Costume & Crafting Help

[lucky420]

finished the shell for the big fuzzy playa coat and it is HUGE. I rely to much on the pattern/measurements but I am a novice at sewing. I think I will need to take it in some, it is like a big blanket. Comfy but really really large I guess I could always fit someone else inside it with me...

[Foxfur]

Meh, back to reality.

3 days at the cabin with no phone, internet, or tv helps clear the mind - and gave me an enormous amount of time to work on the patch pants which are now 99% done - photos coming soon.

Our yard was overrun with baby bunnies too - and they were completely fearless. Had to be careful where you stepped because they would run right up to you.

Awwww. I'm getting all melty.
When I was driving in the forset the other day I saw one and was very pleased.
Your yard would have overwhelmed the 'happy center' of my brain.

MDF,
It's gonna be *awesome*!
(((((MDF)))))

[Foxfur]

OOPS!
What I meant to say was,
"When I was driving in my corset the other day..."
Bwahahaha!

[Drawingablank]

Finally got around to editing some pics - the patch pants are about 98% done here:

Front

Back

These will definitely be night time wear as with all that extra fabric and about a pound of Fray check they are much warmer than regular jeans.

Thanks to AntiM and MDF for the help.

[AntiM]

Yay! I am playing "that's my patch"!

[jella]

They look awesome Drawingablank The pants of many colors

[C.f.M.]

There's pics of what I made in the Retrofrolic thread - they're not entirely SFW.

[jella]

Gosh thanks C.F.M....now the anticipation is going to kill me

[illy dilly]

I'd like to say that I'm am very inspired by all the folks that post amazing costumes and crafts on this thread!
I think I also need to admit that I have 'borrowed' some ideas......

[MyDearFriend]

Yay! I am playing "that's my patch"!

Ha, me too!

Thanks for the preview pix DAB!

[Drawingablank]

Anyone have any experience with flourescent textile ink?

I have decided that enlarging my old army greatcoat to fit my older and substantially bulkier frame might be better than attempting to scale the pattern of my pirate coat up for another attempt. I would like to decorate it with a block printed camo pattern in neon colors (preferably black light reactive). In a pinch I could also silk screen it but would prefer not to invest that much time making the screens.

So far all the neon printing and screen printing ink I have tried is transparent (designed to be used on white base fabric) so the green completely washes out the color. I have found high density (opaque) screen printing ink for this but it is only available in large quantities at about 30.00 per color, putting the cost for doing one coat way out of the budget.

Does anyone know of a product that may be suitable for this which is available in smaller packaging (4 - 8 ounce)?

[C.f.M.]

Anyone have any experience with flourescent textile ink?

I have decided that enlarging my old army greatcoat to fit my older and substantially bulkier frame might be better than attempting to scale the pattern of my pirate coat up for another attempt. I would like to decorate it with a block printed camo pattern in neon colors (preferably black light reactive). In a pinch I could also silk screen it but would prefer not to invest that much time making the screens.

So far all the neon printing and screen printing ink I have tried is transparent (designed to be used on white base fabric) so the green completely washes out the color. I have found high density (opaque) screen printing ink for this but it is only available in large quantities at about 30.00 per color, putting the cost for doing one coat way out of the budget.

Does anyone know of a product that may be suitable for this which is available in smaller packaging (4 - 8 ounce)?

Well, I found some puffy paint stuff at Walmart in the craft clearance section. It was clear with like...shards of neon color in it. I swiped some on my sweatpants to check it out...it's still there. And bright.

Could you get some of the pink cammo, and fill in the white spots with different colors, paint neon pink over the pink?

[Drawingablank]

.Well, I found some puffy paint stuff at Walmart in the craft clearance section. It was clear with like...shards of neon color in it. I swiped some on my sweatpants to check it out...it's still there. And bright.

Could you get some of the pink cammo, and fill in the white spots with different colors, paint neon pink over the pink?

Thanks, Ill try picking up some fabric paint - not sure how well it would block print, but worth trying.

I could get pink camo or for that matter I've seen neon camo somewhere, but then I'd be back to square one - scaling up a pattern to fit me and sewing the entire coat rather than spending 30 minutes letting out one seam on the army coat.

[FIGJAM]

Google florecent fabric paint.

I think it also comes in spray cans.

[jella]

Seriously ....and this is big for me. Seriously thinking about paying a dry cleaner seamstress to do my jackets other welt pocket.

I botched the first so bad I decided in a sleep deprived state to make rash decision to skip a pocket after I spent the better part of an evening on the 1st. I sewed the other pockets flap on and continued with the coat. Of course I regret that and decided to learn a " better" way but I'm afraid. Times like this I really miss my grammie, she would help me.

ok rant over I'd better pull up my big girl pants and go back to work !

[kitkatseattle]

Any good tips or patterns out there for making a Greek goddess dress?

[Jax Dee]

Any good tips or patterns out there for making a Greek goddess dress?

I made one without a pattern or sewing one year. Just used a lot of fabric, cut where i needed to, and used pretty gold rick rack ribbon to tie off in strategic places to makes the gathers and folds hold where I wanted them. The beauty of greek togas and goddess outfits are they are just mostly pleating and tying. It's all about the draping! You could practice on a cheap bed sheet first before you used your material.

[kitkatseattle]

Any good tips or patterns out there for making a Greek goddess dress?

I made one without a pattern or sewing one year. Just used a lot of fabric, cut where i needed to, and used pretty gold rick rack ribbon to tie off in strategic places to makes the gathers and folds hold where I wanted them. The beauty of greek togas and goddess outfits are they are just mostly pleating and tying. It's all about the draping! You could practice on a cheap bed sheet first before you used your material.

Thanks Jax! I want to make one to wear for the Trojan Horse project on the playa. I'm Persephone and I have some good ideas on how I want to modify a typical Greek goddess dress.

[MyDearFriend]

Any good tips or patterns out there for making a Greek goddess dress?

I made one without a pattern or sewing one year. Just used a lot of fabric, cut where i needed to, and used pretty gold rick rack ribbon to tie off in strategic places to makes the gathers and folds hold where I wanted them. The beauty of greek togas and goddess outfits are they are just mostly pleating and tying. It's all about the draping! You could practice on a cheap bed sheet first before you used your material.

Thanks Jax! I want to make one to wear for the Trojan Horse project on the playa. I'm Persephone and I have some good ideas on how I want to modify a typical Greek goddess dress.

The authentic version requires no sewing:



I prefer to sew where the ancients set their pins, and use a hidden modern fastener on the side. Trimming the edges with something that looks woven in is an authentic look as well.

A gorgeous lightweight fabric is all you need, really, though I always go with a glittery trim... gilding the lily...

[C.f.M.]

.Well, I found some puffy paint stuff at Walmart in the craft clearance section. It was clear with like...shards of neon color in it. I swiped some on my sweatpants to check it out...it's still there. And bright.

Could you get some of the pink cammo, and fill in the white spots with different colors, paint neon pink over the pink?

Thanks, Ill try picking up some fabric paint - not sure how well it would block print, but worth trying.

I could get pink camo or for that matter I've seen neon camo somewhere, but then I'd be back to square one - scaling up a pattern to fit me and sewing the entire coat rather than spending 30 minutes letting out one seam on the army coat.

Ah, I guess I read it too fast, you want to paint the pattern onto the coat you already have. Try the puffy paint stuff, squirt a bunch out and use a brush like regular paint. They also make fabric spray-paint for dark colors, but I can't recall having seen the colors you want.

What if you got the fabric and just attached it to the coat?

[MyDearFriend]

Anyone have any experience with flourescent textile ink?

I have decided that enlarging my old army greatcoat to fit my older and substantially bulkier frame might be better than attempting to scale the pattern of my pirate coat up for another attempt. I would like to decorate it with a block printed camo pattern in neon colors (preferably black light reactive). In a pinch I could also silk screen it but would prefer not to invest that much time making the screens.

So far all the neon printing and screen printing ink I have tried is transparent (designed to be used on white base fabric) so the green completely washes out the color. I have found high density (opaque) screen printing ink for this but it is only available in large quantities at about 30.00 per color, putting the cost for doing one coat way out of the budget.

Does anyone know of a product that may be suitable for this which is available in smaller packaging (4 - 8 ounce)?

I am having trouble understanding this. Wouldn't a black light- reactive ink wash out on a white base? Seems to me it should pop better (under black light) from a dark fabric, unless you are having an absorption problem, in which case you might try a fixative spray underneath or even scotch-gard.

Have you tested your ink under black light? Or do you need something that will also work in daylight? The black-light paints I've used have all been pretty much invisible in daylight, so, a mixed fabric paint like the one C.f.M. suggests might be the only thing visible for day and night both. You should be able to roller it onto your blocks for printing. Fabric paint is very friendly stuff.

[Drawingablank]

Have taken Figjam's advice and will try it with paint - found one on google search that is designed for theatrical special effects that appears to be opaque and available in a medium size jar. I guess it really never occurred to me to search for paint since we use silk screen ink all the time (so I had been searching flourescent ink).

Generally silk screen inks are heat set and pretty permanent (I have a flash drier) so washing out is not a problem.

The reaction under black light with the transparent inks is ok, but in normal light it's still an army green coat with faint splotches of color. Putting the transparent inks over white enhances the color actually because it increases the reflection.

[C.f.M.]

Yeah, I was like, "authentic Greek goddess??" That'd be some fabric draped around or a tunic and tied with a belt of some sort. I am searching my brain...Egyptian women generally went topless and I want to say Greek women covered up both breasts...and I want to say the fabric draped around the shoulders (not the main dress part) could vary in color and length depending on the woman's station...but I don't know how SCA fashion police you want to get.

This is fun: http://www.jstor.org/pss/856550

[kubikub]

Hey guys, I'm having some issues with my sewing machine. So I made a playa coat last year, this year I ripped a few stitches and decided to sit down and fix a few things-- on the same coat, with the same machine-- but I've broken four needles, made no progress, and have no idea what is going wrong. The machine seems like it can barely shove the needle through the fabric, so it spazzes and gives up and I get an error message. I just cleaned the bobbin case with no luck or improvement. Does anyone know if anything would potentially cause a machine to, I don't know, lose strength?

[nosambos]

I am not a diver but I have a scuba suit. If I spray painted it black and added EL Wire would I be warm enough at night?

[jella]

wow that must be some machine,,my 20 year old kenmore doesn't have a computer so I've never gotten an error message but..... If I put the wrong foot on my machine from the collection of feet I've inherited from grammie and aunts It will break a needle stiking the plate underneath. look on your strike plate for gouges. just a thought...Espresso dude might be the one to ask he's pretty smart

Good luck !


Puple haze coat update~~~ shell, corset stays and buttons all done! today I finish the lining....woooooo hooo. Three weeks of nights and weekends on this damn thing so far

[EspressoDude]

wrong, blunt vs sharp needles? try sewing other fabric, or coat scraps. how hard is it to turn it by hand? how long since it was oiled? is the oil old and gummy taking 1/2 the motor power? hose it down with wd40 to soften the old oil, run without thread for a minute, then re-oil the machine

usually needles hitting something breaks them

is the area you are trying to sew 4 -6 layers of fabric? might be too much

[jella]

Speaking of needles what size are you using...when I sew fur I use at least a 14 I usually use a 18 leather needle , normal fabric is usually about a 10-12
I also have canned air I clean the bobbin case frequently when sewing with fur or fuzzy material

[MyDearFriend]

Jella I can't wait to see your beautiful new coat!!!

[dragonpilot]

I am not a diver but I have a scuba suit. If I spray painted it black and added EL Wire would I be warm enough at night?

Is it a neoprene dive suit? If so that stuff keeps divers warm in very cold water (Under which they layer with varying thicknesses of fleece). I'd say you'll be TOO warm...but then, YMMV.