Making Costumes Vs. Buying

SeeJaneDance

New member
DIY costumes! I'm not a pro (far from) but I like making costumes as a hobby. And I get to wear them now and then. I try and apply my best skills to them for a couple of reasons...1, I'm a perfectionist, and if I know how to do something well, I like to do it well. 2, I'd like to be able to sell them or pass them on when I'm done with them. 3, I'd like to, even if it's in a small way, make a positive influence on the quality of hand made costumes in the area. That said, I'm not shooting for Bella quality, because it is crazy expensive in supplies. I'm working on one now that's quite fringe-y, based very loosely on a Great Loops but using crushed velvet fabric, and I don't plan to sequin/bead the entire base. Overall, including quite a few mid-size Swarovski crystals and drops, I'm anticipating spending about $100. That's a lot less than a comparable costume made by a designer, even taking into consideration the beading shortcuts I'm taking. (The way I look at it, if 80% of the thing is covered by fringe, and the fabric is pretty and well-sewn, WHY would I spend hours and money covering it with beads that people will rarely see?) I'm using bugles too, which is greatly reducing the time involved, which helps.

I guess my point is, it depends on what your end goal is, and whether or not you enjoy doing the work. I do, so it's worth the trade for me. And shopping sales, I spend about $30 on the fabric for a full circle skirt (1.5-2 circles, depending on weight of material, not silk). To me, that's decent quality and spin for less money than a skirt from Dahlal or someplace like that, and better quality and spin that's worth the money when compared to the Ebay skirts. Plus I cheat on the hems.
 

Ariadne

Well-known member
I have to alert the Austenites here to the amazing Lizzie Bennet Diaries, which you can view on Youtube. It is updated to a contemporary US setting and it is *enthralling*. Lizzie has a vlog. So, crucially at the moment, does Lydia. It has reached a *very exciting and nailbiting point*.

Go and find it at once and watch ALL OF IT from the beginning. It's absolutely brilliant.

That you so much! I have e-mailed a link to this to my entire family. :D
 

BeatriceC

Member
Many interesting points made! That's a fear of mine. Starting a project and never finishing. :redface:

I'm the same, so when I embarked on sewing my own costumes, I set myself a One Project At A Time rule. I can't start a new costume unless the last one is finished.

So far, in three years of costume-making, I've stuck to that rule pretty well. I'm not usually so self-disciplined! There's only been one project that went badly enough for me to put it back on the shelf unfinished. But I knew that once I'd given myself a few months' break from it, I'd be able to get back to it, and I'm planning to do just that, once my *current* project is finished.

Don't let the fear stop you!!!
 

AndreaSTL

New member
Heaven knows I have amassed enough exotic fabric to last until the sky falls but...

I really did want a new beledi dress and that sparkly red fabric was on sale and the sequin trim was 90% off, so...
I recently saw a cartoon of a woman holding several bolts of fabric saying to her husband, "Yes, I am getting all of this, but look how much I'm leaving!" When you compare your purchase to all of the fabric available it's a fairly small percentage that you're actually buying. :)
 

Shanazel

Moderator
I am blessed with a husband who understands the concept of "valuable raw materials" not to mention excellent equipment. He never has said a word about my stash or my equipment and I return the favor. He's a carpenter with a pretty good stash of his own. ;)
 

Darshiva

Moderator
I recently saw a cartoon of a woman holding several bolts of fabric saying to her husband, "Yes, I am getting all of this, but look how much I'm leaving!" When you compare your purchase to all of the fabric available it's a fairly small percentage that you're actually buying. :)

I've actually said that to my husband! *hangs head in shame!*
 

indrayu

New member
A big fabric retail chain used to have a sign "10 reasons why you should buy more fabric:"

The one that stays in my mind is

It's a competition. The one who dies with the most fabric wins!

A few years ago, most of my posessions were irretrievably damaged in a flood. The best thing-really- was dumping my sewing cupboard. After that, I wasn't tormented every weekend by thoughts like "I really should finish those chair covers..."

Old habits have reasserted themselves. I make most of my costume pieces, because of cost, fit and originality, and I actually do enjoy sewing, even though I'm not especially good at it. I had very good teaching from my mother who was a professional dressmaker and learned to hold a needle at the same time as learning to hold a pencil, if not earlier. I just don't have that extra element of talent.

My advice is, learn the craft well and especially learn all you can about fitting. I've seen a number of amateur costumes (including in the mirror :( ) that have great design ideas, fabric that works, but advertise amateur by saggy/wonky/gaping/constricting fit.
 

Aniseteph

New member
It's a competition. The one who dies with the most fabric wins!

<3 <3 :lol: Someone knew their customer base...

Fortunately most of the fabric I see in shops is so meh that I'm not tempted, though on-line is another matter. So my bellydance fabric stash is not as bad as my random bits of fabric that might come in useful stash. Stashes. That was out of control until I discovered the textile bin at the recycling centre, and realised that there's not much point hoarding it. If I need a small bit of nondescript fabric for something, I can just buy some. We totally have a shop for that locally.
 

Amine

Member
Making a costume yourself has several advantages:

- Independence, you are completely independent of anyone, which saves you from the long manufacturing and delivery times that some costume vendors may have.

-You can use your creativity and imagination more, and more than if you just settle for what's in the seller's catalog.

- Costs are sometimes cheaper.

However, there are disadvantages:

- You have to have the necessary equipment to sew, and it is sometimes expensive.

-A lot of free time, which is impossible for people who are busy with their parallel work.

- You have to master the knowledge of sewing. So it goes through learning, and therefore the time devoted to this learning.

In conclusion, sewing your own costume is perfectly possible, it all depends on your time.
 
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