Thread: Sparkliest costume components?

So I've resigned to my fate, I must make my own costumes. My shape is too unusual to buy off the rack and I can't afford custom made. And less expensive costumes usually need so much altering for me to be happy with them.

SO I've been thinking a lot about what I want to make, and one thing I really want is something super sparkly! So that got me thinking... what can I use that will be really reflective and glitsy? And what things need to be taken into consideration when working with these items?

Thoughts so far:
-Swarovsky crystals (a bit pricey, but just a few are worth it?)
-hex cut beads (tends to eat through thread?)
-Hologram sequins (might be too modern? Also check these hologram sequin shapes! hologram )
-Rhinestones (super sparkly, but tends to snag on fabric? Has to be sewn in a line?)
-Glittery fabrics (be prepared to leave a wake of glitter like a fairy?)

So what makes a costume sparkle?

If you want sparkle, here's my list in order:

Swarovski crystals - a little goes a long way
Rhinestones - yes. you can buy chain or individual sew-ons
Any glass beads - seed beads, bugles, whatever. Round seed beads will not saw through thread the way square-cut or bugles will.
Sequins - great for filling in spaces with seed beads

Glitter fabric with caution - if the glitter is glued on you will lose the finish eventually. Probably not worth it if you are going to put time and money into beading the costume.

visit claire's boutique or forever 21 they have affordable sparkly necklaces and stuff that can be easily converted to costume pieces

Originally Posted by jesennia

visit claire's boutique or forever 21 they have affordable sparkly necklaces and stuff that can be easily converted to costume pieces

But be forewarned that cheap metal stuff turns dull/black really quickly. Using these sorts of things as rhinestone sources, though, is good! Just don't expect to sew a cheap necklace straight onto the costume and have it last for long.

Checking out the clearance rack of jewelry at other stores can sometimes be useful, too. Try stores for "women of a certain age" -- they often have really chunky jewelry!! I got a ginormous pressed metal set for $10 once (originally close to $100) that was large enough to split into a full Tunisian-style ornament set.

Jewelry pliers are your friends...

Re. rhinestone chain: I think there was a conversation on Bhuz a while back about metal versus plastic settings on rhinestone chain? Cheap vs quality kinds that didn't snag? Anybody?

Crystals and sequins get my vote.

Be careful with sequins lite the flower shapes with points and only 1 hole to sew them down - they tend to snag fabrics.

Glitter and foil fabrics are great short term but some tend to lose their shine and it wears off anywhere there is friction like under the armpits on bras.

Originally Posted by dima

-Swarovsky crystals (a bit pricey, but just a few are worth it?)

There is a noticeable difference between pressed-glass beads and rhinestones versus the higher quality crystal beads and rhinestones. On the other hand, most people cannot tell Swarovski brand-name crystals from the Jolee's Jewels and Crystazzi on sale at the local craft store--big difference in price, though. A lot of what's getting labeled "Swarovski" isn't the brand-name.

-hex cut beads (tends to eat through thread?)

Facets are more reflective than rounds. Foil linings and finishes are more reflective than plain beads.

-Rhinestones (super sparkly, but tends to snag on fabric? Has to be sewn in a line?)

Hotfix stones tend to be less catchy than stones in pronged settings. Stones in bezel settings are also less catchy than ones where the prongs are on the top of the stone. The Bedazzler style (bezel top, prongs go through the fabric) can cause run problems with some knits.

-Glittery fabrics (be prepared to leave a wake of glitter like a fairy?)

Fabric with glued-on glitter designs shed more than fabrics with foiled textures, although the foils can deteriorate from wear. Fabrics that get their sparkle from woven metallic threads usually only shed during the sewing process. Be wary of plastic threads in cotton or cotton blends--these fabrics may pucker and shrink irregularly and the plastic can melt when ironing.

[Sequin discussion in another post...]

-Hologram sequins (might be too modern? Also check these hologram sequin shapes!

Based on general crafting experience, I would rank the sequins in order to avoid as follows.

Do Not Want:
1. Spokes and sunflower (No. Just no. You will regret these.)
2. Fluted disc (They don't have prongs to bend like the first two, but their edges tend to be sharp and prone to snagging on things.)
3. Plum blossom (These are #1's slightly more refined cousins.)

I can't recommend anything but staying away from #1-3. I wouldn't even use them on Christmas ornaments.

Choose Your Design Carefully:
4. Anything with an offset single hole like the fan, paisley, cat's tail (I've never used the paisleys to know if they have the snag issues the discs do, but long paillettes or ones with irregular shaping may be more likely to catch or get bent than the plain, round ones.)
5. Anything two-holed, but with sharp corners like the rectangles, diamonds, pears, etc. (Depending on how you sew them on, there may be a snagging risk. Pointy is always more snaggy than round.)
6. Small flowers with short petals (These are somewhat more troublesome than regular round sequins, but they're not too bad. The petals of the flat flowers seem slightly more likely to bend than the ones with cupped petals.)
7. Hexagon and spiral circles (...Or you could just buy the cupped round sequins that are $0.25 a pack cheaper.)

From #4 on down, YMMV. If you do a lot of veil or choose easily snagged fabrics, you may want to think twice about using the non-round styles. Also if you tend to be in situations where you have to sit around in your costumes or need to clean them frequently, be wary of large, dangling, and/or odd-shaped sequins that can't withstand the abuse that a 6mm cup can. I have seen costumes with cat tails, etc., mixed in with fringe on pre-made costumes. On a belt that you can take off, they're probably fine. Sewn onto a skirt, maybe not. Buy extra for wear-and-tear replacements.

Probably the main disadvantage of #5-7 is that you don't usually see them on imported costumes, which tips off other dancers that this costume was domestically made. Some folks want their costumes to "pass" for commercially made, so if that concerns you, you may be happier sticking with cup sequins and round paillettes. There are costumes coming from Egypt and Turkey with holo sequins, so that's not really an issue. They'd be anachronistic on an intentionally retro or historical costume, though.

foil linings may be more reflective, but they also oxidize and go black if you get them moist at all (say, with sweat)

Crystals- I like the preciosa brand, and have found they do just as well as the swarovski and I like some of the shapes better.

Aurora coating makes things pop, but not all coatings are created equal- some will wear off faster than others. Preciosa and swarovski have both done fine for me.

I like firemountaingems.com- I buy seed beads and bugles by the kilo to save a little and also so I have plenty of extras for repairs later.

That being said- I haven't had time to bead for years! Anyone want to finish my projects for me? I've got the base costumes and the beads, they just need to go together...

oh! and follow the "what are you making" thread every month- crazy good inspiration in there!

There was the all-rhinestone bra in there a couple months ago- that was definitely sparkly!