practical costuming

For anyone planning a new costume or even just planning to start making costumes in general, the ladies at Pink Ray Gun have some important tips to remember.

Practical Points for Costumes

Next up

It's been busy lately, but mostly because my husband keeps getting me to try new video games that I then get hooked on playing. For instance, I have Europa 1400--The Guild running in the background as I type this.

Anyway, I finished the 50's dress and am waiting on some decent pictures of it. The dress came out pretty well, though I wish we had found a print for it that would have looked appropriate. I have seen some pictures of the dress on the commissioner, and the fit looked pretty good at the end.

Next up is a double play in preparation for Mechacon. First up is JooDee from Avatar: The Last Airbender. I am planning to have this finished for the opening of The Last Airbender movie, but I am also using various fabric that I already have so I am not sure how authentic it will end up looking. I've cut out the material for the robe, but have yet to find a decent full body picture for the outfit. As such, I'm unsure what the bottom (or pants) look like.

Second is Jeane from Suikoden--that is the first Suikoden video game. My goal is to complete the outfit at least by the convention. As I am a bit strapped for cash right now, I will not be able to get the wig or contacts needed to complete this character. I am finished with the basic dress and only need to finish the "armory" jewelry pieces and the shoes. If time and funds permit, I may make her staff as well as her earrings. I'm working on the first one.

So that's what's coming up. In addition, I am working on some "on-going" Star Wars costumes, namely Mara Jade stuff and Ysanne Isard.

Alterations

I'm wrapping up on the 50's dress and it is coming out rather well. However, as with most things, there were some minor alterations that needed to be done so the dress fit well. Things like shortening the waist were done during construction, but after the fitting, we found that the waist was now too wide. Also the shoulders were too high, or rather there was too much fabric between the bust point and the shoulders, so the shoulders needed to be lifted.

In general, I don't mind doing alterations, but I prefer having several fittings as I go so I can get them taken care of before I have done a bunch of hand sewing to give the garment a finished look. Most of the time, to do the alterations correctly, you have to go back under that which you had just sealed via hand sewing. And since I hate hand sewing, it just bothers me to have to do that. Whenever I go back to seal it up by hand the second time, the stitches are no where near as pretty as they were the first time around. I'm also of the mind that it's better to do it right the first time. Unfortunately, that is nigh impossible to do with sewing. In fact, I would say if you made something and got a perfect fit straight off of the machine and pattern then you are either one of the lucky few with the "ideal" body shape (ideal as defined by the pattern company anyway), or  you just had some dumb luck.
When making clothes and costumes for oneself, it is easier to get lucky because you can use a body double or a sloper that matches your shape. It's not so easy when making something for someone else and you don't have those things. Maybe next time I make something for someone, I'll make a sloper first for them so I can better alter the pattern before hand, rather than make changes after the fact.

Making changes after the fact is precisely why I do not alter ready to wear garments. It's too much hassle that I, personally do not have the patience for. I'd rather pay someone to do it for me. Silly considering I could do it myself, but if it would take the fun out of the hobby for me, I'd rather not. Which further solidifies the saintliness of my mother in my mind. She did not just do alterations, but she altered beaded gowns.

So... Alterations: necessary evil, but easier with multiple fittings and/or body double/sloper.

costume possibilities

just updated my pics of possible or in progress costumes. This list is far from comprehensive.

Hand stitching

Let me first say that I hate hand sewing. And I don't just dislike it... I loathe it with a passion I cannot express. With the minor exception of embroidery, which I occasionally get the urge to do from time to time. I do understand that it is an important part of sewing, but if I think I can get something done on a machine, I will. At least until recently.

I've had a couple of teachers hand stitching teachers in the past (namely my mom) who have tried to get me to see the light, but now I'm trying to teach myself. I would really like to raise the quality of my costuming work, and that is going to mean the employ of more hand sewing. It could be either through basting pieces together, using thread tracing to make patterns, or just finishing the finer details that I would normally do in a machine. Some of the costumes I have planned right now actually cannot have any topstitching visible, so, things will have to be finished by stitching in the ditch or attaching to seam allowances... by hand. God help us all. Hopefully I'll have a couple of wonderful people to help keep me sane when this starts driving me nuts. And I hate to admit it, but... I've been practicing on my sis-in-law's dress and... well, I find this somewhat therapeutic. Except that it kills my back and fingers.

So, important hand stitches to know:
Running stitch, backstitch, blanket stitch, overcast stitch, blind hem stitch. I only know the first two really well and am still learning the hem stitch. Wish me luck!