Sewing? (Or: WT needs help losing her mind.)

[WT]

I don't anticipate a high volume of people here who sew, but I figure that since there are a lot of members here, there's an okay chance that someone will know what they're talking about. xD Any and all help is greatly appreciated and will probably earn lifelong adoration.

For a long time, I've been vaguely thinking about making my own Halloween costume. Why I think doing it for this year (or, given my time constraints, next year >.>) is a good idea, I have no clue, but apparently I do, because I've spent the past hour and a half or so looking up stuff about sewing instead of studying for that WHAP test or writing an essay on Peru like I ought to. Unfortunately for me, I'm limited by the fact that beyond a single duffle bag made in a home ec class two years ago, I have no sewing experience. Which leads me to this: Does anyone have any advice on learning how to sew outfits? If I were to get an existing piece of clothing and modify it (if I'm lucky, I might be able to swing that), would I still have to know as much as I would if I were recreating the clothing entirely? I know it'll depend largely on what the article of clothing in question is, but nothing is set in stone right now, so I'm just looking for general advice on where to start as opposed to tips on specific projects. (If someone gave me specific tips right now, I don't think I'd understand what they were talking about. =P A lot has happened since that duffel bag.)

I do have access to a sewing machine. It's old-fashioned (I love the thing- it's got a foot pedal xD <3), but it works. Dunno how much difference that will make in the run of things, but it's probably worth mentioning. *shrug*

Whether this will ever even happen, I have no idea. >.> On the plausibility scale of my dreams, this is hovering somewhere slightly above being in a musical. But however improbable, it's still a somewhat-cherished goal that I'd like to accomplish. =3

Many preemptive thanks for any assistance! <3

[ᕙʕ•ᴥ•ʔᕗ]

Right. So this is based on what I do remember from sewing.

1) Tucking is fairly simple so if that's just it, then you'll have no problem. The thing with creating an outfit entirely from scrap is that you need to have a good number of patterns. Actually, axe that. You'll need patterns no matter what. But simple modifications are simple and should not take a lot of time. Also, if you're going to be sewing on additions, make sure you have good measurements so that in the end, it comes out even.

2) Only use a sewing machine if you are comfortable using it. Bonus of using the machine is definitely the time thing. However, if you don't have good control over the machine, your project might turn out to be a mess. Also, if you're going to use the machine, definitely establish the sewing line. By sewing line, I mean the line with which you're going to have stitched. Okay, that was horrible phrasing....but I'm not really sure how else to phrase it.

All in all, give yourself good time. I would use sewing-by-hand for the detail stuff, but if you're going to stitch together a huge piece of cloth together, use a sewing machine if you're confident. Er....I think that's all I can honestly say... Oh yeah! Keep in mind which stitching you're going to use and where. -nods- Just think of overall look and what you want seen and what you don't want to show.