I Just Got a Sewing Machine! Any advice/ recommendations for pony patterns?

[HelloGoodbye]

Hello all!  My Mom just got me a sewing machine for my birthday!  I hand sew kind of a lot, but I've only used a sewing machine once and it was years ago and I remember nothing.  I'm obviously going to be reading the manual, and apparently the machine is pretty beginner friendly, but I was wondering if any of you had any general tips.  Also if any of you have any recommendations for easy patterns for pony plush (or just cute and easy patterns in general) I would love it if you could tell me about them.

I'm going to be using the machine for both plushies and cosplay stuff~

[pinkkittywinks]

Congratulations

You are doing the right thing reading the manual, I still go back and check mine for hints and tips.

YouTube has some really helpful tutorials I know if I get stuck there is often a tutorial that will help.

I suggest getting some plain cotton fabric and just play, see how the machine handles, what the stitching is like and the different types of stitches too. Try out different scraps of fabric as well.

Also make sure you use the right sort of needle for the right sort of fabric you are sewing! Your manual should have some stuff on that Universal needles are great for most fabrics, but if you want to sew something like swimsuit fabric or leather get the appropriate needle it saves you and your machine!

Love pkw xxx

PS I use ValleyViolet's G4 pony pattern she has a shop on Etsy.

[ZennaBug]

Congratulations!!!! 

I usually just go to my grandma if I need help, as she can sew anything.    But I've also been sewing bits and bobs for most of my life, so I can usually figure it out.  I have made quilts (I have had one in the works for the last year now), I'm working on a little rag doll who just needs some hair, I made everyone little pillows full of rice to microwave for Christmas (shhhh, don't tell anyone! lol), I've made curtains, tried a few doll outfits, and stuff like that.  Nothing too complicated.  When I finally got my sewing machine set up and working (again, thanks to my grandma), I just sat and sewed bits and bobs on scraps on fabric to get the feel for my machine.  That helped me the most, I think.

I have only made one plush, but I used this pattern and I found it to be easy to read and follow.  It's a foal pattern, so it was pretty tiny.  It would have been easier to start with the adult version or to size this one up, I suspect.