Blair's Guide to making costumes for those with no money.

Fabric-
*Look at all clothes in thrift shops as possible fabric-I've found 5 dollar leather jackets that have now been made into leather coin pouches. Sheets work wonderfully for making shifts, just make sure they have no stains and to wash and bleach (especially if white) them.
*If you're in the process of clearing out your closet of dresser-double check the clothes you're giving away, a possible corset could be hiding in an old skirt or pair of pants.
*Altering clothes to create costumes is always fun and usually results in one of a kind items.

All for now.

WILFTP: Renaissance Underdress.

The underdress of my renfaire costume.

What I learned from this:
*Ease stitching is a BITCA (hehe reference.)
*It takes more fabric to make a cloak than a dress.
*How to hand-sew eyelets.
*That it is IMPOSSIBLE to fix your own hem.

What I learned from this project: Matt Vest Commission.

I made this for my friend who is cosplaying Matt from Death Note. It took quite a while.

What I learned:
*How to make a pattern piece.
*How to sew fake fur.
*How to keep the fake fur out of the goddamn feed dogs.

Costume Design Resources.

Every costume designer has their inspiration, the LotR movies are mine-Here are some good websites for those designers/crafts people that want to make costumes, ect. With them in mind.
http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/ One of my favorite sites- They tell you how you can make the costumes from the movies and have lots of amazing pictures.

http://arwen-undomiel.com/gallery.html
AMAZING website-check out all the other features. This has pictures of all the characters as well as screen captures for those of you (like me) who have watched the movies enough times to see what the extras are wearing.

http://www.costumersguide.com/exhibits.shtml
I didn't get the chance to fully look through this website, but it looks promising.

More later-Don't get frostbite (or sunburn)