Getting a Sewing Machine Tomorrow

[mickeymark34]

Hello Scouts,

I am working on getting my ducks in a row and attempt to finish my Lancer app. There is a list of things I need to do after my first attempt on the Lancer submission, and they all have to do with the soft goods. Ill be getting a Singer sewing machine tomorrow, and it will be my first sewing machine purchase. I’ve never done it before, so I am nervous, but excited to get to work on making the adjustments to my soft goods. Wish me luck. I pray I don’t sew my fingers together.

[M.J]

Mark Good on you getting a sewing machine.

I can't stress enough, practice and experimenting, Youtube is also full of helpful videos

I just set up my new overlocker that threads its self.. took me some time to check out all the features and did quite a bit of practice sewing.

Soon you'll have list of costumes to make! Have fun and if you get stuck ask. 

[BikerScout007]

Well done!

I got a sewing machine specifically for building my Scout, and it's been good to me ever since.

https://www.amazon.com/Brother-Quilting-Stitches-Auto-Size-Buttonholes/dp/B000JQM1DE/

[Aradun]

Mark, it doesn’t take long to get the basics down and then you’re off to the races. As M.J said, find some material to practice on so you’re comfortable when it comes time to adjust your soft parts.


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[mickeymark34]

Just picked it up a bit ago. I plan on tinkering with it a bit until I get the hang of it. 

[Dart]

If I may suggest, don't buy cheap thread. Gutermann is probably the biggest brand out there and their thread is excellent. Thread is relatively inexpensive, so don't skimp. Have fun!

[Retrofire]

If I may suggest, don't buy cheap thread. Gutermann is probably the biggest brand out there and their thread is excellent. Thread is relatively inexpensive, so don't skimp. Have fun!

Gutermann is all I use for my sewing!


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[mickeymark34]

9 hours ago, Dart said:

If I may suggest, don't buy cheap thread. Gutermann is probably the biggest brand out there and their thread is excellent. Thread is relatively inexpensive, so don't skimp. Have fun!

I will most certainly get what you guys recommend. 

[Retrofire]

Here’s my faithful steed! Making masks at the moment for my friends at work:) and of course the doggo in the background.

[mickeymark34]

Here’s my faithful steed! Making masks at the moment for my friends at work:) and of course the doggo in the background.

Looks like the one I just got.


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[Retrofire]

Nice! But mine didn’t come with a cool Spongebob pencil! Make sure you get yourself some denim needles if you are going to sew your flight suit and suede you don’t want to snap a needle in the middle of sewing.

[mickeymark34]

Nice! But mine didn’t come with a cool Spongebob pencil! Make sure you get yourself some denim needles if you are going to sew your flight suit and suede you don’t want to snap a needle in the middle of sewing.

LOL. I can send you one if you want. I think we may have got a denim sewing needle in a pack that we bought, but I certainly will if we didn’t get one.


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[Retrofire]

LOL. I can send you one if you want. I think we may have got a denim sewing needle in a pack that we bought, but I certainly will if we didn’t get one.


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Yeah that’s great if ya got one already. They are heavy duty and have a thicker shank to penetrate heavier material better. MJ is the queen of sewing around here and if you have any questions give her or any of us a shout and we’ll be there to help.

[mickeymark34]

Hey guys. I have made some progress after practicing with my new sewing machine. Here’s some photos of the recommended changes I’ve made to my softgoods in pursuit of becoming a Lancer.

I’ve widened my butt flap.

The straps have been raised up on my legs. My friend, who gave me my sewing lesson yesterday, did this for me. He also helped my take the legs in so they are not so baggy. 

My friend also altered the pattern for my original cod widened it and cut the material, but I sewed it together. He did the curves, as I didn’t feel confident enough to make clean ones like he did.

Now I only have to alter the flak vest I have, or make a new one, and I am ready to try and become a Lancer.


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[Retrofire]

Good on you mate! Nice work and way to tackle a new skill! That was wise to bring the legs in and tailor it more to you. Another idea to help keep the suit legs tight is to sew some elastic in the bottoms for stirrups. Regarding the cod it looks good just make sure you keep enough slack in the strapping so it doesn’t pull underneath your legs and bunch up. We call that “cod crunchies” some scouts use a heavy weight interfacing to keep the bottom of the cod from folding over but as long as you adjust to your fit you should be ok. Keep up the great work and keep posting those photos it’s great to see this coming along!

I think it’s great you’re going for Lancer! A lot of the Armorers are Lancers and I know they’re more than qualified to help you along but feel free to reach out to myself, Chopper, or Stroker too if you have specific Lancer questions.

Edited June 3, 2020 by Retrofire
Lancer suggestions

[mickeymark34]

4 minutes ago, Retrofire said:

Good on you mate! Nice work and way to tackle a new skill! That was wise to bring the legs in and tailor it more to you. Another idea to help keep the suit legs tight is to sew some elastic in the bottoms for stirrups. Regarding the cod it looks good just make sure you keep enough slack in the strapping so it doesn’t pull underneath your legs and bunch up. We call that “cod crunchies” some scouts use a heavy weight interfacing to keep the bottom of the cod from folding over but as long as you adjust to your fit you should be ok. Keep up the great work and keep posting those photos it’s great to see this coming along!

Thanks Peter. I had the stirrups in my original submission, and it didn't seem to help with the bagginess. Chopper advised to use buckram to stiffen the cod. I did get some and put it in the new cod. We also did end up making the strap a little longer on the new one. I will definitely post up more pictures once we/I do the vest. After seeing the vest tutorial, my friend said it would just be easier to make a new vest, since I have all the material, than to alter the one I purchased. 

[Retrofire]

Sounds like you’re right on point Mark! When you work the vest be sure to wear your flight suit for your measurements and not a regular shirt so it fits comfortably. My first vest was a bit too tight and made for some interesting troops!😄 You’re doing an awesome job! Keep up the outstanding work!

[Aradun]

Looking good brother. Lancer’s on the horizon!


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[mickeymark34]

@M.J I’m having a tough time sewing the Velcro onto the shirt material of my vest. I put some on my flight suit just fine. I’m thinking the material is too thin. Do you have any advice for this? 

[M.J]

7 hours ago, mickeymark34 said:

@M.J I’m having a tough time sewing the Velcro onto the shirt material of my vest. I put some on my flight suit just fine. I’m thinking the material is too thin. Do you have any advice for this? 

Mark mine came out  fine, I use business shirts, did quite a number of them .

Is it cotton getting stuck in the lop? sometimes it can be the foot, if the thickness of the flight suit is fine the layer of the shirt. 

ok I may of just got it, is that tshirt fabric? let me know which fabric.

Before I go into more detail, when sewing does it pucker up ? or the thread isn't knotting up?

I really hate Velcro its a bugger

 

[mickeymark34]

I’m sewing the hook side of Velcro onto the T-shirt material of my flak vest. The thread is knotting up after a few stitches and the needle stops.

[BikerScout007]

I’m sewing the hook side of Velcro onto the T-shirt material of my flak vest. The thread is knotting up after a few stitches and the needle stops.

Might seem random but I had issues like this that were solved by using metal bobbins instead of the plastic ones.

[Retrofire]

10 minutes ago, mickeymark34 said:

I’m sewing the hook side of Velcro onto the T-shirt material of my flak vest. The thread is knotting up after a few stitches and the needle stops.

Mark are you sewing the Velcro from the “backside”? If you’re trying to sew it through the hook when the needle rises to set the bobbin side of the stitch it could get caught up in the hook and begin to bunch up and depending how fast your pushing the presser foot. If it gets caught it will begin to “backup” inside the bobbin carriage and seize the needle. Then you gotta cut it off and reset everything. The Singers we’re using have that downside and I’ve come across it so much lately. Try to sew it with the hook facing up so the needle force plunges through the loop and can set the rest of the stitch from the smooth bottom and pull it back through the loop. I haven’t had much difficulty sewing Velcro with the hook and loop facing the needle. 

[Chopper]

I've also had this issue when I didn't properly lock the stitch when I started sewing. It seems to be especially a problem with thicker materials like velcro.

[mickeymark34]

I was sewing it with the hook side facing up.Im thinking I may have had it threaded wrong. I’m going to re-thread everything tonight, and try again. Could it be that my bobbin was low on thread?