Hand Sewing vs Machine Sewing- thoughts?

[sanssoucistudios]

I'm working on my second head, and one of the improvements I want to make over my first head is fur that fits more closely to the resin base, so it obscures its form less. (Here's pics of my first head: <a href="Meet Max, the very first furry mask made by Sans Souci Studios">http://www.sanssoucistudios.com/fursuitwolfhead.html</a> )

I just finished sewing together the face for a new mask out of scrap fur I had lying around, playing with stitches and such, and I'm really happy with how it came out: <a href="

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1344890648917010

This time I did it all with hand sewing, not machine sewing, as a lot of the bulk material/seams I'd get that would hide the form of the base would be from areas where the seams were less than perfect, especially in areas where a lot of seams came together, such as the corners of the eyes. As far as machine sewing goes I just don't have those kinds of skilz yet!!

So while it took forever to sew the face together by hand I think the results are well worth it. I'm curious to know: when do you do hand sewing? Machine sewing? What stitches do you use when you do hand sewing? (I used what I think is called the blanket stitch here.) TIA!

 

[ExtinguishedHope]

Personally, I always sew by hand- regardless of whether it's stitching up a seam in a dog toy or making an elaborate cosplay. I feel like I have more control over doing it by hand, and I've never had any problems with it. I tend to use back stitches and hemming stitches a lot, if I'm remembering the correct terms- I'm awful at terminology. X)

Sewing with machines has always felt a little weird to me though, so my opinion is very skewed.

 

[Kellan Meig'h]

Hand sewing is probably better than machine sewing for heads, since it doesn't need a huge seam allowance. For bodies, a combination of serging (ladder stitch) and hand sewing is superior to machine for appearances. A serged ladder stitch disappears once the seam is pulled flat and the fur brushed out of the seam. A suiter that I think is no longer active, his name was Alopex, did a tutorial on this. The PDF might still be around; Aloserger.pdf. Basically its a ladder or flatlock stitch. The needle tension is backed off completely and the lower looper tension turned up. Makes a really nice stitch but you have to stop occasionally and vacuum out the cut fur remnants that are left over. Alopex used the trimmer when he used the serger to make fursuits.

I might have to find a place to host that file for everyone's edification.