Ben Kenobi's Robe

[sulla]

Hello. Other than my introduction post, this is my first post here. Thanks for having me, BTW.

I am putting together my Ben Kenobi Costume from ANH and I was just looking for any tips anyone might have for Ben's robe.

The rest of the costume I being professionally made, but I know I have enough talent to get the robe right on my own.

So, and thoughts on the following topics relatd to old Ben's robe:

Fabric?
Weathering?
Made from old army blankets maybe?
Misc?

Thanks!

[Jauhzmynn Enz]

Hello and peace to you Sulla,
Humm I guess you could make Ben's robe from old blankets if you have them already there with you. Cheaper if you already have them.;-)
If you don't have brown wool ish blakets try Thrift stores.

[Ani-Chay Pinn]

Of course, the best thing to do is to have a copy of ANH for reference. I thought that the scenes on Tatooine were best for showing off Ben's robes; it really shows off the hood and sleeves and how it wears.

Used fabric is best, but if you have to go with new try abusing a test strip of what you get to see what it can take:

bleach
tea dyes for uneven staining
a little dirt, spread around evenly
hot dryer
many washings on hot everything cycle

sunlight ages everything best, but it can take months.

Don't underestimate the amount of material you'll need for the hood. It's huge. Same for the sleeves. You might even try making it with some cheap $1 a yard stuff to just see how it will look and wear and how much material you will need. Notice the width of the fabric or blanket you get. The narrower it is, the longer it needs to be. And the rough fabric is essential; it's so big, you need the friction to keep it on.

[Leda EmBorr]

Or let my 15 year old son wear it for a day... he'll trash it for sure!

[Nova Darklighter]

it was made from wool of the type that british army blankets were made from, quite heavy. Try wool melton. If you put wool in a hot dryer, it will get felted texture, try using a wire brush to age the surface. Bleach will lighten it too much, try lemon juice & sunlight.

[sulla]

Awesome! Thanks for all the useful advice!

I've been pouring over my ANH DVD for the past couple of weeks taking notes, making drawings and diagrams, it's been a joy really. I haven't over-studied a movie for prop reproduction for a long time!

[sulla]

I don't relish the idea of using my old army blankets for the cloak only because of their heat retention abilities. I am thinking of going with a more medium-weight wool fabric bought by the yard. The thing is, I don't really know what kind of wool to get, worsted, knit, etc...? I am not familiar with the differences of these types.

Any suggestions?

[Ani-Chay Pinn]

Aaaah, the internet has far more information than I. What I know about wool is that:

- 100% wool is itchy
- Turns to felt in hot washes and dryers; it's a fiber thing and felt just doesn't look as nice as woven wool

Just a brief search on Yahoo with "types of wool" lead me to sundry web pages about sheep shearing and this one, with more relevant info:

www.glmerc.com/sleeping/wool.htm

A simple way to look for fabric ideas is ebay. Even if you don't want to buy, lots and lots of vendors will post close up pictures of their fabric, showing the weave as well as info about the material itself. I got the fabric for my robe on ebay and went with a 50% wool/50% polyester blend, and it turned out great. It's nearly as coarse and itchy as 100% wool and I can beat it up in my washing machine and still stay wrinkle free. But since you're going for a reproduction you probably don't want to buy unless you can lay your own eyes on the fabric itself; you can never tell if the color in the digital image is right. But ebay is still a good source of info; try "wool fabric" or "army blanket" and see what happens.

[Leda EmBorr]

After 3 robes, I'm finally happy! Mine's made of a lightweight cotton flannel... but it has a very "wool-ish" look to it. I think it has to do with the way the fabric hangs and moves. It also holds it's shape well. I tried wool, and it was just way too heavy... pulled my costume down off my shoulders. It's also itchy.

I'd say that you just have to scout out the fabric shops and look at everything. Touch it... unroll it from the bolt and see how it hangs. I'd say that's the best way. And ask questions at the fabric store. If they're not busy I'm sure they'll be happy to help you....maybe.

[Nova Darklighter]

Woven Wool Melton in a medium weight is nice, not ultra heavy but graet drape, it can be washed, but hang to dry or dry in VERY COOL dryer, I think wool is more itchy if you are allergic to it, I've never found it to be itchy. Wool breathes best & wicks the moisture away from your body better than anything else.