I'd like to know how to sew and knit but goddamn, it's diffiicult.

Would this fabric be okay to make a skirt like in this picture?

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/ccw1-15-music-notes-4843-8-133397/


I've only ever hand sewn and this skirt is going to be my first real sewing project.

How do you guys cut your fabric straight?

I can never get straight lines, because I don't even have a table to work on, I work on the floor and use the sewing machine on a footrest... but does anyone have ideas how to cut straighter lines?

The project I'm wokring on right now it doesn't matter, because I'm just going to rip it up and make it look nasty anyway, but when I move on to bigger and better things, I want straight seams.

>>7356840
I usually just rip it up then make a little hem or I oversew it on french seams

>>7356840
You have to have really sharp scissors only meant for fabric. I noticed that when i got a new pair of scissors, i was able to cut straighter. Also, you can use chalk and a ruler to help.