Post by Shoshana Win on Aug 6, 2002 20:08:08 GMT -5
Hey Schph, since you didn't like Amber instructions (which I had to modify too! ;D), I thought I would post how I made the tabbard and obi for our costumes. Maybe it will help others as well! And I apologize if I put a lot of info in here that you already know, but I wanted to make sure anyone could follow what I did.
First, I made the two tabbard pieces and the obi the same width. Amber's site suggests a finished width of 6" if I remember correctly, but I wound up modifying the width to make it look better. Since Solorad is pretty tall, with wide shoulders, I wound up making his 8" wide, while I kept mine at 6". I'll just use Solorad for my example. I created a pattern from poster board (so I could use it again...I HATE that awful pattern paper!) and made it 18" wide--16" for the finished tabbard piece and a 1" seam allowance on each edge. I used the one inch seam allowance just because it was easier for me to work with. The pattern was 60" long, which was plenty long for both of us. Because of that, I didn't worry about adding for the seam allowance. I then used the same pattern to cut out all three pieces (two for the tabbard and one for the obi). Once I cut out the pattern, I folded it in half and ironed the folded edge. The fabric I used didn't have a "right" side, but if yours does, make sure the "right" sides are facing inward. I then sewed along one unfinished end (widthwise), and along the unfinished length edge. At that point I basically had a long rectangle with one open end. I then turned the fabric "inside out" so the "right" side of the fabric showed, and ironed the seams. I then cut all three pieces to the right length. I basically just put the obi around Solorad's waist and cut it a little long so I would have some overlap. Then I draped the tabbard pieces over his shoulders and adjusted them until they hung down below his tunic to a length he wanted (basically to his knees). I then cut the unsewed ends to the proper length, which was at the bottom edge of the obi when wrapped around his waist. Finally, I pinned the tabbard pieces to the obi, with the unfinished, open edges underneath the obi (between the obi and the tunic) and put the whole thing on Solorad to make sure it all fit correctly. I wound up pinning the tabbard pieces close to the open end of the obi. That way, when the obi was wrapped, the finished edge would hide all the stitches. You will also have to play with the angle of attachment a little to make sure that the "V" in the back fits to your satisfaction. Finally, I sewed the tabbard pieces to the obi. To finish the obi, I pinned on some Velcro, then put the whole thing back on Solorad and adjusted the pieces to where the obi would fit snugly, but comfortably on him. Then I sewed on the Velcro!
I plan to modify the obi a little next time to make it overlap more, but other than that, this part of our costumes was the easiest to make. Let me know if I didn't explain any well!
And Nova..........if you have any suggestions, improvements, etc. to what I did, PLEASE post them!!! I would love any advice you can give me !
First, I made the two tabbard pieces and the obi the same width. Amber's site suggests a finished width of 6" if I remember correctly, but I wound up modifying the width to make it look better. Since Solorad is pretty tall, with wide shoulders, I wound up making his 8" wide, while I kept mine at 6". I'll just use Solorad for my example. I created a pattern from poster board (so I could use it again...I HATE that awful pattern paper!) and made it 18" wide--16" for the finished tabbard piece and a 1" seam allowance on each edge. I used the one inch seam allowance just because it was easier for me to work with. The pattern was 60" long, which was plenty long for both of us. Because of that, I didn't worry about adding for the seam allowance. I then used the same pattern to cut out all three pieces (two for the tabbard and one for the obi). Once I cut out the pattern, I folded it in half and ironed the folded edge. The fabric I used didn't have a "right" side, but if yours does, make sure the "right" sides are facing inward. I then sewed along one unfinished end (widthwise), and along the unfinished length edge. At that point I basically had a long rectangle with one open end. I then turned the fabric "inside out" so the "right" side of the fabric showed, and ironed the seams. I then cut all three pieces to the right length. I basically just put the obi around Solorad's waist and cut it a little long so I would have some overlap. Then I draped the tabbard pieces over his shoulders and adjusted them until they hung down below his tunic to a length he wanted (basically to his knees). I then cut the unsewed ends to the proper length, which was at the bottom edge of the obi when wrapped around his waist. Finally, I pinned the tabbard pieces to the obi, with the unfinished, open edges underneath the obi (between the obi and the tunic) and put the whole thing on Solorad to make sure it all fit correctly. I wound up pinning the tabbard pieces close to the open end of the obi. That way, when the obi was wrapped, the finished edge would hide all the stitches. You will also have to play with the angle of attachment a little to make sure that the "V" in the back fits to your satisfaction. Finally, I sewed the tabbard pieces to the obi. To finish the obi, I pinned on some Velcro, then put the whole thing back on Solorad and adjusted the pieces to where the obi would fit snugly, but comfortably on him. Then I sewed on the Velcro!
I plan to modify the obi a little next time to make it overlap more, but other than that, this part of our costumes was the easiest to make. Let me know if I didn't explain any well!
And Nova..........if you have any suggestions, improvements, etc. to what I did, PLEASE post them!!! I would love any advice you can give me !