Hello everyone! There's a new Bat in the works over here and I thought I'd share it with the gang.
This thread will follow the construction of a new Batman suit based on the Noel graphic novel. This suit will be made in the same style as the recent Captain America suits - an 'armored' torso that fits over a stretch shirt with the sleeves and pants that combine 'armor' and stretch elements. Below is one of the many images from the reference library for this costume.
I began with the pattern for the torso. This was made by using a block that matched the client's measurements. I made a mock up in Swedish tracing paper and sketched on the details.
I then began building the torso. The suit is made of Cordura backed with headliner, dark grey sport-tek stretch and bias tape. The pieces are cut from the headliner first. The seam allowance is trimmed away and the headliner pieces are tacked to the back of the Cordura with a light spray of Super 77. The Cordura pieces are then cut with the seam allowance added back in and sewn together.
The abs were made in the same fashion. In order to created the look of segmented armor, all of the pieces were cut individually and then edged with a darker grey bias tape. The pieces were then stitched together 'in the ditch' of the bias edging to make a single piece that appears to be segmented.
Once the two halves of the ab section were complete, the front edges were bound and the they were stitched down to a center front base piece. It was then time to add in the 'rib' and upper back section.
To add some flexibility and movement, an inset of dark grey stretch was added that extends under the ribs to the sides of the abs and also makes up most of the back. The back is almost entirely stretch so that the client will have range of motion across the shoulders and middle back and, since it's completely covered by the cape, will not be seen.
The tops of the shoulders were added to complete the neckline and upper torso. Lower side pieces, made the same way as the rest of the torso pieces, were also added to create stability and maintain the shape under the rib cage and over the hips.
The next steps on the torso are the rib details, back zipper and fishing the edges at the neck and arms. In the meantime, I moved on to creating the undershirt. I began with the sleeves.
The sleeves were created just like the torso - headliner foam backing the cordura pieces and then set onto a stretch piece that will allow for movement. I created all the foam/cordura pieces first and then assembled all the pieces from the wrist up.
Here are all the pieces laid out and a finished sleeve pinned under the torso in its current state.
The next steps are to finish the base of the shirt and the rest of the details on the torso - then onto the pants and cape.
Stay tuned!
This thread will follow the construction of a new Batman suit based on the Noel graphic novel. This suit will be made in the same style as the recent Captain America suits - an 'armored' torso that fits over a stretch shirt with the sleeves and pants that combine 'armor' and stretch elements. Below is one of the many images from the reference library for this costume.
I began with the pattern for the torso. This was made by using a block that matched the client's measurements. I made a mock up in Swedish tracing paper and sketched on the details.
I then began building the torso. The suit is made of Cordura backed with headliner, dark grey sport-tek stretch and bias tape. The pieces are cut from the headliner first. The seam allowance is trimmed away and the headliner pieces are tacked to the back of the Cordura with a light spray of Super 77. The Cordura pieces are then cut with the seam allowance added back in and sewn together.
The abs were made in the same fashion. In order to created the look of segmented armor, all of the pieces were cut individually and then edged with a darker grey bias tape. The pieces were then stitched together 'in the ditch' of the bias edging to make a single piece that appears to be segmented.
Once the two halves of the ab section were complete, the front edges were bound and the they were stitched down to a center front base piece. It was then time to add in the 'rib' and upper back section.
To add some flexibility and movement, an inset of dark grey stretch was added that extends under the ribs to the sides of the abs and also makes up most of the back. The back is almost entirely stretch so that the client will have range of motion across the shoulders and middle back and, since it's completely covered by the cape, will not be seen.
The tops of the shoulders were added to complete the neckline and upper torso. Lower side pieces, made the same way as the rest of the torso pieces, were also added to create stability and maintain the shape under the rib cage and over the hips.
The next steps on the torso are the rib details, back zipper and fishing the edges at the neck and arms. In the meantime, I moved on to creating the undershirt. I began with the sleeves.
The sleeves were created just like the torso - headliner foam backing the cordura pieces and then set onto a stretch piece that will allow for movement. I created all the foam/cordura pieces first and then assembled all the pieces from the wrist up.
Here are all the pieces laid out and a finished sleeve pinned under the torso in its current state.
The next steps are to finish the base of the shirt and the rest of the details on the torso - then onto the pants and cape.
Stay tuned!
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