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| Title: Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions | |
| ThongBoard > Thong Board > Questions and Opinions about wearing thongs. | Go to subcategory： |
| Author | Content |
| seemythong02 | |
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Date Posted：01/12/2006 08:01:13Copy HTML How difficult is it to make your own thong? I have been on this board for over a year i just never post. I had seen a pattern on here before but never got to download it and now i cant find it. How hard is it though to make one that looks good and not crappy. I am not trying to find a place to make them, just want to know how difficult it is to manufacture my own. |
| Beachlover492000 | #1 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：01/12/2006 09:59:20Copy HTML As a teenager many years a ago (the 1960s) I made my own "skimpy suits" from a string around my waist and a stip of the cloth/ I did not have the guts to wear them very much in public, but today there are beaches where it is legal to wear very brief suits if you have the courage to do it. I have met men at the beach who wore a cut-down women's nylon sock as a suit on the beach (at a very liberal beach). Yes, you can make your own suit even if you don't have the expertise or talent, but you have pick the right beach. That advixe applies to all of us who wear thongs and g-strings in public. |
| wr1944 | #2 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：01/12/2006 04:58:41Copy HTML It is not very hard to make your own good-looking thongs and strings.
Checkout the site of Stitchboy at www.geocities.com/thestitchboy/index.html I have made a few strings for myself and they are not too bad. If you like, I may send a few pictures to your e-mail. All you need is a good quality Lycra and a sewingmachine with zig-zag capabilty. |
| stanedge | #3 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：02/13/2006 06:38:07Copy HTML I make my own G Strings and Thongs and would advise anyone starting to use cotton to begin with, Slippy materials are difficult to hold and sew, until you get used to it. I have a site with some pics and can send people patterns and some advice; http://www.geocities.com/sredge/ Regards - Stanley |
| rogerp | #4 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：02/16/2006 02:20:25Copy HTML I have made many swim suits and thongs. It is really quiet cheap and not that hard. For my first one I took a pair of speedo type underwear and copied them. It is abit tricky, but with practice you'l' do OK. You can easily modify the patern and change the covering for the butt, how much the front protrudes, etc. The real trick is getting the fabric you want.
Roger |
| showtime20042005 | #5 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：02/16/2006 07:10:16Copy HTML |
| missrebecca | #6 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：02/18/2006 07:50:13Copy HTML A few years ago I made a g-string bikini out of an old yellow string bikini I had from when I was a kid. I had this bikini since I was 8 or 9, the front of the bottoms is about the same size as what my Pink WW bikini is and it's made out of cotton so it wasnt hard to sew like lycra. Making the bottom was a really easy. I just marked out the width of the g-string, cut it, folded it over and used a criss-cross pattern on the sewing machine to hold it together. The top is a little small but because the strings slide through them it was easy to adjust after I made new strings. It took a few days to find a fabric shop that had cotton in the same yellow to make the new strings. Cutting the fine strip of the fabric to make the strings was really hard. I think it took me about seven or eight goes at getting the four strings I needed. You fold the cotton over so that the edges meet in the center and then you use a criss-cross pattern on the sewing machine to hold them in place. It was heaps of fun and I've now given it to my friends younger sister. |
| wackymac | #7 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：02/23/2006 11:31:19Copy HTML |
| seemythong02 | #8 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：02/26/2006 09:56:42Copy HTML those of you that said you could email me pictures and advice please private message me and ill send you my email
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| leo40 | #9 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：03/12/2006 09:30:17Copy HTML |
| bmicro | #10 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：03/13/2006 09:40:32Copy HTML Making your own g-strings is easy and fun - you can make them as brief as you like. I had great success with monofilament line as a string and attached clothing hooks (available from any notions shop) to the vertices of a triangular piece of fabfic that I had placed a dart into. I copied the dimensions of a g-string I already had. You do not need a outer seam if you use a smooth fabric, like Lycra. From there, you can cut down the sides to make a suit as brief as you like. I also had great success using chain as a waist strap and even went so far as to use small rings to connect the chain to make a chain mail pouch - looks great! These are also available from some of the chainmail sites (where I got the idea).
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| leo40 | #11 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：03/14/2006 09:11:33Copy HTML |
| leo40 | #12 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：03/14/2006 09:16:23Copy HTML |
| leo40 | #13 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：03/15/2006 08:05:31Copy HTML |
| leo40 | #14 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：06/13/2008 10:18:44Copy HTML There is another, entirely different, scheme for making your own thong. I have attended occasions where an Indian loincloth is expected. These are a string waistband and a single strip of cloth going between the legs and hanging over the waistband as a flap, front and back. A very course stitch just under the fold, made with a needle and course thread, is helpful in keeping the flaps in place. The cloth is wide enough to form a pouch over your equipment by itself. Authentic Indian style, these are really very conservative with much more coverage than a thong wearer would want. However, you can experiment with front flaps that hang over the waistband in front by only a couple of inches, and with tapering the back to a narrow thong-width strip that is tied to the back of the waistband. You can find kinds of cloth that won't fray and need no edge hemming at all. Sweatshirt cloth is often like that. Chamois leather is also good, but expensive. It stretches easily to form the pouch. Artificial chamois for car polishing might be a worthwhile experiment. I have used buckskin, but it is hard to get and not good as swimwear.
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| ukessexbob | #15 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：06/25/2008 06:47:41Copy HTML It's dead easy to make your own thongs. The major requirement is a sewing machine that does some sort of zig zag or stretch stich. These can be bought off e-bay for very reasonable cost these days. Worth popping into a shop that sells sells them first to let the assistant show the different styles of stich avaliable. You will require a ball ended needle to sew Lycra and stretch material, if you use a normal sharp pointed needle, it will split the fibres, and the drag will break the thread all the time. Incidentaly, manufacturers like Speedo use industrial machines, these can also be bought of e-bay as well. Material can be found via the internet, although I'm lucky as we have a small shop nearby selling Lycra and stretch material off cuts for as little as £1 ( $2 ). I can make about 4 bikinis or 12 g-strings from this. When you choose the elastic for the edges, you will find a range of widths, and also the 'stretchiness'. If you are into swimming, chose an elastic that gives a tightish fit, so they don't slide down or come off, especially if you dive in. For just sunning, a lighter elastic will be more comfortable all day. If you have any old thongs etc, that are worn out, it's worth unpicking them to see how they are made, and you can use them as a pattern. I also take a pattern from swimwear I've purchased, all you have to do is pin it out on cutting board with some papaer underneath, and draw around it, and then add material for the edge seams. The trick to sewing them together, is do the under crotch, side, front pouch seams first, and then when you come to doing the edges, cut the elastic to length, joining the ends, and then place it on the material edge. Fold over once, then again, and then pin. Work you way along until you done all the edges. I've found in stationary stores, miniture pegs that you can clip the edges with instead of pins. With all the edges nicely clipped and secure, you can now sew together, pulling the pins/pegs out as you go so you don't hit them with the sewing needle. I've also now quite often alter purchased items if they don't fit properly. I have a number of basic patterns now depending on the type of fit you want, if anyone is interested, I'll find a way to get the info out.
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| JM_Runs | #16 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：06/25/2008 09:34:01Copy HTML Nit or crochet thong. |
| leo40 | #17 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：06/25/2008 10:35:00Copy HTML My attemps at sewing machine thongs have been very occasional and often resulted in something good enough to try on and then send to Dore as a pattern to be made up right. My very first starting point has always been to make paper cutouts of the parts and mylar tape them together where seams will go. Sometimes Dore can work from these directly. My last one was a variation of the "half bag mit eierteiler (German slang equal to "ball splitter")" found on www.tangaland24.de . An interesting style, similar to some of Dore's "no ballroom" suits, but not enough coverage for US beach wear.
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| Socaspeedo | #18 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：03/11/2009 06:36:29Copy HTML Here is someone advertising on Cragslist who will teach you how to make your own swimwear.
It might be a different experience. Date: 2009-02-16, 10:12AM PST I will teach you how to make your own swimwear men or women welcome. we use industrial machines. I will teach you how to operate an industrial machine for 1 hour, the next hour will be pattern making and cutting, and the last hour will be to put together your swimwear. total 3 hours for 60 dollars. I supply the fabric , thread and elastic. please call if you are interested. 323 472 1658 Reply to: bknidoc@yahoo.com Location: hollywood california PostingID: 1037068343 |
| Low_Strap | #19 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：08/16/2012 06:11:15Copy HTML Having made thong and micro swimwear before, I know that it is a meticulous bit of stitching. For those that may be interested, here's a few videos that capture the process.
http://youtu.be/NwMSy6MMAxI This one doesn't show them making a thong untill about 6 minutes in. it does give a really good view how you have to run the fabric under the foot of the machine. if you don't want to copy-paste, do a youtube search for "Making Bikini, T-back thong, sweat free products" oh and the machines they're using run between $2500 to $5000...maybe higher. Another good one http://youtu.be/FY7P1wIdKm4 its hard to tell what's going on at first, but then you start seeing it come together...kinda cool I thought. you can also find this in youtube searching "the sling thong by sadio atlanta" |
| dobbybeach | #20 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：01/20/2014 10:24:27Copy HTML i got a muscleskins poser with a lean seat back. i love the front, but want to put an eaqually 'showfull' back on it ( like a snyder capri back, or some other thong). anyone ever done this? if yes, would you use a machine, or by hand? and how would do you take them apart? cut them , or pick out the stitching?
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| Stacks | #21 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：09/06/2015 11:30:53Copy HTML I ended up making a thong last night. I have no sewing experience, so it was a new challenge. Thinking three-dimensionally, in particular. All seams were handsewn. No pattern; just measuring, cutting, pinning, and sewing.
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| CDNThongLover | #22 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：09/07/2015 03:22:09Copy HTML Good job with the sewing. Looks good!
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| SolarOne | #23 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：09/09/2015 05:36:11Copy HTML @ thongalactic, My first g-sting was a challenge, I think because of my material choice. Just how long did it take you to make that?Mine took what seemed more than an hour just doing one seam for the front pouch, and attaching hooks to both the pouch and braided elastic for around the body and up the back. Tried it once at a secluded spot on a public lake, I felt I could fall out way too easy, so it's back to the drawing board.
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| Stacks | #24 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：09/09/2015 06:52:27Copy HTML @solarone, Honestly it took like 5 hours. I wanted to get things right. Yet I kept making mistakes and lacked the know-how or experience for corrections. About falling out, yeah that's the thing. It's important to me to be comfortable/ not have to worry about stuff like that. Did you use elastic around the sides of the pouch?
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| SolarOne | #25 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：09/09/2015 05:36:10Copy HTML What I did was use a tan through beach wrap(in woman's section) from Kiniki, so I used it's edge with the elastic. It's not a very stretchy fabric, so it's a lot of trial and error. I want it tight and fitting good, and to still hold on, I don't think I can do that without doing my own elastic, pull string, or buttoned c-ring.
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| mulch774 | #26 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：10/26/2015 06:33:47Copy HTML I really enjoy Muscleskins thongs. Lately I have been making my own suits with the same design. Anyone else trying this?
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| odiekyle | #27 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：11/20/2015 04:38:05Copy HTML I make all mine, some examples are in my gallery. Once you get the pattern right, it's not hard at all, but I'm a little OCD when it comes to stitching and seams and such, so it usually takes me a couple hours to get one "just right". I use "spandex" type material, and a walking foot really helps sew this kind of slippery material. If you don't know what that is, google it, it's just an attachment presser foot that "walks" the top layer while the bottom layer is being pulled by the feed dogs....getting a pattern to fit correctly is the hardest part for me, but now that I have a few, it's basically trace, cut, sew.
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| J_R_365 | #28 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：06/15/2017 02:16:06Copy HTML A while back, I purchased a teardrop style suit with detachable straps from Swirl Fashion, http://www.ebay.com/itm/171709545370
I ordered a green one in size S/M, which is way too small (I can barely get it over my hips), but the pouch is one of the best fitting of this type I own. I ordered another in black, size L/XL, and while the pouch was the same, the straps are just simple elastic, not constructed swimwear-style like the green one. I want the waistband to be larger, and I also want any alterations to match the color.. Since I don't really care for the design of the back,I would change that, too. I got another green small one, and plan to combine both waistbands into a Y-back. Each existing waistband is 25" [635m ] in length (un-stretched). I would still be using most of the center strap, as the way it is attached to the pouch helps to give it the fit. I have some concerns, though. First is sewing through elastic. I have moderate bachelor sewing skills; would I be better off having a seamstress do it? More importantly, this plan involves sewing together six layers of fabric and three layers of elastic, creating a sizable lump which would ride right at my tail-bone, which I'm afraid would be uncomfortable. An alternative would be to use a ring, which would have to be at least 5/8" [15mm] diameter to accommodate the width of the straps, so I'd have to make it a T-back. Has anyone here done this sort of project? Any thoughts? |
| tobias5711 | #29 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：06/15/2017 02:25:46Copy HTML I also had the same problem with two thongs ordered on Aliexpress. They advertised JS thongs. When they arrived I tried them on. A ten yr old boy would have problems getting them on. The pouches were great. So I went to the fabric store and bought two packs of 1/2 inch elastic. one in black and one in white. The yellow one now has a white strap and the pink one now has a black strap . Both are true g- strings now and I simply love them. the material is almost see through so I wear them as underwear and if I am out by lake without my thongs I can use them in private area. I got a thimble to help sew through the layers. The swinging isn't great but it will hold. The back strap is made with the elastic folded over with the waistband inside loop.
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| OS777 | #30 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：06/15/2017 03:39:29Copy HTML Odd that this subject doesn't come up often. Just two days ago I visited an elderly seamstress to see if the loose threads on two older Dore 3D VLCs could be removed and resewn. To my delight they were and I can once again dawn the now faded chartreuse 3D thong and black & white Skull and Crossbones 3D thong which I wear on most of my visits to Barton Springs Pool in Austin, Texas.I asked the seamstress if she could make a pattern to duplicate the suit. She told me that the new suit would cost $30. I asked if I could get a better deal if I ordered 10 or 20 suits. She will consider the idea. I would be required to provide the 4-way spandex material of which I would be afforded the opportunity to scour the net and find the colors and patterns that will ignite my senses as well as that of other inspired admirers !
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| ithongit | #31 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：06/15/2017 09:46:39Copy HTML Any good seamstress of tailor should be able to replicate virtually any piece of clothing. Some are better than others. What may be an issue is if you order a number of similar items, the variations in the way the fabric is cut is not all that obvious. On men's thongs, not only the waist band needs to be addressed, but also the thong strap (up the crack) and even the proportions of the pouch. Likewise, asking for a roomier or tighter pouch, or a suit that comes up further or less can challenge all but the best. This is why so many Chinese do not fit well. They often start from scratch, using just a photo or two. Even if they have an actual suit to use as a sample, they most likely will not purchase all sizes available, but simply hope they get something close to what is needed. Even some made-at-home to order type places that sell on Ebay have trouble like this. Another thing that really needs to be addressed is the way the material stretch will affect the swimsuit. Again, a good seamstress or tailor would be familiar with the type of fabric and do a fairly good job of compensating for the elastic nature of the material used. I have had women's G-strings duplicated in quantity and different sizes for a swim party (the men were going to skinny dip), and the results were some garment's fit good, while others fit only so-so. Fortunately, I knew a few ladies who wore different sizes, and we had them "model" the final swimwear for the lady who made them. She then saw what the problems were and addressed the corrections in later swimwear she made.
Traci |
| mulch774 | #32 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：06/27/2017 09:56:17Copy HTML Just thought I'd chime in. I sew my own thongs and underwear and would be happy to help anyone with any repairs or reproduction of a style. I own a sewing machine and a serger so I can repair almost anything. You can message me and I can see what I can do. I do it mostly as a hobby and really enjoy it. I like the challenge of making something myself and finding materials that I like the feel of.
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| ithongit | #33 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：07/31/2017 08:14:20Copy HTML When I was about 16 and my sister 15, we had been wearing thongs for about a year. (Dad was into them and never wore more -- he still does) Anyway, we got this idea that we could make our own swimwear a lot cheaper than buying it, and Nikki became the seamstress and designer of a new line of women's swimwear. Well, that is what we thought anyway. To make a long story short, we chose the wrong type material (no stretch) wrong type thread (very light cotton) and made several other mistakes. The suits we made actually didn't look too bad, but were not up to the quality of the professionally made swimsuits we had been wearing. |
| Low_Strap | #34 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：01/06/2018 06:43:08Copy HTML Have you guys seen these yet? I was breezing through youtube for videos on thongs and bikinis came across a woman doing a swimwear review. One of the suits she had what she calls a "seamless" bottom. In addition to looking great it looked like it'd be really comfortable. A little more research showed there's an abundance of women's cheeky bottoms in this construction style. There's some men's underwear options on Amazon and the like, but I didn't come across any thong swimwear for guys.
So I got curious as how exactly they're making this supposed "seamless" swimsuit. All it really means is that there are no coverstitched seams. Some of them have elastic, but they don't have to have it. Have a look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YtIuLo55NI&t=500s It was the absence of the elastic that really intrigued me. For one, it would eliminate material required. It'd be a way to keep the crotch and back strap looser feeling and the sergered seams, in conjunction with a good pattern, should insure nothing would pop out. Since I make my own suits I took this as a working hypothesis and took a crack at one. I gotta say, you guys have to try these. Holy crap this thing feels great! And it is reversible. And I figured out a way to incorporate a drawstring. I'll try and post some pics of it soon. Since it was my first go at one of these it didn't come out perfect (which I always expect with a first try) and it included some pretty tedious sewing. But man it came out good. If you're looking for super snug and tight and thin material, it won't be that. It's two layers of fabric so it wears like a fully lined thong (if those exist). If you come across a thong like this snatch it up. And if not, I may be launching a line soon. |
| JM_Runs | #35 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：01/06/2018 02:49:29Copy HTML This is a also really good construction technique for short shorts / booty shorts.
There is nothing I hate more than a nice pair of cute short-shorts ruined by a too tight waist or leg elastics. There are some underwear I would gladly wear as shorts in public if it were not for the exposed elastic waist bands, which often have the brand name in capital letters, just to brand them as underwear. |
| MBareAs | #36 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：02/20/2018 05:38:19Copy HTML THis seems to be the closest I've found to something that teaches you how to make your own women's and men's swimsuits, including (perhaps) thong back:
Spandex Simplified: Fitness & Bodybuilding Spandex Simplified: Custom Swimwear The two books are allegedly very similar in content. The first (if you search for in on Amazon) shows a man in a fairly small suit... |
| JM_Runs | #37 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：07/02/2020 04:10:27Copy HTML When new thongs arrive from ebay or AliExpress I try them on. Some are fine and go straight into the thong bins. However some need adjustment...
The most common type of adjustment needed is just stretching or relaxing the waist band elastic. For this I have a hanging closet and a collection of 10 pound weights. The thongs are hung sideways with the weight on a hook pulling down on the other side of the waist band. I also do this for shorts with elastic waists if the shorts are a bit to tight in the waist band.
Others many need something like the length of the back strap reducing, or the depth of the pouch reduced. I have old rolodex cards on which I write the needed adjustment and pin them onto the thong, before putting on the "mending pile" in the back room. This has everything from thongs to jeans that need a patch or the legs turned up.
I have an old sewing machine that will do zig-zag but it has a few problems, and I have a surger, but have not gotten around to fixing things for years. Over the years the mending pile has been growing higher.
However, I decided to fix the thongs I had that needed adjustments rather than buying more new ones, so last week I purchased an almost new sewing machine from a website that has store returns.
To test out the new machine, and get a start on some of the many pending sewing jobs, I have been doing things like fixing belt loops, putting hems back into short shorts where the stitching went, and fixing a large number of thongs.
Most of my "thongs" are actually g-strings.. i.e. have some form of string or strap at the side, not fabric all round like underpants. These are simpler to fix and adjust. Sometimes it is just a question of shortening this or that, but sometimes I completely remove the waist band or side straps and replace with something else.
Right now I am working on creating a new thong out of the front pouch of a teardrop thong. I like the fabric color but little else. I generally don't like teardrop thongs at all, so for most the top of the front gets cut off to make a square top. Then I added a new waist band with side clips, and a rather nice shiny gold rear triangle made of an iron-on patch. The elastic I am using for the waist band is basically FOE with "Just Smile" printed on it all the way around in a color that matches the color of the rear triangle patch.
If you are starting out with your first alterations you need a reasonably heavy-duty sewing machine that will do zig-zag. This will let you fix front and side straps, and do basic stuff. However if you wish to make suits from scratch, and/or fix the depth or alter the contour of front pouches you will probably need to acquire and learn to use a serger too.
For a while there was a real rush on new, used or discount sewing machines for making face-masks, but the demand seems to have slackened. There are some good quality machines turning up cheap as store returns, or listed by people who purchased in a fit of enthusiasm but now don't want the machine.
If you are starting out, g-string alterations are normally the simplest. Modifying or sewing the seam in the middle of the front pouch hard to get right without puckering. Something to be avoided by beginners, especially if you don't have a serger too. Another tough thing to get right is edging elastic. That is why most of my suits are just alterations of existing thongs or triangles that already have the side edges finished.
The most common job I sew is shortening the rear strap. Normally a simple job.
Quite a few of my home made thongs are converted from one triangle of the top from a women's string bikini. This is often a very simple task, if one half of the top is of about the right size and symmetrical in cut. After a while you get to have an eye for ones that will be easy to modify.
You need a selection of thread colors and it helps to have a few rings and/or tri-glides for waist bands.
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| JM_Runs | #38 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：07/11/2020 05:36:17Copy HTML I recently purchased a new sewing machine, a Janome HD 1000 that was a store return. I got this one because the price was a deep discount, it had two stretch stitches, and my old machine has a problem with a slipping belt that is annoying.
It is not nearly as Heavy Duty as I expected. I thought it would be heavy duty enough for some of the canvas / boat sewing I will be needing to do in the future, but right now I am just going through some basic sewing jobs fixing up thongs that did not fight right and in need of alterations. The pressure foot clearance is sometimes a problem, even when doing simple things on thongs or shorts. Also, it often tends to stall until I give it more power, then takes of in a rush. I would like something with a more precise speed control, where speed is regulated by how much I depress the foot pedal, not on its perception of how easy the job is. Next time I am not going to buy a home machine, even if touted as "heavy duty", but splash out and get a proper heavy duty "Sailwrite" zig-zag machine with a walking foot. However that dream will have to wait until another year, when I have a surplus of funds. Bit skint now. Still, it is a basically useful machine. I am getting some stuff done. I find it relaxing to be focusing on working something in my hands and not the problems of the world - or other jobs I am procrastinating on. I have so many thongs now that fixing extras is not necessary, but I don't like throwing things out that can be fixed. I like the option of adding some bright, fluorescent or contrasting waistbands to g-strings and thongs. Almost none of my stuff is made from scratch. It is always something like fixing a cheep Chinese thong or turning the top of a women's string bikini into a men's g-string. Right now I have enough stuff that has built up in the "mending pile" to fix. I have sorted the sewing jobs so they are more or less divided into piles by color, so I don't have to keep changing thread colors. UPDATE: Two weeks later. For years I have been throwing thongs and some sorts onto the "That would be good if xxx were fixed" pile, and a good number have now been fixed. It has made me happy to be able to fix things. I now have a bunch more thongs and g-strings in what I think of as the 'production' boxes, rather than the mending pile. The "production" term comes from my background in software. You have test systems that are not live with customers, where software is tried out and tested, and then a separate set of servers for live "production" code that is in use with real data, process and/or customers. Once code has been fixed, tested and signed off, it is ready for real world use, i.e. "production". Same with thongs: Once fixed, tested on the body and in the mirror, then they ready to go into the boxes for thongs ready to wear. |
| JM_Runs | #39 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：07/27/2020 05:01:43Copy HTML My sewing projects have expanded from fixing cloths that needed mending, and thongs that needed adjusting or rebuilding, to altering shorts.
I have many of the Soffe Tiny Tiny mesh shorts, but also some larger Soffe shorts made of the shiny nylon parachute type materiel. I have a number of pairs but never wear them. They are too tall top to bottom, and I dislike the restrictive 2" wide elastic wast bands. So I have been cutting the tops off. At 4" to 5" shorter, with a new FOE waist band they make rather good loser hip riding shorts. I find once the waist band is off they are too large, rather blowsy, so have to take some out of the waist and do a new seam or dart in the rear and/or front. Then it is a bit tricky to get the waist band on right, so I am trying out different approaches with each pair. Takes a long time, but so far reasonably happy with the results.
I am not going anywhere, so nowhere to wear my shorts, but still, it makes shorts that were never going to be in rotation to ones that are now cute.
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| koenig3456 | #40 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：07/28/2020 11:45:53Copy HTML When sewing slippery or thin material, I often use Dritz Wash Away Wonder Tape instead of pins to hold everything in place. Then, I just stitch right through it. The adhesive dissolves when you wash the garment.
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| JM_Runs | #41 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：07/28/2020 03:16:44Copy HTML Good tip. I have some on order.
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| leo40 | #42 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：08/04/2020 01:18:48Copy HTML I have experimented making and modifying g-string styles that cover shaft only. There are only a few ready made g-strings on the market like this, however swirl fashion on ebay has a few with a product number K203. The late Dore also had interesting "no ballroom" styles with free swinging but covered shaft as well as some other styles featuring straight up and covered shaft. These and home made styles like them are an interesting project.
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| JM_Runs | #43 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：12/17/2020 07:02:18Copy HTML Seems to me a sewing machine is just another machine that men should master.
So many men think it is a mark of manliness to be able to rebuild a carburetor, and think they are masters of the machine when using powered hand tools, but have failed to master even the basics of a sewing machine.
Most new machines are a lot easier to thread, don't need oiling, and come with Youtube videos for instruction. I have a regular mechanical Janome HD1000. Fast, very easy to thread, and allegedly heavy duty but I don't find it so. A real heavy duty walking foot cheep Chinese Consew, that IS heavy duty. I can sew the webbing straps back on a backpack with that, if I can get it under the pressure foot. I also have a basic Singer serger that once adjusted right does a good job of center seams on thongs. AND my latest is a Brother digital which I got because it has speed control, and a host of other modern features I never knew I needed till I had them. Modern digital machines with speed control are VERY easy to control, and don't tend to run away. If you need something to do during the pandemic, learn to sew. With the right machine and thread you can sew everything from heavy tarpaulins down to delicate thongs. Start with masks, because they are simple and you don't waist much cloth if you mess up. Progress to hemming jeans to the right length, or denim shorts to be shorter. I don't build thongs from scratch, because I don't like to have to do the side elastics in the front. However I do alter a lot of them. Things like taking depth out of the front pouch if they have too much fabric out front. (I don't like floppy bulges). Adding length to the side straps of G-strings when thongs are too tight, or replacing the original tacky waist band entirely. Putting new waist bands on G-Strings so they fit correctly is fun and simple. Most modern machines come working right out of the box. The only technical bit is switching the needles and getting thread tension adjusted correctly. However a basic understanding of the mechanism and ability to clean the lint from the works helps. I have discovered that charming young women want to cook for men who can adjust their bobbin cages. |
| Lycrafool | #44 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：12/17/2020 10:13:48Copy HTML I think that’s going to be my next investment! I have so many things (not only thongs) to mend or alter. Is any of your machines an overlock machine? I think I heard they are the better option when sewing spandex fabrics. I have a few thongs and leggings that need altering, but the stitching needs to be really stretchy.
Aside from doing it yourself, I’m also thinking how fun it would be if there were tailors specialised on underwear/swimwear. I would love to go and order customised thongs, made to measure! I imagine trying out my new thong in front of a professional tailor... maybe that would give a pampering feeling like going to a spa treatment!
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| NCThonger | #45 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：12/18/2020 02:03:50Copy HTML I have an OLD Singer sewing machine that was my Mom's way back when. It still works....barely. I have used it to add an elastic strip in the back of some of my bikinis to make them scrunch back bikinis. It definitely takes some practice but I was able to turn ordinary bikinis into super sexy scrunch back bikinis. My only problem now is the bobbin winder doesn't work anymore so I am unable to create bobbins of different colors. The only bobbin I currently have is white and on darker fabrics it doesn't look great. I know there are special attachments that bind (if that is the right word) the edges of fabric and cuts off the excess portion as it sews. I have no clue what that attachment is or means but I think if you are going to do it right, you would need that attachment in order to make the best looking and most comfortable thongs. |
| JM_Runs | #46 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：12/18/2020 02:31:18Copy HTML NC Thonger, I too have an old Singer, a VERY old manual treadle one. I don't use it these days, now that I have more modern machines. You can hand wind bobbins. I have done that before. Not very difficult. It is very likely that your machine takes standard home sewing machine bobbins. Yours may be a metal bobbin but the plastic ones will work too. You can buy sets of pre-wound bobbins in an assortment of colors for only a few dollars. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001474617323.html I think if your old singer has problems with the bobbin winder it probably just needs a replacement rubber friction ring. This is what drives the bobbin winder, and when they wear or rot out they are simple and very cheap to replace. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000126666445.html However spending a few dollars on one of the new digital machines with some form of speed control is really a good idea. You can find them discounted on ebay or offerup. Most come with a kit of the more commonly used presser feet. I have found a source for auctions of store returns / open box sort of deals, and get them at a good discount. Right now I have two, with another one on it's way. Auctions are risky but so far no duds. They have all been new, or almost new and in perfect working order. I am keeping one but will be selling off the other two locally. The last issue, you refered to "special attachments that bind (if that is the right word) the edges of fabric and cuts off the excess portion as it sews." Modern digital machines with a choice of stitch can do a reasonable job of binding the edge, but not cutting it off. To cut the excess fabric while binding the edge you need a specialized machine called a serger or overlocker, different names for the same machine. |
| NCThonger | #47 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：12/18/2020 04:35:48Copy HTML Thanks JM_Runs. It hasn't been a priority for me but I might look into upgrading my machine sometime in the future. This one is probably old than I am and I can remember my Mom sewing on it when I was a kid. She upgraded to a fancy one that she could connect to a computer and it actually did embroidery as well.
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| JM_Runs | #48 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：12/18/2020 05:50:52Copy HTML Lycrafool, Yes I have a overlock machine, also called a serger. Different names for same machine. It does one thing, and one thing only, cut and sew the edge. It does one job well but does not do anything else.
As a general rule, zig-zag stich will work on stretchy fabrics. More modern machines that have a good range of stiches also have some other stiches that are designated as special stiches for stretchy fabrics.
About the only thing on a thong that I use the serger for is the center seam on the front pouch, although this can be done on a regular machine which has the right stich. You can't to an entire thong with good looking edges on a serger because it loops thread over the edge.
You can do an entire good looking thong with a regular machine that has zig-zag, and even better if it has a range of stiches. Here is a women who shows you exactly how to make panties / thongs using different methods of finishing the edges. She is not using any special presser feet, just the standard foot with the zig-zag and straight stitching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP4ciQqncps
Side note: I often use a wooly nylon for the looper thread on the serger. This gives more stretch to the stitching but is a bitch to thread into a lower looper. Tweezers and magnifier needed.
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| Lycrafool | #49 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：12/19/2020 10:14:43Copy HTML Ok, thanks for the input JM! I should do fine with a regular machine then 😊
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| JM_Runs | #50 |
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Re：Make or sew your own thong? Sewing questions Date Posted：12/20/2020 03:18:18Copy HTML Yes, you can do everything you need on one of the modern digital machines. They have overlock like stiches too, Not quite the same as a serger that uses 3 or 4 threads, but similar in function. The big difference is a regular sewing machine has no knife, so they don't trim the excess fabric.
I REALY recommend using one of the modern digital machines. Not only is the threading simpler, but the speed control is really much better than the older all mechanical machines that would growl and then go off all in a rush. The ability to sew with some precision is really useful for small items like thongs. If anyone wants to get one on at a good discount, I have a hookup on some brand new but unboxed Brother machines. |
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