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Post by Koda Vonnor on Aug 28, 2006 14:52:27 GMT -5
I just found some very nice robe fabric. It is a rich reddish-brown with many different shades to it. I got it at Hanc ock Fabrics locally for $9/yd. All it says is "100% wool". It has absolutely no stretch lengthwise along the grain and only a tiny bit across the grain. If viewed in bright lighting at arm's length there appears to be a slight twill (diagonal) pattern to it, but up close the pattern disappears and one can see random grains of threads almost like felt. I know it's not felt because of the lack of any stretch along the grain, but other than that I'm not sure what type it is. It's a bit thinner than melton (which was $40/yd locally  ) but woven the same way, rather like a blanket. The 'hand' is softer than blanket wool but not as soft as cashmere. It also has a rich 'wooly' scent to it. Anyway, I've started sewing the robe because I wanted to have one for D*C. There was 9.3 yds on the bolt and I used every inch! (tough being so tall  ) It's almost finished except for hood, cuffs and hems. I didn't leave enough length in the sleeves for a shoulder tuck, so I'll have to forgo that on this go-around. Trying to figure out how much 'gather' I need to put in the hood before I attach that tonight. Any ideas or experiences? Thanks! ~ Koda "new-wooly-smelly-robe-havin" Vonnor |
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Schph Gochi
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"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
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Post by Schph Gochi on Aug 28, 2006 15:58:14 GMT -5
Trying to figure out how much 'gather' I need to put in the hood before I attach that tonight. Any ideas or experiences? Thanks! ~ Koda "new-wooly-smelly-robe-havin" Vonnor p.s. can any of you code geeks tell me how to beat the forum filter? It turned H a n c o c k ... into... Hanthingy ... rofl As far as the gather for the hood.... I baste along the edge of the hood to be gathered....then I usually place the hood down right along the top of the robe and just gather it up until it matches up with the robe...leaving and exra 5/8 " for seam allowance on each side of the hood for the hoods "hem".... It works every time... Han*ock Fabrics....  |
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JediKai
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Post by JediKai on Aug 28, 2006 22:29:43 GMT -5
Exactly. And pin the heck out of it.
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Schph Gochi
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"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
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Post by Schph Gochi on Aug 29, 2006 3:50:21 GMT -5
lol....yes....pins are your friend!
And...I use a piece of the robe fabric cut long enough to go from end to end ....wide enough to cover the seam where the hood joins the robe....press the rough edges in (like quilt binding) and use that strip to cover the joining of hood to robe ...and have always had great results...
If the pattern comes with the robe for the neck trim to hide the seam, I usually don't use it because since you are making an oversize hood with a LOT of gathers...the pattern piece usually is a little skimpy...
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Post by Koda Vonnor on Aug 29, 2006 14:35:15 GMT -5
Schph, Just out of curiosity, how wide would you say the binding is after it's all sewn in? 1 inch maybe? Or wider? Is it safe to trim the seam edges of the fabric (the robe collar-edge and the gathered hood) down a bit before binding? With 5/8" of thick wool on one side and 5/8" of mega-gathered hoodness on the other, there's a lot of seam bulk there ... lol That hood-seam binding and the front facing turn-back is about all I have left to do.  ~ Koda |
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Schph Gochi
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"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
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Post by Schph Gochi on Aug 30, 2006 5:35:35 GMT -5
Yes....there is quite a bit of bulk....so generally....I will kinda measure the bulk and make cut the fabric "seam binding" accordingly...and it is a tough and demanding job for your sewing machine...I have been known to use a leather needle to get through all of the layers on heavier fabric...but ...take your time...and it will turn out great...
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Post by Koda Vonnor on Aug 30, 2006 20:16:24 GMT -5
Well I took my time, and took 2 heavy 'jeans' needles (broke one  ) but managed to do a passable job on the hood seam. The robe hem on the other hand ....... well...... First time I cut/pinned/hemmed the robe, I had my sister check it so it was like 2" off the floor all the way around the hem. But when I got it done and put on the whole costume ... YIKES!! It came to way above my ankles!! I think what I did was I forgot to take into consideration the many layers of fabric in the costume. The tunic (I have at one point 3 thicknesses from a shoulder yoke I put in in lieu of pads), the undertunic, and 4 thicknesses in the tabards (2 plus another 2 where it's seamed), plus the outer tunic's shoulder tuck. Not to mention I measured with bare feet instead of with my boots on. Big mistake. So to fix it, I ended up with just a very small double turn in the hem (about 1/4" is all). It looks like the sleeve hem in Mace Windu's big-flowy-sleeve-robe. It hangs a lot lower now and looks much better. Oh well, they say no two Jedi wear exactly the same style.  ;D I'll see you all in 2 days and you can see the hem for yourselves. Many thanks to all the great advice (that I took, or course ) from the veteran costumers! ~ Koda |
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Schph Gochi
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"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
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Post by Schph Gochi on Aug 31, 2006 2:22:28 GMT -5
See you soon....I always bring my robe....but seldom actually WEAR it....lol...
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JediKai
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Post by JediKai on Aug 31, 2006 9:05:11 GMT -5
I've got mine packed just to wear as a raincoat for the parade. Looks like it probably won't rain on our parade, though.
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Post by Koda Vonnor on Aug 31, 2006 11:55:20 GMT -5
Supposed to be only 68°F at the start of the parade. I'm definately gonna wear the robe. ;D (unless nobody else wears theirs ) ~ Vonnor |
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Schph Gochi
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"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
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Post by Schph Gochi on Sept 6, 2006 5:41:49 GMT -5
My robe never saw the light of day the entire time I was at Dragon Con....I really don't know why I ever bother to bring it along.... |
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Post by Koda Vonnor on Sept 6, 2006 15:37:22 GMT -5
I can relate. Turned the AC down to 62°F in my room. Waited 6 hours. Put the robe on over my tunics. Proceded to sweat buckets. Took off the robe. That's about the whole story. ~ Koda |
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Schph Gochi
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"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
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Post by Schph Gochi on Sept 6, 2006 16:08:22 GMT -5
lol...I'm picking up what you are laying down...
;D
The Star Wars "Collectibles" had our hotel room in the "meat locker" range too....and still.....we had a few sweat buckets going when it was time to dress...
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Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on Sept 7, 2006 22:02:10 GMT -5
I must be used to the weather. I wore a robe most of the time at DragonCon--I did wear the cotton one for the parade. And I didn't wear it on the last day since the sleeves were too long on my tunic and the robe looked funny with them sticking out. Gotta fix that.
Robes are Jedi security blankets.
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) but woven the same way, rather like a blanket. The 'hand' is softer than blanket wool but not as soft as cashmere. It also has a rich 'wooly' scent to it.
) It's almost finished except for hood, cuffs and hems. I didn't leave enough length in the sleeves for a shoulder tuck, so I'll have to forgo that on this go-around.
) but managed to do a passable job on the hood seam.
