Costume & Crafting Help

[Drawingablank]

I believe this was discussed earler in this thread so just thought I'd post a note about it.

I don't know if they run the same sales nation wide, but this weekend (Oct. 7-10) Joanns is running simplicty patterns for .99 each. and next weekend is mccalls patterns.

I haven't really looked at mccalls patterns yet, but simplicity has a fairly nice selection of adult costume patterns that are adaptable to playa wear.

Thanks DAB!! I swear I NEVER know when they have those sales...although maybe they don't do them in FL. I'll have to check it out

Sign up for their mailing list and they will send you notices and coupons too.

[MisaBlue]

I love the coat!
Man in this coat just must be...yummy...

[MOOP_Nazi]

I won't even begin to get into the things it inspires the Frau to do...

But I digress!

um...
(shuffles papers...)

Lighting?

[theCryptofishist]

I am going to be working EL onto this coat. Due to it being completely black - how much EL should I use? I was originally thinking of just following the edge of the coat, but the more I look at it, I am thinking there should be more EL on it... Sleaves maybe? I dont want to go overboard, but a darktard MOOP Nazi I do not wish to be...

I think if you just make sure to carry an EL wire quirt, you're good to go.

[junglesmacks]

I am going to be working EL onto this coat. Due to it being completely black - how much EL should I use? I was originally thinking of just following the edge of the coat, but the more I look at it, I am thinking there should be more EL on it... Sleaves maybe? I dont want to go overboard, but a darktard MOOP Nazi I do not wish to be...

That, my dear schnitzel lover, is entirely up to you. I'm with the bigger/badder/better camp, but what do I know. What began last year as a "few" light on the pants ended up being a fully sequenced 1,440 LED light suit..

If you are going to do EL wire, I would recommend doing something a little cooler than just single color. Go two colors at least to give yourself some flair. The stuff is pretty easy to work with and splice/join together. Hell.. sequence that stuff and get funk-ay. You've got 10.5 months to do it in. Start now..

[Drawingablank]

I am going to be working EL onto this coat. Due to it being completely black - how much EL should I use? I was originally thinking of just following the edge of the coat, but the more I look at it, I am thinking there should be more EL on it... Sleaves maybe? I dont want to go overboard, but a darktard MOOP Nazi I do not wish to be...

I'm thinking el wire epaulets in addition to the edges - lapels, collar, bottom and cuffs. Possibly some kind of blinkies where the buttons are.

That is a really cool coat, but not nearly tacky and loud enough for my taste in fashion. Perhaps if they made it in magenta or purple.

[junglesmacks]

[Drawingablank]

LOL, now I could see myself in something like that.

[junglesmacks]

LOL, now I could see myself in something like that.

GO BIG! Which reminds me..

I was in this crazy electronics surplus store the other day here in Orlando, and they have huge rolls of EL wire in all thicknesses for dirt cheap.. like $0.50 a foot. PM me if you want some help picking some up. I go by there every now and again for random stuff.. Lazerfox knows about this place as well.

[Drawingablank]

LOL, now I could see myself in something like that.

GO BIG! Which reminds me..

I was in this crazy electronics surplus store the other day here in Orlando, and they have huge rolls of EL wire in all thicknesses for dirt cheap.. like $0.50 a foot. PM me if you want some help picking some up. I go by there every now and again for random stuff.. Lazerfox knows about this place as well.

Thanks, I will keep that in mind once I decide on which way I am going with the el wire. The coat and bike are obvious candidates for more, however I haven't made the other stuff I plan to decorate yet and it's easier and cheaper to just get everything at once.

Have you tried their EL wire? I was under the impression that they vary greatly in quality.

[trilobyte]

That's a below-cost price on the stuff, the first thought that pops into my mind is "what's wrong with it?" Unless they offer a money-back guarantee on the purchase, you may want to grab a smaller chunk first before making any kind of bulk buy. See if it lights up, and then see how it holds up as you bend and twist it around. If it's taken a beating somewhere in transport, or it's low grade wire, it'll likely be more brittle and likely to fail fairly easily.

[Drawingablank]

Ok, I hate to sound like an ad for Joanns, but if you are into sewing get there this weekend. They are having a massive Columbus Day weekend sale and I just got back from there with a fortune worth of stuff for 113.00.

This includes 20 simplicity patterns for .99 each.
About 20 yards of halloween fabric at 60% off.
Roughly 30 yards of closeout fabric at an additional 50% off.
Sewing machine lube and marking pen at 50% off (all notions).
Plus 20% off an entire purchase coupon (downloadable from their web site iirc).

Approximately 400.00 or so at regular prices.

[MOOP_Nazi]

I appreciate all of the suggestions.

I have decided to do the edge of the garment, cuffs, collar, and some form of lighting on buttons. In addition, I am going to attemp to create the word MOOP on the back surrounded by the required red circle with a line through it.

Are there any recommendations for a diameter of el wire that can be easily manipulated into words. The coat is large - equivalent of a 2x - so the word moop would be about 8"x6". Unless we can think of a better way to create this effect. I am looking into ways to make the circle blink off and on to make it more... um.. blinky..

[junglesmacks]

That's a below-cost price on the stuff, the first thought that pops into my mind is "what's wrong with it?" Unless they offer a money-back guarantee on the purchase, you may want to grab a smaller chunk first before making any kind of bulk buy. See if it lights up, and then see how it holds up as you bend and twist it around. If it's taken a beating somewhere in transport, or it's low grade wire, it'll likely be more brittle and likely to fail fairly easily.

It's an electronics surplus store that buys overstock and used/stocked lots from stores or business that are going out of business. You should see all the stuff they have in there.. you could build anything. Every time I walk through there I see stuff that I'm like wow.. I could literally buy that and sell it on ebay for a profit, it's so cheap. Skycraft Surplus in Orlando. Check out the site although they only put a fraction of what they have on the web.

[tattoogoddess]

I believe this was discussed earler in this thread so just thought I'd post a note about it.

I don't know if they run the same sales nation wide, but this weekend (Oct. 7-10) Joanns is running simplicty patterns for .99 each. and next weekend is mccalls patterns.

I haven't really looked at mccalls patterns yet, but simplicity has a fairly nice selection of adult costume patterns that are adaptable to playa wear.

WAAAAAHHHH!!!!! Closest one is a hour and I don't drive. I am going down there on the 22nd with my mom to pick up some fabric to make some more shirts. Was going to go next but my sister is competeing in the miss teen iowa usa pageant and I have to do her hair and makeup all weekedend FUDGE!!! I want 99 cent patterns!!

[junglesmacks]

Oh, the joys of the interwebz..

[MOOP_Nazi]

Oh, the joys of the interwebz..

Now, now, no one likes a smartass...

Oh... they do dont they...

Carry on!

[junglesmacks]

Oh, the joys of the interwebz..

Now, now, no one likes a smartass...

Oh... they do dont they...

Carry on!

lol.. I dun' care if they do or not.

It's my own personal way of saying hey.. fuck you.. I love you!

[trilobyte]

I'm familiar with how surplus and closeout stores work, Junglesmacks. But it's EL-wire. That's not generally not the kind of merchandise that winds up in that kind of store. It's higher tech, not over-distributed, and has reasonably consistent demand. It's certainly possible to find quantities of good quality EL-wire at that kind of price, just like it's possible to find a good quality late model Ferrari for under $10K at a used car dealership. Buyer beware and all that good stuff.

[deutlich]

Oh, the joys of the interwebz..

Those $.99 patterns she's talking about are in-store only.

Don't worry tattoogodess, I'm sure there'll be more sales!

[nolaflamingo]

I have found El-wire on ebay from hongkong & china, ready to use with battery packs. I have ordered over 20 different pieces and for the most part have had no problems. One order was not packaged very well and the battery packs were crushed, however the co immediately refunded my money when I emailed them. You do have to wait 2 to 3 weeks for delivery.

I am heading over to joanne after I finish up work. I am making a full length playa duster in purple snow leopard, black sparkly fur shawl collar with charmuese lining....

[Drawingablank]

I am heading over to joanne after I finish up work. I am making a full length playa duster in purple snow leopard, black sparkly fur shawl collar with charmuese lining....

I love that purple snow leopard fur and the pink one as well, I'll have to order some online from DF because all I can find locally is plain old boring leopard.

[nolaflamingo]

I found the purple leopard for less than at DF at a online store called fabric empire in LA. cost was still less with postage.
http://www.fabricempire.com/purple-blac ... opard.aspx

[Drawingablank]

I found the purple leopard for less than at DF at a online store called fabric empire in LA. cost was still less with postage.
http://www.fabricempire.com/purple-blac ... opard.aspx

Funny, I came across that site for the first time yesterday. The base prices are a bit better than DF and they have a slightly better selection. On the other hand I like to support burner owned businesses like DF. And after their monthly discount (currently 10%) the difference in price is only 30 cents a yard on that snow leopard fabric.

Comparing some of the other furs, DF is several dollars less expensive after the discount.

[Drawingablank]

Ok the fur trimmed lounge pants are done and photo below as promised. This was my first time sewing knits and super thin knits at that so the learning curve was rather steep. The seams kept tearing on me until I figured out that I needed a ballpoint needle, then things went much smoother. I still don't like sewing this stuff - much more difficult than cottons.



Unfortunately I forgot that I've lost a lot of weight since last time I sewed and made these way too big. Not sure if it's worth the effort to tailor them or if I'll just leave them baggy and shorten the elastic once I finish losing weight. The next pair I make I may add a fur codpiece just for shits and giggles.

Currently working on the bolero jacket. It's a PITA since the only patterns I could find are women's and they need to be scaled up to fit in the sleeve / shoulder area. Sewed up a mockup last night to see where I need to scale the pattern.
Tonight I'll start scaling it after a trip to Joanns for some 99 cent Mccalls patterns and a dig through their closeout section. I may also hit the thrift shop too as it's a block from there.

[AntiM]

Look in the costume or Historic pattern section, there's some men's jackets which are shorter under those categories. A tailcoat without the tails is essentially a bolero.

[lazerfox]

ballpoint needle

what & why is that?

[theCryptofishist]

ballpoint needle

what & why is that?

I think it has something to do with going between the threads and not into them.

[Drawingablank]

ballpoint needle

what & why is that?

Ballpoint needles are less pointy and poke their way between threads on knits rather than cut through. The regular pointy needles weaken the knit - at least on very thin knits.

Stretch needles can also be used (I'm not sure what the difference between them is, but have seen needle companies selling both).

[Drawingablank]

Look in the costume or Historic pattern section, there's some men's jackets which are shorter under those categories. A tailcoat without the tails is essentially a bolero.

Yah, I have most of the mens historical and costume coat patterns now, but they are relatively boring compared to ladies designs and have to be scaled anyway since very few are available in anything larger than XL (apparently I have freakishly wide shoulders for my chest size).

The bolero pattern I'm currently using is a ladies size 20 from the butterick historical line. The main thing when converting them to a men's is to leave out the darts on the bust.