Costuming and Sewing
 

So the previous discussion on the subject was scattered across a couple threads... Time to centralize it!

Right now I'm working on making a replica of Breath of the Wild's Champion's Tunic to give to my son as a birthday present. I'm making the pattern from scratch using a t-shirt and some game screenshots as reference.

I'm getting kinda excited for this project. It's the first time I'll have made a project from scratch that has sleeves. I can't wait to try out the technique.

I, too, want to see pics when it's finished! Sounds awesome, Coda!

And your projects also sound really cool Awen!

I don't have the money for sewing supplies currently, but once I do, I really want to learn to sew. Then I can make my own clothes. And tailor the ones I have already purchased to fit better. Because literally EVERY clothing company seems to think that anyone buying a size 14 and up (or lg/xl) MUST have a big chest, so there's always too much fabric up top and it gaps weird.
XP

Uh..sorry, didn't meant to rant there. ANYWAY...I really think it's cool that you guys know how to sew and can do custom/costume stuff.

Good luck with the alterations. It takes a lot of practice to get the tailoring right on women's tops. Totally a worthwhile avenue of experimentation! But don't start off trying to alter a top you actually like. :P

Haha...thanks.
And yeah, I probably will start by learning to actually make items and THEN try altering. I already have a dress that I tried to alter by hand, but it didn't really work, so I'd probably use that one as my first/trial one. It fit WAY too badly for as much as it cost. XP

I am…. drowning in things.

I just finished a Link Commission, and have my Burlesque Rey and Glinka Teddiursa to finish up before memorial day weekend.

I would love to see pics when you're finished. Especially the Espeon hoodie, Awen!
Was it hard to learn sewing on your own? What was your first project?
I'll probably be mostly self-taught as well once I start learning, though I definitely will use as many patterns as I can to start off.
But would love to eventually make my own patterns/sew without patterns.

I found sewing without patterns is typically easier than sewing with!

And yeah Awen, I am going to Animazement (Raleigh NC)

The main thing that makes working from a pattern harder is that you have to follow someone else's instructions for someone else's design. That design is often more complicated than what you would have done on your own, as well.

That's a pretty impressive. Dress making intimidates me.
My mom always tried teaching me to sew using patterns, so I would probably be okay using them. I'm just afraid that if I don't use a pattern (at least to start), that I'll mess up and make it tok small.

You deal with that by doing lots of measurements, making sure to add enough seam allowance (traditionally 3/8", some patterns use 1/4"), and cutting it too big and checking the size before trimming it down to size. Marking the fabric with a fabric pencil when you're planning can help -- I've been known to drape the fabric over my body and mark it up with a pencil or pins to get a rough shape and then laying it out to draw out some cleaner lines. Pinning the pieces together and trying them on is helpful too.

I've made a habit lately of drawing my designs out on newsprint before I start cutting fabric.

That sounds intimidating. But after a time or two, probably isn't actually that hard.

I didn't find it particularly hard even the first time, although to be fair I did start off with projects that didn't need a whole lot of effort. I think the first thing I made completely pattern-free was a cloth armor shirt. I laid down on the ground on top of a sheet of the fabric and marked the fabric under my armpits, at the corners of my shoulders, at the base of my neck, and at my hips to define the length. Then I just drew straight lines between the points, then drew another set of lines 3/8" outside of that for a seam allowance. I took a guess on how deep to cut the back side of the neck hole, and cut it out. Then I used that as a template to cut seven more (I used four layers of cloth on each side to give it some stiffness and weight since it was supposed to be armor). Then I took the four layers for the front and took a guess at how deep to cut the front of the neck hole. I pinned it all together and tried it on to make sure it fit (I needed to cut the neck hole a bit bigger), then I stitched the seams and hems and turned it right-side-out. Hemming the neckline was hard and it was the least attractive part of the final product, but for learning practice it wasn't bad.

I might start my "no pattern" learning with something more basic. Like a throw pillow. Because even that basic shirt armor sounds really intimidating at the moment. Of course the last time I actually sewed anything was in junior high. My mom helped me make a pair of pajama pants (by which I mean she did most of the work) and we used a pattern. And they turned out so big that even with them tied as tight as possible I could slide them on and off easily. I don't know if that was me measuring wrong or her assuming I was fatter than I was and picking the wrong size pattern...

The tricky part of pillows is closing them up nice. I don't actually know the right way to do it. I usually sew up around the seams except for about a 1" gap along one edge, turn it right-side-out through that hole, then stuff it and hand-sew that gap shut.

Yeah, that's the only way I've seen.
If zippers aren't too hard to do, maybe I'll do a throw pillow cover. Possibly a better plan what with having cats. Easier to wash.

Zippers are pretty easy. It's not much different than a seam -- right sides together, stitch, turn right-side-out.

http://xmpps.greenmaw.com/~coda/stuf...c-no-paint.jpg

Done sewing it! The neckline was harder than I thought it would be. The sleeves worked out okay but the armpits are pinched weird. Not sure what I did wrong or how to correct it.

I've got fabric paint and masking tape to apply the designs tomorrow.

Looks great! I especially like the neckline, it has a certain viking vibe to it.

Reference image:

It looks pretty cool, Coda! And I was here to complain there were too many words and too few (wut is that an expression) pictures.
The only time I cosplayed, I had someone do the dress for me. /lazylife

That looks nice!

The first time I tried to make clothes was easy--because it was nothing but a skirt and cape and hood. Doing anything else (pants were weird, sweater thing had no neckline, vests got made too small x'D) failed utterly and I stopped after a while.

That actually looks really good! And I can see why the neckline would be tough.

Ahhhh...I really wish I could afford a sewing machine now...

Do you have a friend or relative who owns one maybe? Sure, sooner or later it's more practical to buy your own, but that might at least get you started.

Nope. When cleaning up my dad's house for everyone to gather in the house a few years ago following the wake and then funeral, one of my aunts took my mom's sewing machine and ALL the sewing and quilting supplies.
She lives very far away from me, besides which, I'm really not close to my family.
And none of my local friends really have any craft hobbies at all. So no sewing machine to borrow.

You can get a cheap little "mending machine" for $40-$60. They aren't very fast and they aren't very fancy, but it's what I used for years.

Posted on Facebook. One of my out of state friends actually has a machine they want ti get rid of, so will negotiate a price with them.

That's great news. Do you already have ideas for a starting project? Throw pillow cover sounds good, or maybe a simple tote bag. Circle skirt if you prefer something you can actually wear. And don't forget to take pictures afterwards ^^

Yeah, good quality machines last long. One of my aunts has a really old one (like, 1930s old) and it can only do straight stitches, but it still works like a charm.

Hey, it's Link in a korok mask. I've never seen that before.

I got a new sewing machine, but I've never even used it once...

You should!

Seriously, grab yourself some scrap fabric, find an easy project to get you started and try. It's always exciting to be able to create things yourself.

There's also a free machine sewing class at Instructables, if you still lack the basics.

When I get a few smaller projects outta the way, I'm gonna work on the dress I started almost two years ago. I need to adjust the top, and finish the collar...