Hi! I have boobs and I make...

[Tiney]

Hi to all those just introduced themselves.

CelticRuins - I love your Bayonetta and Sally!!! Awesome work overall.

booksandcorsets - Agree on taking a sewing class. That's how I started. Took one class at Joann on how to make pajamas pants and winged it from there on out. XD

Eveningarwen - I had issues with my Pfaff serger when I first got it but since I figured it out, haven't had any issues since. It's been great. That's just my experience. I'm in love with the Alice in Wonderland coat you made. Gorgeous!

Jath! Jathoris is an amazing costumer - She made an epic Bumblebee!

 

[docholiday78]

wow! didnt know so many ladies like this hobby, that is so cool but why so little threads out there? ya'll should post more of your work to show it off cuz lots builds on this thread are excellent n I'd like to see more

 

[charades]

Charades - Thank you! I just don't feel like a true costumer because I don't actually sew or make props. I just team up with ladies who've been sewing for 40+ years and help them with the small tasks (like cutting out fabric or pinning patterns). I'm just an artist/model who likes wearing costumes when I can get the chance.

Ugh why don't I have more friends like you?! I wish I had friends I could make costumes for, have them be my little helper during the process, and then give me beautiful photos for my portfolio later. Honestly, I do enjoy wearing my own work, but I HATE being in front of a camera so I never get decent photos.

 

[CelticRuins]

So many friggin amazing talented women on this board! Love it!

Thanks Tiney!

And SWChick, I'll join you in the mad dremel skills! WOO!

On the topic of machines...I don't have anything fancy. I wish I did! I have a basic $100 Brother machine that sits in the closet at this point, since I got a new $200 Brother machine that runs alot better and does a crap ton more! Button hole foot...I LOVE THEE.

I'll be getting my first surger for Christmas this year, which I'm excited about! I've been sewing for 10 years and haven't had anything but a basic machine. I envy those of you with the power machines! When I have the money I will definitely invest.

I think I prefer movie costumes over anything else. I like to make sure I can grasp every detail...I'm a sucker for details! Lord of the Rings started me into costuming, and I'm currently remaking my bf's Legolas and Arwen's chase for myself. I've even hosted panels for the Tolkien Track at Dragon*con and will be hosting another one this year, on Sunday at 2:30! Come on by if you're interested, I'd love to see you!

 

[CelticRuins]

I'm so with you on that one. I feel intimidated by so many here that I feel shy about even calling myself a costumer. I usually just participate in these forums by helping out with research or costume drawings as that's about all I can do. :unsure

Sorry, no recommendation from me. I apparently am the grim reaper to sewing machines! If I find one that can survive me, then I'll recommend it! :lol

Girl, your stuff is awesome!

Can I just say your fawn costume is the bestest thing ever? Love it!

 

[KristinaLeigh]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Bernina machines yet. Bernina's are considered the Mercedes of sewing machines and because of that they are usually on the pricey side...especially their computerized sewing/embroidery machines. Their basic manual machine, Bernina 1008, is an awesome workhorse machine. Most professional costume shops use them and swear by them. But they usually run at about $800. You can find them floating around on eBay and such for cheaper though sometimes...I know Darth Mule here on the RPF has found them for his costume shop like that.

I personally have a mid/top of the line Bernina that I ADORE. She's a Bernina Aurora 430 and I treat her like a Queen...and she returns the favor. But I certainly wouldn't recommend buying something like that unless you have decided that sewing is very important to you cause of the expense. However! It's pretty important to find a machine that sews well enough not to discourage you, like others have already said. Janome, Viking, Babylock, Bernina, some of the more expensive Singers ($300+), Juki, etc. that come from dealerships or fabric stores are going to give you what you want. Most of the Walmart ones may give you fits down the road. Just do your research. Sewing Machine Reviews at Pattern Review is a wonderful tool to figuring out what machine you should get. I know also that people who are just starting out do not want to spend a fortune on something that they are unsure of as a hobby, but getting a bad machine will make you not like it from the beginning!

I also highly recommend sergers like everyone else here. Especially Bernina and Babylock. Janome and Juki are good too. Juki however makes the best darn industrial serger in my opinion. So if you really get into this hobby...and maybe start participating in the business side of it...I highly recommend the investment into industrial machines and sergers.

 

[TheLadyNerd]

I think I prefer movie costumes over anything else. I like to make sure I can grasp every detail...I'm a sucker for details! Lord of the Rings started me into costuming, and I'm currently remaking my bf's Legolas and Arwen's chase for myself. I've even hosted panels for the Tolkien Track at Dragon*con and will be hosting another one this year, on Sunday at 2:30! Come on by if you're interested, I'd love to see you!

Oh yikes! I forgot to update that Arwen Chase Dress thread. I'll pm you all my reference photos if you haven't already finished you dress. See...and this is a perfect example. I did a TON of research for my Arwen Chase Dress, went fabric hunting, planned out a construction schedule, started a build thread here, then....WHAM! Ran out of money and had no friends who could sew the suede. *sigh* I swear almost every costume I do is snakebit.

Thanks so much for the compliment Nadine. That costume was a pain in the bahookie! I'm glad it turned out decently though. Btw, what panel will you be doing in the Tolkien track?

charades - Why don't I have more friends like YOU?! Too bad we didn't live closer to each other, sounds like we might make a good team.

PS - How do you put multiple quotes on reply post? I only know how to do one...

 

[Mockle]

very hard to determine from avatars Skills are skills no matter who you are.. we all learn from each other...

 

[AbbyDarkStar]

So much awesome to reply to!!!

Body image- gosh gosh gosh. I know some might roll their eyes- but damn do I worry about this. I’m 5’2 and I have curves. If I’m not careful those curves just…yeah they don’t look that great in some outfits (costumed or otherwise). For me it has always been important to costume that will be suit me.

The wonderful thing about so many costumes is that no matter your body type there are TONS of tips and tricks to ‘fake’ what you need to fake or hide what you need to hide. I LOVE THAT.

Sewing machines- JANOME for the WIN! I got mine and I can sew through LAYERS of leather, canvas etc. It is AWESOME.

Thanks for the info on the sergers ladies- I know I’ll have to break down and get one soon.

Sewing Classes- Zen got me an 8 week class from this FANCY fabric place in Berkeley when I moved to California. $160 later, I feel pretty confident in my skills. They have labs too, where I can schedule an afternoon with the instructor and bring in my project if I’m stuck or have questions!

I SOOOO need to update ALL my threads, now that school is out, I’ll have more time! Hopefully! Got to add all the NEW stuff.

I cannot draw worth a crap, so anyone who loves to draw, ummm…PM me? I have pages of concepts that I’d love to have fleshed out!! LOL

I too, love the researching. I have binders of just ‘storyboarded’ costumes and concepts. From all genres. One of these days I’ll stop being costume ADD and get stuff finished.

Also- anyone who is lamenting about wigs? Let me know. I have started taking wig commissions.

Ladies- I have to thank you so whole heartedly for your participation here. I think that the RPF is a great resource for everyone interested in making props, costumes and etc. I know that by having more ladies on the board we can also add more, or suggest different techniques!! I'm all about building community!!

In the interest of that, would you ladies mind sharing this thread on your FB or other social media? I know there are so many others out there that would be interested!

 

[iycis]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Bernina machines yet. Bernina's are considered the Mercedes of sewing machines and because of that they are usually on the pricey side...especially their computerized sewing/embroidery machines. Their basic manual machine, Bernina 1008, is an awesome workhorse machine. Most professional costume shops use them and swear by them. But they usually run at about $800. You can find them floating around on eBay and such for cheaper though sometimes...I know Darth Mule here on the RPF has found them for his costume shop like that.

I use a Bernina 210 activa. Its a basic computerized machine. Cost me about $650 because the local Bernina dealer has sales a few times a year and I waited til then to buy mine. I LOVE THIS MACHINE!!! :love

I also used to have a 1008, but I sold it when I needed money after college.

The only bad thing about Berninas is that the specialty feet are expensive. Often starting at $30/each. However, some of them I couldn't live without. They make life so much easier.

 

[Faea]

Wow, I'm so happy to see this thread. I've been costuming since i was 14 but stopped a few years ago because I had a baby and discovered she was special needs. Now that she's starting to get older (almost five) I'm finding myself starting to jump back into it all. In fact I can qualify things like paper mache as therapeutic for her. I am a bit of a jack of all trades and love tying different things together. I knit my larping mask, and sewn my Victorian trench coat that i use for more gothy stuff.

This coming year at Norwescon my favorite room party is doing dr who as their theme. which is how I found this place, i was trying to decide what I should make for it. I am finding myself super self conscious getting back into the costuming. I am no way near a hot babe, and it sort of feels like the only way i'm going to look good in a costume is if I am one. why can't they have plus size people in some of these roles for a change? I am also working on my first ever entry to a masquerade competition at norwescon. that however is not a replica costume .

I don't have much in the way of gear. My friend got posted to Afghanistan and gave me her brother machine while she's gone. I do a little of every craft; knitting, sewing, paper mache, cross stitch, crocheting, etc. I've never gotten into heavier stuff like leather or armoring. I must admit I love flowy dresses. I was in heaven when they came out with lord of the rings.

 

[Lora]

(Second post, woo).

Regarding the sewing machine discussion, I have the most basic of sewing machines: a supermarked bought Hugin Muscari with a total of nine (nine!) stitches! Three strait ahead, three zig-zag, and three decorative that I have used one time since I bought this machine in 2006.
Yeah, I wish for a new and better machine, but even buying a cheap one is quite the expense for me, so I hold off. So far this machine has been used for 3-4 jedi cloaks (maybe even five?), a couple of jedi tunics, obi and tabbards, three ceremonial leias (I now officially hate chiffon (and the first two leias were crap as that was my first attempts at costuming), two flamegown handmaidens (velvet dust gets everywhere), silk jedi robes, and most recently Tatooine light blue midriff (there's almost nine meters of fabric in that one). And that's just the serious costume stuff. So my little, cheap machine has had a tough life and the foot has needed replacement once. But it is simple and therefore was a good machine if you just want to do simple things and have as few things as possible that can go wrong when using/threading it. It doesn't exactly require a lot of talent to thread this one. I'm just ready for a new and better machine that can do more than strait ahead and zig-zag.

On the skill discussion... I freehand a lot of things and make my patterns from scratch. I'm quite good at eyeballing things. (I have a friend who can and will attest to this if asked).
I fear: embroidery and making pants. I really should get on with the pants project, because I need to be able to make pants for some of my future costumes, they just intimidate me. And I don't do any hard parts stuff, because I wouldn't know where to start.

I guess that was a slightly better introduction of me. In case it wasn't clear from the subtext I took up costuming in 2006 when I bought my sewing machine.

 

[Amandine]

Hi I'm Mandy

I'm still fairly "new" at the costuming. I am still learning how to sew and making progress everyday.

 

[AbbyDarkStar]

Hi I'm Mandy

I'm still fairly "new" at the costuming. I am still learning how to sew and making progress everyday.

She's being modest. She just put together an amazing costume for her husband AND a fantastic cheetara So :love

 

[Guri]

Wow how this thread has taken off!

I, too, struggle with body image in costuming, though in my own peculiar way. I'll admit, I have more low esteem/struggle with my face than my body. Ever being the perfectionist, if I feel I don't really look like the character, even if I act a lot like them, I won't do a costume (not that I judge anyone else for doing that! This is just my own peculiarity).

You know I feel the same way... Zoe from Firefly is one of my favorite characters and her costume(s) are soo cool. But, I'm a tall, thin blonde with thin lips and I just don't think anyone would recognize me. haha

Being what I look like and what gets written into roles of movies I liked enough with characters I like, I was kind of stuck until LOTR's came out. *heh*

There's a lot of pressure for women in costuming, to be sexy and revealing (regardless of where it comes from). I tend towards the modest/conservative side of things, so I don't like sexy costumes for the allure of being sexy.

*snip*

I'll admit, I actually am getting a lot more pressure for NOT wearing revealing clothing. It's a weird phenomenon I've been observing lately. I'm an agency-represented model, so I am a tall, thin gal but I didn't realise that supposedly excluded me from wearing modest costumes for some people. I've actually had people get mad at me for not baring my midriff, chest, bum, legs, etc. I don't get it. Has anyone else experienced this?

That's an interesting observation... I'm pretty modest too, but I've never felt pressure to wear something sexy. I've been more discouraged that there are so few costumes in certain genres that aren't skin tight or baring so much.

Personally, I love armor and men's fashions more than what the costume designers come up with for the women. Sure, some of the LOTR dresses are gorgeous, and I did do Galadriel once - but the detail on the elf armor and now the dwarf's armor, it's breath-taking.

The only time I ever got any flak for a costume was when I was dressed as Haldir in Canada and was being interviewed - they wanted to know why a woman would dress as a male elf when there were female elf costumes. I was like - uh, did you see how cool this armor is? Why wouldn't I want to wear it??

An other for instance is the Avengers cosumes... All of them are really very interesting and detailed, except... you guessed it, Black widow. All she has is a boring cat suit. Now some girls can pull that off and look fantastic, but it just doesn't inspire me, even if it were more modest. *shrugs*

Guri - Yay for getting your children involved in costuming too. That automatically makes you one cool parent!

My oldest is so over costumes... I wanted so badly to make him Captain America, I love the costume, especially the older, muted, combat version... but he wants bribes to wear it. Not as fun. Thankfully the youngest is still into it and loves the same characters I did. Making him Legolas was like a dream come true. (now if he would only stop growing so he can wear it again!)

 

[KristinaLeigh]

The only bad thing about Berninas is that the specialty feet are expensive. Often starting at $30/each. However, some of them I couldn't live without. They make life so much easier.

This is true. Specialty feet start around $45 at my local Bernina dealership (Where I worked while I was in college...so if you have Bernina questions then please feel free to ask! ^^). BUT one of the best things about Bernina is that they will always carry the feet for your machine. You never have to worry about buying a machine that they will stop making replacement/spare parts for the next year. Also their feet and special extra parts are made to a high, Swiss standard and are made to be very precise hence the price. You also only need these for very special work like if you want a cording foot for example. All the standard feet for most applications come with their machines.

So later down the road, if beautiful and precise seam work is what you want...Bernina can give it to you. ^^ I also believe that Janome's and Babylock's rock too.

 

[CelticRuins]

Girls, Guri was an inspiration to me when I started costuming! Her tutorials helped me many-a-time! Still do! I still remember my first costuming panel, it was Guri heading it at Dragon*con 2004! !

TheLadyNerd: It's gonna be "Costuming: From Good to Great!" on Sunday at 2:30 pm! I'm hoping to get done some dwarven stuff for showcase.

Abby: Here's me being jealous of your sewing class! I've been doing it for 10 years, but always wanted to be more refined. Especially in tailoring and small areas. I can draft a pattern, but I'd love to learn to perfect it!

 

[Guri]

Girls, Guri was an inspiration to me when I started costuming! Her tutorials helped me many-a-time! Still do! I still remember my first costuming panel, it was Guri heading it at Dragon*con 2004! !

I can't tell you how much that means to me... It's honestly more of a kick for me to hear people find the tutorials useful than they like my costumes. *HUGS*

And your costumes are so amazing and I'm incredibly excited about your panel at Dcon this year. (Kev is as I type this purchasing our airline tickets!! I can't believe it... )

 

[CelticRuins]

AHH! Can't wait to see you! So glad you're coming!

And your costumes are amazing! What are you talking about?! SHUT YO MOUTH!

 

[Guri]

Haha, mutual appreciation group hug. Kev just printed the tickets. I'm floating - I didn't think it was actually going to happen that we could go. Now, what to bring...