9 replies to this topic

[DJ_Battousai]

okay, so I have NEVER really costumed before at all. I am hoping to do this character one day.
Basically, I have a few questions about costume, and one about props...

okay, here's a few pics of the character (sorry they're so long. I couldnt get the forums to work very well... my computer doesn't like me)
http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Animation/blood.../chara_hagi.gif

http://clappa.jp/term/images/blood/Hagi_body.jpg

and a couple I'll refer back to later:
http://randomc.animeblogger.net/image/Bloo...0Large%2024.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w134/Te...-1140628835.jpg

okay, first the costuming questions: where would I find a shirt with a big wide collar? it's not like HUGE but it looks like the collar is bigger than a normal shirt, and I know I've seen shirts in that style before.

and, how would I do the jacket? it's like it has coat tails on the front and back or something. I'm assuming I'd probably have to make it, but how exactly might I go about that?

and, the big question... well, this is referring to the other two pictures I posted... I want to make Hagi's coffin. does anyone have any idea how I might go about that? I want to actually make it a decent size, and, as in the anime, have a sword inside it. in the anime, the coffin actually contains a cello, and has a secret compartment where the lead character's sword is hidden.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

[Metanoia]

The shirt, you may get away with a normal one. Most people won't nit-pick that many details, especially for your first costume.

The jacket... this is how I would do it - find yourself a jacket pattern that has the collar style you want. It is important that the overall look and the collar are similar, but you will extrapolate the rest.

How I make my altered pattern is by making a mockup out of material (cheap cotton should do for it) and using a lot of excess, so in this case you would make the length a lot longer in the front and back (just extend the lines of the pattern into a big rectangle type shape to start will do), and also the sleeves will need to be longer as well. At this point do practice sewing the collar as per the instructions cause the practice will help you when you do your good one. You may have to make the collar a little larger, but if that is the case I would start by looking at the pattern pieces you get and drawing them larger.

Sew it all together, and then put it on. You might need a friend to help (I use my dress form for this part, not myself usually except to check fit, and heights, etc). Now you can use tailors chalk to draw how the front and back "tails" will go on your excess that you had on the front. Also you can draw how you want the sleeves to go to give them a point to.

Then you can cut this excess off (or pin it up to start with) and see how you like what you did. When you are happy with how it will look you cut along the seams (the stitch lines you have made while sewing it together) and there you have a new pattern! So then you can make your final version.

You may have trouble hemming the tails. I would probably do them "self-lined" which means you have a second layer of fabric (at least up to the waist in this case) which you sew together, then turn it in the right way so your seam is on the inside and press it down with an iron. You can hand sew where this ends at the top - I would do this where that waist detailing is so you don't see it.

The waist detailing looks like a belt to me, so I would probably do this by adding loops (like on jeans) and making a tube of material, ironed flat for the belt part which would be threaded through. Same for the sleeve.

Dont hesitate to ask more questions, or as for any of this to be explained a little better where needed. And goodluck!

Edited by Metanoia, 02 August 2007 - 10:42 AM.

[wenz]

Metanoia's given you some good advice. My take in looking at patterns is to ignore the photos in a pattern book, and look at the technical drawings (the line drawings). They're a more accurate description, especially if you find it hard to separate in your mind the fabric/finished garment from the seamlines.

Burda pattens might be your best bet as they have more patterns for men & I think they're on sale at Lincraft at the moment. Making collars larger is easier than trying to change the type of collar (ie change it from a V neck to mandarin collar for example).

Plus depending on your net access you can look at patterns online, although there's a time-lag of around 3 months for new patterns being available in australia/NZ.

Burda patterns online Costume section
Burda Patterns menswear section
Vogue patterns menswear
Butterick's mensewear is pretty much only pyjamas so I haven't listed it -
Butterick patterns - I forgot to link their costume section.
McCall menswear
McCall costumes
Simplicity and New Look patterns

As an example not looking at what the pattern is made up to be, but looking at what the technical lines are Burda's napoleonic style jacket makes a really good basis for a Beatles Sargeant Peppers costume.

[DJ_Battousai]

okay, I'm gonna admit, I have NO experience whatsoever at patterns or anything. so I could really use some help. @_@

from what I can see, these seem to be the best ideas for the jacket:
http://www.voguepatterns.com/item/V7988.ht...=men&page=1

http://www.burdamode.com/Menswear_Sportswe...56956,enEN.html

because they've already got some good length. especially the vogue one, cos it's a coat on its own... anyway, as I said, I could really use the help... any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

also, does anyone have any ideas about some kind of program I could use to do 3d technical drawings or something? for the coffin I want to do, my main problem is I want to make sure I get the angles right.. and of course, that will be rather difficult. its really a tough looking design. but I figure once I get the measurements and angles, it should be a piece of cake.

[Reactor drone]

okay, I'm gonna admit, I have NO experience whatsoever at patterns or anything. so I could really use some help. @_@

from what I can see, these seem to be the best ideas for the jacket:
http://www.voguepatterns.com/item/V7988.ht...=men&page=1

http://www.burdamode.com/Menswear_Sportswe...56956,enEN.html

because they've already got some good length. especially the vogue one, cos it's a coat on its own... anyway, as I said, I could really use the help... any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

I'd worry less about finding a long jacket pattern(lengthening the bottom is easy enough to do) and look for a pattern that is closely tailored and has a similar collar design.


As far as the coffin/cello case it might be a good idea to mock up a small scale model(Barbie,GI Joe size) with cardboard to get a feel for the shape and angles then scale everything up to full size once you're happy with the look.

[wenz]

okies, what you need to look at is how fitted is your garment, and how high the neckline. Also the shape of the collar. Sometimes if the *shape* is closest it's easier to make a shirt one size larger, drop the armhole (can explain that at another time) and use it as a jacket.

To me it looks like the centre front fastens with a zip - not that you see it, but there doens't appear to be an overlap or button fastening. The collar of the jacket isn't notched - I can show you how to change a notched to un-notched. It fastens higher than either of the coat patterns you've linked - at least to my eyes. To get an idea of how to estimate this, try drawing a line across the bottom of the v neckline to see where it finishes in comparison to the armhole. Hold up a ruler to the screen if you're looking online not paper.

I almost can't believe I'm suggesting this but mccall POTC pattern is almost closer in collar shape & placement. - don't forget to remove all the decorative trim and the seamlines are simple.

Reactor drone is right,in that the tails aren't something to worry about as they can be added to it. I'm more than happy to help you with that.

[wenz]

high neckline jacket

ignore the shape of the tails as that's an easy change in comparison to tight v loose fit & more importantly how high the neckline is.

[Reactor drone]

Womens jackets are generally more tailered so something like this might be ok.

http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M5247.ht...oats&page=2

Needs the collar adjusting and the modified front closure but the general look is right.

[wenz]

If you want to meet up to look at fabric/patterns send me a message & I'll see how bad my diary is

[DJ_Battousai]

my apologies for not being here in ages.

another thing which might make a problem of the costume, is that I'm a bigger kind of person. so i'd probably need some kind of "plus-size" pattern or something. does that change anything much? I've got advice off friends for the other part of the project (the coffin)
so now the jacket, and finding the right kind of shirt would be the biggest thing ^^