Learning to sew is a task most people dread over.  For some, it's probably equivalent to getting a root canal from your dentist and I can totally empathize with that.  For the longest time, I kept trying to come up with reasons to "not" learn to sew.  I kept telling myself, "but that's so girlish" or "that's so frustrating I can't do this."  But after I ran into project after project where sewing is an absolute necessity, there was no way around it.  Simply put, to completely customize a figure you will have to learn how to sew.  In hindsight, I do wish that I learned to sew a little sooner than I did because most of my other skills progressed quickly when my sewing skills need a lot more work.

For starters, the hardest thing about sewing is that it is a hands-on learning activity.  When I look at a sewing machine, it's like looking at NASA's $80 million rocket launching computer - I'm absolutely clueless about it.  So instead of learning how to sew on a machine, I figured I'd just learn it my damn self by picking up a thread and needle and just start going at it.  I did learn a lot from my horrid sewing attempts the first few times, but with everything you progress from your mistakes.  Okay, enough of my mumbling.  Check out the following site:  The Home Sewing Association.

There are a lot of tutorials on the HSA site.  Make sure you go through every single tutorial.  I sure as heck wish I did when I started because I made tons of mistakes that would have otherwise been corrected had I learned what the HSA mentions.  You can learn the basics of sewing on the HSA site, but again, sewing is a hands-on skill that must be learned through practice.  Don't expect to start sewing outfits out of the oven.  You'll make at least five or six very horrid looking things before you even get something that works well.  After that, it'll be a breeze and you'll find yourself addicted to sewing.

MATERIALS . . .

One thing that I'd like to add or mention that HSA doesn't quite expand upon is the use of materials.  Choosing the right materials is equally as important as painting a figure, sculpting an item or even sewing.  Your choice of fabric texture, color scheme, and strength all adds to the end result of your figure.  I've spent countless hours walking the aisles, touching and rubbing the textures of fabrics, comparing colors and grain, etc.  Most customers from my local fabric store (who are usually elder house-moms) look at me like I'm making a dress for myself.  If you worry about your image more than your figures, I highly recommend bringing a wife or girlfriend.  Just a tip.

Hunting for materials to make a figure is just as hard as making the figure itself.  Any one who has ever sewn can tell you this.  There are "holy grails" of fabrics that exist out there and I spend an almost equal amount of time looking for fabrics as I do with looking for 1/6 scale loose parts.  It is very important so don't slack off and just buy some cheap old fabrics to make your figures with.  You can start out with cheap fabric for practice, but once you can sew, choosing a good fabric will make all the difference in the world - not to mention the fact that it's a little more expensive, but all worth it when your project is done.