Thread: The dark truth of rehab

Please...if you take in a costume, please, please - dont use ink to mark the areas to be taken in. Dont let your seamstress do it either. When you resell and say the area can bet let out, that is true...but you will also heve black lines where the dart was taken in. Please use tailors chalk or something that will wash out when needed.

plain old chalk board chalk is good too

Yes, with almost every new rehab there is a "WTF!?! No! I cannot let anyone ever do this again!!!" moment.

can i also add 2 to the rehab list?:
1. please do not chop off the neck/shoulder strap in the center of the beading and include a little hacked up stub as an "extension".
just sew the excess down into the lining, if the costume will be resold.

2. please don't leave rusty safety pins in costumes. it ruins the fabric.
/endrant

Who on Earth uses ink to mark fabric?

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

can i also add 2 to the rehab list?:
1. please do not chop off the neck/shoulder strap in the center of the beading and include a little hacked up stub as an "extension".
just sew the excess down into the lining, if the costume will be resold.

2. please don't leave rusty safety pins in costumes. it ruins the fabric.
/endrant

I've had to learn this the hard way...done it myself. I admit it, I was a dummy.

But now I know.

Originally Posted by Karnak

Who on Earth uses ink to mark fabric?

I know Eman does. I've seen costumes that have ink where the beading was supposed to be

I agree with all the above. My recent acquisition (a lovely beaded Egyptian gown), has ink outlines for beadwork that was not completed. This was a custom order and such lax work annoys and disappoints. Black ink on a lovely fuchsia gown. Guess I should be thankful they did not use a Sharpie.

I agree with all the above to!

If you can't see the tailor's chalk, or afraid it might wear off....use 'Tailor's tacks' (thread tacks), easy to remove if you don't sew into the threads, to 'mark' your lines!

I've used ball point pens to mark straps on bedlahs...I've switched mostly to pencil though. I hadn't thought of chalk. Forgive me my altering sins.

If it can be sewn...then put the MFING glue gun DOWN!

Originally Posted by ozma

If it can be sewn...then put the MFING glue gun DOWN!

Amen!

Originally Posted by ozma

If it can be sewn...then put the MFING glue gun DOWN!

During the Flea Market at Oasis Dance Camp an attendee was selling a few costumes she made. At first glance they were lovely and the prices were very reasonable. Upon closer inspection I realized all the huge acrylic stones were glued to the dresses. One dancer tried on a dress and three stones fell to the floor. Not only was it embarrassing but the glue left huge, hard smears on the fabric. The dress was nice but it would have been expensive to remove all the glued-on stones (about the size of a silver dollar), and replace them with sew-on jewels. I do not recall any of those costumes selling.

Originally Posted by showtime

During the Flea Market at Oasis Dance Camp an attendee was selling a few costumes she made. At first glance they were lovely and the prices were very reasonable. Upon closer inspection I realized all the huge acrylic stones were glued to the dresses. One dancer tried on a dress and three stones fell to the floor. Not only was it embarrassing but the glue left huge, hard smears on the fabric. The dress was nice but it would have been expensive to remove all the glued-on stones (about the size of a silver dollar), and replace them with sew-on jewels. I do not recall any of those costumes selling.

Small hot-fit stone are ok, but anything larger should really be sewn if possible. Costumes usually need to stretch/flex/bend a little bit and glue just can't deal with that on larger surfaces. There is a time an place for the hot glue..and that's not it.

Forgive me, Bhuzzers... I may have sinned.

I've taken to using either quilters' pencils or washable watercolor markers... Since all of my stuff gets washed before it leaves me, the marker rinses away clean. With the speed I bead, having something that didn't wear off or disappear in 12 hours was really important... and pencil sometimes just wouldn't "take" on the fabric without pulling all of the warp and weft out of alignment.

If I mark, I use the pens that disappear in a day or so, if I need it to stay longer, I map it out with thread that is just loosely sewn with a straight stitch by hand and follow that. When I am done beading, I cut one knot at the end and pull it out.

I received a white Pharonics dress a couple of years ago where there was a line under one of the motifs. I carefully beaded a swath of lovely silver beads under it and then realized that I would have to do this with EVERY SINGLE MOTIF ON THE GOWN!

Several days later. . .

*Shakes head* I was told years and years ago that high end costume designers used pen the colour of the beads so that if the beads fell off, from the audience they would still "see" the pattern, so the mark up lines didn't really surprise me. The fact that they looked like they were in black Sharpy, did.

{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by Karnak

Who on Earth uses ink to mark fabric?

I'm guilty...but only on self-made costumes intended only for me, and only on the lining which I make to be able to be removed and washed or replaced. And only when my chalk pencil (red, white or blue) refuses to write on the fabric I'm using.

I have three costumes in which the designers used sharpies. They often leave stray marks. Very disappointing.

I used to use chalk, but it never stayed for me, so now I use the special dress maker's markers.

They used the permanent markers because the beading is farmed out and in low light, poor working conditions the design lines need to be seen and not rub off.

The beading guide lines dont really bother me..they give me guide lines when I have to rebead stuff after I tear into a costume..it is the avoidable after market stuff that irritates me.

I hope I didn't come across as mean when I was wondering who would use marker on costumes. I could see it being used for decorations that are meant to be permanent. (Personally, I use chalk and chalk pencils for everything.) I just couldn't imagine it being used to mark alterations.

Is there ever an occasion when it is acceptable to use hot glue? I couldn't imagine it holding very well or lasting very long, especially on fabric. I've always associate hot glue with silly craft projects, but never anything serious or meant to be worn.

I have used fabric glue on small flat back swarovski crystals to encrust a bra meant to be worn under a baladi dress, as I didnt want prong snag to happen. I think it is fine in that sort of application when there is a good reason for it (besides sloth).

I used gem glue for some small stones on my first set. They were small and not on something that would be stretch (like a lycra set) so it worked really well and I have not lost one yet. I glued the stones on my peacock as well come to think of it, again, not a whole lot of stretching going on and the stones are that big so it worked. But on that one I also used rhinestone chain and beading to help secure them in place so the glue is not working alone.

ETA: In both cases I used gem glue that is designed to be used on fabric so I guess it really isn't "hot glue" perse.

Originally Posted by Linnyg

ETA: In both cases I used gem glue that is designed to be used on fabric so I guess it really isn't "hot glue" perse.

Gem glue is excusable...it's not a hot glue gun. I will not come to your work space and slap the gem glue out of your hands....

.p::

I need to start a gang of roving craft-police. Anala, you down with traveling the world with me, stopping costuming injustice when we find it and fostering a better land for all?

"Honey, put the scissors down. It's been a long night and you're in no shape to be making any more choices tonight. We'll go grab a beer, you'll get a night's sleep, and we'll talk about this in the morning...ok?...it better be ok...My friend here is two steps away from photo-documenting your last costume massacre and sharing it with the blogosphere....that's it...nice and slow...ok...step away from the scissors...kick the glue gun over to my friend...we good."

Originally Posted by ozma

I need to start a gang of roving craft-police. Anala, you down with traveling the world with me, stopping costuming injustice when we find it and fostering a better land for all?

"Honey, put the scissors down. It's been a long night and you're in no shape to be making any more choices tonight. We'll go grab a beer, you'll get a night's sleep, and we'll talk about this in the morning...ok?...it better be ok...My friend here is two steps away from photo-documenting your last costume massacre and sharing it with the blogosphere....that's it...nice and slow...ok...step away from the scissors...kick the glue gun over to my friend...we good."

Where were you when I cut my hair at 2am while cutting fabric? Huh? huh?

I will carry your luggage for you if I can come. You two not only would be fun just to watch, but the knowledge between the two of you is well worth the bicep curls that I know your luggage would be! Beading ain't light!

Originally Posted by Linnyg

Where were you when I cut my hair at 2am while cutting fabric? Huh? huh?

I will carry your luggage for you if I can come. You two not only would be fun just to watch, but the knowledge between the two of you is well worth the bicep curls that I know your luggage would be! Beading ain't light!

I pack half a suitcase...because I always come home with more.

Originally Posted by Linnyg

Where were you when I cut my hair at 2am while cutting fabric? Huh? huh?

For the record...you should save the cutting of fabric (and rethreading sergers or fixing serger issues) for a time when you are well rested.

Also, if it is 2AM you can continue along a basic path, but it is best to write down any "epiphanies" you get about how to fix a costume/error or new direction you want to take on a costume...and save it for the morning AFTER coffee and breakfast.

If the Ozma of your mind is not there to guide you at 2AM, it means your mind is noisy and you need to rest.

If I have a buddy, I will no longer be pinning into my boobs on a regular basis, ow!

Originally Posted by anala

Please...if you take in a costume, please, please - dont use ink to mark the areas to be taken in. Dont let your seamstress do it either. When you resell and say the area can bet let out, that is true...but you will also heve black lines where the dart was taken in. Please use tailors chalk or something that will wash out when needed.

Oh I thought you were going for treatment from the title of the thread for costume addiction. LOL!

Agreed tailors chalk is your friend,
On back of bra belts-white thread on dark fabric, why? Also with fraying fringe, falling sequins I usually have to re-do and secure and sew them. I also prefer sew on gems/crystals. And a pliers for the sharp prongs from missing rhinestones, so I don't cut myself or snag a veil or anything else.

Alrana