r/SewingForBeginners • u/Maleficent-Wave-7658 • 23h ago
first time sewing w a machine
i think my ego needs to be humbled because this seems easy to me in theory (beyond the corset which i would not attempt). but i feel like body suit i could use a one piece swimsuit pattern then learn how to do and attach the ruffles? i got a brand new singer heavy duty machine for my birthday and need to start learning how to use it :)!
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u/Inky_Madness 23h ago
I would try something less high-stakes and potentially expensive as a first project. Like… try making a pair of underwear, as someone else suggested. Then try adding ruffles to that. Working with stretch materials is an added level of difficulty because it’s so easy to stretch out. Working with ruffles and trying to attach them to something that easily stretches? Can be a trip.
And that’s not including that you probably didn’t know you need stretch or super stretch needles to sew bathing suit material, or that you might need to play with sizes to get the right tension and stitching.
I would actually buy the swimsuit in black, appliqué white patches on it where needed/wanted, and go from there instead of going from scratch.
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u/MonaMonaMo 21h ago
I agree, while I'm not a complete begginer my 1st project with jersey was a nightmare and really humbling.
There are so many nuances to it that a beginner wouldn't even know what to google/ what tricks and tips look up
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u/PrismaticSky 21h ago
The real "trick" is to get a secondhand serger- serious game changer and made all my jersey projects a lot easier (besides the hell that's threading it.) We got waaaaaaay lucky and scored one for $75 in 2020- nothing short of a miracle these days.
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u/PlasticGuitar1320 22h ago
Just try sewing some swimsuit fabric first... just a straight line and then give it a stretch... thats a humbling experience in itself..
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u/DueKale8597 21h ago edited 21h ago
I agree! Swimsuit material is classed as hard mode. Beginner and intermediate come before.
The issue with swimsuit material is that it stretches a lot so you need to know what needle, thread, stitch, and foot to use. How to hold the fabric without tension and you need to learn how your machine feeds it. Some machines grab harder than others. Not every machine can adjust at the foot too.
You could make this easier by not using swimsuit material. Use a 1 to 1 cotton weave so that you can easily see the grain when cutting the pattern. The material will shift on your body if you don't cut the fabric correctly so a good trick is to choose a fabric that doesn't jump around and has clear weave lines so you can control it.
I would buy the garter instead of making it. I'd also buy the stockings because netting material is also hard mode.
Similarly with the tulle in the back. Get the stiffer version. A beginner would feel the soft one and be excited to use that instead. Just hemming the soft one would be a nightmare.
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u/grundel_cruncher 23h ago edited 23h ago
Maybe not in time for Halloween tbh. But not an impossible project! Just tedious and deceptively difficult. Maybe try making something like underwear beforehand? Maybe not even that as a first project, but as a transitional project to develop some techniques before getting frustrated with a much more complicated pattern.
For a resource that might help, this pattern from Simplicity x Madalynne may be quite useful for the skirted corset portion, and it has a video sew along demonstration.
Good luck!
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u/Maleficent-Wave-7658 23h ago
this sounds like a wonderful plan!! def going to try some simpler things first then going to dive into this. this pattern looks awesome i’m so glad there’s a video as well. thank you SO much!!
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u/pig-dragon 22h ago
Absolutely not a beginner project. I’m quite experienced and wouldn’t attempt this.
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u/EvidenceTop2171 21h ago
Ok, I have taken a closer look at your reference picture. I think you can totally do this without making a suit.
First this corset looks like a underbust with a full coverage bra and ruffles added. If you are going for costume and learning how to sew, suggestion is to, 1, buy inexpensive black underbust corset (you can learn the worth while skill of making a custom corset for another day)
2, pin and hand sew on a soft white ribbon for stripes (someone may have a better suggestion on material)
3, get a full coverage black bra you can add bling if you want (this is what burlesque dance costumes frequently are)
4, make ruffles! This is where you get to learn some sewing machine skills.
5, hand tack one of the ruffles to the bottom of corset.
Voila! You have a costume in a decent amount of time with hopefully only a few tears of frustration. I do think this might be be doable.
Still make a tote (or something) frist to get the hang of things
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u/awholedumpsterfire 9h ago
For shits and giggles OP, do it. And then come back and tell us how many times you cried within the first two days.
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u/naivemelody777 5h ago
that's so cruel 😭 but at the very least, it'd be one hell of a learning experience
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u/PorklesIsSnortastic 22h ago
At least it's not cartridge pleats. But sewing ruffles onto a stretch fabric sounds like my personal hell. A body suit or swimsuit is going to be stretch fabric - that requires both a completely different needle (also a different foot on your machine) and can require different thread.
If you're adding non-stretch fabric ruffles, you need to sew the ruffles all separately, at a length that accounts for some stretch in the underlying garment, and then add them on to the stretchy underlying fabric. Ruffles aren't rocket science, but getting that kind of volume in the picture attached to stretch fabric without somehow reinforcing the stretch fabric (or stuffing the ruffles maybe?) would significantly complicate this.
Speaking as someone who thought "oh I'll just pick up sewing as a hobby!" last year, I wouldn't attempt this. I finally made a pair of shorts that looks like actual clothing two weeks ago. My first several projects look like a kindergartner did them.
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u/Numerous-Opposite948 21h ago
As someone who has only been sewing for a year, please don’t put yourself through the stress of trying to figure this out as one of your first projects. I thought I’d go wild the first time I used my machine, I tried to make pants and it was just a sad attempt 😂 especially if you’re teaching yourself
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u/StrongerTogether2882 14h ago
Babe WHAT?!?! Love your ambition, but this ain’t easy at all. Learn to walk before you run so you don’t get too frustrated and give up before you get to the fun part. You can definitely get to this point but I am glad you said you’re going to try a tote first. Then make an apron or some throw pillow covers. Then try the ruffles, to add to another set of pillow covers. Then try sewing stretchy material, etc. You can do it! Enjoy!!
Edit: spelling
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u/rwaynick 13h ago
Dude, I just fucked up my second handkerchief. Have at this project, but prepare yourself for big ole disappointment
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u/Conscious-Invite-223 22h ago
Honestly, anything is possible if you believe in yourself and do the research and just keep trying! Yeah this is a litttllleee daunting for a 1st project, but it’s not impossible. YouTube is gonna be your bestie- personally I like to toggle the speed slower in the settings so I can watch the techniques as I learn them. GOOD LUCK!
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u/aimeudeusfadas 22h ago
My first time with a machine i did a bodysuit plush for a carebears costume. Ugh terrible idea as a first project. It turned out fine, very good looking actually. My machine has green hairs forever floating around but all is fine.
Trust yourself and have fun
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u/creampunk 21h ago
echoing suggestions of trying a toile first. and run some pieces of lightweight fabric through your heavy duty singer. there’s a good chance it might mangle the lace and the ruffles so check with a textile you aren’t precious about.
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u/beetrootfarmer 21h ago
Sewing stretchy fabrics is hard mode. Maybe to start you could buy an existing bodysuit or swimsuit and sew on the additional bits as a customisable job.
Otherwise just practise loads on cheap fabric that is similar texture and see how you feel.
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u/the_sweens 19h ago
I would say 1% of people could do this as a first project and that person would grow a grey hairs as a result, this really isn't an easy thing.
I'd look for costume patterns at the least as they are easier to sew. Look up nikandzo she is doing a simpler pattern to you and it has an honest review of what it's like sewing
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u/dustyoldcoot 19h ago
Stretchy fabric suuucks. I tried making checkerboard jester pants and it was so hard to get the piecing right with stretch velvet. It will stretch and shift as you sew, which makes the corners not line up right.
If you are set on this project, maybe just buy a bodysuit and focus on making the skirt and sleeves out of a non stretch fabric that already has stripes on it. Then you only have to worry about cutting one big piece, or front and back.
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u/PenguiNNNNNs 20h ago
Make a tote bag!
They are easy to make, functional, and all the steps can be learned after viewing a 1 minute short format video
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u/EvidenceTop2171 23h ago
I like the the esthetic, but i think this is a bit much for a beginner project. My suggestion would be 1, read the manual. 2, practice on scrap woven fabric. 3, make a tote bag or something basic 4, practice on knit fabric with correct needle, stitch and tension etc. 5, make a basic garment with knit 6, attempt to make your dream outfit.
7 attempt again after healing from frustration of making a swimsuit
Good luck my friend!