Altering Gauntlet Suggestion

Azeeza · 12-10-2007, 06:53 PM

Hi Everyone:

I need help. I custom ordered a costume and the wristlets were swapped out for a pair of pre-made guauntlets which were discontinued. So, the gauntles are too small.

Since the opening is decorated with sequins and beads, it's extremely difficult to open them up without taking the all the decorations off. Plus, I don't have matching fabric to splice into the opening of the gauntlets.

My thoughts were to suck it up and take the decorations off and add elastic, but the gauntlets are red and I don't have red elastic. In fact, I don't even know if red elastic is even made.

Any suggestions?

Azeeza

Salome · 12-10-2007, 07:13 PM

You could take white elastic and rub it thoroughly with your foundation to make it 'nude' in color. That's what I do for my zill elastic. Or at any fabric store there is stretchy sequin trim on the bolt and red is easy to find. I'm wearing some as upper arm bands in this old video YouTube - salome sword n goblet belly dance You could use red...

Shanazel · 12-10-2007, 07:14 PM

Wow. That is a problem. The only thing that comes to mind right now is not a very good solution: fold the gauntlets in half and hand stitch a matching tube of lycra based fabric to the folded gauntlet to make a new sleeve so that the top of the gauntlets are decorated and the underside plain. Hmm. Not very well explained: it would look like a red gauntlet that was decorated only on the top. The lycra would allow it to fit your arm snugly. If you decide to open the gauntlets up, you could also use an insert of lycra for stretch instead of elastic.

I suspect that isn't much help. I'll think some more about it.

Azeeza · 12-11-2007, 08:02 AM

Thank you for the suggestions. I should post pictures of the gauntlets so you can see what I'm up against, but perhaps you already know :-)

Something really odd about these sleeves are they are the same width from top to bottom. Don't human arms usually taper at the wrist or am I the only one?

Oooh Salome, I LOVE your goblet dancing! And I think I might have your skirt :-)!

Azeeza

Jane · 12-12-2007, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salome

You could take white elastic and rub it thoroughly with your foundation to make it 'nude' in color. That's what I do for my zill elastic. Or at any fabric store there is stretchy sequin trim on the bolt and red is easy to find. I'm wearing some as upper arm bands in this old video YouTube - salome sword n goblet belly dance You could use red...

Good ways to make colored plain elastic from white:
dye the elastic with strong hot cheap tea (red rose works well) for fair skin
use coffee for darker skin tones
buy commercial dye (like Rit liquid) and soak until you get the right shade for colors

I've seen commercial elastic usually sold in black, white, nude and red. For other colors I'd go with Rit. Don't use boiling or near boiling water on elastic or it will melt. When you use any commercial dyes, follow the instructions on the box. Rinse well in cold water after dying, so the color won't come off on your skin.

Azeeza · 12-12-2007, 02:02 PM

Yesterday I went to the fabric store to check out what they might have in stock velvet wise. In the past I don't remember the store carrying a red in the same color gauntlets that I want to alter. Well, I came across a color very close, but it's crushed and not smooth, but I think it will be OK.

So, last night I cut a triangular piece of fabric and opened up one of the sleeves. It was a pain, but I think it will be OK. Just a lot of work.

But, the store, Hancock Fabrics, had the crushed stretch velvet listed for $4.99 a yard. I took what was left on the bolt and the woman measuring it for me said it was 40% off. Well, when I got to the check out, it was 50% off! So, I got tons of crushed stretch velvet for $2.50 a yard!

I was so happy! Will post photos when I complete the project.

Azeeza

Azeeza · 12-13-2007, 03:33 AM

Well, so far so good with altering. I have pictures of one gauntlet that I gusseted and one I haven't worked on yet.

Like I mentioned earlier, I have no way of matching the fabric color and texture. This was the best I could get.

Whatddaythink?

Azeeza

Shanazel · 12-13-2007, 05:04 AM

Looks good to me. And after all, if anyone in your audience focusses on the underside of your gauntlets, either they have a weird fetish or you are doing something really wrong...

Azeeza · 12-13-2007, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanazel

Looks good to me. And after all, if anyone in your audience focusses on the underside of your gauntlets, either they have a weird fetish or you are doing something really wrong...

My thoughts exactly! LOL!!

Azeeza

nitewindz · 12-13-2007, 08:15 PM

Looks fine to me! And Shanazel is right ... no one is going to be looking at *that* part of your costume anyway!

12-10-2007, 06:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Azeeza Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 831	Altering Gauntlet Suggestion Hi Everyone: I need help. I custom ordered a costume and the wristlets were swapped out for a pair of pre-made guauntlets which were discontinued. So, the gauntles are too small. Since the opening is decorated with sequins and beads, it's extremely difficult to open them up without taking the all the decorations off. Plus, I don't have matching fabric to splice into the opening of the gauntlets. My thoughts were to suck it up and take the decorations off and add elastic, but the gauntlets are red and I don't have red elastic. In fact, I don't even know if red elastic is even made. Any suggestions? Azeeza

12-13-2007, 03:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
Azeeza Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 831	Well, so far so good with altering. I have pictures of one gauntlet that I gusseted and one I haven't worked on yet. Like I mentioned earlier, I have no way of matching the fabric color and texture. This was the best I could get. Whatddaythink? Azeeza Attached Thumbnails

12-10-2007, 07:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Salome Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Corvallis, Oregon, USA Posts: 1,835	You could take white elastic and rub it thoroughly with your foundation to make it 'nude' in color. That's what I do for my zill elastic. Or at any fabric store there is stretchy sequin trim on the bolt and red is easy to find. I'm wearing some as upper arm bands in this old video YouTube - salome sword n goblet belly dance You could use red...

12-10-2007, 07:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,654	Wow. That is a problem. The only thing that comes to mind right now is not a very good solution: fold the gauntlets in half and hand stitch a matching tube of lycra based fabric to the folded gauntlet to make a new sleeve so that the top of the gauntlets are decorated and the underside plain. Hmm. Not very well explained: it would look like a red gauntlet that was decorated only on the top. The lycra would allow it to fit your arm snugly. If you decide to open the gauntlets up, you could also use an insert of lycra for stretch instead of elastic. I suspect that isn't much help. I'll think some more about it.

12-11-2007, 08:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
Azeeza Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 831	Thank you for the suggestions. I should post pictures of the gauntlets so you can see what I'm up against, but perhaps you already know :-) Something really odd about these sleeves are they are the same width from top to bottom. Don't human arms usually taper at the wrist or am I the only one? Oooh Salome, I LOVE your goblet dancing! And I think I might have your skirt :-)! Azeeza

12-12-2007, 02:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
Azeeza Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 831	Yesterday I went to the fabric store to check out what they might have in stock velvet wise. In the past I don't remember the store carrying a red in the same color gauntlets that I want to alter. Well, I came across a color very close, but it's crushed and not smooth, but I think it will be OK. So, last night I cut a triangular piece of fabric and opened up one of the sleeves. It was a pain, but I think it will be OK. Just a lot of work. But, the store, Hancock Fabrics, had the crushed stretch velvet listed for $4.99 a yard. I took what was left on the bolt and the woman measuring it for me said it was 40% off. Well, when I got to the check out, it was 50% off! So, I got tons of crushed stretch velvet for $2.50 a yard! I was so happy! Will post photos when I complete the project. Azeeza

12-13-2007, 05:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,654	Looks good to me. And after all, if anyone in your audience focusses on the underside of your gauntlets, either they have a weird fetish or you are doing something really wrong...

12-13-2007, 08:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
nitewindz Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 29	Looks fine to me! And Shanazel is right ... no one is going to be looking at that part of your costume anyway!