Finished Biker Scout

Here is my first finished Biker Scout cummerbund.

The pouches are made from double layered natural color cotton canvas/duck cloth (to make the pouches stand out, the wearer can put cardboard inside). The Cummerbund and "diaper" are made from double layered white color cotton canvas/duck cloth, with padding between the layers and Velcro to secure the back. The black elastic "thong" secures with Velcro as well. The vest has padded/quilted sleeves and closes in the back, secured with Velcro. I zig zagged the bottom edge of the vest rather than hemming it to reduce bulk.

Cummerbund and pouches flat on the table.

Vest alone.

Front view.

Back view.

Not quite finished Biker Scout

I have for sale a biker scout cummerbund and vest. I will finish it before shipping, to whomever buys it from me.

Aqua Georgette Gown Progress

I haven't posted any updates on my embroidery progress for my Padme episode 3 aqua georgette gown lately. Here are pictures I took last night:

On the dress form, straight on.

On the dress form, angled.

Flat on the table, with flash.

Flat on the table, no flash.

To see my previous update: Click HERE.

Ghostbuster Elbow Pads

Custom made Ghostbusters elbow pads.

*Reference image thanks to Ghostbusters Fans*

The original movie pads were actually Defender volleyball knee pads, but they are not made anymore and are getting harder and harder (i.e. more expensive) to find. I decided, for my husband's Ghostbuster costume, to make them instead of purchasing the white pads, custom dying/painting them grey, and spending a small fortune in the process. Here is how I made my version (click on the images for a larger view):

This is my pattern. I made a "back" and a "front". The front, or oval face of the pad, pattern measures 5" across X 5 3/4" high. This includes a 1/4" seam. The back, or strap of the pad, pattern is based off the size of the front pattern piece. I traced around the front pattern piece and added "wings" to the sides for the straps. The wings extend approx. 3" beyond the front pattern piece when centered. So, the back pattern piece is 11" across. I also added 1/2" for seam allowance, so it is 6 3/4" high.

For one set of elbow pads, you need to cut 2 fronts out of a fuzzy type grey material. You will need 4 backs out of a material that matches the color of your fuzzy material. I simply used the back of my fuzzy material. Flannel, butter suede, moleskin, or brushed tricot will work. The fabric I used was brushed tricot for $2 a yard in the red tag section of my fabric store. Whatever fabric you choose for the fuzzy portion should have somewhat of a stretch to it. If the fabric doesn't stretch at all, it's not a good match.

You will also need a package of grey bias tape, 1/2 yard of batting, and 10"-20" of 2" black elastic.

Here are my materials: Grey fabric, polyester batting, grey bias tape, and black elastic. All for probably under $5. (*Note that I purchased enough materials to make 3 sets of elbow pads, if you are making one set you won't need as much materials as I have pictured here.)

After cutting out the fronts from your fuzzy grey material, wrap the edges with bias tape, folding the tape in half over the fabric edge and pinning it down. For now, zig zag stitch the top edge only of your front pieces.

Right sides together, stitch 2 back pieces together, leaving the ends open. Repeat for the other 2 back pieces. Clip the curves.

Turn the backs right side out, and pin the fronts to them. Then, zig zag around the rest of the front edges along the bias tape. Be sure to keep the top edge, where you zig zagged before, open to allow for stuffing.

Cut two pieces of batting roughly 25" X 5". Roll them up from each end like a scroll, stopping so that there is about an inch between each roll. Turn the ends in, and pin. Cut a smaller piece of batting about 10" X 5", roll it up, and insert it in the center of your "scroll" of batting. Repeat so you have two, one for each pad. If desired, you can hand stitch the batting in place. I just held it in place as I put the batting inside the pad.

After you get the batting inside the pads, and you have arranged it the way you like, hand sew the top opening closed using a slip stitch. Then, using a zipper foot on your sewing machine, sew two "C" shaped stitches to create the correct shape for the pad, stopping about 1"-2" away from the edge of the bias tape.

Next, cut your black elastic to the correct length and insert one end into the "wing" of the pad and pin in place. Sew. Sewing the second end is a bit trickier, but it is possible. Repeat for other pad.

There you have it, your very own Ghostbuster elbow pads, and you didn't have to spend a fortune getting them!

Droid Sketch

I've been focusing on costume commissions for over a year, it's time to dust off the art stuff and get sketching! I have a commission for a collage-type drawing featuring as many Star Wars (original trilogy) droids as possible in a sort of "Jawa sand crawler/droids for sale" sort of scene.

Last night, I sat down with my books and chose a droid to sketch out. I will sketch each droid individually and then arrange the individual sketches together. This way, I can arrange, rearrange, etc. until I am satisfied. If I need to take a droid out, or add one, it will be easier with individual sketches. After I'm satisfied with the layout, I'll do a line drawing of all the droids arranged the way I want them. Then, I'll transfer that to good paper, and begin the coloring process (this will be a colored pencil, my specialty).

Here's the first droid:

In my book he's gold, but I will be coloring him silver to match the droid seen in the Jawas' sand crawler when R2 and 3PO were aboard.

Jawa Hood

I had redone the hoods for the Jawa costumes, making them larger, adding black sheer fabric to conceal the faces, and adding a battery pouch & elastic for eye wiring to the inside, but hadn't posted pictures. Here they are:

The Phantom Menace Battle Padme

My next commission is a "The Phantom Menace" (TPM) battle Padme outfit. I will be documenting my progress here. I will be placing updates at the top of the post (under the picture of Padme).

This is the costume as seen in the movie:

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Update 11-26-08:

I have finished this costume and mailed it out to the client. Below are several finished shots.

The jacket and pants.


Just the jacket, showing the inner lining with trim.


The jacket, showing the fullness of the sleeve.


Side view.


Back view.


Back view, showing fullness of sleeve.


Front view, showing inner sleeve.


Inner sleeve close up.


Pants, with flash, lying flat.


Pants, without flash, lying flat showing side view & trim (the pants are Capri length, requested by my client, to cut down on bulk).


Faux inner sleeves prior to attachment.


Faux inner shirt front prior to attachment.



Pinning the lining to the jacket for hand sewing.

Update:

Currently, this costume is on hold, awaiting trim from the client. I have gotten as far as I can without the trim. I have the pants sewn (I'll be adding the trim by hand.), the faux inner shirt, the jacket, and jacket lining are sewn. I need the trim so I can sew it to the lining, then I will be able to sew the lining & jacket together and then sew the faux inner shirt in.

Update: 9-4-08

I've gotten the outer layer of the jacket sewn, with the sleeves and "skirt" sewn on. I have the lining of the jacket sewn together. I also have a good start to the pants, and I expect to have them done (except trim) today. Most of what remains needs to wait until I can attach the trim to the lining of the "skirt" before going forward. Once I get the trim, I'll be able to finish within a week, I expect, if not sooner.

The jacket progress, minus sleeves and back skirt.


The jacket with sleeves and skirt. The sleeve lining is sewn to the curved edge but still needs to be sewn to the shoulder on the inside.


The back of the jacket showing the box pleating on the skirt.


The undersleeves and faux shirt ready to be tacked in place inside the jacket (the extra will be cut off the faux shirt to reduce bulk, once I have it place).



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Update: 8-30-08

I got the tucks in the undersleeve fabric sewn in, and then the sleeves cut out. It doesn't seem like a lot of progress, but the tucks take quite a bit of time! I also got the pants, "jacket", and lining cut out and ready to sew. I just need to figure out the faux undershirt that will attach to the jacket and get it cut out. Then, I can start sewing.

Under sleeves in progress.

***

The costume appears simpler than it actually is, getting the little details to "line up" and look like the movie costume. I've created my own pattern, mostly based off of Butterick's B4688 view B. I used McCall's M4696 view B to help me get the sleeve down, though it really is just a half circle, I could have done the sleeve without a pattern. For the pants and under shirt sleeves, I'm using M4844. I was hoping for a pattern for pants that had a smooth front and elastic in the back, because that is what I suspect the original is, but I could not find one, so I settled for pants that zip in the back.


I tested out my pattern using some 25 cent fabric from Walmart:


This is just a rough mock-up to get the feel for the altered pattern before I cut into the velour that the client purchased. (The original costume is velvet, but to save money, she went with velour purchased from Sy Fabrics.)