What LotR Costumes/Clothes Have You Made? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lalwendë · 03-16-2005, 03:38 AM

Esty - you expect rain? In England? In summer?

Well, the only kind of waterproof cloak I've ever seen are those capes which fishermen wear during their endless hours spent huddling by English canals; they are made from some kind of wax jacket material and are not very Elven, but you could almost carry off the Dunedain ranger look with one.

I just allow myself to get rained on because it's quite nice in the summer. But my serious recommendation would be a large umbrella.

mark12_30 · 03-16-2005, 04:59 AM

Water-proof, I dunno. But water-resistant.... I'd say wool.

But use a tight weave. Maybe thoroughly pre-shrink the fabric (hot wash & hot tumble-dry) to tighten up the weave even more.

If you want to be super zealous there's always scotch-guard....

....afterthought.... Gore-Tex??? I'm amazed they sell it by the yard! Quick, Esty, sale ends March 19....

Celebuial · 03-16-2005, 05:18 AM

Hmmmm... Let me see. I made a long elvish looking dress for my GCSE Textiles course work back when I was at school, my teacher didn't mark me very well though because she said that it wasn't inline with the fashions of the time, or something like that. I said that with the new film out Lotr would soon become a craze and everyone would want elvish looking clothes. In response she laughed at me! I also made a top with really long and wide sleeves made of silky fabric (probably satin,I don't remember!) and I'm attempting to make a cloak at the moment.

I did think about cheating and buying one though.... I was thinking about one of the official ones, but then I found out that they were £300!!!!! Then I found a really nice one in a shop that was only £60. It was perfect other than the fact that it was velour not velvet and it had a frog closure. I don't think frog closures look very elvish. Oh- it was also about a foot too long (I'm only 5'1")!

I think that I'm just going to have to make it myself. I'm feeling rather lazy at the moment though.... Oh well I know a great shop that sells the most beautifull fabric, so I should probably go get started!

Lalwendë · 03-16-2005, 06:04 AM

Celebuial - You get marks for making fashionable things? How is this judged though? The mind boggles... it was all about technique and design when I was at school. Surely though, your teacher ought to have realised just how big a market there is for alternative clothing out there? There are always going to be people who want to buy medieval/elven style clothes!

Don't cheat with your cloak, they are so easy to make! All I would advise is lots of room to cut the pattern as I had a nightmare with mine! Mine was made from pattern 9887 here and it's pretty simple, and moves nicely too. Though I did cheat and buy another when I saw a nice double sided cloak, as that would be too difficult to make for me!

Celebuial · 03-16-2005, 06:15 AM

Well, we were s'posed to do research and relate our projects to that. It was s'posed to be something that people would buy. I did lots of Tolkien research, and I even included lots of writing in tengwar so that I could make a care label in elvish. My teacher wasn't impressed!

The shop that I mentioned earlier with the lovely fabric has all the simplicity patterns too. I'd completely forgoten though.... Thanks! It would be much easier than making my own pattern. I shall no-longer be tempted with thoughts of cheating! I promise!

Bêthberry · 03-16-2005, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Don't cheat with your cloak, they are so easy to make! All I would advise is lots of room to cut the pattern as I had a nightmare with mine! Mine was made from pattern 9887 here and it's pretty simple, and moves nicely too. Though I did cheat and buy another when I saw a nice double sided cloak, as that would be too difficult to make for me!

Lalwendë, I don't suppose the "cheat" was in [b]davem[/]b's size, was it? Or will you make a matching one for him?

Lalwendë · 03-16-2005, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Lalwendë, I don't suppose the "cheat" was in [b]davem[/]b's size, was it? Or will you make a matching one for him?

No, the one I made myself is more his size with him being tall, as it's actually far too long for me, but I doubt I'd ever get him to wear a cloak anyway, but if I do I shall be sure to get a photo! Now he will be very scared!

Especially being spoken about in this way...I can expect retribution later!

Celebuial, that pattern pack also has a pattern for a Gandalf hat! I've not tried that one yet, but it looked like fun to make.

mark12_30 · 03-16-2005, 09:18 AM

Subtlety, Lalwendë, subtlety. IMO, forget "costumes". Go for "Garments" that have the flavor/ style you want and he will like. No arm-twisting needed. For instance, how about garments that remind you of the professor? Start with one garment at a time, with many compliments along the way. Just keep telling him how sharp he looks.

I talked my husband into buying a lovely tan-heather henley shirt, which strikes me as very woodsy, and country.

It also strikes me as very middle-earthy and hobbity. I didn't tell him that, of course.

03-16-2005, 03:38 AM	#1
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Esty - you expect rain? In England? In summer? Well, the only kind of waterproof cloak I've ever seen are those capes which fishermen wear during their endless hours spent huddling by English canals; they are made from some kind of wax jacket material and are not very Elven, but you could almost carry off the Dunedain ranger look with one. I just allow myself to get rained on because it's quite nice in the summer. But my serious recommendation would be a large umbrella. __________________ Gordon's alive!

03-16-2005, 04:59 AM	#2
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Water-proof, I dunno. But water-resistant.... I'd say wool. But use a tight weave. Maybe thoroughly pre-shrink the fabric (hot wash & hot tumble-dry) to tighten up the weave even more. If you want to be super zealous there's always scotch-guard.... ....afterthought.... Gore-Tex??? I'm amazed they sell it by the yard! Quick, Esty, sale ends March 19.... __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve. Last edited by mark12_30; 03-16-2005 at 05:08 AM.

03-16-2005, 05:18 AM	#3
Celebuial Wight Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cardiff during term time/Leicester in the holl's Posts: 129	Hmmmm... Let me see. I made a long elvish looking dress for my GCSE Textiles course work back when I was at school, my teacher didn't mark me very well though because she said that it wasn't inline with the fashions of the time, or something like that. I said that with the new film out Lotr would soon become a craze and everyone would want elvish looking clothes. In response she laughed at me! I also made a top with really long and wide sleeves made of silky fabric (probably satin,I don't remember!) and I'm attempting to make a cloak at the moment. I did think about cheating and buying one though.... I was thinking about one of the official ones, but then I found out that they were £300!!!!! Then I found a really nice one in a shop that was only £60. It was perfect other than the fact that it was velour not velvet and it had a frog closure. I don't think frog closures look very elvish. Oh- it was also about a foot too long (I'm only 5'1")! I think that I'm just going to have to make it myself. I'm feeling rather lazy at the moment though.... Oh well I know a great shop that sells the most beautifull fabric, so I should probably go get started! __________________ Ú cilith ‘war. Ú men ‘war. Boe min mebi. Boe min bango.

03-16-2005, 06:04 AM	#4
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Celebuial - You get marks for making fashionable things? How is this judged though? The mind boggles... it was all about technique and design when I was at school. Surely though, your teacher ought to have realised just how big a market there is for alternative clothing out there? There are always going to be people who want to buy medieval/elven style clothes! Don't cheat with your cloak, they are so easy to make! All I would advise is lots of room to cut the pattern as I had a nightmare with mine! Mine was made from pattern 9887 here and it's pretty simple, and moves nicely too. Though I did cheat and buy another when I saw a nice double sided cloak, as that would be too difficult to make for me! __________________ Gordon's alive!

03-16-2005, 06:15 AM	#5
Celebuial Wight Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cardiff during term time/Leicester in the holl's Posts: 129	Well, we were s'posed to do research and relate our projects to that. It was s'posed to be something that people would buy. I did lots of Tolkien research, and I even included lots of writing in tengwar so that I could make a care label in elvish. My teacher wasn't impressed! The shop that I mentioned earlier with the lovely fabric has all the simplicity patterns too. I'd completely forgoten though.... Thanks! It would be much easier than making my own pattern. I shall no-longer be tempted with thoughts of cheating! I promise! __________________ Ú cilith ‘war. Ú men ‘war. Boe min mebi. Boe min bango.

03-16-2005, 09:18 AM	#8
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Subtlety, Lalwendë, subtlety. IMO, forget "costumes". Go for "Garments" that have the flavor/ style you want and he will like. No arm-twisting needed. For instance, how about garments that remind you of the professor? Start with one garment at a time, with many compliments along the way. Just keep telling him how sharp he looks. I talked my husband into buying a lovely tan-heather henley shirt, which strikes me as very woodsy, and country. It also strikes me as very middle-earthy and hobbity. I didn't tell him that, of course. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.