Hi! I have boobs and I make...

[Pimperella]

How do a lot of you go about finding fabrics??

I have a local (very local, bottom of my road in fact) Fabric Warehouse and I go in all the time and get fabrics at wholesale prices. If he hasn't got something in he will try and find something for me. But I have noticed that some in the US are able to get fabric woven etc. It's very costly in the UK as most places I have found will only do runs of 100 or 1000 metres. Still looking as I have certain fabrics I have yet to find.

I have a massive and I truly mean massive, fabric collection. Including Leather Hides, Suede Splits and lots of lovely thick Belly Leather (I made a LOTR's Rohan chamfron for my sister's pony and other leather items of tack).

Do most buy as you need or are some fabric hoarders like myself? :lol

 

[Sourdoh]

Anybody who mentions boobs has my undivided attention ... Just sayin'.

 

[CelticRuins]

How do a lot of you go about finding fabrics??

I have a local (very local, bottom of my road in fact) Fabric Warehouse and I go in all the time and get fabrics at wholesale prices. If he hasn't got something in he will try and find something for me. But I have noticed that some in the US are able to get fabric woven etc. It's very costly in the UK as most places I have found will only do runs of 100 or 1000 metres. Still looking as I have certain fabrics I have yet to find.

I have a massive and I truly mean massive, fabric collection. Including Leather Hides, Suede Splits and lots of lovely thick Belly Leather (I made a LOTR's Rohan chamfron for my sister's pony and other leather items of tack).

Do most buy as you need or are some fabric hoarders like myself? :lol

I wish I could fabric hoard more than I do, but I can't! LOL I can't legitimize it half the time. I have two rubbermaid bins full right now, that will be processed after I come back from Dragon*con to see what stays and what goes.

For fabric, it usually depends on what I'm working on. If I can buy it locally through places like Joanns, Hancock or a privately owned fabric store (which there are a few in town, when I can't drive 2 hours to ATL's fabric district), I buy online. I ALWAYS get swatches first. Especially if I'm going for full accuracy. I got a whole huge BAG of swatches for several of my LotR costumes from Silk Baron.com once :lol

I've never had fabric woven for me, but I have had fabric screenprinted! I've actually hand-screenprinted several things as well as batiked!

 

[Gizka]

Do most buy as you need or are some fabric hoarders like myself? :lol

I am both.

I buy stuff as I need it when a particular costume calls for particular fabric. I also shop the clearance sections whenever I go to the fabric stores, and if anything looks like I may one day have use for it I'll buy it and stockpile it.

I do the same with leather when we go to Tandy Leather. I may only need a belt blank, but if leather hide is on sale, I'll buy it because eventually I'll need it for something, and it'll save me a future trip.

I buy most of my fabric either from Joann's or Hancocks. If I need something harder to find, higher end, or specialty, there are a few specialty stores here in Houston. I try to avoid them when I can, because they are much more expensive. If I can't find it locally, I have to order it online.

Those living near New York City and Los Angeles are really lucky they have access to many more fabric suppliers than the rest of us!

 

[TheLadyNerd]

So. Many. Awesome. Costumes! I can't....I can't even.... *falls over*

Also- any ladies that want to meet up at Dragon*Con, what the staff has devised is this: we're going to have the ladies meet up at the same place/time as the usual RPF meetup. We're one big community and we don't want to divide that. BUT! I will have a TALL SIGN of the RPF logo in PINK to show you where I am, so that all the ladies can find me, and we can group up to say HI!

I think this is a great idea! I agree with keeping the community together (besides, the guys need to know who all these awesome ladies are too!). It'll be good to put names to faces. Btw, when exactly is the RPF meetup? I want to make sure I've got it down on my calendar.

 

[booksandcorsets]

Also- any ladies that want to meet up at Dragon*Con, what the staff has devised is this: we're going to have the ladies meet up at the same place/time as the usual RPF meetup. We're one big community and we don't want to divide that. BUT! I will have a TALL SIGN of the RPF logo in PINK to show you where I am, so that all the ladies can find me, and we can group up to say HI!

When IS the meetup? The official thread is quiet on that too. There are so many meetings planned for Thursday evening already!

 

[Guri]

Yes, when and where is this meet up? I would like to go too!

 

[Pimperella]

I wish I could fabric hoard more than I do, but I can't! LOL I can't legitimize it half the time. I have two rubbermaid bins full right now, that will be processed after I come back from Dragon*con to see what stays and what goes.

For fabric, it usually depends on what I'm working on. If I can buy it locally through places like Joanns, Hancock or a privately owned fabric store (which there are a few in town, when I can't drive 2 hours to ATL's fabric district), I buy online. I ALWAYS get swatches first. Especially if I'm going for full accuracy. I got a whole huge BAG of swatches for several of my LotR costumes from Silk Baron.com once :lol

I've never had fabric woven for me, but I have had fabric screenprinted! I've actually hand-screenprinted several things as well as batiked!

I am both.

I buy stuff as I need it when a particular costume calls for particular fabric. I also shop the clearance sections whenever I go to the fabric stores, and if anything looks like I may one day have use for it I'll buy it and stockpile it.

I do the same with leather when we go to Tandy Leather. I may only need a belt blank, but if leather hide is on sale, I'll buy it because eventually I'll need it for something, and it'll save me a future trip.

I buy most of my fabric either from Joann's or Hancocks. If I need something harder to find, higher end, or specialty, there are a few specialty stores here in Houston. I try to avoid them when I can, because they are much more expensive. If I can't find it locally, I have to order it online.

Those living near New York City and Los Angeles are really lucky they have access to many more fabric suppliers than the rest of us!

I'm bad when it comes to hoarding fabric. I, erm, have a room kinda FULL and then my livingroom is a 1/4 full and it's not a small room. Tho it feels it with my 3 ladies dress makers dummies, 2 men's Torso Dummies, 2 Children's Dress Forms and 2 shop mannequins. Hubby hates my Mannequins. They have names. Crystal and Savannah. I dress then in my clothes and have played very cruel games with him. He swears they watch him and creep him out. I make it worse by talking about them as tho they are real and stresses him more lol

I will always buy fabrics on offer or sale as you just never know if it will come up at that price again. Leather I adore and have loads. I was making Hubby an Aragorn Costume for work and while doing so I ended up with a few green leather hides, lots of suedes and Belly Leather. I bought large amounts in case I messed up. Now it's all waiting for a project that will come up with it's name on. I do dress making and make children's clothes aswell so I also tend to buy full bolts and rolls if the price is ok. I recent found another wholesaler locally and have been getting fabrics from 50p to £3.50 a metre but have to buy it by the roll at that price. My local warehouse carries Plain Dye Cottons as standard so I get them at £1.50 a metre as I need them tho I do have a fair few metres of many colours for other projects I do. Was chuffed when he got my 60inch wide Fusible Buckram at £1 a Metre! (50m roll for £50 plus vat, closest I found online was 36inch wide at £180 for 50m ).


I have done Batik in the past and am going to be learning screen printing. 1 of my many sisters is a Fine line artist and if needed I can nag her to do painting work on things. She is really good and makes some awesome stuff.

 

[KristinaLeigh]

I'm a total fabric hoarder...I have a storage unit that is my "Costume Storage" complete with organized fabric bins according to fabric type and color, notion bins, accessories, and costumes of course. ^^ I always check out what I have before going to the stores just in case. And it's great in a pinch when you are working on a costume at the very last minute and the store is closed cause it's 2AM...le sigh...

As for fabric sources...In Birmingham, we have the chain stores like Hancock Fabrics, JoAnns, and Hobby Lobby. Not much else though. I do a lot of ordering online now. When I lived in Massachusetts thought I had access to some really big warehouses (though oddly the chain stores were not as good...) and then of course a short drive to NYC fabric district...that I miss greatly. ^^

 

[Mole]

Ugh, I'd hate it if I couldn't wear contacts; most of my costumes would look ridiculous with glasses. (Have you ever seen Leia or a jedi wearing glasses?) My crossdressing ØS costume (pictured earlier) can do with glasses.

I'd love to see a pic of you as Thelma (that is her English name, right? I think she's called Vera here...) It is an awesome costume.

I've tried contacts a couple of times now. I just can't get on with them. It's not the putting in or taking out that I have issues with, it's just that they just never seem to correct my vision properly and everything is still blurry.

She's called Velma here. Soon as the costume is finished I'll be sure to post pictures.

I love seeing what I call 'professional' costumers. The ones that go the whole hog, have stunning costumes and become the characters. I don't think I'll ever reach that level.

And don't mention Dragon*Con. It makes me jealous. I actually had a pass for this year but my husband refused to let me go. I'm really hoping I can change his mind in time for next year. *keeping everything crossed*

 

[EyeofSauron]

abbys master chief costume is still one of my favorite all time cosplays. just saying

not that the others arent great, i just particularly like that one

 

[pat0003]

Attachment for the Kenmore can often be found on Ebay. If your looking for a fine machine, I'd reccommend the Viking Sapphire. It has all the bell and whistles of the Diamond and cost much less. Find it as a trade in and it' even cheaper! One of the best work horse sewing machines is the Bernina 830 or the 900 series.

 

[pat0003]

I love you sense of humor, esp. the White Queen

 

[Darth Mule]

You ladies inspired me to create my own thread for the men on the forum that sew.
http://www.therpf.com/f24/im-bro-i-sew-who-else-me-156369/index3.html

Feel free to drop in.

 

[kelldar]

When/where is the meet-up?

Well now that I've got a few minutes I'll write a little more about myself. I've been making costumes for a bit over 10 years now, learned to sew from my grandmother and my mom. My husband (CGclone here) is my partner in crime.
I started out making anime & video game cosplay and quickly moved into Star Wars & comics costumes. I like to do a little bit of everything. Here's some of my recent, fav stuff.

Anne Boleyn:

Corde (Padme's blown-up decoy):

Black Canary:

Queen Hippolyta (Wonder Woman):

Enchantress (Thor):

Donna Noble (Doctor Who):

Belle (Beauty and the Beast):

Jane (Disney's Tarzan):

I have a bunch of Leia costumes but here's Hoth & Boushh, two of my favs.

Mara Jade:

Marie Antoinette (and TARDIS version)

Ms Marvel:

Queen Amidala:

Kingdom Come Wonder Woman:

Valkyrie:

Sanderson Sisters/Hocus Pocus:

Time Lords:

My facebook page is http://facebook.com/KelldarCostumes !

 

[charades]

When/where is the meet-up?

Well now that I've got a few minutes I'll write a little more about myself. I've been making costumes for a bit over 10 years now, learned to sew from my grandmother and my mom. My husband (CGclone here) is my partner in crime.
I started out making anime & video game costumes and quickly moved into Star Wars & comics. I like to do a little bit of everything. Here's some of my recent, fav stuff.

I'm currently swamped finishing costumes for dragoncon... we always say we're going to get started on them early and get them finished early, but we never do!

Your Miss Marvel is awesome, and I love your Tardis friend. The Bad Wolf sign is hilarious! Even more so because I just saw a rerun of that episode yesterday.

 

[charades]

I'm a lady who'd like to get more into prop making, but I'm afraid of power tools. :/ I have many of them at my disposal, as my roomie is in construction and landscaping (he builds decks and does home renos), but he gets this very nervous, scared look whenever I try to use a drill even just to put up a photo frame in our house.

Any tips?

 

[booksandcorsets]

I'm a lady who'd like to get more into prop making, but I'm afraid of power tools. :/ I have many of them at my disposal, as my roomie is in construction and landscaping (he builds decks and does home renos), but he gets this very nervous, scared look whenever I try to use a drill even just to put up a photo frame in our house.

Any tips?

Start with a handheld tool like a dremel rather than big stuff like circular saws. You might also want to pick up a kit to finish off to get used to it before starting something from scratch.

 

[charades]

Start with a handheld tool like a dremel rather than big stuff like circular saws. You might also want to pick up a kit to finish off to get used to it before starting something from scratch.

A kit? You mean a dremel kit? I've looked at dremels and pretty much salivated over them and the ~possibilities~ while at the hardware store, but there are so many pieces I don't know where to start.

 

[booksandcorsets]

You don't really need much in the way of bits for dremels. A few sanding bits, a few grinding bits.

I meant a kit like an unfinished helmet or gun or phaser kit (you'll see them referred to on these boards as "raw casts"). There will be a lot left to do with them but the bulk of the making job is done, so you can concentrate on learning to use the new tool.