Question about getting started

[jayden]

hello everyone
i have a question about getting started. how would a person get started making a costume with out any exp in sewing ?
i do not have access to a sewing machine or know anyone that has one either.
ty for your time
jayden soma

[JediKai]

Sounds like you want to make a costume yourself. First you'll need both a machine and the skills.

Sewing machines can be found anywhere from Goodwill to specialty stores. Since the techniques for making Jedi garb are fairly simple, you'll only really need straight stitch capability so I would recommend an inexpensive machine to start. That could be $100 or less, depending on whether you buy it used. If you really get the costume and/or sewing bug and want a better machine, you can buy one in the future.

Many fabric/sewing stores, community colleges or other kinds of community centers teach machine sewing. I'd recommend a class first and a couple simple projects. Alternatively, you can get a book. But I'd really recommend a face to face class. Even after 40+ years of sewing (taught by mother and friends), I learned some things when I took the classes that came with my fancy new Viking machine!

Once you're learned the basics, then read through the posts here about how to actually make the garb and ask further questions.

[Leda EmBorr]

Right.... and you can also try sewing by hand if a machine is not available. It takes alot longer, though.

Also, if you haven't done so, take a look at a Karate gi, or a bathrobe, or any other similar garment. Look at where the seams are and how it's constructed. Try to get a picture in your head of how it would look if you took all the pieces apart. That will make the job easier.

I had no experience whatsoever when I made my first costume... I mean none! But that's what I did, I studied other clothing to see how it was made. I didn't use a sewing machine until I made my 2nd costume, and that one was borrowed. I figured out how to use it from a few library books, but I really would like to take a class at some point.

So you can do it... it just takes patience.

And you'll find lots of help here!

[Olos Nay]

You'll find out in costuming there are 3 main virtues for any costume

1- "I want it quick"
2- "I want it perfect"
3- "I want it cheap"

you can have any combination of 2 of those virtues, but never 3.

make your choices.

I suggest the jedi way

"Patience little padawan, patience."

[Plo Strax-Avix]

yanlauzon said:

1- "I want it quick"
2- "I want it perfect"
3- "I want it cheap"

you can have any combination of 2 of those virtues, but never 3.

Oh yes you can, if:
1- You and/or your family own a textile factory
2- You and your entire family are also expert tailors
3- You and/or your family have been making Jedi costumes for many years

Sorry but I can't resist ;D

Ok for that I'm gonna make it up by trying to help. If you don't want to invest in a sewing machine AND learn how to use it, you can ask someone here to make a costume for you. There're no lack of expert tailors here, so the only things that could get in the way would be time, type of material(textile) and fitting. Let me explain.

Time: This is something everyone don't have enough of, so if someone were to agree to make a costume for you, chances are you'll have to wait for them to do it at their own convenience, not yours.

Type of material(textile): You can of course find and buy your own material and mail it to the person making the costume for you, unless you're so luck to have that person living very near to you. Or to save money on shipping the textile you'll have to trust that person's judgement, tell him/her what kind of material and the range of colours you want, and let him/her get whatever they can in their area. Remember just because you can easily find something where you are doesn't mean someone else can get the exact same thing where they are.

Fitting: Again, unless your tailor lives very near to you, chances are there won't be a chance for you to try on the costume until its done and you get it in the mail, so supplying detailed, accurate and comprehensive measurements as instructed is extremely important.

Hope that helps.

[jayden]

ty for all your help. i'm going to try and make my first costume. i found a sewing machine that is not too expensive. around 60 dollars brand new. im going to buy this one to get started learning. now if i can figure out what the numbers mean i might do ok hehe
ty again for all the advise. i am hoping to be ready by march for the event coming to des moines so i can wear it .
be safe out there and have fun
jayden soma

[Ani-Chay Pinn]

Most numbers on sewing machines are stitches per inch/cm, stitch width and thread tension. It should all be in the manual that came with the machine. And if you don't have it, most machine manuals can be found onlline now.

A word about fabric. Read the label on it. Look for all natural fibers, especiall for the tunic, obi and tabards, like cotton, linen, silk. Any fabric that has any polyester content will likely make a tunic uncomfortably warm to wear. Cotton is the cheapest and most available fabric that looks right.

And you can just buy pants as long as they're the right color, plain, don't have visible pockets or jeans seams and are cotton or linen.

And don't forget that you can use the sewing machine for just little clothes repair jobs at home, too. It's good experience that you can use for costuming and can save time and money, too.

[Nova Darklighter]

OK Jayden, once you've practiced some with the machine and gotten comfortable with it, sewing is easy. I often say "Practice, Practice, Practice!" Just for practice, I recomend taking a few scraps of fabric and drawing on them in straight lines squares that are like a spiral and get smaller w/ each turn or also spiral circles and just stiching over the lines until you find it easy, it is boring, but will teach you "Control, You must learn Control"(sorry, I couldn't resist) then find your fabrics, wash and dry them, cut them and sew. And ask questions here whenever you need to, we'll be very happy to try and answer.

[jayden]

i'm getting a little excited to get started i just purchased my sewing machine. hehe now i need to get some fabric and paterns and start practicing

[Nova Darklighter]

Congratulations on your sewing machine, remember practice, practice prractice! By the way, as a sewing manual instruction book, try "Sewing for Dummies" clear and easy instructions that usually make sense. For practice fabric I reccomend any cheap woven fabric, cotton muslin is good for this, and can be bought at about $1-2 a yard in most places, especially WalMart type stores, wash dry cut & sew. Have Fun!

[jayden]

ok i have another question if anyone would be willing to give me some advise. im starting to make my costume, and i have the pattern would it be ok to tape the patern to carboard to keep the design for use over and over?

[Xorren Hedrasii]

Okie well, I don't see why not, HOWEVER My grandma always keeps them anyway, without the cardboard mounts.

[Ldi-Ovef Te_Azi]

i once sewed together a costume for a rennaissaince festival where i live (well close at least) you shouldn't need to tape it to cardboard, just be carefull and fold it up when your are done. ooo, and always keep the original pattern case in case (hehe) you need to find it again if it is beyond all hope. those little serial codes are frekin awsome. sewing isnt hard, though, once you get the theory down. no need to buy a book, just look online. the internet is one of the most usefull things in the world. its how we all get together, and its how you can find anything and everything.

but now i must go get ready for work so toodles, and good luck.

[JediKai]

No, I wouldn't tape it to cardboard. That would make it too hard to store. I have about 60 patterns, at least. Think of the room that would take stored on cardboard!

But don't try to get it back in the envelope in which you bought it though. I put mine in large zip lock bags, with the envelope.

Folkwear and Mediaeval Miscellania patterns are printed on heavy paper. I use interfacing to copy them rather than cutting them out. The interfacing fabric makes a durable pattern.

[Leda EmBorr]

Right... interfacing makes a good pattern material.

I usually trace the patten and all it's markings onto large blank newsprint (since I have an abundance of it on hand). I have also used old bedsheets for that purpose.... but the interfacing would work better because it's stiffer.