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Construction and Sewing Tips

Not everyone knows everything. So, we're compiling helpful tips and techniques you can use in construction your LOTR costume.

Contribute by either asking for a definition, writing up a definition, or providing some links... and categories.  Many of these come from our Yahoo discussion board.

Also check out our definition's page, to see if the site mascot hid your answers over there.

If you've got answers or a link or a question... please join us over in LOTR_Costume on Yahoo.

We've got whole separate articles on these... but also check below for quick bits

Pattern Modification & Tips
Fabric Techniques
Fabric Embellishment
All About Armor
Leather Working
Vambraces to Gloves
Weapon Tips
Shoe Tips
Metalwork and Crowns
Working with Clay
Casting Belt Buckle
Casting Small Props
Pipe Making Tips

On this page

• Fabric Tips

• Sewing Tips

• Wire jewelry and circlet tips

• Misc tips
   

Fabric Tips

• Acid Etch Velvet/ Emboss
  • http://www.fabrics.net/etch.asp
  • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Costume/message/896
  • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Costume/message/1214

• Fabric Types - Burn test and how to wash (including velvet)
  • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Costume/message/897
• Embossed velvet
  • http://www.bsmithwithstyle.com/home/decor/velvet.html
    http://www.diynet.com/DIY/article/0,2058,6163,FF.html
    http://www.sewnews.com/library/fabr7a.htm
  • http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00072.asp
  • http://www.purrfection.com/projects/embossing.htm
  • http://www.costumersguide.com/embossing.shtml
  • Crushing with felt
    • You can also get some felt, cut it into the design you want...and then mix vinegar and water into a spray bottle and wet the felt. Then heat your iron. Place the velvet nap side on top of the wet felt piece. Put a special velvet ironing cloth under both of those( against the ironing board itself) so that when you iron the wrong side of the velvet, it doesn't crush it all.
    • When you remove the vinegar soaked design from the velvet, there is now a permanent impression
    • ==Tammy
• Embroidery Stitches
  • http://www.anu.edu.au/ITA/CSA/textiles/sharonb/stitches/stitchfsite.html
  • Feathered chain stitch
    • http://www.anu.edu.au/ITA/CSA/textiles/sharonb/stitches/chain-feather.html
• Fabric Dying
  • Color matching, etc
  • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Costume/message/4241
  • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Costume/message/5814

• How do you full wool?
  • *Fulled: for those non-textile persons, this means washing the fabric with some agitation after it's off the loom. This shrinks the
    wool slightly (or a lot, depending on how much you full it) and
    becomes thicker, softer, and fuzzier.
    • http://www.allfiberarts.com/library/aa98/aa022698.htm
    • http://www.angelfire.com/fl/burntmounds/fulling.html
    • http://knitting.about.com/cs/felting/
    • http://www.fuzzygalore.biz/articles/fulling.shtml
    • http://www.damehelen.com/sewing/wool.html
  •  
• Sewing with Silk
  • http://silkery.com/sewing.html
• Tips for sewing Chiffon
  • http://www.janome.com/technique_show.php?technique=27
• Sewing tips and more about sequins
  • http://www.desertmoondance.com/modiste.htm - belly dancing costume site site
• Getting wrinkles out of even linen
  • mix a little white vinegar into a spray bottle with some water, iron it and it'll take all the wrinkles out. Even works with the evil polyester...:)  ==Tammy
     

Sewing Tips

• Cloth covered buttons
  • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Costume/message/1065
• How to make a gathered skirt
  • Making a hobbit skirt
  • http://www.reddawn.net/costume/skirt.htm
• Make a Muslin - to fit a pattern
  • Now have a whole article in tips
• Buying Patterns on sale
  • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Costume/message/3000
• How to sew on sequins
  • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Costume/message/4308
• Sewing groups on the web
  • www.sewing.com
    • a wonderful sewing dictionary
    • sewing message board
    • massive set of sewing links
  • http://www.sew-whats-new.com/
    • free beginning sewing classes
    • free beginning quilting classes
    • discussion board
  • www.keepingyouinstitches.com - Sally Cowan
    • fabric dictionary
    •  
• Links to sewing tips from the Costumer's Manifesto
  • http://www.costumes.org/pages/howtopat.htm
•  

Wire Jewelry and Circlet tips

• A whole page on making circlets
• Making Galadriel's Crown
  • Ginger's Instructions
  • Ginger's Pattern
• The wire jewelry and circlets
  • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Costume/message/1234
• Boromir's clasps etc
  • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Costume/message/3158
• All about Jewelry making
  • http://jewelrymaking.about.com/mbody.htm

Misc Tips

• Boning
  • Steal Spiral stays work best for long term hobbit bodices
  • Rigoleen was probably used in the originals
  • Cable ties make a good substitute.  Available in 36-48 inches, but are thicker than the alternatives.
• Grommets
  • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Costume/message/2395
  • notes of placement and a site for more help
• Suspender Hardware - how to convert
  • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Costume/message/561

Don't forget to check out out definitions as well as our makeup and hair section.  Share any tips with us at rings@alleycatscratch.com.

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This page was last updated 04/22/08