I Need a Break from this Hot Super Summer, Time to Shower with the Avengers!

 One of my favorite things about superhero movies coming out is all the fun merchandise that accompanies it- especially the fabric. I found this fabric particularly awesome and couldn't bring myself to actually cut it up. So I didn't, I added some yellow side panels, gold grommets for a one-of-a-kind super-awesome shower curtain!

Batgirl: Stephanie Brown

There are many incarnations of Batgirl, and this is the latest as worn by character Stephanie (I know she's had some tough storylines, now let her enjoy this costume) Brown!

I was asked to make the cape, bodysuit and utility belts. (you can never have enough pockets!!)

The Bodysuit:

 

 Since this bodysuit has  those purple side panels I was able to eliminate the side seams that would typically be there. 

Green Lantern Batman

Green Lantern Batman!

Crossover fever continues for another week! (last one)

How to Sew a Cowl: Video Instruction

The following is a 3 part video series on how to sew a cowl, for superhero or other purposes out of spandex.


I recommend using nylon spandex, or cotton spandex (lycra). Half a yard of fabric will be sufficient. Other tools include; pins, good shears, marking tool (to mark dart) such as chalk, or tracing paper and tracing wheel, and of course a sewing machine and thread.


The pattern is also very helpful too! If you would like a copy of the pattern you can send me a message on youtube, or send me an email with your address to anigswes @ gmail.com and I'll mail you one. Enjoy!

Cat Cube

A place for kitty to hide, nap, or hangout.

Materials:

1 yd of 58" or 60" wide fleece

1 3/8 yd of 1/2" thick high density foam

Serger and Sewing Machine

*If you want the outside and the lining to be two different colors, I would get an extra yard of fabric.

*Also, this is the kind of project that can cost more to make- unless you are diligent and get your foam (which can be expensive) on sale. Think Jo-Ann Fabric, they have tons of coupons, or you can catch a 50% off sale.

Cape Tutorial

Check out the videos on how to make a small circular cape, in a relatively small amount of time.  This is by special request for a new friend in New Zealand.

Sinestro Pullover

I think the word you're looking for is "kick-ass". 

Queen Etherea

Oh Queen Etherea. I wracked my brain for months trying to sort through all the possibilities of how to pull this off. Why you may ask?

Well, she appears to be naked under this diaphanous dress. Now, I decided that I would not be walking around nude except for this dress- so what to wear underneath that was not noticeable? Thong? Stick on underwear? Tape the dress to my body? Leotard? Bodysuit? Bodysuit is what I settled on.

I looked into dancer foundations, but I didn't feel right about being the "spandex speaker" at the NCA Con and showing up with a store bought bodysuit- so I decided to make it.

I had to decide what exactly to make the bodysuit out of, powermesh? spandex? etc, etc. I resolved that I needed as opaque spandex as I could get- the color I went with was a little darker than my actual skin tone, but I thought the tanning-bed color would be better than ghost-white.

I was also very concerned about too many seam-lines giving away that I was wearing the bodysuit- my mission with this costume was: to make people do a double take; to make them doubt for a second that I was not wearing anything beneath the dress.

Kyle Rayner-esque Green Lantern Jacket

Black Interlock- 60% Cotton 40% Polyester
Green Interlock- 100% Cotton
White Interlock- 60% Cotton 40% Polyester
Green Rib Knit- 100% Cotton
Black Rib Knit- 95% Cotton 5% Spandex
1 Green Separating Zipper

The Inspiration: This snazzy Kyle Rayner number. What's not to love? It has the ol' GL symbol is several places and additional detail on the sleeves. I think my favorite part is the near glowing emblem on the chest- I hope to do it justice for an old friend.

The Design: Lots of details and machine work to do. All those symbols and all those bands on the sleeve will take a while to stitch on- Also, trying to keep everything symmetrical.

Hawkgirl Inspired Jacket

Dark Brown Interlock- 60% Cotton 40% Polyester
Yellow Interlock- 100% Cotton
Tan Interlock- 60% Cotton 40% Cotton
Kelly Green Interlock- 60% Cotton 40%
Polyester Red Rib Knit- 95% Cotton 5% Spandex

First, the inspiration, Eve chose Hawkgirl from the Justic League animated series. Hawkgirl has a few different outfits, but this one is cool for a number of reasons, first off its so feminine- but at the same time you know she kicks ass. So I came up with this little number, with wings of course! Perhaps I should have added the mace too huh? No, I think this one is lovely, and understated.


Next, patternmaking! This took a little longer because this was the first ladies version I made, but I assure you, will not be the last. I will be working on one for myself as one of my next projects.

Green Lantern Kyle Rayner Inspired Jacket

Black Interlock 60% Cotton 40% Polyester
Kelly Green Interlock 100% Cotton
White Interlock 60% Cotton 40% Polyester
White Rib Knit 95% Cotton 5% Spandex
Black Rib Knit 95% Cotton 5% Spandex
1- Black Molded Separating Zipper

First we start with some inspiration. In this case, it was this version of Kyle Rayner as the Green Lantern in Countdown Final Crisis.

Second, I interpret this 'costume' into something sew-able, and wearable for anytime- oh, and of course, make it comfortable. (hence, cotton, cotton, cotton!)

The Sewer Becomes the Teacher

Yes, yes I know that I should have used the title "The Seamstress Becomes the Teacher" but sewer is silly. Lucky for me, I have an opportunity to impart my sewing/spandex knowledge at the National Costumers Association Conference in Pittsburgh this July. They just posted the education section including my class. So now I scramble to sharpen all my skills and be able to articulate them effectively. That, and have several new costumes to show off. But never fear, there are more jackets coming well before that, and several more "normal" garments to be posted very soon.

Best of the Rest

Some photos of additional things that I have sewn that are not costumes.
This yellow and blue ensemble was something I made for the Simplicity pattern contest. I did not win, let alone place. Boo. But the husband really likes this outfit, so I guess it was not a complete waste of time.

Justice League Valance

I found this Justice League fabric, and just could not leave the store without it! Finally, I figured out the perfect place for it, above the window in my work room.

The green curtains were given to me by my mother some years ago, I merely shortened them to the proper length for this window. The curtain rod and the hardware were in place from the previous tenants so I made this some snowy afternoon a week or two ago.

I put all the pins and other swag I collected from the New York Comic Con all over the curtains. This was a simple project. I decided the finished length that I wanted the valance to be, then added measurements for the bottom hem, the top ruffle, and the channel for the curtain rod. The width of the curtain is twice that of the window space. I just wish that there were a few more characters on the fabric, and that I had more windows in to decorate!

The Action Man

The Action Man: The Venture Brothers
Materials:
Top and Pants: charcoal poly/spandex moleskin
Turtleneck: dark grey acrylic/wool yarn
Gloves: Red Cotton/poly Interlock
Holsters, Belt and Kneepads: White spandex and Red cotton/poly Interlock
Helmet: purchased and covered with white cotton/spandex twill
Boot covers: black poly/spandex, fusible fleece, and velcro
Red lenses: purchased
Guns: purchased

My dear husband decided only a few short weeks before, that he would like to be The Action Man, for New York Comic Con. We just moved in the beginning of January, so he questioned if I would be able to finish all three outfits for the Con, taking place in early February. I just assured him that all would be finished, but he just needed to decide who he wanted to be, preferably someone simple. After unpacking his black army helmet, the decision was made.

Shadowcat

Shadowcat/Kitty Pryde: Excalibur
Materials:
Mask, gloves and underpants: poly/spandex
Blouse: poly/rayon
Sash and leggings: nylon/spandex
Boots: purchased

Originally when I considered making Shadowcat I was thinking of doing the blue and gold costume, maybe even the old 'uncanny' one with the hood, but then I caught wind of the Excalibur costume. So totally and wonderfully 80's! Love the blouse, I knew shoulder pads were a must!

The decision on which costume to make has a lot of different factors. Sometimes it's driven by a beloved childhood character, sometimes it's part of set. Sometimes it's a suggestion from someone else. Sometimes it is time and money constraints. Sometimes it's based on the materials I have at hand. Kitty Pryde was a little bit of the last two reasons.

Red Lantern

Red Lantern-inspired Jacket:
Red and Black fabric: Cotton/poly Interlock
Red and Black Rib: Cotton/Lycra
Lantern symbol: white Lycra
1 separating black zipper
3/16" Cordage









My buddy Mario, previously asked for a Sinestro-inspired jacket, now requested the another, this time the Red Lantern.

Robin

Robins
Tim Drake and Stephanie Brown
Materials: Lots of cotton interlock, spandex

This past year Peat and I were invited to a Brooklyn Halloween party, where we would get to see many of our dear friends. We, of course, decided to go, but that left a big question. What to wear? Peat has always been a fan of Robin, in his many forms, but I am not. But he's beginning to grow on me. Also, I could not resist going in couple's costumes, and making two of the same thing essentially would simplify things for me.

Sinestro
from The Green Lantern

After spending the day with us all tricked out in our rocking Venture Brothers costumes at the NYCC, my pal Mario asked me to make him a Sinestro-inspired track jacket.

Who am I to argue? I didn't know who Sinestro was, but I soon learned. Mario let me know what details of the costume he wanted to include, and omit. Then I came up with a simplified design of Sinestro's costume.

I made this last summer out of cotton (black) and a cotton/rayon blend (gold). I had Mario send me one of his existing track jackets that he liked, so I could make it the correct size. I then used the specs from his jacket, and applied that to a McCall's jacket pattern that I had. I had not used piping much before this project, and it's kind of a pain!

The most difficult part was the symbol, because it had to be split in half, and have a zipper going through it. Also, the goal is to make it match up, and even and all that. Not easy, that, and all the layers of fabric and zipper do not move easily or evenly in the sewing machine. It was also not easy after I burned my forearm on my iron, but that's what I get for not being careful!

As you can see, it came out nicely, and looks just wonderful on the professional model here. But little did I know the beast I had awakened.....there are more lanterns. Therefore, the need for more jackets! Coming soon.......the Red Lantern inspired jacket.

New York Comic Con 2008 The Unveiling

The Monarch and Dr. Girlfriend Visit New York Comic Con 2008

Little did I know what we (the Monarch and I) were in for at last year's comic con. Neither of us had ever been, but were very excited. We had a mission, to hopefully meet Doc Hammer and ask him to perform our marriage ceremony.

I can't really remember how the idea started, but we thought it would make for a fun wedding. Our day started well before the break of dawn and included a 2-hour train ride into the city. We traveled half-dressed, and I finished assembling us while we waited on the line to get in.

I was a little nervous, I didn't see that many costumes at first, and people were just staring. Then the photo-taking started. Must have been the first of what seemed like hundreds for what followed.