[ SECRET POST #4831 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #4831 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 46 secrets from Secret Submission Post #692.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[capsulecorp_tm]

A goal I fully support! As a professional as well as hobby cosplayer...

I'm working on a book about choosing and modifying patterns for cosplay, but until that hefty undertaking pans out, I can offer tips and advice anytime. Especially since my business is a bit, ah, slow right about now. Advice is always free.

When you're learning to sew for the purpose of cosplay, as opposed to quilting or crafting, I strongly suggest practicing with useful garments, because costumes are actually garments, not crafts, and half of making a costume look good is making sure it fits you. Learning by practicing on pajamas/drawstring pants, knit shirts (if you want to learn knits), and so on will allow you to learn the basics of how clothing fits human bodies. We're not all straight lines, and it's not until you start fiddling with patterns that you start seeing how shapes inform fit and comfort. Drawstring pants are forgiving but also useful for cosplay, not every design is jeans or dress pants or shorts you can buy off-rack. And then you have something useful to wear, too!

As for personal project sharing, today it was finally warm enough that the laundry area of our basement was not too cold to spend a couple hours dyeing fabric. Success on my ombre dying of the hem of a kimono, not so much success trying to darken a purple linen. And then my paint order from Dharma arrived so tomorrow I'm painting pinstripes on a different kimono!

[(Anonymous)]

AYRT—hmm, maybe try stripping some of the existing dye out of the linen first? Some natural fabrics just don’t overdye well, especially if they’re already a saturated color. And I’ve had a couple of fabrics that turned out to not be 100% natural fibers. At least since it’s linen, there’s no harm in boiling the shit out of it to use dye remover.

Your book in progress sounds awesome! Please post links here when it’s available to buy! (Totally gonna suggest my library system purchase it, assuming I still have a job there when this is over, but I will also buy a personal copy.)

And you may regret offering advice, heh. I don’t suppose you know anything about machine embroidery, do you? The only embroidery stabilizer I’ve ever liked is the iron on washaway stuff, but that’s not really a safe option with silk taffeta, since washing it may ruin the hand. Plus I have a 50 yard roll of tearaway stabilizer to use up.

[capsulecorp_tm]

Oh, I already know that the problem was not concentrating the dye enough. I just used what I had left but I clearly needed at least half a pack to increase the concentration. I've overdyed linen from fabrics-store.com half a dozen times, I know where I went wrong. I was just lazy, lol.

I do actually know some! We have a programmable machine and have been using it and abusing it for at least ten years. Ooh are you the person making the Phantom dress? Killer! My other half embroiders silk frequently, and suggests tearaway or burn-away (you iron on the back of it and it peels off). I think we've also used sticky-back but mostly that's for repositioning easily in an endless hoop, not as useful when doing individual embroideries. Oh, apparently she has used washaway on silk chiffon, and I can attest that it didn't change the hand at all - hand-wash it, dunk it in a bucket, don't agitate it. So long as the silk can handle the temperature it's fine.

[(Anonymous)]

AYRT—Yep, at some point I’m gonna attempt the Phantom dress. Thanks for the info! I mucked up some silk taffeta by washing it once, and ever since I’ve been leery of doing it again, but iron on stabilizer is so much easier. I kind of wish I’d bought a roll of that instead, before Amazon went to essentials only.

That’s so cool that you and your partner both do costuming!

[capsulecorp_tm]

Yeah I feel you. But she's done a lot with silk chiffon, velvet, and our metric assloads of dupioni so you should be ok with the taffeta as long as you treat it gently. But if you're leery of even getting water stains from the washing, the tearaway should work.

Ahaha we do, that's how we met! These days she has a swanky job though so I do most of the sewing for both of us, unless she wants to challenge herself. She worked for a year on her Princess Serenity gown, embroidering and beading it, for DragonCon.