Costume fabric for Renaissance Festivals?

[shimmy21]

Hey all!

I'm making a new costume for when I work at the local renaissance festival next fall, and I'm having horrible luck finding suitable fabrics. The local fabric stores aren't very good. I guess you could call the look I'm going for folkloric tribal fusion. I'm planning on making a bra, choli top for hot days, and ghawazee coat if it gets cold. If I can't find a skirt I like, I'll make that too. Already have brown linen harem pants I can use. I need to stick to natural fabrics since it can be well over 100F at times. Stretchable fabrics are a no-no, so I need time to draft up some decent patterns and make mock ups. Because I'll be wearing this for long hours, I'm keeping coins and decorations as light as possible and want a fun fabric to bring more visual interest.

Thanks!

Rachel

[ghazallah]

You might be able to find an awesome stripy fabric for the Ghawazee coat in the upholstery/drapery section. An added bonus, it'll be at least 54 inches wide!

As for the choli, I'd get the fat chance pattern (it's fitted very well) and run it up in a nice 100% cotton woven, either a solid to coordinate with the other items, or a "tribal" looking print. The nice thing about the choli is you only need a little over a yard.

Happy stitching!

[BernieV]

I have tons of fabric that'd work...I used to make costumes for faire and have done SCA for a looong time...

How many yards? Any color dislikes?

I have stripes, solids, some vegetable prints....Cottons, lines, silks....



I'll get a few pics together once I know what you're looking for!

[shimmy21]

Thanks a ton BernieV!

The only colors I try to avoid as main colors are yellows, oranges, and pinks. They look really strange next to my skin. They are fine in little amounts, though.

My favorite colors are blues, greens, and purples, but it could only be a little bit of muted purple or I'd get in trouble, and I'd have to watch the color of the blue. Other than that, any earth tone. I'm going to stick to cotton or linen unless you have a silk/cotton or silk/linen that could stand up to repeated washings. I'd have to see the pattern before I could say decided on that.

I'm open to any suggestions you have!

Thanks so much!

Rachel

[BernieV]

Hi Rachel!

I'm teaching tomorrow night, so I should be able to get you pictures either before then or maybe by Tuesday...

I'll let you know when posted...

BTW...did you decide on how many yards?

G'Night for now!!

[shimmy21]

I'm thinking about using the Al-Zahra's Ghawazee Coat pattern, full length, under bust style. I don't have it yet, so I'm not sure about the required yardage. Anyone with more info? I can't really justify paying $20 for a pattern when I only want to use 1 piece from it, so I'm going to draft up my own pattern for the choli in a couple weeks after I'm done with finals.

I'm 5'3", so depending on width, I'd probably want 3-4 yards for the coat and at least a yard for the choli. I haven't decided if I want a wrap and tie or open back style. Maybe both... :P Again, depending on width, probably 1.5 yards to be safe, and because I can always use scraps to make some badly needed pouches or various other things! lol :)

I'm still deciding on what to cover the bra with. I'll definitely use something patterned (I tend to lean towards vertical stripes!) for the choli and coat, but I can't decide if I want to use 2 different patterns and then make the bra a solid color common to both, plain dark brown or black, or use scraps from one of the pieces to cover it, and make sure the different patterns look ok together. I'm going light on the bra decorations to keep it light since I wear it for such long hours, so the fabric will be visible.

Thanks so much!

Rachel

[shimmy21]

Hey BernieV!

I was just wondering if you'd had a chance to look through your fabrics yet! :) If it is too much to get pics taken and up, you could describe some of them and I could narrow it down more. If it isn't too much of a problem, I would love to see all the pics! I'm a rather big fabric whore! ;) I guess I should be lucky there aren't good fabric shops locally, as I would have a lot less money!

Thanks so much!

Rachel

[caasious]

Try checking out Annabella's choli pattern - it's free online - in all sizes, and easy to construct.

Turbans, Tassels and Tattoos! - American Tribal Style Belly Dance in Australia

It does require a stretch fabric for good fit (like panne velour) but we've used this one LOTS and I love the look and feel. You could keep to natural tones to match the rest of your costume pieces.

[Souzan]

Ditch the linen pants. They will be too hot. Instead, look at some Egyptian cotton. You can get cotton in all kinds of jewel tones. Also there is some lovely tie die and batik cotton available. Colorful and easy to wear.

Souzan

[da Sage]

Originally Posted by Souzan

Ditch the linen pants. They will be too hot. Instead, look at some Egyptian cotton. You can get cotton in all kinds of jewel tones. Also there is some lovely tie die and batik cotton available. Colorful and easy to wear.

Souzan

I can't imagine why linen would be too hot, unless it's actually not real linen. My linen clothes are the coolest things I own - the wind blows right through them.

[shimmy21]

The pants are very full, brown 100% medium weight linen harem pants. I used them last year, and they are super cool, and very comfortable. I love the texture of the linen as compared to modern cotton. The linen isn't rough by any means but it has a bit more depth. I find most cotton too smooth and modern looking for my tastes. We are supposed to stay away from jewel tones because a group of the scenario characters wear super crazy bright outfits. I just work at the front gate.

I'm still in the market for some nice Renaissance striped fabric for a ghawazee coat, and a brocade type fabric for covering a bra and a choli top!

Thanks!

Rachel

[da Sage]

Do you have Jo-Ann's or Hancock fabrics where you are? I've had good luck both places. I've even been lucky at Walmart, occasionally.

Otherwise, I could probably find fabric for you here $5-$6.75/yard, and ship it. 'Cause we've got lots.

Edit: Yep, I'm the kind of girl who gets lucky at Walmart. ;)

[ruta21030]

if you want nice solid colors and good drape, try raw silk noil, you can get it inexpensively from Thorny Rose..........great colors, fabulous drape, very comfy..............

also, don't laugh, but for reeaaally hot days, good old stretchy polyester is amazing.......it wicks moisture from your body..........that's all underarmour is, 100% poly.............like a little underlayer...........it pulls the sweat off your body, and dissipates it out..........

[shimmy21]

I wish I was you de Sage! I have horrible luck at Walmart, and most other stores for that matter! I we do have a small JoAnn's Fabric, but I spent an hour digging through all the fabric, and the only patterns I liked were 100% polyester damasks, which I might melt in!

I'm starting to give in on the stripes, but not quite yet! I'm going to run through the tiny Walmart fabric section, and the Hobby Lobby in town. I've never had much luck with them. Manhattan,Ks doesn't really have a huge market for fabric. Mostly just quilting. I'm driving through a bigger town tomorrow on my way to my sister's graduation. I'll try to stop by some of the fabric stores they have there and see if I can find something.

Question, I have never done much with silk. How well would silk dupioni or silk noil hold up to repeated washings? We get really sweaty and dirty standing in the hot sun, sometimes insane winds, and sometimes freezing rain. I know it will lose some of its shimmer, but I suppose that will make it more authentic. I just don't want it to fall apart. Instinct tells me it won't, because silk fibers are supposed to be very strong, but I just want some reassurance.

Thanks!

Rachel

[BernieV]

Hi Rachel!

I never got your e-mail to send the pics of the fabric...Do you still want them? Just PM me with a good address!

B