Mando Mercs Costume Club
Mandalorian Armor => Soft Parts => Topic started by: Nickel on Mar 03, 2012, 12:30 AM
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All of my soft parts progress will be covered in this thread.
I bought a pair of coveralls in charcoal gray. It looked a bit too light when I got it so I dyed it a little darker. I removed the rear pockets and I am planning on using that fabric to make a closure for the "popped collar" so I don't need a separate neck seal. I plan on using a balaclava anyway, so everything should be OK as far as coverage goes.
Boots - No idea but I do have some black shoes and leather gaiters. That might work, but not final.
Belt - I have a bunch of ammo pouches on a belt that I use for my Jawa bandoleer. I think I will use that for both costumes.
Sash- probably just a long strip of fabric wrapped around my waist.
Cape -Modeled after the one Tor Viszla wears.
(http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100127050131/starwars/images/thumb/1/18/Vizsla.jpg/180px-Vizsla.jpg)
I bought a bunch of light gray duck cloth/canvas/denim and used half for the cape and half for the vest. I dyed it to a rich red with a mixture of RIT Wine and Scarlet, but I want it to be more of a blood red. The fabric wasn't wide enough to do a proper semi-circle cape, so I cut the fabric in half diagonally. I sewed it back together so that the wide ends were connected, giving me a rough diamond shape. On the narrow end, I cut out the neck hole and hemmed the edges. On the wide end, I let it fray but I may go back and clean it up a bit. The cape is about 90% complete but I can't really do any more on it until my armor is closer to being finished. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of this yet.
Vest - I prefer the Jango-style vest but I really like the quilting detail on Boba's vest, so I combined the two concepts. I also noticed that in the comic book art, one of the Death Watch grunts had a couple of buckles on the side of his vest, so I decided to incorporate that detail also. I also wanted a more complete vest, so I decided to add a lining.
I dyed the other half of the cape fabric a charcoal gray to match the flight suit. I made my own pattern from my measurements and made sure I had enough extra for the hems. Once I had cut out the front and back pieces, I also had to cut out a matching piece of batting and liner for each. I then pinned all of this together and basted them together around the edges.
(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/423613_612268862343_121200363_32150874_185012641_n.jpg)
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/423613_612268867333_121200363_32150875_2035410105_n.jpg)
Then, I layed out the quilting pattern and began sewing each line. :'( This sucked and it took forever. I decided to not quilt the back because it was going to be covered by a backplate and a full cape.
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/423613_612268882303_121200363_32150876_982243216_n.jpg)
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/423613_612268887293_121200363_32150877_1606164298_n.jpg)
For the the shoulder pieces, I used two pieces of the main fabric and heavy duty interfacing. I sewed the interfacing to one of the fabric pieces and trimmed the excess. I then sewed the other fabric piece to the first on the side opposite the interfacing. Then I turned everything inside out. I marked parallel lines along the shoulder piece and sewed them.
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s720x720/423983_612883879843_121200363_32151876_327592215_n.jpg)
I have all of the pieces done but I still need to put everything together. I also need to figure out how I want to do my buckles.
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I shall be following this with interest. I am always interested in how people make their vests.
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Looking good :) seems like you've done this before. I admire your mettle to stick with that quilting pattern, that looks tedious.
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Thanks. I'm still pretty new to sewing, but I know enough to get me into trouble :p Laying out the quilt pattern was tedious, but sewing it was worse because I had to fight the fabric the whole time. Halfway through, I couldn't stand to look at it. The thought of quilting the back piece was horrifying, so I put that off for several weeks. After getting some advice from the local guys, I decided that I didn't need to quilt the back since it would be mostly covered anyway. That was a huge relief and I cranked out the back piece pretty quickly.
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Halfway through, I couldn't stand to look at it. The thought of quilting the back piece was horrifying, so I put that off for several weeks.
That's why I have like five half done costumes laying around my craft room >.<
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I think you've done a very good job so far.
Looks like you got really small spaces between the lines where you sew. I used about 1 x 1 inch squares. To prevent the fabric from shifting, you can make some lines stitching the layers together, which you later remove. Start in the middle.
Maybe you can see what I mean by looking at Xyyyr's vest.
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Thanks. Those lines are spaced a ruler-width apart, so an inch or slightly larger. I'm just fat so they look smaller. :P
I started at one edge and zig-zagged across.
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Yeah, mine was for my 12 year old Jawa :D
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I worked on the vest today. Front and back are assembled and the shoulder pads are attached. It closes with snaps at the left shoulder. Now I need to figure out the side closures. I have buckles for both sides, but I'm not sure how to put them on.
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/581327_620289349223_121200363_32189176_1389859390_n.jpg)
Shoulder seam closed
(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s720x720/544689_620289329263_121200363_32189175_1465040467_n.jpg)
This is how is should look once I get the armor attached.
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s720x720/521740_620289254413_121200363_32189171_733402787_n.jpg)
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Very nice...!!!
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Looking GOOD 8)
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Added buckles to both sides of the vest. I wanted to include this detail from the comic book. I found these really neat plastic buckles that have a metallic finish. The buckles are evenly spaced along the side and centered over the seam. I only attached two buckles on each side because I am following the artwork, but I think three would work better. I would say the vest is 90% done. I still need to put a final hem in the bottom and figure out how to attach my armor.
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/PC160078.jpg)
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/292179_624368888793_121200363_32199450_1015784684_n.jpg)
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No sense in double posting...
24 Apr 12
The snaps on my shoulder seam kept popping while I was test fitting the vest, so I added some velcro between them.
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I have started adding velcro to the vest for attaching my armor (Hooks on the plates; Loops on the vest). So far I have the backplate, collar and both shoulders attached. I used industrial strength velcro, which I could only find in sticky back. The sticky back allowed me to adjust the placement of the velcro and held it in place while I ran a stitch around the edge. I used a heavy duty upholstery needle so I had very few problems.
I will add pictures later.
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I may go back and add velcro to the "wings" ib the backplate. I will also hem the vest once I get all of the plates attached.
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/404972_628413493373_121200363_32211517_789231818_n.jpg)
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/404972_628413498363_121200363_32211518_1901462308_n.jpg)
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/404972_628413503353_121200363_32211519_1278059343_n.jpg)
(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404972_628413508343_121200363_32211520_307793411_n.jpg)
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that is an awesome vest! how hot is it with the extra layers and all?
(Just asking cause Im planning a vest with some kind of foam inside to make ti look thicker)
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I haven't worn it for very long other than to check the fit as I made it. I took it off once I started to sweat, so I'm not sure how it will be after a while. Even with the batting and lining, this will breath much better than a vinyl vest. I added the extra layers because I liked the "thickness" of Boba's vest, so the extra heat is worth it. I only used a single layer of cotton batting, so it shouldn't be too bad.
In other news....
I am currently adjusting the shape of the chest plates so that they fit tighter to the vest before I attach them. They were sticking out in a few places, so I had to tweak the shape a bit.
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I attached my chest plates and diamond to the vest using velcro. The belly plate still needs to be attached.
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/546189_629816082573_83768818_n.jpg)
I tried to use as many big pieces of velcro as possible; then I would fill in blank spaces with scraps.
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/546189_629816087563_121200363_32218212_996153719_n.jpg)
I never took pictures of the cape I did before I started the vest. It is mostly done but I will finish it up once everything else is ready to go. Here is the neck hole for now.
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/546189_629816092553_121200363_32218213_602571705_n.jpg)
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Minor update.
I have made a tab for the collar of my flight-suit to cover the gap in front. I used one of the pockets that I had removed. No pictures, but I will take some once I get it attached to the collar.
It will be similar to the collar on the X-wing suit.
(https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTcK87hozCNjyL5q-8688dfwFxxF4i5jblz_BZnritOGR8-EXuxew)
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Here are the pictures of the collar tab.
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/P7010001.jpg)
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/P7010019.jpg)
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/P7010025.jpg)
The Keldabe Necktie
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/P7010024.jpg)
I also made some straps for the wrists and ankles of the flight suit. I left some space on one end of the strap in case I decided to sew them to the flightsuit.
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/P7010002.jpg)
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I made a holster for my DL-44 today. Unfortunately, I didn't get too many pictures along the way.
I made my own pattern out of poster board and then transferred that to the leather.
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/DL-44/P8010001.jpg)
Then I punched holes so I could sew the holster together.
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/DL-44/P8010005.jpg)
Once I had everything sewn, I wet the leather and put the gun inside it as it dried. This should form the holster to the gun.
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/DL-44/P8010006.jpg)
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I also mad a holster for my DE-10 but I got even fewer pictures. :-[ The second holster went much faster and much easier than the first one. I did have trouble making the pattern, so I didn't cut out the trigger hole until after I had formed the holster to the gun.
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/DE-10/P8030001.jpg)
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/DE-10/P8030002.jpg)
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/DE-10/P8030003.jpg)
I didn't really plan the belt attachment method beforehand, so I had to make some belt loops.
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/DE-10/P8030004.jpg)
I then dyed the holsters and belt loops. Once everything was dry, I riveted the belt loops to the holsters. The holsters look black under certain lighting conditions, but they are actually a dark brown. Some of the pictures include a black leather belt for comparison.
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/DL-44/P8060010.jpg)
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/DL-44/P8060012.jpg)
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/DL-44/P8060006.jpg)
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/DL-44/P8060007.jpg)
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/DE-10/P8060008.jpg)
(http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/nmlxb6/DE-10/P8060009.jpg)
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Nice Vod ;D
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Minor update. I haven't even looked at this costume since before C6, so I'm happy to have gotten anything accomplished. I sewed the sides of my vest together because just overlapping them didn't look very good. This is something Falin suggested when I posted pics of it earlier. I admit this does look a lot better. I can even slip the whole thing on over my head with the armor on it.
(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/9113_653210679613_2133273967_n.jpg)
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Not bad at all with your holsters, but you could've gone in closer with the stitching.
You can see what i mean if you look at mine. http://mandalorianmercs.org/forum/index.php?topic=16948.msg725793#msg725793
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Thanks. This was my first attempt at working leather so I played it safe. I bought a book on making holsters and followed their instructions. The guns are fairly thick and the paper templates seemed too small, so I wanted to be sure the guns fit . I will know better next time.
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I bought some new boots and gloves for my costume.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/292557_691728609373_651372857_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/480840_691728604383_1247412051_n.jpg)
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Very Nice ;D