One thing you can try (which I do when I make corsets, etc) is to use vinyl or vinyl-coated fabrics that don't need to have the edges hemmed. In other words, you can just leave the cut edges raw if you cut very neatly because they will be clean and straight and won't fray. If it suits your design, you can then use eyelets and grommets to finish the piece and attach it to itself (this works well with corsets and other "lace up" type things).
If you have to sew 2 different parts of a costume/outfit together, I would suggest doing a small overcast stitch very very close to the edge of the fabric. The biggest problem I run into is not being able to get close enough to the edge due to fabric fraying. So, before I start sewing, I will often apply something to stiffen the fabric's edges, like a tiny bit of thin glue or glue mixed with water. Let that mixture go all the way through the fabric, and THEN cut your pattern out, or trim it down, so that you can carefully control how far the "stiff" part goes--if you leave too much you will just make more unwieldy and noticeable seams. It's harder to get the glue to stay in the right place I find if you cut the pattern out first.
Hope this helps!
N.
visitors can't see pics , please
register or
loginvisitors can't see pics , please
register or
login