Thread: Bead/Applique Methods

For all of our DIY costumers, when you do your beading, do you sort of "wing it" when making patterns? Like, do you more or less "color" in an area of fabric with beads that you think would look the best or do you follow specific layouts, patterns?

I use fabric chalk or pencil (depending on the fabric)to outline the general area I want to bead- that way I can try it on to see if I've got the placement right once all the curves are actually filled out! the vanishing markers work for smaller projects, but it takes me too long to bead a full costume before the ink disappears!

Originally Posted by Lara L

I use fabric chalk or pencil (depending on the fabric)to outline the general area I want to bead- that way I can try it on to see if I've got the placement right once all the curves are actually filled out! the vanishing markers work for smaller projects, but it takes me too long to bead a full costume before the ink disappears!

I wondered about that..about vanishing marker/chalk.

I am a planner out of necessity .... I know this might sound a little strange, but for planning out the beading for my most recent project, I made a copy of the fabric (in the xerox) after sewing the base of the belt and drew out a color pattern with pens on the copied piece of paper. It helps me to think about my beading strategy ahead of time as I am very indecisive when it comes to picking the beads/colors when I actually start working..

oh- another note- I've been beading a lot of lycra lately, when I work with something a little more stable, I actually do the appliques on felt & then sew them onto the costume- that way you can actually pin them in place to adjust the placement & don't need the chalk...

Originally Posted by agallo23

I am a planner out of necessity .... I know this might sound a little strange, but for planning out the beading for my most recent project, I made a copy of the fabric (in the xerox) after sewing the base of the belt and drew out a color pattern with pens on the copied piece of paper. It helps me to think about my beading strategy ahead of time as I am very indecisive when it comes to picking the beads/colors when I actually start working..

That is so clever! I would have never thought to do something like that. ,r:;

I've only beaded beldahs before, but I start out with a colored drawing of what I want. After I make the top and belt, I draw on it with chalk pencils. I bead the "outlines" first, and then I fill in all of the areas with color.

I tried to make appliques one time, but what I used for the base of the applique wasn't sturdy enough, although I thought it was the correct type of product to use.

I like the appliques-on-felt idea! That would work wonderfully!

*steals*

For one of my daughter's costumes, I found a quilting pattern (a rectangular sheet of plastic that repeated the shape three times. Using a marker (yes, it did bleed a little), I tranferred those parts of the shape I wanted to use, making some artistic* adjustments along the way. If I recall correctly, I believe I outlined first, then filled in.

Another costume I made for my daughter was completely free-hand and kinda evolved as time went on, although I had a general idea of the design at the start. Came out pretty well, too. Nice and sparkley!

I guess that "evolution" thing has happened every time I've made a costume. Well, that makes costume-making kinda like life, then, doesn't it? We start with our plans and find that life often gives us a better outcome!

Deborah

* at least I hope they were artistic! ..g.:

I'm a chalk winger.

Originally Posted by ozma

I'm a chalk winger.

And costume-maker extraordinaire!

Deborah

Originally Posted by casbahdance

I guess that "evolution" thing has happened every time I've made a costume. Well, that makes costume-making kinda like life, then, doesn't it? We start with our plans and find that life often gives us a better outcome!

Deborah

* at least I hope they were artistic! ..g.:

Oh, I completely agree- no rules saying how close you have to stick to your initial concept/design! Now my husband just wants me to find a stopping point- always just one little thing I could change! at least performance deadlines give me a 'stopping point' (whether I feel it is REALLY done or not!)

I use felt as well.

When I'm doing specific shapes instead of freeform work, I make my own appliques. I draw my shapes onto felt with marker, stretch the felt across a cross stitch hoop and sew the beads/sequins on. The hoop gives me something solid to hold onto and lets me carry my work to the couch instead of having to be planted at a table. Once the design is beaded on, I just cut out the applique, sew it onto the costume and bead around it to cover any edges that show. When picking a felt color, I use either something similar to the base fabric of my costume, or something that is the same color as the predominant bead/sequin color so that the felt won't stand out from behind the bead pattern.

Originally Posted by lunascura

I use felt as well.

When I'm doing specific shapes instead of freeform work, I make my own appliques. I draw my shapes onto felt with marker, stretch the felt across a cross stitch hoop and sew the beads/sequins on. The hoop gives me something solid to hold onto and lets me carry my work to the couch instead of having to be planted at a table. Once the design is beaded on, I just cut out the applique, sew it onto the costume and bead around it to cover any edges that show. When picking a felt color, I use either something similar to the base fabric of my costume, or something that is the same color as the predominant bead/sequin color so that the felt won't stand out from behind the bead pattern.

Love this idea -thanks for sharing!!!

I've done both. If I'm doing cut-outs, I surround them with an applique made by pre-beading a type of really stiff interfacing (called "flexifirm"?). I may give felt a try now though! :) Aside from the pre-made appliques though, I wing it!

i am a jump in no pattern hope it works kinda gal. I have actually scared people who watch me cut and bead. But speed is really important.

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

i am a jump in no pattern hope it works kinda gal. I have actually scared people who watch me cut and bead. But speed is really important.

I'm sure every dancer on here would love to sit with you in your workshop and just watch you sew away.

I haven't done that much beading on my own but when we did our troupe costumes I was in charge of the decoration. I put the stones and appliques and sequins out on the belt pattern and took photographs of it all the time. After a while I had decided on which pattern and then everyone got a copy of the photo and could sew or glue all they liked at home.
On the dress I pinned everything on in a nice pattern and took photographs.
The camera is a good tool for "sketching" ideas on the costume IMO.