monsterpartyhat
Sr Member
UPDATE: Completed photos here.
I hadn't been intending to put together a Star Wars themed costume for Halloween this year, but after I impulsively jumped on the Armorer Works DL-44 airsoft pistol, well...obviously I HAD to put together a costume to go with the blaster (and possibly encouraged by a couple of cosplaying co-workers, one of whom is just waiting for a Han Solo to put his Kylo Ren saber through. But I digress...).
I've put the majority of my budget so far into the entire gun belt rig - a Todd's Costumes holster, greeblies from Solos Hold, an Anovos Droid Caller, etc.... (and I've caught the custom blaster bug, but that's a story for another thread...), and I don't have time between now and Halloween (nor the budget) for a custom order from Magnoli. I didn't really decide to try to get it done ASAP until I found that some clothing designer at fast fashion brand ASOS must be a Star Wars fan. Enter the ASOS Harrington Jacket With Four Pocket Detail In Navy, which is oddly familiar. ESB is my favorite costume too, so despite the fact that the blaster is an ANH model....
With a 50% off sale and free shipping, it was quickly in-hand in a couple of sizes.
Obviously, it's not going to make an accurate jacket, but it's more than close enough for an office costume party (even one at my nerdier-than-average employer). What needs to change? The zipper is the first thing that has to go. And the jacket is a little long...but it's actually nearly perfect in length without the ribbed, knitted waistband. The extended flap on the collar can be trimmed back. Unfortunately, if I remove the snaps from the other side they'll leave holes behind, so I'll probably just have to live with that.
There's no back pocket and no back yoke -- I briefly considered cannibalizing the one that didn't fit to construct a pocket and yoke from, but (a) I hate to ruin a perfectly good jacket for a small percentage of its raw material, and (b) when I have more time I'm going to sew up a more accurate jacket from the Dawn pattern anyway, so why bother? Although, with a fabric store a block from the office....if I can find a match..... sigh.
So...on to removing the zipper. I'm going to document all the alterations because why not?
Seam rippers are a sewer's best friend - they erase your mistakes - but one slip and they can also ruin everything. In my earlier sewing days I trashed a lot of hours of hard work with a moment's carelessness with a seam ripper. Taking apart mass-produced products can be a painstaking business, as they're not generally made to be altered. Start by picking out the top stitching carefully, until there's room to get into the seam. Resist the temptation to try to rip a long segment at once.
A few minutes careful picking of stitches in ones and threes got one side of the zipper completely removed. I also marked off where to shorten the extended collar flap with some chalk. I didn't take any photos of removing the zipper from the other side because, well...it's exactly the same process, just on the other side.
There, that looks better already!
Tomorrow I'll remove the knitted waistband. It's a little more difficult, as it's first attached inside-out, and then top-stitched as well. Once that's done, removing the knitted cuffs should also be easy.
I hadn't been intending to put together a Star Wars themed costume for Halloween this year, but after I impulsively jumped on the Armorer Works DL-44 airsoft pistol, well...obviously I HAD to put together a costume to go with the blaster (and possibly encouraged by a couple of cosplaying co-workers, one of whom is just waiting for a Han Solo to put his Kylo Ren saber through. But I digress...).
I've put the majority of my budget so far into the entire gun belt rig - a Todd's Costumes holster, greeblies from Solos Hold, an Anovos Droid Caller, etc.... (and I've caught the custom blaster bug, but that's a story for another thread...), and I don't have time between now and Halloween (nor the budget) for a custom order from Magnoli. I didn't really decide to try to get it done ASAP until I found that some clothing designer at fast fashion brand ASOS must be a Star Wars fan. Enter the ASOS Harrington Jacket With Four Pocket Detail In Navy, which is oddly familiar. ESB is my favorite costume too, so despite the fact that the blaster is an ANH model....
With a 50% off sale and free shipping, it was quickly in-hand in a couple of sizes.
Obviously, it's not going to make an accurate jacket, but it's more than close enough for an office costume party (even one at my nerdier-than-average employer). What needs to change? The zipper is the first thing that has to go. And the jacket is a little long...but it's actually nearly perfect in length without the ribbed, knitted waistband. The extended flap on the collar can be trimmed back. Unfortunately, if I remove the snaps from the other side they'll leave holes behind, so I'll probably just have to live with that.
There's no back pocket and no back yoke -- I briefly considered cannibalizing the one that didn't fit to construct a pocket and yoke from, but (a) I hate to ruin a perfectly good jacket for a small percentage of its raw material, and (b) when I have more time I'm going to sew up a more accurate jacket from the Dawn pattern anyway, so why bother? Although, with a fabric store a block from the office....if I can find a match..... sigh.
So...on to removing the zipper. I'm going to document all the alterations because why not?
Seam rippers are a sewer's best friend - they erase your mistakes - but one slip and they can also ruin everything. In my earlier sewing days I trashed a lot of hours of hard work with a moment's carelessness with a seam ripper. Taking apart mass-produced products can be a painstaking business, as they're not generally made to be altered. Start by picking out the top stitching carefully, until there's room to get into the seam. Resist the temptation to try to rip a long segment at once.
A few minutes careful picking of stitches in ones and threes got one side of the zipper completely removed. I also marked off where to shorten the extended collar flap with some chalk. I didn't take any photos of removing the zipper from the other side because, well...it's exactly the same process, just on the other side.
There, that looks better already!
Tomorrow I'll remove the knitted waistband. It's a little more difficult, as it's first attached inside-out, and then top-stitched as well. Once that's done, removing the knitted cuffs should also be easy.
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