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Hi everyone
In today's episode of Cosplay 101 we are going to talk about one of the most important aspects of cosplay
Sewing
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I know sewing can be intimidating to a lot of people
But it's not as difficult as you may think
Plus unless you're only making mecha suits or giant suits of armor
Sewing is pretty essential for creating costumes from scratch
Again, if you're a complete beginner to cosplay
It's not a bad idea to find existing pieces of clothing that you can use for your costumes
But if you really want to get into creating your own costumes from scratch
You're going to have to do some sewing
But don't worry, you don't have to use the sewing machine right away if you don't want to
Instead, hand sewing is a great place to start
 
You'll need straight pins
 
Hand sewing needles
 
Thread
 
Scissors
 
A seam ripper
 
And a tape measure
 
There are of course other knick-knacks you will need and use while hand sewing
But those are the absolute basics
And the best way to practice hand sewing is with some scrap fabric
There are lots of different types of stitches as you'll find out
Check the video description for a link to the Simplicity website
Where they have an excellent visual guide to hand sewing stitches
Choose a couple different stitches from the guide and practice them until you're comfortable
Hand sewing may seem tedious and it certainly takes longer than using a machine
But if sewing machines make you nervous or you don't have access to one
You can absolutely still create costumes as long as you have needle and thread
It may take more time but it is definitely possible
Most importantly, you're going to be using hand sewing at some point on most projects
Whether it's finishing a seam, attaching a button
Or sewing an area that may be difficult to reach with your sewing machine
Speaking of which, now let's talk about that sewing machine
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Shopping for a sewing machine can be really overwhelming nowadays
Just because there're so many options out there
It's easy to get confused
Especially because a lot of these models have crazy functions
Like memory stitching and embroidery
But if you're just starting out, you don't need a machine with all these fancy bells and whistles
As long as the machine comes with a variety of basic stitches
Such as the straight stitch and the zigzag stitch
You'll be good to go
Brother, Singer, Simplicity
They're all great companies and they all have great beginner models
That you can find at your local fabric stores or stores like Walmart, Target, or Sears
And the best part: they're all under $100
 
Sewing machine needles
 
Bobbins
 
A presser foot
 
And a zipper foot
 
You'll also want a maintenance kit that includes oil, a small screwdriver, and a bristle brush
 
All of these are necessary to keep your machine running smoothly
Most machines come with them included
But if yours doesn't, you can find them at a fabric store
Once you have all of your supplies
You'll want to do the exact same thing you did with hand sewing
And that is practice, practice, and practice
Grab some scrap fabric and familiarize yourself with the machine settings
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Overwhelmed yet? Hang in there, we're almost done
So you have your sewing supplies and you are just raring to get started on your cosplay, right?
But whoa there, friend, you better slow down
Before you dive headfirst into garment construction
I highly suggest taking some time to play around with beginner sewing projects
Just to really learn how sewing works
Use the internet to look up tutorials and craft ideas to try
Buy a sewing handbook which will give detail diagrams and explanations of stitches
Seam finishing techniques, patterning, and a wide variety of advanced sewing skills
Also consider taking a couple sewing classes at your local fabric store or community college
Having a real life instructor there to help you is one of the best learning tools you could ask for
Again, practice is the only way to learn
It'll take time but don't get discouraged
If you find yourself getting frustrated with something, take a breath
Step away from the sewing machine
And come back to it after you've calmed down
Otherwise, sewing while you're angry, you're more likely to make mistakes
Well, I really hope this guide was able to help you get started with sewing
Or at least feel more comfortable about giving it a shot
Obviously there is a lot that I did not cover
But we'll get into things like choosing fabrics and drafting patterns in future videos
For now, I've included links in the description to resources that should help you figure out the basics of sewing
And if you have any questions about anything that I covered in this video
Please don't hesitate to ask
If you have suggestions for future Cosplay 101 topics
Leave them in the comments below
Feel free to subscribe to my channel
And remember... happy cosplaying!
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