Fantasy Costumes: What would you like to know?

[atlascoughed]

If this is in the wrong section, I'm sorry! I didn't know where to put it at all.

So.... I'm writing a book on fantasy costuming without the use of commercial patterns. It's mostly geared toward people who go to comic cons, LARP/other RPGs, Ren/Fairy fests, and people who just like dressing like crazy elves and satyrs and whatnot. I'm staying away from sci-fi (i.e., cyborgs and steampunk) in this one, 'cos it'd just get TOO BIG.

I have many, many, many ideas for projects to include in this. But I realize that I'm not selling this to myself, so I thought I'd ask...

What sort of things would you like to know how to make? Is there something that, despite searching the internet, you've been unable to find a tutorial for?

I really hope this thing goes down the way I'd like: tons of photos, creative projects with lots of room for customization/expansion, and ideas that are hard to find (my top pick: simple corsets).

Thank yous!

[Aislynn]

Simple corsets are a must, in my opinion.  As are cloaks (most of the tutorials out there aren't super clear).  Oh, also, methods of doing ragged hems.  I'm trying to think of things I've had trouble with myself.  Good luck!  It's a great idea.

[3littlechicks]

An extensive "wing" section, where you explain the several billion ways to make a good pair of wings. 

[atlascoughed]

Simple corsets are a must, in my opinion.  As are cloaks (most of the tutorials out there aren't super clear).  Oh, also, methods of doing ragged hems.  I'm trying to think of things I've had trouble with myself.  Good luck!  It's a great idea.

Yes! I've held off doing simple corsets, with or without boning, for some time because I just can't understand the process, and they're intimidating. Hadn't thought of the ragged hems thing-- I agree, though. Just chopping off bits looks...kinda silly.

An extensive "wing" section, where you explain the several billion ways to make a good pair of wings. 

Muhahahahahaha. You have no idea how excited I am about this bit. There's whole pages in my sketchpad of nothing but wings! I love being able to sit down and mess about with things I love to make but don't actually *need* and say, "Well, I have to do research for the book. Eff off."

Thanks for the responses so far. Keep 'em coming, 'cos it'll just make the book better.

[Thesingingllamas]

ooh a resource for all woodland creature costumes? interesting.
Don't forget horns, ears, show ideas for digitigrade stilts for the satyrs (there is a digitigrade stilt tut on youtube) as well as flat footed digitigrade padded legs. Basic vest type things. Basic mail or fake mail. Skirts-long and flowy as well as short pixie. Maybe a how to for "thai fisherman" pants

[SpottedFrog]

I second horns, ears, tails and other non-human body protuberances. I also think this is a fantastic idea

People commonly think they can just glue some real goat or cow horns on a hat & it'll work, it never does. Natural horns & antlers are not shaped right at the base to attatch to a human, are a lot heavier than most expect, and cow & goat are often a lot bigger at the base than would work on a human anyway (an average cow horn is easily bigger than a man's ear- think how silly that would look?)

Oh, BTW there's a thread in the Craftster Itself: Suggestions board lobbying for a Costumes board separate from Clothing and separate from Holiday. : D

[Aislynn]

Oooh, I wrote a tutorial for cellophane wings, that's a good one.  It's super easy to do at home, and can look very complicated.  I'd post it to craftster, but there's not really a good place for it.

[atlascoughed]

Oooh, I wrote a tutorial for cellophane wings, that's a good one.  It's super easy to do at home, and can look very complicated.  I'd post it to craftster, but there's not really a good place for it.

I'd be interested in seeing that! I've seen some fantastic wings out there, so I'm always tempted to make myself (and my daughter, when she's old enough) wings to wear to the grocery store.

I rather wonder, too, about including tutorials from other people? I'd love to spare myself the work of finding a photo and working backwards from there, but I have no idea how that all works in terms of a book, copyright, and payment. Hrm...

[atlascoughed]

I second horns, ears, tails and other non-human body protuberances. I also think this is a fantastic idea

People commonly think they can just glue some real goat or cow horns on a hat & it'll work, it never does. Natural horns & antlers are not shaped right at the base to attatch to a human, are a lot heavier than most expect, and cow & goat are often a lot bigger at the base than would work on a human anyway (an average cow horn is easily bigger than a man's ear- think how silly that would look?)

Oh, BTW there's a thread in the Craftster Itself: Suggestions board lobbying for a Costumes board separate from Clothing and separate from Holiday. : D

Neeeeeat. I'd love a costumes board. God knows there's enough cosplayers to justify one.

I hadn't thought of tails; that's a good idea. I agree with the horns-- I'm doing a short tut on making the "pan" type that you see sold at Ren Fests, but also want to experiment with air-dry clay and paper mache' to build larger ones that would need wire skeletons to stay up.

I dunno if I'll do ears... maybe animal-ish ears. "Elf" ears I haven't tried yet, because I find it easier to just buy a pair and paint them to suit my skintone.

Thanks, all, for the suggestions! This is fantastic and just what I was hoping for (and I can't deny that seeing interest in the book does my writer's soul no end of good).

[Aislynn]

The tutorial is posted here, and is kind of lengthy.

http://www.freewebs.com/faeriemuse/

There's a design section, and a construction section, and probably more complicated than it needs to be.  Personally speaking, I wouldn't mind if you used it in a book, as long as you credited me for it.  I'm sure at least some other folks would be as flexible.  Tails would be a good idea.  Also the pants/hooves that people make for satyrs.  Those shoes look awesome, I just can't figure them out.

You could also include a section on basic weapons and jewelry.