Over Last Night's Temper Tantrum

My machine truly is dead. There was the slightest chance, according to one troubleshooting site, that it was a case of overheating and within 30 minutes, it could have started up again. I tried it this morning and there wasn't anything new to report.

Maybe I should set it outside for Halloween with a sign that says, "Beware the haunted sewing machine."

I will be able to do some sewing tomorrow morning after all (got a late morning at work anyway) over at Nicole the Knitter's house on a machine owned by one of her roommates. This is what I was able to get done so far:

I actually sewed this two separate times. The first time, it turned out horribly, even with making several tweaks and taking it in a few times. This is such a nice, simple linen-type material. This is light enough to be comfortable outside during a southern Virginia Halloween, and to probably be comfortable inside at a party with a bunch of bodies (which we will probably wind up at).

One Jedi costume site recommended using ties on the inside for a more secure, tighter fit. I'm actually using snaps on mine. There are partial snaps in the shoulders right now, because I'm going to put the other half of the snaps in the tabbards to keep them from slipping down.

I also put in a set of shoulder pads, but I actually put them in backwards on purpose. According to the Padawan's Guide, "Obi-Wan's tunic has a noticeable "tuck" where the sleeve joined with the shoulder. In Ep. II, particularly in the scene where Obi-Wan is floating in those electric cuffs, you can see a shoulder seam too." In the picture of Obi-Wan here, you can see the arrow pointing up to the tuck. This is why I added the shoulder pads. I tried doing a tuck like this the first time, and it didn't work out for me, but at least I have the overall shape that I wanted.

I am wildly happy with how this turned out. I changed the construction of the collar and added the interfacing.

Gratuitous sleeping kitty shot.

These pants are actually from a woman's pirate costume pattern. Like a dumbass, when I bought the pattern, I grabbed the first one I saw and didn't realize until I was cutting the fabric out that it was a PLUS SIZED pattern. I had to cut it down to the smallest size listed and got it right.

This is the same linen fabric as the tunic. I actually sewed these three times. The first time, they were HUGE. The second time, I eyeballed the fabric pieces, cut them smaller and made them too small. The third time, I cut down the pattern and started with new fabric and got it right.

I thought I had elastic when I was almost finished with them. Turns out I didn't, so I ran down to Walgreens. I was denied there. Their tiny little sewing rack didn't have any elastic and I just didn't feel like going any further. I dug through my stash of stuff and came across a fitted sheet I had used for a different project. I cut a bunch of elastic from it and reused it for these pants.

I really liked this pattern. By leaving the elastic out below the knees (I should have made the pants a teeny bit longer but they do work with my boots), I can do simple capris with this pattern. My husband already decided I'm getting a new machine for Christmas so my goal is to find some fun fabrics at the thrift store in the form of dresses and re-purpose them into pants for next spring and summer with this pattern.

Here is the only thing so far I didn't have to start over on: the dickey and the first thing I made. I didn't even have to tweak the pattern. How the collar was made here is what made me do the collar on the tunic in the same way. This was a random remnant from my stash that I bought for this costume, I just wasn't sure which part I'd use it for. The pattern called for making your own ties, but I had white ribbon so I used that instead.

My husband was tossing out a D ring belt a while back, so I swiped it for Halloween for this costume. I'm planning on checking a local military surplus store on Friday or Saturday for a pouch to add to the belt, since I don't have pockets in the pants.

Eventually, I'll be either making or buying a better belt and "accessories" and a Jedi robe because once I am fully finished with the costume, I want to try and join the Rebel Legion. I'd love to be a regular old stormtrooper from the original trilogy and join the 501st, but I've been looking at trooper armor online. A good set should run about $1500-1600 and I just don't have that kind of moolah, especially since next year it will be time to replace our Blazer. The fun thing is that I'm running into more people who are or know members of the 501st and Rebel Legion. They are more mainstream than I thought. :) And of course, I have my green light saber, courtesy of my husband for my birthday last year. That's what started this whole project, really.

And it's also inspired me to make a Jawa and a gonk droid for the yard for next year's Halloween. I am such a geek. My entire life is one big geek circle. :)