Making costumes from mylar emergency blankets?

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 3:57 pm

I want to make a shiny costume and those $3 emergency blankets look like a good source of material. They seem pretty strong when intact, but once a cut starts they tear easily. I've never tried sewing them but I imagine this would weaken the material a bit.

Any tips for using them or something else that would work well? Maybe tape or glue the seams with something after sewing? Before sewing?

Silver 2 · Post by **Silver 2** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 4:15 pm

I played around with the idea before NYC Decom and it was a no-go for me. My sewing machine did not like it and it tore and it dawned om me that it would be hotter than hell and I would have to design in a lot of vents. My next try will be cutting out shapes and glueing it onto fabric.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 4:18 pm

I think any piercing by a needle is going to work as a tear. At one point I was wondering if fusible webbing would work, but I'm wary of the platickiness of the mylar. Maybe at a low heat and if you protected the iron with newsprint or wax paper it would be worth experimenting with. If you fused it to some other cloth sewing might work, or you could try the tape web and use it instead of sewing. If it's a viable option. I wonder if a fabric glue like Yes would serve. Or a cold melt glue gun. I'd be interested in knowing if anyone's found a way to work with it.

zzberlin · Post by **zzberlin** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 4:47 pm

Crypto, I usually like to take one gold and one silver mylar emergency blanket each year, and choose whichever goes best with my outfit for the evening as my "wrap". They're wonderful! Very eye-catching, obviously light-weight and compact, and extremely warm. Afterwards they can be disposed of (once you're home of course) or perhaps even reused (one of mine from last year is still in good shape).

I haven't tried to sew them-- I'm skeptical they'll sew very well. Perhaps adhesive velcro instead?

zzberlin · Post by **zzberlin** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 4:48 pm

Sorry, my post was addressed to Dork, not to Crypto.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 6:51 pm

Go to Harbor Frate:) they have foil tape for cheap. Have some one help you. Put the two foils on a table roll the tape out (in the air) and apply in one move. Makes a good seam.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 6:01 am

You can reinforce mylar by covering the back side with duct tape. Just cover the whole back side, but ideally get a friend to hold the mylar taut so you can lay the tape flat the first time. Once on, it's hell to get off! The tape reduces the annoying crinkle noise, too.

missmann · Post by **missmann** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 7:50 am

if you are just impressed with them coz they are shiney and pretty check out your local fabric store in the novelty or costume fabric section coz you can probably pick up some metalic synthetic for cheap... I made my halloween costume out of some last year, and it was more shiney than tin foil! and i think I only paid $3/ yard... then you will be spending around the same amount of money but you'll be able to cut and sew easily, and your costume will allow for air circulation.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 8:04 am

Lacks the cachet of genuine original SPACE® Brand blankets, doesn't it?

I'd just make do w/ knotting the corners together.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 12:00 pm

robotland wrote:You can reinforce mylar by covering the back side with duct tape. Just cover the whole back side, but ideally get a friend to hold the mylar taut so you can lay the tape flat the first time. Once on, it's hell to get off! The tape reduces the annoying crinkle noise, too.

Might be easier if you found a sheet of sticky stuff, rather than tape rolls. Off-hand all I can think of is shelf paper, not exactly a wonder material in my reality.

I do like the glue to fabric idea.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 12:03 pm

missmann wrote:if you are just impressed with them coz they are shiney and pretty check out your local fabric store in the novelty or costume fabric section coz you can probably pick up some metalic synthetic for cheap... I made my halloween costume out of some last year, and it was more shiney than tin foil! and i think I only paid $3/ yard... then you will be spending around the same amount of money but you'll be able to cut and sew easily, and your costume will allow for air circulation.

If you haven't seen those lovely two-toned sheer fabrics yet you're in for a treat. I first priced them at $44 a yard, but found them at a discount place for less than $15. For that, I can afford an absolutely gorgeous playa wedding veil! I just gotta figure out how to light it from underneath!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 12:06 pm

zzberlin wrote:Crypto, I usually like to take one gold and one silver mylar emergency blanket each year, and choose whichever goes best with my outfit for the evening as my "wrap". They're wonderful! Very eye-catching, obviously light-weight and compact, and extremely warm. Afterwards they can be disposed of (once you're home of course) or perhaps even reused ?

We tend to have a lot on hand as my fiance is a medic. (He makes me carry one in my briefcase in case there's an earthquake while I'm at, or going to or from, work so that I'll have some warmth.) So mylar craft, if possible, would be a good resource--instead of throwing them out when used.

PS. sorry if it seems like I'm over posting, you guys just gave me a lot to respond to.

zzberlin · Post by **zzberlin** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 12:09 pm

Crypto, I can certainly get behind mylar craft, but getting the dust off one of the blankets in order to reuse it for something else is too challenging for me. I hate to throw things away as much as anyone else, but cleaning one of these shiny sheets is beyond what I have time to do. Though I suppose soaking in a bathtub might do the trick. Maybe with some vinegar(?)

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 12:43 pm

PIn to closeline and hose down is about as much as I'm willing to do.

gilmore · Post by **gilmore** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 5:45 pm

Any tips for using them or something else that would work well?

I've worked with a product called 520 Adhesive by 3M Corp. It's a spray glue. I think it would work great for emergency blankets.

Also, nozzle/valve occasionally clogs requiring you to "clear it out" by turning can upside down and spraying until just propellant and no adhesive comes out.

DANGER: FLAMMABLE when sprayed

Home Depot or Lowes

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:30 am

And USE OUTSIDE if you can....that spray stickum is great stuff but the propellant and glue fumes are WICKED nasty.
If glueing to a nonporous surface, you often get bubbles. Instead of peeling and reattaching, poke the middle of the bubble with a sharp pin or knifepoint and burnish smooth.

pirsirsursuaq · Post by **pirsirsursuaq** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 11:05 am

I made a pair of trousers from Mylar last year on the spur of the moment. Gaffer tape did the seams well. I had to be taped into them though, and as they flexed along creases while I walked it tended to start ripping slowly, at which point sharp edges started digging into my skin.

They were phenomenally noisy as well, but that was half the fun of wearing them. Walking along at a steady pace it sounded like an amplified washing machine. I had to stop to talk to people because I couldn't hear them respond when I was moving. And I couldn't sit down. Oh, and the only way of taking them off involved destroying them.

I had to add gaffer tape to new holes a couple of times, but every camp has some so it wasnt hard to find on my way round the playa. I guess covering the whole of the back with gaffer tape would have solved most of the problems.

dingo · Post by **dingo** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 4:01 pm

The other day I ran one of these bags through a sewing mecahine and it took pretty well. They are not as reflective as mylar but still has a silvery look to it. I thougth of making a costume, but I know they won't breath very well. I have a shitload of these, definitely enough to cover your body. If you seperate the bag from it's two layers, that;s even more coverage. Let me know if you would like to try it out. I have a bunch. I'm in SF.

buckethead alien · Post by **buckethead alien** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 3:55 am

Dork wrote: Any tips for using them or something else that would work well? Maybe tape or glue the seams with something after sewing? Before sewing?

Try the evil online auction behemouth for silver fabric. You can find some amazing material there that you can run through your sewing machine with confidence.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:09 pm

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:31 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:I just gotta figure out how to light it from underneath!

Check these sites out:
http://tinyurl.com/dngxu (CooLight EL wire; browse the whole site)
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/c ... type=store (EL panels)
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/c ... type=store (ultra bright LED)
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/glowingstuf ... hodes.html (CCD tubes, but they're kinda fragile)

I'm not sure just what you have in mind for lighting underneath, but look at things you wouldn't ordinarily consider. They sell EL wire spectacles, for example. That may be what you need to pin under the veil to light it.

Making costumes from mylar emergency blankets?

Making costumes from mylar emergency blankets?

mylar

520 Adhesive by 3M Corp

Mylar trousers

How about ESD bags (i.e. bags for computer stuff)

Re: Making costumes from mylar emergency blankets?