Costume & Crafting Help

[Drawingablank]

Well, thanks for the compliments again (this pic was grabbed from a post back in summer 2010). There is also a matching fur ear hat that I've never worn.

I agree! I can never find fabric that rockin' at my local fabric supply.

All the fabric for this came from Joanns believe it or not. The suedette holographic zebra print I've only seen one time and I snagged it all.

Would it be weird if I came up and pet you while not on anything?

Feel free as long as you don't expect me to be sober.

Ooooooh DAB....Is that one new ?....Fabulous fabric

Thanks, but not new - I wore this to the M&G in 2011. I wish I could find more fabric similar to that, but have never seen anything like it before or since finding that.

Oh, and for anyone looking for fur trim - that curly stuff from Joanns is super soft and luxurious, moderately easy to work with, and dirt cheap if you get it with a 40% coupon or on sale. Unfortunately they only stock it in white, black, red, and sometimes ivory.

[Fufa]

I don't think we have Joann's in Canada

All I got around here is Fabricland.

[FeetOfClay]

also, while i love sewing, i know not everyone sews, so here's a tip:

a store bought bra can be easily modified with nothing more than trim, buttons, trinkets, etc.
and a hot glue gun--

get a bra that has a reasonably firm cup, not to stretchy, more "molded"

u can glue rows of trim, coins, buttons, etc.

it won't survive machine washing, but should get u through a few fun nights on the playa.

btw: never been to BMan (yet!), but i have done this technique for performance costumes, and it works like a charm.

just don't leave out in direct sun--intense heat could soften dried glue in the desert!

[tattoogoddess]

Hit it against the wall see if it holds.

Right? Burgin is learning!

Also someone said hot glue will not hold up out there. Am I right burners?

[Drawingablank]

Well I'm not in the habit of wearing bras - decorated or plain, but I would think that hot gluing stuff on them is a recipe for moop.

As for hot glue failing there I have no doubt that many would, however some of the higher temp hot glues might not.

As for not leaving it in direct sun - that seems a bit impractical for clothing, unless you plan to strip every time you leave the shade.

[MyDearFriend]

Ha, I found a bunch of cheap foam bras and decorated them with with fabric paint. Even the glittery paint was non-MOOPish. And the dimensional fabric paint is flexible and heat-resistant enough to hold plastic 'gems' in place even through a two-hour Infected Mushroom set with my DDD boobs bouncing like mad.

The fabric paint takes longer to set, but, holds those little "gems"in place even through the washer/dryer. Definitely playa-proof.

[lazerfox]

I also vote for fabric paint and some folks swear by krazy glue. I used Gorilla glue on the LEDs for one of my outfits and the glue had detached completely on one side by Thursday night. Sewing (even just by hand) followed with additional "wall hitting "is usually the best policy

[Minxy]

I have used hot glue to fur my bike and it worked great. If I had yanked on the fur it would have come off, but it didn't melt and just fall off.

[AntiM]

I've been using fabric paint for years at Burning Man, yes, it washes well. Hot glue is stiff and less flexible. I did hot glue jewels to a frame and to a wooden chest, and they all fell off in the hot sun. Not a fan of the gun. The fabric paint does take patience while it sets.

[lazerfox]

That bunny is too cute! Great work with so many jewel details AntiM.

[Drawingablank]

Yes, cool bunny.

I apparently didn't scroll down all the way when I first saw it and was thinking rabbitzilla - what a great idea.

[AntiM]

Thank you. That bunny was our regional effigy that year, Alice in Scubaland. Seabase is Utah salt marsh, they have natural warm springs, deep enough to certify scuba divers.

[tattoogoddess]

I am going to buy my fabric today most likely.
Flannel or fleece? What one is warmer? They are both the same amount right now

http://www.joann.com/cozy-flannel-fabri ... 2849B64C7A

http://www.joann.com/anti-pill-fleece-f ... /prd18849/

[Drawingablank]

Fleece is thicker, fuzzier, and warmer than any flannel I have used.

[theCryptofishist]

Fleece is polyester of some sort and flannel is cotton. If you're going to stand near burn barrels, you want cotton, silk, linen, wool or some other natural fiber. Actually, there's not a lot of standing near burn barrels at burningman, but it's something worth thinking about...

[AntiM]

Fleece is polyester of some sort and flannel is cotton. If you're going to stand near burn barrels, you want cotton, silk, linen, wool or some other natural fiber. Actually, there's not a lot of standing near burn barrels at burningman, but it's something worth thinking about...

My fleece candy camo outfit has burn holes in it from a spitting fire barrel.

[Drawingablank]

I guess now that I have more time I could elaborate on this a bit.

Flannel - I love the softness of it and use it as a lining for most of my playa wear. It is warm and feels really good on bare skin too. The main drawback is that you need to preshrink it before sewing - especially if you are sewing it to fabric that is not 100% cotton.

Fleece has more heft to it and would make a better coat than flannel. Since it is heavier it would be ok without a lining. I don't work with it too much as I prefer a more ornamental Brocade lined with flannel. If I was on a tight budget for a playa coat fleece would probably be my choice.

Fishy makes a great point about flammability - synthetics do really poorly around extreme heat or fire. Definitely a no no for fire spinning but unless you are actually planning to be close to some open flames it should not be an issue.

Edit: I should probably aff that flannel by itself will not really be warm enough for a playa coat unless lined and possibly insulated.

[AntiM]

True, my fleece was burned at a spring regional, when the temps were lower than they get on the playa.

Had a friend ruin a faux fur coat by standing in the Tunnel of Transformation, she couldn't feel the heat, but the fur on the coat frizzled into hard little knots. Heck, even the fumes from white gas seem to have destroyed my hat bobs.

So, what are you making?

[lazerfox]

It has finally happened! I opened next weeks Joann mailer and there it was...5 for $5 patterns right here in O-town. Yay!!!!! So excited.

I personally don't like how flannel feels on my skin but that is a personal choice. And most of my fleece is lining...so I will abstain from voting on this one...

[AntiM]

Did you see the bike with the knitted coat on the cover of the mailer?!

[lazerfox]

Yes. I showed my boyfriend and we both pondered the amount of work that would take...specially for people like us who would not know what bike we will have until we get to the playa.

It is so colorful and pretty!

[AntiM]

Very nifty, but my first thought was, "dust trap"!

[lazerfox]

So true! But maybe the colors would look more pastel after being covered in dust

[lazerfox]

AntiM - are the pattern $1 sales cut-throat? Should I try to be one of the first to arrive at the store

[AntiM]

AntiM - are the pattern $1 sales cut-throat? Should I try to be one of the first to arrive at the store

I've never had trouble. But then, I also have Hancock Fabric sales as a back up.

[Drawingablank]

The 1$ pattern sales are not really cut throat, at least not around here.

However they seem to not restock patterns during the sale so for the best selection get there on the first day of the sale.

And yes that bike on the cover looks really cool.

[lazerfox]

I'm going today for some project scoping so I'll scope out the patterns as well. I'm going by the college so maybe that will help with selection options.

Drawingablank do you have your etsy store open yet?! I love your creations!

[Drawingablank]

I'm going today for some project scoping so I'll scope out the patterns as well. I'm going by the college so maybe that will help with selection options.

Drawingablank do you have your etsy store open yet?! I love your creations!

Yes, I'll PM you the URL but it will probably be a week or so before I have any clothes listed since I need to corral my model to get some better photos.

Tips for pattern sales:

1. Go to the pattern company's web site before hand and make a list of all the patterns you want.
2. If you are going there before the sale starts, pull all the patterns you want and refile them in an odd pattern drawer spot so they will be there for you once the sale starts. This is of questionable moral ground, but as long as you go back and buy them nobody gets hurt.

[lazerfox]

aww I didn't get to read that before I went. I didn't shift the patterns but I did find 3 I want. There is only one that I am concerned may run out but it is not my number 1 choice so I'm ok with loosing it. I did however hid a roll of super pretty brocade that I needed my BF to see since it looked like it was running out

All in all a pretty productive visit to Joann's today

[tattoogoddess]

Is this just in your area or county wide?