Star Trek The Next Generation costume build amateur hour

[CapKirk34]

Hi, everyone. This is my first post here, and I'd like to lead off with a couple TNG-themed costumes I've, both, worked on and am currently working on.

First up is my "Mirror Broken" inspired mirror Picard. I made it using the Kerezman pattern, modified to account for the deeper yoke, higher collar, and sleeveless nature.

 

[CapKirk34]

And now I'm revisiting (for the third time, hopefully correcting many of my previous errors: color, collar piping, sleeve insertion, interfacing the bodice, etc.) a command tunic from TNG. I'm still waiting on my collar piping to arrive, so the project is on hold for now, but roughly 3/4 completed. Once this is done, I'll try my hand at the season 1-2 jumpsuit...yes, I bought jumbo spandex for that.

I'm always open to advice. Thanks!

 

[DazzlerFan]

Very cool. I don’t have any advice, just wanted to say nice work and uniform selection. I do love to see Trek outfits.

 

[Funky]

That look positively bad ass!

 

[CapKirk34]

Thank you, both.

The TNG tunic has been my white whale of Trek costuming. It's one I've never gotten right, one that I've never been able to find on the secondary market to my 'screen accurate' standard, and *maybe* this time I'll get it nailed. One of those details is the braided collar, and my first sourcing of the trim was too red, but fortunately I found a large stash of trim that matched my burgundy/cranberry/wine color perfectly.

I pinned in the waistband and collar over the past few days, and once I've placed the shoulder pads, and closed the lining, I can add both of those properly. This is just a test for fit. I may end up tweaking the collar a bit more before finally stitching it in, though.

 

[CapKirk34]

Was kind of productive today. Pads are sewn in, lining is machined in place (SO PROUD OF MY SLEEVE CUFFS), and the zipper/collar are pinned in place. Gratefully, I was able to get the color blocking to line up on the first try.

Waistband will get added later this week to finish this thing off.

 

[CapKirk34]

Got the waistband, collar and zipper in today. I tried to make the zipper invisible, but my skills weren't up to the task. I'll need to find a burgundy that matches well enough to hide the stitch.

I'm really happy with the collar. When I tried it on, the 'dive' in the center looked similar to Picard's on screen equivalent.

The waistband is one piece, rather than the two the pattern calls for, to better replicate the on screen style.

All that's left now, other than the burgundy stitch on the zipper, is hand sewing the base of the zipper to the waistband, adding hook and eyes to the collar, and snaps to the waistband flap.

I'm feeling really good about this!

 

[CapKirk34]

So, it turns out what I need for the zipper is something called a reverse coil zipper. I've deduced that it is a more durable style of invisible zipper. Back to the fabric store with me!

 

[CapKirk34]

I am vexed, confounded, perplexed, and dumbstruck by the zipper. I thought I had it set up perfectly, then I go to put it in on, and there's a gap.

I'll be ripping it out and reinstalling it soon, I imagine.

Very much open to advice on this.

 

[CapKirk34]

I've reached the point with the zipper where I've totally abandoned trying to totally hide it (no top-stitching, more like screen-used, and the Anovos tunics). I just, for the life of me, couldn't get it to work, even with the reverse coil zipper that is in place.

If anyone has some advice on how to do it, along with some photos, I'd love to give it one more go.

And here are some comparison shots for fit (my command vs. the Anovos standard ops).

 

[CapKirk34]

So, I've not quite finished the tunic. I'm giving the zipper one last go this week as someone on another board clued me in to an invisible separating zipper. I'm optimistic about that prospect.

For now, another bonehead project comes to the fore: the TNG season 1-2 spandex jumpsuit! I'll be using the Bad Wolf pattern for this. I've already sourced, and acquired, the spandex. Today I got the pattern traced and cut. I'll likely get to the fabric before the end of the week.

WISH ME LUCK!

 

[CapKirk34]

Success, finally on the TNG jacket. Thanks to an Amazon purchase of a Bias Bespoke brand zipper, I've got the jacket successfully closed with no top stitching. I need to give the back a good pressing, but IT'S DONE.

Now, time to really dig in on the jumpsuit. I got the red spandex traced and cut the pieces. Next up is the black jumbo spandex.

 

[CapKirk34]

'Dry fit' looks good. I *think* the gap by the left front leg, and the odd angle on the left side get corrected by the seam allowances, but I'll need to keep an eye on that during assembly.

The last, I think, photo shows how well this berry shade matches my newly completed season 3-7 tunic.

 

[CapKirk34]

Okay, so I've addressed the yoke issues, and some shoulder puckering, but haven't done much this week beyond getting some of the back assembled.

I pinned the front to the back just to get a better sense of how much I need to hem at the bottom.

It's *not* bad?

 

[CapKirk34]

Front and back assemblies are sewn together down to the "waist". I'm leaving the legs open for now to try and get a better sense of the leg hem, and Judy what the hell to do with the pant piping. Then, it's zipper time, and collar trim.

That part worries me the most.

BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE TOTAL TRASH AND I'M VERY PROUD

 

[CapKirk34]

Had some time before everyone else was awake, so I put in the collar trim. Not as bad as I feared.

 

[CapKirk34]

Zipper is in! Alignment looks good, and just a few steps left: close the legs, add the shoulder pads, add the collar closure, and finally add the pant piping before hemming the legs and sleeves.

SO CLOSE TO FINISHED

 

[CapKirk34]

Apart from some inseam issues, it's - for all intents and purposes - finished. My damn needle broke coming down the left leg, so it isn't totally closed.

I'm very happy with this, and optimistic I can get the inseam figured out soon. Then maybe a photo wearing it.

 

[Chicagovader]

Impressive!

 

[CapKirk34]

Impressive!

Thank you!