My Descent Into Nerdness: August 2017

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Jawa Costume in a Week - Day Seven: tweaks and photos

Day Seven: Tweaks and Photos

It's done - Hurray!

I put in my submission photos.

These needed to see the following:

Hood was detached
That I wore black gloves, black undersuit
My boots
Front and back (with visible weathering)
and Action Shot

Here is my action shot taken on Day Seven by my daughter.

Day Eight: trooping in my "pending approval" costume

and I spent Day Ten trying to photoshop this - I do like it.

Tweaks:
Most are listed in red as I went along from version 2.0.
- my hockey helmet is still too tall!
- I took a black sharpie and went over the rims of the eyes so they weren't so white.
- I got a cool sound board hand thing to load up jawa sound bites! So excited for this.
- hubby got me a droid caller prop to put on the belt
- maybe a gun?
-K2SO head for my birthday. Yep, gotta get that.

Its still the bomb! Super fun to troop in and gives variety to all the events we go to with a jawa.

Links to other days:
Day One: research patterns and get supplies
Day Two: dying fabric and making balaclava
Day Three: making the dress
Day Four: sewing the hood
Day Five: making the mask and weathering
Day Six: Boots
Day Seven: Tweaks and Photos

Jawa Costume in a Week - Day Six: Boots

Links to other days:
Day One: research patterns and get supplies
Day Two: dying fabric and making balaclava
Day Three: making the dress
Day Four: sewing the hood
Day Five: making the mask and weathering
Day Six: Boots

Making the Boots

The boots were easy - super easy - so don't get discouraged.

The trick is to find comfy boots that you can destroy. So don't pick your favorites that is for sure.

Now I have seen people use old jeans to make spats. Cut off legs and glue a top for foot and cover that. But I found a cheap pair of fuzzy uggg-style boots. From old Navy - 15 dollars sale last year and my dear daughter has outgrown them. We used to wear the same size so they fit me.

And now they are mine!

Anyway - hot glue or spray on glue are your go to's for this one. I don't recommend hot glue - because its unforgiving, but if its what you have, go for it.

I chose the 3M-77 spray glue. I have learned to love it, just love it.

*Note: read directions on how to use it and its best used in a warm area where it can "cure" quicker.

So, off to the porch I went on a warm summer day. I lay my strips in my grass to spray them so the glue doesn't get everywhere and won't get on floors and such.

Start by thinking about your pattern. I have seem all kinds of jawa boots with cross patterns and such. I decided I just wanted a simple pattern. And save your cloth edges, they look great on boots.

Let's get started.

Here are your supplies: and a pencil, bring a pencil

Start by cutting cloth into strips. I saved my factory edges for this. I thought it would make a nice edge on boots (and I was right) if not, take some time and fray your edges so they look nice too. I cut mine into 3 inch strips.

Take time to flatten out puckered parts. Maybe even iron strips if needed. I used my fingers to press them open and it worked fine for me. Do this now before you apply glue.

I started by holding the strip to the bottom of my shoe and going around it.

When it went all the way around, I cut it and had my first strip.

Follow directions on can of glue.

I put mine on my grass, sprayed glue on and waited for it to get tacky. This glue needs to cure a bit before bonding. A warm day is great because it speeds this up. About 20 seconds and its good to go. Then pick up strip, and start to apply to shoe.

I positioned it on the edge of sole and then went around. I pressed or flattened parts that stuck up when going around the toe. They get covered later.

This glue is very forgiving. If you need to lift strip up and reposition, you can do it. Hot glue won't do this - I don't recommend hot glue. (and heat can make hot glue not come loose when trooping) Then when you like how it looks, go around shoe and apply pressure to strip. This will "bond" the glue to boot. You must press it - this activates the tacky glue to stick. Be thorough and make sure to do this to all layers.

Position and cut next layer - making whatever pattern you choose.

I trimmed and used a pencil to mark where strip would go.

Repeat glueing process - only put glue on new grassy spot so it won't stick to old glue from prior spraying.

And slowly a jawa boot starts to take shape.

Cut off any decorative tags, loops, and buttons. And when pressing down make sure to "fluff" up edges to get that nice look.

Repeat till at top, and I folded mine over top edge. Like I said - super easy.

And there is your jawa boot. Let them dry for a full 24 hours and also know that they will still cure for 48 more after that.

Finished Jawa boot for costume

Don't forget to weather them!

Links to other days:
Day One: research patterns and get supplies
Day Two: dying fabric and making balaclava
Day Three: making the dress
Day Four: sewing the hood
Day Five: making the mask and weathering
Day Six: Boots

Jawa Costume in a Week - Day Five: making mask and weathering

Links to other days:
Day One: research patterns and get supplies
Day Two: dying fabric and making balaclava
Day Three: making the dress
Day Four: sewing the hood
Day Five: making the mask and weathering
Day Six: Boots
Day Seven: Tweaks and Photos

Making the Mask

The mask is super easy - that's the good thing.

You start with a costume hockey mask from a costume store - or eBay/Amazon.

And you need some submersible LED lights from Michaels.

These lights are the best and easiest. They twist to turn on.

So you can open them up to paint them yellow - or use my trick.

And they have clip on the back. You clip them to your hockey mask!

You can take off the little clear cover and paint them with Testors Amber something paint. But I tried that and didn't like the streaks and such. I got the idea to use plastic from my lego store shopping bag which oddly enough was sitting across the room next to the cabinet.

Bingo! Worked like a charm! Talk about fate or something... I cut circles, then put slits in the circles (from outside going into the center) so they would fold in better. And I got the best yellow eyes.

I just recently came across another lady who used yellow candy wrappers from hard candy. They all work, she used hers to diffuse the light and hide the LED center. Whatever works for you - but my lego store shopping bag is the bomb.

*Update: Version 2.0 of this costume has the eye base being painted black somehow. I will probably use a sharpie. After trooping in them, The rims show just a bit. Just enough for me to want the base to be black.

*Update: Version 2.0 of this mask has nose holes! Why didn't I just drill them out the first time I don't know. But trust me - take the mask, mark some holes and drill out a few nose holes. You will thank me later. And trim the top - read on for why.

I started by gluing some foam on inside to get the mask right off my face. It sits flush and my eyelashes would have touched the cloth - which is so annoying!

I decided to just use one strip of foam on my forehead. I did put some on my cheeks but decided I didn't like it.

Remove the eyes and drape your black cloth on top. I found it was easiest to hold it up like this and then rotate it while I trimmed it 1 inch from bottom with scissors.

You will then either hot glue or black duct tape your cloth to the inside. Stretch it as best as you can, and make sure to cut a notch where the black elastic comes out of the side.

I chose duct tape because it can easily be removed and repositioned. Also I can remove fabric and wash it - hand wash of course if needed.

I have also heard you can spray it with Vodka and water to freshen it if needed.

Cut a small opening for LED light clip to slide into at bottom of eyes - and its done!

Check it out! Easy Peasy. and when you get hot or need a quick breath of fresh air, you can go to a corner or room and just lift it up instead of taking off your whole hood like other styles.

*Update: after trying it all on and having my daughter take pics, I found my mask was too tall.

You can tell from my head shot that the mask sits a good two inches above my forehead and makes a big bump on top of my head.

So I took it all apart (that's why I chose to use duct tape) and trimmed off the top. So trim off your top and drill those nose holes!

I trooped without them and it was annoying - ANNOYING! Drill them right now...

Weathering:

Let's face it - jawas are sandy, unclean people. Or whatever they are.

So you can weather naturally, which I did to an extent. Its easy - find a nice sandy playground. Rub it in the sand. Rub sleeve ends and bottom of dress more than others. Shake off sand and repeat until you like how it looks. You can also buy fuller's earth and put that fine stuff on.

Then you smell funny too - but it did work.

My problem is that I messed up (remember the "not enough fabric" problem) and had to dye my fabric in two lots. The color is different so I needed to blend it in better.

Solution 1: buy sandy colored acrylic paint and sponge it on to weather it. I liked it so much better than I did this to the whole outfit.

No black - jawas are surrounded by light sand so go with those.

I found this technique worked best. Put some on your foam brush. Then wipe most of it back into bottle.

That way your brush won't be globby.

Dab that on your spot to be weathered.

Still looked to thick to me so I rubbed it with my hand (and kept a wet cloth nearby to clean it off if needed)

Rubbing it in worked so well! Look how great it is? So use your two colors and weather to your hearts content.

*update: to weather the leather pouches I used rubbing alcohol for edges. It discolors leather in whatever spot you put it on, then I sanded them with a fine grit paper on corners and edges.

See, great weathering but once again - hood and sleeves are dyed different shades! AAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHH - well, version 2.0 will fix that.

Still got approved - version 1.0 still got approved.

Jawa Costume in a Week - Day Four: sewing the hood

Links to other days:
Day One: research patterns and get supplies
Day Two: dying fabric and making balaclava
Day Three: making the dress
Day Four: sewing the hood
Day Five: making the mask and weathering
Day Six: Boots
Day Seven: Tweaks and Photos

Sewing the Hood

Now the disclaimer: my hood got approved but its not what I wanted. I plan to really change this on version 2.0

Use this as a guide of what to kinda do, and definitely what not to do.

So, let's begin.

I looked at various patterns, and also my friends.

1. I like the pointed hood at the back
2. The hood isn't supposed to be attached
3. The opening has to have something to keep it open
4. It must be lined in same black as mask and balaclava
5. It has long ties that fold over and tuck in

Now the ties: I found seven differing styles and tried to create my own idea. I made an error, was able to fix it, but plan to make it so much better next time.

This is my original concept pattern:

There is just one problem: the side view looks ok, but was not translated into the pattern idea very well. The tails should have gone straight up, not out to the sides. I most likely drew this while distracted or staying up late to work on it. So, needless to say - it needs work and tacking to make it look good - which I did but I can't make someone else do that.

And I thought that if the tails were straight I could leave them on the finished edge and not have to worry about fraying.

Next time I plan to use this: and with making one already I am pretty confident it will be all that I want it to be.

So let's get on with the insanity, and you all know to use the modified pattern, Ok? Ok!

Step 1: Cutting out tubing and pattern.

Take your tubing and make a circle around your face while looking in the mirror. This is how wide you want it to be. It will overlap but for the most part this is it. I got clear tubing 1/2 inch wide? at hardware store. About a yard will do. (I wish I had gotten thinner tubing and may still do that for version 2)

I first cut out part of my concept of scrap cloth, and it worked great. But it didn't have the ties or I would caught on earlier to my mistake.

Two things to note: The witch's point isn't cut to a point, it has a 1 inch flat part at end that when stitched will go to a point when you turn it inside out. I double-folded and stitched the edge to fit my tubing. My tubing slid in just fine and I loved how it looked.

And the point in the back looked nice too.

So then I cut out the whole hood from my brown cloth. Note the new pattern guides. Use them and be much happier!

I made sure the fold in the cloth was the top of the hood. One less seam, and you can't have a seam on the top of your hood.

Besides the tails, I also curved the back part because it was too long on my test model, but I curved it too much and it was almost too short. Click on the picture to zoom in and see details, especially the witch's point at back.

*Note: See on the pic where is says 18.5 inches, your fold should be there! and I think 18.5 should really be 19.5 - will test in version 2.0

2. And then cut it out of black liner as well. Same size and everything but you don't need the witch's point so leave it out. I used my brown one as a guide and just folded the point in. Worked great.

3. Sew back seams on each one, all seams are 1/2 seam allowance.

I put a pin where it starts to curve around, and you sew from there all the way to the hood point.

Note the shape of the witch's point. Zig-zag edges of hood.

Repeat for the black liner.

*turn brown hood outside in and use pencil to push point out. So it looks nice and pointy!

4. Pin and sew brown hood and black liner together.

Start by putting a pin where the top of the fold is on the brown hood and one on black liner. Brown hood has seam on inside, so black liner has to have seam on outside. (do a sanity check, pin, and turn them around to make sure your seams will be hidden when you are finished)

Turn edge 1/4 inch and stitch to hold it in place and help with fraying. I sewed from center pin down left side, went back to pin and sewed down right side. (Trust me!)

*to be continued...

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