Selene Costume *WIP* 95% finished for D*Con

[Darth Mule]

So I'm making a Selene costume for the gf. Got everything together, corset patterned and cut, I even was able to do a pretty nice job on the outline of the embroidered symbol on the front of the corset. However, I am now at a loss. I'm not sure what's going on with the inner, textured sections of the embroidery.

Anyone rather proficient at embroidery or have any experience with this corset? If anyone knows what technique to use to get this look, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[NoTsOsErIoUs]

Re: Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

Not positive but if the movie corset was leather wouldn't those internal areas be suade?

 

[LizardJedi]

Re: Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

I thought it was tooled leather not embroidery?

 

[MaulWalker]

Re: Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

It looks more like tooled leather to me. Notice how deep the boning channels are? Those are stitched. The design is not nearly as deep, suggesting that it isn't embroidery.

 

[Darth Mule]

Re: Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

You're probably right. Now is it possible to tool already tanned garment leather?

 

[DaddyfromNaboo]

Re: Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

You're probably right. Now is it possible to tool already tanned garment leather?

Yes, to an extent, depending on the dye used. Just give it a try soaked in a lot of water. You may contact member Mad Robot, he did awesome leather work on Hellboy coasters and a custom leather satchel.

Michael

 

[Raffles]

Re: Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

i remember seeing some closeups of this piece. It's embossed/tooled leather with a roughed finish on the detail. possibly heat embossed.

 

[kevjh]

Re: Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

it is embroidery not tooled leather.
Kevjh

 

[mdb]

Re: Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

Yeah, definitely embroidered. The boning channels are not a good guide as they are through all layers of the corset and have the addition of the boning to give that extra definition.
The method used is called stippling I think, and because the stitches are so small and close together the depth of the design is reduced.
I think this was done by embroidery machine and had that area programmed in with whatever filler they were able to use (I don't own an emboirdery machine so am not sure what fillers are available). If I were to free hand this on a regular machine (which I might wind up doing) I'll probably use a stretch stitch and ty to get some random effect in there (the stretch stitch has a back stitch for every three forward which will help create the stipple effect).
http://www.hgtv.com/crafting/wholecloth-quilting-mctavish-style/index.html
Micro stippling is mentioned here.

 

[Darth Mule]

Re: Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

I don't know how I missed your post mdb, but I just popped in to update that I had indeed solved my own quandry when I noticed that if I had looked back at this 2 months ago, you would have solved it for me. Doh!

Kevj, who posted earlier confirming the embroidery, actually owns a screen used and sent me some reference shots to help suss it out. These aided me in patterning the embroidery lines, but I was at a loss as to how to fill it in. Anyway... Some googling on different embroidery techniques turned up information on stippling, so I thought I'd give it a shot. After all, what did I have to lose other than 6 hours or so of slow, careful sewing of an embroidery pattern on a mechanical machine. A mere $50.00 later and I had a nice quilting foot to assist me in doing so on my Bernina. There were some spots where I had to work extra hard to get the thread to actually punch in, but after only a couple of hours I had it all filled in. Voila! This image isn't the best, but until I get some more done, it will serve my purposes for showing off. This was from the test fitting last week. I hadn't bound the top yet or finished grommetting the back, so it isn't quite as snug as it should be here, but it should fit like a glove now that its done.

 

[Stormy320]

Re: Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

Like to see pictures of what you have already.

 

[ItsThatGuy]

Re: Mystery solved! Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

Wow! :eek That is awesome! It's going to look great on her too. :thumbsup

You know you have to make one for Aimee now! :lol

 

[Jawafive]

Re: Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

beautiful work!

 

[.:MirrorminD:.]

Re: Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

Awesome pics, if you need any more reference shots I can ask one of my buddies who also owns a screen used one

 

[Darth Mule]

Re: Mystery solved! Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

More pics. Took some better shots of the closeup work on the corset. Also a full shot of the test fitting. Again, the test fitting was before the corset was finished. It was laced loose because I underordered my grommets, and they were missing from the waist down. I also wanted to make sure it was long enough before I bound the top.

The bodysuit seemed to fit pretty much perfectly except for in the upper arms where they were extremely baggy for some reason. I used this Kwik Sew pattern pretty much straight up with a small collar adjustment. Got some 4 way stretch PVC from MJtrends. This stuff is like liquid. Slides on like a second skin. The boots will need a little work, but I like the overall shape. Got em for $6.00 at Goodwill... Brand New!

 

[.:MirrorminD:.]

Re: Mystery solved! Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

Its coming along great

 

[Bug Stomper]

Re: Mystery solved! Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

Very nice!
Are you doing a Death Dealer for yourself?

Cheers,
Stefan

 

[Darth Mule]

Re: Mystery solved! Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

Nope. Going for a looser, vampire based theme. Therefore, Selene will be accompanying the king of all vampires. Prince Vlad!

 

[mdb]

Re: Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

That's great Heh, it happens but I'm glad you were able to find the info as well

MJ Trends has great PVC. I have used it for my Mara and Witchblade bodysuits Oh and Catwoman. After seeing how latex breaks down so badly I like the stability of this stuff

The corset looks amazing

 

[Darth Mule]

Re: Mystery solved! Call to embroidery experts! Selene (Underworld) corset advice.

I'm an update hog tonite (Updated 2 other threads as well). Here's the semi-finished Selene costume. More pics to come...

Need to revisit the magnets that hold on the holster. It started on her thigh, then kind of moved upward throughout the evening. Boots need buckles on them too. I went with these because they had the right shape. The Demonias people usually use have the buckle but are to bulky. I figured I could just add to these at a later date.

That's me in the background as Dracula and Itsthatguy's shoulder as Itsthatguys shoulder.