As there's been some discussion lately about making your own costumes, I thought I'd start a thread for help with sewing / creating a costume from scratch. Please feel free to add suggestions or helpful comments.
Star Wars Specific:Rebel Legion (costuming club)- many tutorials and forum for Jedi, pilots, aliens, etc -
http://www.rebellegion.com/costuming.phpSelf-Scrunching Obi tutorial -
http://www.rebellegion.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26587Granny-Wan - Jedi undertunic and several female characters -
http://grannys-costumes.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-to-make-jedi-undertunic.htmlDreycon Dell's Jedi Garb Tutorial -
http://jeditutorial.blogspot.com/Crazy Old Wizards focuses on Obi-Wan -
http://www.crazyoldwizards.com.ar/default.aspJedi-Kai Tutorials -
http://home.comcast.net/~jedikai/Flagship Eclipse forum - the Sith Lord division of the 501st Legion -
http://www.theflagshipeclipse.com/forum/index.php501st Legion - (costuming club) -good reference -
http://www.501st.com/icostumes.phpWookieepedia - Star Wars Wiki -
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/WookieepediaPadme's Closet - a costumer's personal blog, focusing on Padme/Leia costumes -
http://padme-skywalker77.blogspot.com/ Armorhttp://amethyst-angel.com/armormaking.htmlLeather Work / SuppliesTandy Leather -
http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/home.aspxAltering PatternsThis is aimed at changing patterns to fit dolls, but is useful for creating your own human-size patterns too -
http://www.dalerae.com/Enlargepattern06.htmFabricsDharma Trading - plain fabrics and dyes (Raw Silk and 'Handwoven Natural Fabric' in particular)-
http://www.dharmatrading.com/Joann Fabrics and patterns-
http://www.joann.com/Hancock Fabrics and patterns -
http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Hobby Lobby and some Wal-Marts also have limited fabric selections.
What fabrics to look for:Crinkle cotton / gauze crinkle cotton - tends to be a spring/summer only fabric in stores- for Jedi/Sith tunics (think prequel Obi-Wan)
Raw Silk / Silk Noil - for Jedi/Sith tunics (think Qui-Gon)
Wool for Robes - Lightweight /summer weight /suiting /bottom weight (like dress pants) - generally fall/winter only in stores
Osnaburg Cotton - rough-textured cotton that is cheap, looks good, available year round, may be in the quilting section
Linen - will wrinkle easily, but has a nice texture
Fusible interfacing - the lightest weight is fine for giving tabards some shape. This stuff irons onto the back of the good fabric.
Vinyl / pleather - use for cheap boot toppers or Anakin-style tabards
DO NOT GET most polyesters, synthetic felt, or cotton broadcloth if you want a movie-looking Jedi costume. You need fabric with texture. Polyester just gets hot. Cotton broadcloth is cheap and comes in every color, but it is too smooth and wrinkles easily. However, it's a good fabric to start with if you're a complete beginner at sewing, or want a really cheap costume.
Weathering Costumeshttp://www.studiocreations.com/howto/distressing/http://www.therpf.com/f24/how-give-costume-permanent-dirty-weathered-battle-worn-look-157898/Costuming in GeneralThe Costumer's Manifesto has links to pretty much any costuming/ clothing history topic you'd ever want to know.
http://www.andrewkahn.me/manifesto/Historical InfluencesMongolian jacket pattern -
http://www.thescorre.org/literature/Mongol_Garb.htmCorset supplies (not for the beginner sewer!) -
http://farthingalesla.com/index.htmlDrafting a Hakama pattern -
http://imadeitbyhand.blogspot.com/2010/05/drafting-hakama-pattern.htmlFolkwear - historic/ethnic patterns -
http://www.folkwear.com/Helpful topics for online searches:Cosplay / costuming sites - sometimes a search for another fandom's costuming tutorials may help - Lord of the Rings armor making, for example
SCA (Society for Creative Anacronism) sites - Medieval cosplay/reenactment
Japanese / Mongolian / medieval Europe / Asian / Middle Eastern historical clothing
Costuming with Found Items:This can be a cheap and rewarding way to assemble a costume, particularly if you're not doing a traditional Jedi. Check out thrift shops, rummage sales, second hand stores, clearance warehouses, antique shops, discount stores... it may take a long time, but you can come up with some fantastic and unique items this way, including cheap boots and belts. TJ Maxx, Ragstock, Goodwill, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, dollar stores...