To
lockstitch by hand: sew a normal stitch (down, under, and bring
it back up), then plunge needle in for the next stitch in the middle of the
prior stitch and treat it as a normal stitch. Continue to do this. One step
forward, one step back. This stitch holds amazingly well!
pattern
drafting and usage: measure twice, cut once.
also, building up a repertoire of useful base patterns via store discount sales
is priceless.
project
planning: choose something that appeals to you, as well as your skill
level. you should be able to fully visualize how you'll do each leg of the costume
without major assistance from outsiders. if you don't think you can do it yourself,
don't try it. keep in mind time constraints, too. for beginners and advanced
sewers alike it is difficult to crank out a detailed costume in less than a
month considering how hectic most peoples' lives are.
time
saving: one surefire way to get
things done is to create a takealong bag with current items that you're working
on. once you've mastered the by-hand lockstitch, you can be more mobile.