Hoth Rebel Soldier/Hoth Luke Jacket, vest, and hat

It certainly has been a long while since I posted here, probably most people think I don't upkeep my blog anymore!  Truth is, I am so busy with what feels like a thousand projects, I move from one to the next without taking time to blog about each one.  I do, however, take pictures! 

About 6 months ago I was working on a Hoth commission and I decided to be more accurate with the jacket this time around.  I am certain the Hoth soldiers (and Luke) wore a pullover jacket with a hood.  Here are a gathering of a few of the reference images I've collected, and I apologize, I cannot remember the sources for all of them.  I do know I got quite a few from the Ice Station Echo Yahoo Group I am a member of.  The picture of Carrie Fisher is a behind the scenes image of her wearing some else's jacket and gear, it gives a great view of the jacket.  The lower picture is an exhibit picture of Luke's costume.  Luke's jacket appears to be the same as the trench trooper, though in the movie, I believe he wore his jacket tucked into his pants so the bottom of the jacket isn't visible.

For the jacket, I used McCall's 5252 (a unisex jacket and vest pattern) View F with alterations.  I didn't have to make too many alterations, mostly just leaving out the pockets and the front seams on the lower portion of the jacket.

You will need to figure out exactly how long your sleeves will need to be before you cut out the pattern.

Once you figure out the length of your sleeve (plus seam allowance) figure out how high the quilted portion of the jacket will be for your jacket.  As best I can tell, the quilting does not begin at the hem of the sleeve, it starts up farther closer to where the gauntlet of the glove would rest.  Then, it extends up the forearm just below the elbow.

You will need to cut two full sized sleeves and two separate, smaller, sections for the quilted portion.  You will also need some batting for the quilted section.

Use tailors' pencil and draw diagonal 1" squares, then top stitch over the lines to quilt the batting to the fabric.

You will need a top yoke made of tan quilted fabric.  I had pre-quilted fabric, but if you cannot find any, you will need to quilt your own, similar to the quilting for the sleeves.  Both front and back yoke sections need to be lined, but the back yoke needs to have the bottom seam hidden, as it will be lose along the bottom edge.  You will need a full back piece in off-white as well as the tan quilted portion.

The front quilted portion will need the center front seams hidden.  The bottom seams will be sewn with the off-white jacket front piece. 

Attach the hood after the shoulder seams have been sewn.

You will want to stay stitch the back quilted portion to the back off-white portion before sewing on the sleeves.

This is how the front should look after the front off-white portion is sewn onto the front quilted portions.

Jacket with sleeves sewn on.  You will need to sew the quilted sections on the sleeve and then sew the pockets in place before sewing the sleeves to the jacket.

Sew sleeve hems, underarm sleeves (allow for a side slit on each side), and jacket hem.

The white trench trooper vest is fairly straight forward.  I got my pattern from the Ice Station Echo Yahoo group. (Thank-you Phyllis!)

You will need two white fabric pieces and one of batting.  Sew together, leaving an opening at the bottom.

Trim corners and clip curves.

Turn right side out and top stitch edges.

Closer view of top stitching.

Following the guides on the pattern, mark the quilting lines on the "collar" section with tailors pencil.  Top stitch.

Another view of the top stitched quilting.

Add white Velcro for your front closure.

If you haven't done so yet, you will need to slip stitch the opening left at the bottom of the vest that was used to turn the vest right side out after sewing together.

Use white 2" polypropylene strapping for the belt.  I used some fabric scraps to make "extensions" that the belt hardware attached to.  Use white 1" polypropylene strapping to make four belt loops for the holster belt.

Use 1" white polypropylene strapping to attach the backpack hardware to the "collar".

Finished jacket, hat, and vest.

The past year???

Wow, I have been so busy, I haven't taken time to post anything in over a year!  I have been sewing, and creating art, I have also been doing a lot of reborning. 

Let's see...what have I been up to the past year...

I created a [Classic] Battlestar Galactica bridge blue uniform/dress uniform for my husband in May 2011.  I also created a tan Warrior tunic and pants set for a customer at the same time.

I created two snow speeder pilot jackets and soft helmets

I made a Jedi tunic, tabbards, and obi

I made 4 X-wing flight suits

I just completed another set of snow speeder pilot soft helmets, but I think I was in such a rush to mail them out (he leaves for Star Wars Celebration VI at the end of this week) I forgot to take pictures.

I also made my favorite gown from the movie "Titanic": Rose's boarding gown.  I had been wanting to re-create this gown since 1998 and I've had the fabric for it since about 2007.  I figured the 100th anniversary of the maiden voyage/sinking of Titanic would be the perfect time to create it.  I was going to go to the "Titanic Artifacts Exhibit" at the Henry Ford Museum July 28th, 2012 so I decided to try to get my outfit finished by then.  I made a 1910s corset to go under it in about a week (my first ever attempt at a corset).

I didn't have time to make a slip, but one I had seemed "Edwardian enough", so I used that.  Then, the following week, I set out to alter the patterns I had picked up to create my skirt and jacket.  I didn't get the tie or blouse finished, so I just used stand-ins (the tie is from my "MIB" costume!).  I did create my own broach/tie tack.  I purchased accurate earrings from Karen's Romance on eBay (well, accurate except I got the pierced version rather than the clip on like Kate wears in the movie).  The hat is too small, but it was a stand in until I can afford a more expensive Kentucky Derby style hat.  My Mom gave me this one, but it was red, so I spray painted it purple.  I got the bow fabric from eBay.  I plan to upgrade my gloves to real kid leather and I want to include a parasol as well.

Here are pictures of me from the museum:

I also paid for the souvenir photograph that was taken of me inside the exhibit standing on the full-scale replica of the Grand Staircase (it was much more gorgeous in person, the picture doesn't do it justice).

I am slated to start working on a couple toddler reborn dolls for my Mom and then I'll be finishing a black TIE pilot flak vest.  Then, it's on to a reborn of Jack Dawson from the movie "Titanic" (if you'd like to see that when it is finished, hopefully sometime in September, you can visit my reborn blog.)  I also have a full Jedi costume in the "queue".  So, I'll be busy for some time!

[Classic] Battlestar Galactica Cylon Undersuit

I finally finished my latest commission, a Battlestar Galactica Cylon undersuit. I will never sew another one of these!! I know my friend will really appreciate it, so I'm glad that I was able to sew it for him.


Here's an image, I think from the show, depicting two complete Cylons (helmet, armor, and all) to give you an idea of what this is!


Here's my version:

[Classic] Battlestar Galactica Dress Uniform Finished

I got my dress uniform finished in time for Motor City Comic Con! All three BSG actors loved it! I still need to add detail paint to my laser, but everything else is finished. I even had a dozen cubits in a little cloth bag similar to Starbuck's in "The Long Patrol".

[Classic] Battlestar Galactica Dress Uniform

Okay, I know I'm crazy and I should be working on my commission list, but once in a while, I have to stop to work on something for me (keeps me sane). Motor City Comic Con this year is having [classic] Battlestar Galactica guests and on top of working on a set of drawings to have signed, I'm also working on making my BSG Viper pilot uniform tunic & pants into a dress uniform, as well as my husband's blue uniform.

Here's my tans:

I had wanted to get my battle jacket done in time, but I knew I wouldn't even come close, so I decided a dress cape would be quicker. This also meant a dress belt and dress necklace. The belt isn't so hard, we got some leather from Tandy Leather Factory and buckles from the Parade Store.

Here are the buckles, they'll need the pointed edges ground down:

I just ordered our cape fabric from Sy Fabrics. Probably the toughest part is the dress necklace. I found some similar necklaces online, but the place wanted a minimum order of 50 and each necklace was $10 each. There are cast replicas made, but they seem too clunky (not to mention overpriced) so I decided to try my hand at making my own, I took a jewelry-making class in college as part of my BFA after all.

Here is a picture of my progress so far. (I ran out of brass metal, so I'm using copper as a stand-in until I can get more brass.)

For reference, here's a picture of a warrior's dress uniform (the one on the right worn by Starbuck) which is what I'm making for myself:



This is an example of the blue (usually bridge and/or command) dress uniform that I'm making for my husband:

Updated Logo

I had created a logo for my "studios" quite a while ago and decided it was time to refresh it a bit, here's my Angel Monkey "ChuChi" in my logo:

[Classic] Battlestar Galactica Artwork

I've started a personal art project, I'm aiming to finish by May 13th. I'm working on classic Battlestar Galactica colored pencil drawings. One drawing will feature Apollo and Starbuck and another will feature Boomer.

I am creating them because I will be going to Motor City Comic Con again this year with the Rebel Legion and 501st Legion. I saw that two of the guests were going to be Richard Hatch (Apollo) and Dirk Benedict (Starbuck), so I started a drawing of Apollo and Starbuck to hopefully have them sign. I recently discovered that Herbert Jefferson Jr. (Boomer) will also be there, so I've started sketching out the line drawing for what will be a colored pencil drawing of Boomer to hopefully have him sign.

Here is my progress so far:

Lt. Boomer

Captain Apollo and Lt. Starbuck