Saber Forum

So me and my brother-in-law just bought our first US and are making costumes for comic con/Halloween/nerding out, and I am finding bit surprisingly hard to find a good looking costume (well one that I can afford anyway) so I arrived at the make parts buy others parts etc, so my questions are as follows
1. My current plan is to do a black karate outfit then of corse my US then some leather gloves then a cloak and a tabard of some sort, do you guys think that'd look ok? And 2
2. Where is the best place to buy a cloak that won't make me go broke, as well as where should I buy the tabard?
I realise it's a lengthy question, but would approximate any help I chisk get!! Thanks in advance!

Oh also I'd like to have a blaster that attached to my mid thigh, think that looks cool, what type do I think I should do and where should I purchase? It?

IF you can sew it is possible to make your robe. There are patterns out there you could use. If not, are you US, UK, Europe or other area based? That might dictate where the best low cost place to get a robe from is.

As to your look, my advice is to firstly, go with the look that grabs you most, if you're not talking about being a part of a costume group like The Galactic Knights, 501st, The Dark Empire etc. then you don't need to worry about detail. Secondly, I would go through the films, games and comic books and take examples and ideas from them that fit with your idea and enhance it.

As OrtharRrith said, can you sew or know someone who does? Tabard, obi, and robe aren't too difficult if you are keeping their designs basic. There are dress making patterns available for them, and if you want a robe (with the sleeves) there are patterns out there that people have made that are very easy/ designed for relative beginners- I think someone posted a link in one of my costuming threads, I'd have to go hunting for you. A cloak (no sleeves) can also be quite easy to make. The hardest bit is usually adding the hood, if you want to it be a large hood which needs to be gathered or have multiple darts where it attaches to the main robe. And on a budget these can be made out of cheap cotton materials (or even things like bedsheets) and still generally look the part.

Blaster- well depends on how screen accurate you want, and what crafty skills you have. Quite a few people on here have bought cheap toy guns, either water pistols, nerf guns, even the star wars toy guns, and modded them (painting, weathering, adding scopes etc).

When it comes to buying any of the above you will have to be careful. Cheap price often means cheap quality, which may or may not be an issue for you.

And I have used karate gi as a basis for a costume. We made a cheap tabard, obi and robe out of cheap black cotton fabric, and that looked just fine for general costuming. It is all about what you add to it  ;)

Thrift stores (Salvation Army, D.A.V., and Military Surplus, etc.) can be a costumers best friend, especially if you want costume items to have a weathered look about them.  I've picked up Nerf guns, squirt guns, cap guns, etc. for $.10 sometimes.  Clothing can be found quite easily sometimes there too, especially if you know how to make alterations, which is sometimes easier than sewing from scratch.  A lot of places, especially as you get closer to Halloween, will have costume components hanging on racks (cloaks, robes, military clothing) and sometimes if you're willing to bargain hunt, you can find awesome scifi looking jackets and vests that were common place everyday clothes in the '70's.

I've personally put together several outfits for costuming functions for under $10 at Thrift Stores, maybe from time to time I've had to buy one or two items new to complete it, but it's always worth while.  A few local shops around here sell lots of used sporting goods and clothing and they always have martial arts attire on the racks.  Seldom does it fit me, I'm a pretty big guy, but there are always options out there.

So I can do the basic of all basic sewing, but that's as far as I really get! Haha I think my brother is pretty decent at sewing and just as big a nerd as me so I could probably get him to help out! So where should I go for the outline of the cloak and tabard?

Oh and what about the belt?

Try eBay there are some good little finds such as blasters and star wars outfits including Robes also try Jedi-robes.com but it does kind of matter where your from I'm UK based and the shipping can scupper some plans as some company's won't ship to the UK.

Oh and i live in Utah in the US

I will be completely honest with you and state now that, by the standards of professional quality costuming groups such as The Galactic Knights, 501st and the Rebel Legion, Jedi-Robe is not good BUT if you want something to attend Cons, parties, messing about and generally just having some fun outside of a costuming group, then you can't go too far wrong

They have an American site.

well, not everyone wants to join a costuming club :) and you can get some great results from cheaply built costumes- there are heaps of people that have made them on here and they look great

here is one of the links that was posted on my thread with a simple style of pattern.
http://www.padawansguide.com/robe.shtml (http://www.padawansguide.com/robe.shtml)

there's more stuff in my thread
http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=12939.15 (http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=12939.15)

Oh I know and have absolutely no problem with that at all, I just wanted to be clear incase someone reading this thread at some point in the future wanted to. I'd rather people were aware of everything from the outset, that way they can avoid any potential upset.
I have certainly seen a great many beautifully made cheap costumes and always enjoyed them, my intention wasn't to come across as snobbish and elitist - I am in fact far from both, as I hope you will learn.

Good to hear ;)

And yes, costuming standards for the clubs are (understandably) high. I'm in the process of planning out my RL costume, not the easiest. For me its not the sewing thats not a problem, its getting the right materials as they are sadly lacking in Oz. Might have to order online from overseas :/

Anyway enough threadjacking, make sure you post photos of your costume when its done :D

For a blaster you could get one of the smaller sized Nerf guns and mod it to look Star Wars style. =] Just a thought.

www.jedirobeamerica.com (http://www.jedirobeamerica.com)   has great budget stuff

Patterns for Robes and outfits can be found at JoAnn Fabrics or Hancock Fabrics.  Just head to the pattern tables and look through the books.