Progress Update: Mokomoko Started; Pink Kosode, Still Being Embroidered.

Well, I went ahead and built a inner skeleton structure for the Mokomoko just too see what it would look like and to see if it was possible to use inside a costume tail, and has decided go ahead and use it. I also came to the conclusion that an 8 foot Mokomoko is not big enough, and am now making it 12 feet long instead.

Here’s how I did it in case any one else wants to try it:

I took a 12 foot phone/internet cable, and ran it through 8 feet of galvanized electrical conduit cable (which is quite heavy and made of metal, but is very springy and moves like a real tail.). I taped the cable in place to the conduit so that the ends meet at the base, but the cable is 4 feet longer at the end.

My next step was to wrap the entire thing in polyester quilt batting: first a 1/4″ x 8″ x 12′ stripe tied down with DMC crochet cotton. I tied it into a knobby look, by tying at 3″ intervals.

Next I put in on, in order to measure where the shoulder line would be, than marked off a 3 foot section, and wrapped that with a another layer of quilt batting: 1/4″ x 2′ x 3′, stiffing it with teddy bear stuffing, which is a supper soft, very squishy type of polyester stuffing. Again tying at 3″ intervals.

Overlapping that section by 4″ I added another layer of quilt batting, and stuffed it with only half as much stuffing as before. Again tying at 3″ intervals.

From that point down I wrapped again, this time with no stuffing added.

The end result it a 12′ long conical taper shape, with the first 2 1/2′ left wrapped only once, so as to be able to wrap the tail, and some how attach it which I have not yet figured out how to do.

Well, that’s where I am at right now. It took me just under 2 hours from start to finish.

My next step with the Mokomoko is to buy some eyelash fringe fabric, to make a cloth cover for it. That will be the base to which I will hand sew (latch hook-stitch) real fur to, to create a real fur tail. I have yet to decide on the type of fur I’ll use, but at this point I’m leaning towards Beige Alpaca Fleece.

The Mokomoko aside, I still have quite a ways to go on the Court Robes. The cloth was cut out and the pieces pinned together, so that I could hand draw (in pink tailor’s chalk) the giant lotus blossoms, and butterflies (in blue chalk). The butterflies are being done tone on tone, the same color as the silk, so can only be seen up close. I ran out of floss today, so had to go the Micheal’s to buy more.

Right now I am working on the collar of the kosode, which has butterflies along the edge, and the partial piece of one of the pink flowers at the shoulder. Starting at the lower left side and working up to the top and down to the right, I am right now, 3/4 to the top of the left side. Each butterfly is approx. 2″ x 4″ and takes 3 hours to fill in using the satin stitch and the long & short stitch. I have been sewing approximately 1 1/2 butterflies per day (that’s me hand sewing 4 1/2 hours per day!), so I’m guessing that my original estimate that it’ll take me 3 to 4 months to embroider the entire kimono, was pretty darned close! I just started my 7th butterfly today.

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Progress Update: Mokomoko Started; Pink Kosode, Still Being Embroidered.

Well, I went ahead and built a inner skeleton structure for the Mokomoko just too see what it would look like and to see if it was possible to use inside a costume tail, and has decided go ahead and use it. I also came to the conclusion that an 8 foot Mokomoko is not big enough, and am now making it 12 feet long instead.

Here’s how I did it in case any one else wants to try it:

I took a 12 foot phone/internet cable, and ran it through 8 feet of galvanized electrical conduit cable (which is quite heavy and made of metal, but is very springy and moves like a real tail.). I taped the cable in place to the conduit so that the ends meet at the base, but the cable is 4 feet longer at the end.

My next step was to wrap the entire thing in polyester quilt batting: first a 1/4″ x 8″ x 12′ stripe tied down with DMC crochet cotton. I tied it into a knobby look, by tying at 3″ intervals.

Next I put in on, in order to measure where the shoulder line would be, than marked off a 3 foot section, and wrapped that with a another layer of quilt batting: 1/4″ x 2′ x 3′, stiffing it with teddy bear stuffing, which is a supper soft, very squishy type of polyester stuffing. Again tying at 3″ intervals.

Overlapping that section by 4″ I added another layer of quilt batting, and stuffed it with only half as much stuffing as before. Again tying at 3″ intervals.

From that point down I wrapped again, this time with no stuffing added.

The end result it a 12′ long conical taper shape, with the first 2 1/2′ left wrapped only once, so as to be able to wrap the tail, and some how attach it which I have not yet figured out how to do.

Well, that’s where I am at right now. It took me just under 2 hours from start to finish.

My next step with the Mokomoko is to buy some eyelash fringe fabric, to make a cloth cover for it. That will be the base to which I will hand sew (latch hook-stitch) real fur to, to create a real fur tail. I have yet to decide on the type of fur I’ll use, but at this point I’m leaning towards Beige Alpaca Fleece.

The Mokomoko aside, I still have quite a ways to go on the Court Robes. The cloth was cut out and the pieces pinned together, so that I could hand draw (in pink tailor’s chalk) the giant lotus blossoms, and butterflies (in blue chalk). The butterflies are being done tone on tone, the same color as the silk, so can only be seen up close. I ran out of floss today, so had to go the Micheal’s to buy more.

Right now I am working on the collar of the kosode, which has butterflies along the edge, and the partial piece of one of the pink flowers at the shoulder. Starting at the lower left side and working up to the top and down to the right, I am right now, 3/4 to the top of the left side. Each butterfly is approx. 2″ x 4″ and takes 3 hours to fill in using the satin stitch and the long & short stitch. I have been sewing approximately 1 1/2 butterflies per day (that’s me hand sewing 4 1/2 hours per day!), so I’m guessing that my original estimate that it’ll take me 3 to 4 months to embroider the entire kimono, was pretty darned close! I just started my 7th butterfly today.

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Progress Update: Mokomoko Started; Pink Kosode, Still Being Embroidered.

Well, I went ahead and built a inner skeleton structure for the Mokomoko just too see what it would look like and to see if it was possible to use inside a costume tail, and has decided go ahead and use it. I also came to the conclusion that an 8 foot Mokomoko is not big enough, and am now making it 12 feet long instead.

Here’s how I did it in case any one else wants to try it:

I took a 12 foot phone/internet cable, and ran it through 8 feet of galvanized electrical conduit cable (which is quite heavy and made of metal, but is very springy and moves like a real tail.). I taped the cable in place to the conduit so that the ends meet at the base, but the cable is 4 feet longer at the end.

My next step was to wrap the entire thing in polyester quilt batting: first a 1/4″ x 8″ x 12′ stripe tied down with DMC crochet cotton. I tied it into a knobby look, by tying at 3″ intervals.

Next I put in on, in order to measure where the shoulder line would be, than marked off a 3 foot section, and wrapped that with a another layer of quilt batting: 1/4″ x 2′ x 3′, stiffing it with teddy bear stuffing, which is a supper soft, very squishy type of polyester stuffing. Again tying at 3″ intervals.

Overlapping that section by 4″ I added another layer of quilt batting, and stuffed it with only half as much stuffing as before. Again tying at 3″ intervals.

From that point down I wrapped again, this time with no stuffing added.

The end result it a 12′ long conical taper shape, with the first 2 1/2′ left wrapped only once, so as to be able to wrap the tail, and some how attach it which I have not yet figured out how to do.

Well, that’s where I am at right now. It took me just under 2 hours from start to finish.

My next step with the Mokomoko is to buy some eyelash fringe fabric, to make a cloth cover for it. That will be the base to which I will hand sew (latch hook-stitch) real fur to, to create a real fur tail. I have yet to decide on the type of fur I’ll use, but at this point I’m leaning towards Beige Alpaca Fleece.

The Mokomoko aside, I still have quite a ways to go on the Court Robes. The cloth was cut out and the pieces pinned together, so that I could hand draw (in pink tailor’s chalk) the giant lotus blossoms, and butterflies (in blue chalk). The butterflies are being done tone on tone, the same color as the silk, so can only be seen up close. I ran out of floss today, so had to go the Micheal’s to buy more.

Right now I am working on the collar of the kosode, which has butterflies along the edge, and the partial piece of one of the pink flowers at the shoulder. Starting at the lower left side and working up to the top and down to the right, I am right now, 3/4 to the top of the left side. Each butterfly is approx. 2″ x 4″ and takes 3 hours to fill in using the satin stitch and the long & short stitch. I have been sewing approximately 1 1/2 butterflies per day (that’s me hand sewing 4 1/2 hours per day!), so I’m guessing that my original estimate that it’ll take me 3 to 4 months to embroider the entire kimono, was pretty darned close! I just started my 7th butterfly today.

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

How Long Does It Take To Make a Costume?

It depends on what I’m doing. Most average at 1 to 3 months. Simple things can take as little as a week or 2.

For my current project, I’m planning on 9 months to 3 years, because besides sewing the basic parts of the outfit, it involves hand embroidering 4 different kimono, each of which I’m also hand sewing, plus making leather armor, and casting the metal spike plates that go over the armor, and than since I can’t find the wig I need, I’m going to have to make one myself.

Yesterday I hand drew the embroidery designs onto the silk for one of the kimono… that took 8 hours to do, and I’m still not finished with it. (I’m copying the designs off a real Noh kosode from the 16th cen., so it’s an over all embroidery pattern, covering nearly every inch of the kimono)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

How Long Does It Take To Make a Costume?

It depends on what I’m doing. Most average at 1 to 3 months. Simple things can take as little as a week or 2.

For my current project, I’m planning on 9 months to 3 years, because besides sewing the basic parts of the outfit, it involves hand embroidering 4 different kimono, each of which I’m also hand sewing, plus making leather armor, and casting the metal spike plates that go over the armor, and than since I can’t find the wig I need, I’m going to have to make one myself.

Yesterday I hand drew the embroidery designs onto the silk for one of the kimono… that took 8 hours to do, and I’m still not finished with it. (I’m copying the designs off a real Noh kosode from the 16th cen., so it’s an over all embroidery pattern, covering nearly every inch of the kimono)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

How Long Does It Take To Make a Costume?

It depends on what I’m doing. Most average at 1 to 3 months. Simple things can take as little as a week or 2.

For my current project, I’m planning on 9 months to 3 years, because besides sewing the basic parts of the outfit, it involves hand embroidering 4 different kimono, each of which I’m also hand sewing, plus making leather armor, and casting the metal spike plates that go over the armor, and than since I can’t find the wig I need, I’m going to have to make one myself.

Yesterday I hand drew the embroidery designs onto the silk for one of the kimono… that took 8 hours to do, and I’m still not finished with it. (I’m copying the designs off a real Noh kosode from the 16th cen., so it’s an over all embroidery pattern, covering nearly every inch of the kimono)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Lord Sesshomaru’s Kimono: Alternate Kimono #3 (Movie Only)

Alternate Kimono #3:

Sesshomaru’s Alternate Kimono #3, is of a less formal style than the other three. This is the kimono we see him wearing before he became a Lord, seen only once during a flash back. This kimono is the one he wore when he was still quite young, aged at about 14 or 15 years old in “human years”. Once again, it is of solid white, with full swinging sleeves that sweep in lengths just above his ankles. The lower quarter of each sleeve is dyed a deep-bright reddish-rose pink, more accurately called a shade of magenta.

On the front and back of each sleeve, floating just above the boarder of the dye, is painted three very large and bold lotus flowers (twelve in all). The flower pattern is repeated with yet another large lotus flower on the neck and shoulder of the left side extending down to the sleeve.

Beneath his Kimono Sesshomaru wears a white (or sometimes lavender flower print) Nagajuban.

With this version we see Sesshy wearing his purple armor, and dark blue velvet Heko-obi.

(my art from my fashion design costume portfolio)

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know by now that my silk has arrived from Japan (was lost by our local post office) and after much debate over how to handle said silk, work is now underway on the construction of this pink furisode kimono.

This being Lord Sesshomaru’s Court Outfit, which he wears at home in his palace, I am taking a more dramatic road with this one, and embroidering it in the 16th century Noh Theater style.

The white sections are going to be completely embroidered in an overall pattern of chrysanthemums and butterflies, embroidered all in white.

Because Lord Sesshomaru’s palace is in China and not Japan, and because Sesshomaru is a Prince, I am taken a huge leap of liberty and turning the blocks of rose color on the sleeves and hem, into the traditional “ocean wave” pattern seen on the Dragon Robes worn by Chinese Emperors. These will be done in multiple shades of rose and mauve.

I have found a picture of a real medalion of a lotus flower, which looks an awful lot like the one on Sesshy’s kosode, and have traced the design, and am going to use that for the giant lotus blossoms, changing the colors from the original medalion, to deep magentas and rose for Sesshy’s fuisode.

All in all this is a majorly advanced embroidery project and will take me at least 3 or 4 month to complete before I well be able to begin constructing the kimono. (Historically, the cloth is embroidered, before being cut and sewn, so that is how I am making this one.)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Lord Sesshomaru’s Kimono: Alternate Kimono #3 (Movie Only)

Alternate Kimono #3:

Sesshomaru’s Alternate Kimono #3, is of a less formal style than the other three. This is the kimono we see him wearing before he became a Lord, seen only once during a flash back. This kimono is the one he wore when he was still quite young, aged at about 14 or 15 years old in “human years”. Once again, it is of solid white, with full swinging sleeves that sweep in lengths just above his ankles. The lower quarter of each sleeve is dyed a deep-bright reddish-rose pink, more accurately called a shade of magenta.

On the front and back of each sleeve, floating just above the boarder of the dye, is painted three very large and bold lotus flowers (twelve in all). The flower pattern is repeated with yet another large lotus flower on the neck and shoulder of the left side extending down to the sleeve.

Beneath his Kimono Sesshomaru wears a white (or sometimes lavender flower print) Nagajuban.

With this version we see Sesshy wearing his purple armor, and dark blue velvet Heko-obi.

(my art from my fashion design costume portfolio)

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know by now that my silk has arrived from Japan (was lost by our local post office) and after much debate over how to handle said silk, work is now underway on the construction of this pink furisode kimono.

This being Lord Sesshomaru’s Court Outfit, which he wears at home in his palace, I am taking a more dramatic road with this one, and embroidering it in the 16th century Noh Theater style.

The white sections are going to be completely embroidered in an overall pattern of chrysanthemums and butterflies, embroidered all in white.

Because Lord Sesshomaru’s palace is in China and not Japan, and because Sesshomaru is a Prince, I am taken a huge leap of liberty and turning the blocks of rose color on the sleeves and hem, into the traditional “ocean wave” pattern seen on the Dragon Robes worn by Chinese Emperors. These will be done in multiple shades of rose and mauve.

I have found a picture of a real medalion of a lotus flower, which looks an awful lot like the one on Sesshy’s kosode, and have traced the design, and am going to use that for the giant lotus blossoms, changing the colors from the original medalion, to deep magentas and rose for Sesshy’s fuisode.

All in all this is a majorly advanced embroidery project and will take me at least 3 or 4 month to complete before I well be able to begin constructing the kimono. (Historically, the cloth is embroidered, before being cut and sewn, so that is how I am making this one.)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Lord Sesshomaru’s Kimono: Alternate Kimono #3 (Movie Only)

Alternate Kimono #3:

Sesshomaru’s Alternate Kimono #3, is of a less formal style than the other three. This is the kimono we see him wearing before he became a Lord, seen only once during a flash back. This kimono is the one he wore when he was still quite young, aged at about 14 or 15 years old in “human years”. Once again, it is of solid white, with full swinging sleeves that sweep in lengths just above his ankles. The lower quarter of each sleeve is dyed a deep-bright reddish-rose pink, more accurately called a shade of magenta.

On the front and back of each sleeve, floating just above the boarder of the dye, is painted three very large and bold lotus flowers (twelve in all). The flower pattern is repeated with yet another large lotus flower on the neck and shoulder of the left side extending down to the sleeve.

Beneath his Kimono Sesshomaru wears a white (or sometimes lavender flower print) Nagajuban.

With this version we see Sesshy wearing his purple armor, and dark blue velvet Heko-obi.

(my art from my fashion design costume portfolio)

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know by now that my silk has arrived from Japan (was lost by our local post office) and after much debate over how to handle said silk, work is now underway on the construction of this pink furisode kimono.

This being Lord Sesshomaru’s Court Outfit, which he wears at home in his palace, I am taking a more dramatic road with this one, and embroidering it in the 16th century Noh Theater style.

The white sections are going to be completely embroidered in an overall pattern of chrysanthemums and butterflies, embroidered all in white.

Because Lord Sesshomaru’s palace is in China and not Japan, and because Sesshomaru is a Prince, I am taken a huge leap of liberty and turning the blocks of rose color on the sleeves and hem, into the traditional “ocean wave” pattern seen on the Dragon Robes worn by Chinese Emperors. These will be done in multiple shades of rose and mauve.

I have found a picture of a real medalion of a lotus flower, which looks an awful lot like the one on Sesshy’s kosode, and have traced the design, and am going to use that for the giant lotus blossoms, changing the colors from the original medalion, to deep magentas and rose for Sesshy’s fuisode.

All in all this is a majorly advanced embroidery project and will take me at least 3 or 4 month to complete before I well be able to begin constructing the kimono. (Historically, the cloth is embroidered, before being cut and sewn, so that is how I am making this one.)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Lord Sesshomaru’s Kimono: Alternate Kimono #3 (Movie Only)

Alternate Kimono #3:

Sesshomaru’s Alternate Kimono #3, is of a less formal style than the other three. This is the kimono we see him wearing before he became a Lord, seen only once during a flash back. This kimono is the one he wore when he was still quite young, aged at about 14 or 15 years old in “human years”. Once again, it is of solid white, with full swinging sleeves that sweep in lengths just above his ankles. The lower quarter of each sleeve is dyed a deep-bright reddish-rose pink, more accurately called a shade of magenta.

On the front and back of each sleeve, floating just above the boarder of the dye, is painted three very large and bold lotus flowers (twelve in all). The flower pattern is repeated with yet another large lotus flower on the neck and shoulder of the left side extending down to the sleeve.

Beneath his Kimono Sesshomaru wears a white (or sometimes lavender flower print) Nagajuban.

With this version we see Sesshy wearing his purple armor, and dark blue velvet Heko-obi.

(my art from my fashion design costume portfolio)

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know by now that my silk has arrived from Japan (was lost by our local post office) and after much debate over how to handle said silk, work is now underway on the construction of this pink furisode kimono.

This being Lord Sesshomaru’s Court Outfit, which he wears at home in his palace, I am taking a more dramatic road with this one, and embroidering it in the 16th century Noh Theater style.

The white sections are going to be completely embroidered in an overall pattern of chrysanthemums and butterflies, embroidered all in white.

Because Lord Sesshomaru’s palace is in China and not Japan, and because Sesshomaru is a Prince, I am taken a huge leap of liberty and turning the blocks of rose color on the sleeves and hem, into the traditional “ocean wave” pattern seen on the Dragon Robes worn by Chinese Emperors. These will be done in multiple shades of rose and mauve.

I have found a picture of a real medalion of a lotus flower, which looks an awful lot like the one on Sesshy’s kosode, and have traced the design, and am going to use that for the giant lotus blossoms, changing the colors from the original medalion, to deep magentas and rose for Sesshy’s fuisode.

All in all this is a majorly advanced embroidery project and will take me at least 3 or 4 month to complete before I well be able to begin constructing the kimono. (Historically, the cloth is embroidered, before being cut and sewn, so that is how I am making this one.)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Lord Sesshomaru’s Kimono: Alternate Kimono #3 (Movie Only)

Alternate Kimono #3:

Sesshomaru’s Alternate Kimono #3, is of a less formal style than the other three. This is the kimono we see him wearing before he became a Lord, seen only once during a flash back. This kimono is the one he wore when he was still quite young, aged at about 14 or 15 years old in “human years”. Once again, it is of solid white, with full swinging sleeves that sweep in lengths just above his ankles. The lower quarter of each sleeve is dyed a deep-bright reddish-rose pink, more accurately called a shade of magenta.

On the front and back of each sleeve, floating just above the boarder of the dye, is painted three very large and bold lotus flowers (twelve in all). The flower pattern is repeated with yet another large lotus flower on the neck and shoulder of the left side extending down to the sleeve.

Beneath his Kimono Sesshomaru wears a white (or sometimes lavender flower print) Nagajuban.

With this version we see Sesshy wearing his purple armor, and dark blue velvet Heko-obi.

(my art from my fashion design costume portfolio)

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know by now that my silk has arrived from Japan (was lost by our local post office) and after much debate over how to handle said silk, work is now underway on the construction of this pink furisode kimono.

This being Lord Sesshomaru’s Court Outfit, which he wears at home in his palace, I am taking a more dramatic road with this one, and embroidering it in the 16th century Noh Theater style.

The white sections are going to be completely embroidered in an overall pattern of chrysanthemums and butterflies, embroidered all in white.

Because Lord Sesshomaru’s palace is in China and not Japan, and because Sesshomaru is a Prince, I am taken a huge leap of liberty and turning the blocks of rose color on the sleeves and hem, into the traditional “ocean wave” pattern seen on the Dragon Robes worn by Chinese Emperors. These will be done in multiple shades of rose and mauve.

I have found a picture of a real medalion of a lotus flower, which looks an awful lot like the one on Sesshy’s kosode, and have traced the design, and am going to use that for the giant lotus blossoms, changing the colors from the original medalion, to deep magentas and rose for Sesshy’s fuisode.

All in all this is a majorly advanced embroidery project and will take me at least 3 or 4 month to complete before I well be able to begin constructing the kimono. (Historically, the cloth is embroidered, before being cut and sewn, so that is how I am making this one.)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Lord Sesshomaru’s Kimono: Alternate Kimono #3 (Movie Only)

Alternate Kimono #3:

Sesshomaru’s Alternate Kimono #3, is of a less formal style than the other three. This is the kimono we see him wearing before he became a Lord, seen only once during a flash back. This kimono is the one he wore when he was still quite young, aged at about 14 or 15 years old in “human years”. Once again, it is of solid white, with full swinging sleeves that sweep in lengths just above his ankles. The lower quarter of each sleeve is dyed a deep-bright reddish-rose pink, more accurately called a shade of magenta.

On the front and back of each sleeve, floating just above the boarder of the dye, is painted three very large and bold lotus flowers (twelve in all). The flower pattern is repeated with yet another large lotus flower on the neck and shoulder of the left side extending down to the sleeve.

Beneath his Kimono Sesshomaru wears a white (or sometimes lavender flower print) Nagajuban.

With this version we see Sesshy wearing his purple armor, and dark blue velvet Heko-obi.

(my art from my fashion design costume portfolio)

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know by now that my silk has arrived from Japan (was lost by our local post office) and after much debate over how to handle said silk, work is now underway on the construction of this pink furisode kimono.

This being Lord Sesshomaru’s Court Outfit, which he wears at home in his palace, I am taking a more dramatic road with this one, and embroidering it in the 16th century Noh Theater style.

The white sections are going to be completely embroidered in an overall pattern of chrysanthemums and butterflies, embroidered all in white.

Because Lord Sesshomaru’s palace is in China and not Japan, and because Sesshomaru is a Prince, I am taken a huge leap of liberty and turning the blocks of rose color on the sleeves and hem, into the traditional “ocean wave” pattern seen on the Dragon Robes worn by Chinese Emperors. These will be done in multiple shades of rose and mauve.

I have found a picture of a real medalion of a lotus flower, which looks an awful lot like the one on Sesshy’s kosode, and have traced the design, and am going to use that for the giant lotus blossoms, changing the colors from the original medalion, to deep magentas and rose for Sesshy’s fuisode.

All in all this is a majorly advanced embroidery project and will take me at least 3 or 4 month to complete before I well be able to begin constructing the kimono. (Historically, the cloth is embroidered, before being cut and sewn, so that is how I am making this one.)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Lord Sesshomaru’s Kimono: Alternate Kimono #3 (Movie Only)

Alternate Kimono #3:

Sesshomaru’s Alternate Kimono #3, is of a less formal style than the other three. This is the kimono we see him wearing before he became a Lord, seen only once during a flash back. This kimono is the one he wore when he was still quite young, aged at about 14 or 15 years old in “human years”. Once again, it is of solid white, with full swinging sleeves that sweep in lengths just above his ankles. The lower quarter of each sleeve is dyed a deep-bright reddish-rose pink, more accurately called a shade of magenta.

On the front and back of each sleeve, floating just above the boarder of the dye, is painted three very large and bold lotus flowers (twelve in all). The flower pattern is repeated with yet another large lotus flower on the neck and shoulder of the left side extending down to the sleeve.

Beneath his Kimono Sesshomaru wears a white (or sometimes lavender flower print) Nagajuban.

With this version we see Sesshy wearing his purple armor, and dark blue velvet Heko-obi.

(my art from my fashion design costume portfolio)

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know by now that my silk has arrived from Japan (was lost by our local post office) and after much debate over how to handle said silk, work is now underway on the construction of this pink furisode kimono.

This being Lord Sesshomaru’s Court Outfit, which he wears at home in his palace, I am taking a more dramatic road with this one, and embroidering it in the 16th century Noh Theater style.

The white sections are going to be completely embroidered in an overall pattern of chrysanthemums and butterflies, embroidered all in white.

Because Lord Sesshomaru’s palace is in China and not Japan, and because Sesshomaru is a Prince, I am taken a huge leap of liberty and turning the blocks of rose color on the sleeves and hem, into the traditional “ocean wave” pattern seen on the Dragon Robes worn by Chinese Emperors. These will be done in multiple shades of rose and mauve.

I have found a picture of a real medalion of a lotus flower, which looks an awful lot like the one on Sesshy’s kosode, and have traced the design, and am going to use that for the giant lotus blossoms, changing the colors from the original medalion, to deep magentas and rose for Sesshy’s fuisode.

All in all this is a majorly advanced embroidery project and will take me at least 3 or 4 month to complete before I well be able to begin constructing the kimono. (Historically, the cloth is embroidered, before being cut and sewn, so that is how I am making this one.)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Lord Sesshomaru’s Kimono: Alternate Kimono #3 (Movie Only)

Alternate Kimono #3:

Sesshomaru’s Alternate Kimono #3, is of a less formal style than the other three. This is the kimono we see him wearing before he became a Lord, seen only once during a flash back. This kimono is the one he wore when he was still quite young, aged at about 14 or 15 years old in “human years”. Once again, it is of solid white, with full swinging sleeves that sweep in lengths just above his ankles. The lower quarter of each sleeve is dyed a deep-bright reddish-rose pink, more accurately called a shade of magenta.

On the front and back of each sleeve, floating just above the boarder of the dye, is painted three very large and bold lotus flowers (twelve in all). The flower pattern is repeated with yet another large lotus flower on the neck and shoulder of the left side extending down to the sleeve.

Beneath his Kimono Sesshomaru wears a white (or sometimes lavender flower print) Nagajuban.

With this version we see Sesshy wearing his purple armor, and dark blue velvet Heko-obi.

(my art from my fashion design costume portfolio)

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know by now that my silk has arrived from Japan (was lost by our local post office) and after much debate over how to handle said silk, work is now underway on the construction of this pink furisode kimono.

This being Lord Sesshomaru’s Court Outfit, which he wears at home in his palace, I am taking a more dramatic road with this one, and embroidering it in the 16th century Noh Theater style.

The white sections are going to be completely embroidered in an overall pattern of chrysanthemums and butterflies, embroidered all in white.

Because Lord Sesshomaru’s palace is in China and not Japan, and because Sesshomaru is a Prince, I am taken a huge leap of liberty and turning the blocks of rose color on the sleeves and hem, into the traditional “ocean wave” pattern seen on the Dragon Robes worn by Chinese Emperors. These will be done in multiple shades of rose and mauve.

I have found a picture of a real medalion of a lotus flower, which looks an awful lot like the one on Sesshy’s kosode, and have traced the design, and am going to use that for the giant lotus blossoms, changing the colors from the original medalion, to deep magentas and rose for Sesshy’s fuisode.

All in all this is a majorly advanced embroidery project and will take me at least 3 or 4 month to complete before I well be able to begin constructing the kimono. (Historically, the cloth is embroidered, before being cut and sewn, so that is how I am making this one.)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Lord Sesshomaru’s Kimono: Alternate Kimono #3 (Movie Only)

Alternate Kimono #3:

Sesshomaru’s Alternate Kimono #3, is of a less formal style than the other three. This is the kimono we see him wearing before he became a Lord, seen only once during a flash back. This kimono is the one he wore when he was still quite young, aged at about 14 or 15 years old in “human years”. Once again, it is of solid white, with full swinging sleeves that sweep in lengths just above his ankles. The lower quarter of each sleeve is dyed a deep-bright reddish-rose pink, more accurately called a shade of magenta.

On the front and back of each sleeve, floating just above the boarder of the dye, is painted three very large and bold lotus flowers (twelve in all). The flower pattern is repeated with yet another large lotus flower on the neck and shoulder of the left side extending down to the sleeve.

Beneath his Kimono Sesshomaru wears a white (or sometimes lavender flower print) Nagajuban.

With this version we see Sesshy wearing his purple armor, and dark blue velvet Heko-obi.

(my art from my fashion design costume portfolio)

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know by now that my silk has arrived from Japan (was lost by our local post office) and after much debate over how to handle said silk, work is now underway on the construction of this pink furisode kimono.

This being Lord Sesshomaru’s Court Outfit, which he wears at home in his palace, I am taking a more dramatic road with this one, and embroidering it in the 16th century Noh Theater style.

The white sections are going to be completely embroidered in an overall pattern of chrysanthemums and butterflies, embroidered all in white.

Because Lord Sesshomaru’s palace is in China and not Japan, and because Sesshomaru is a Prince, I am taken a huge leap of liberty and turning the blocks of rose color on the sleeves and hem, into the traditional “ocean wave” pattern seen on the Dragon Robes worn by Chinese Emperors. These will be done in multiple shades of rose and mauve.

I have found a picture of a real medalion of a lotus flower, which looks an awful lot like the one on Sesshy’s kosode, and have traced the design, and am going to use that for the giant lotus blossoms, changing the colors from the original medalion, to deep magentas and rose for Sesshy’s fuisode.

All in all this is a majorly advanced embroidery project and will take me at least 3 or 4 month to complete before I well be able to begin constructing the kimono. (Historically, the cloth is embroidered, before being cut and sewn, so that is how I am making this one.)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Lord Sesshomaru’s Kimono: Alternate Kimono #3 (Movie Only)

Alternate Kimono #3:

Sesshomaru’s Alternate Kimono #3, is of a less formal style than the other three. This is the kimono we see him wearing before he became a Lord, seen only once during a flash back. This kimono is the one he wore when he was still quite young, aged at about 14 or 15 years old in “human years”. Once again, it is of solid white, with full swinging sleeves that sweep in lengths just above his ankles. The lower quarter of each sleeve is dyed a deep-bright reddish-rose pink, more accurately called a shade of magenta.

On the front and back of each sleeve, floating just above the boarder of the dye, is painted three very large and bold lotus flowers (twelve in all). The flower pattern is repeated with yet another large lotus flower on the neck and shoulder of the left side extending down to the sleeve.

Beneath his Kimono Sesshomaru wears a white (or sometimes lavender flower print) Nagajuban.

With this version we see Sesshy wearing his purple armor, and dark blue velvet Heko-obi.

(my art from my fashion design costume portfolio)

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know by now that my silk has arrived from Japan (was lost by our local post office) and after much debate over how to handle said silk, work is now underway on the construction of this pink furisode kimono.

This being Lord Sesshomaru’s Court Outfit, which he wears at home in his palace, I am taking a more dramatic road with this one, and embroidering it in the 16th century Noh Theater style.

The white sections are going to be completely embroidered in an overall pattern of chrysanthemums and butterflies, embroidered all in white.

Because Lord Sesshomaru’s palace is in China and not Japan, and because Sesshomaru is a Prince, I am taken a huge leap of liberty and turning the blocks of rose color on the sleeves and hem, into the traditional “ocean wave” pattern seen on the Dragon Robes worn by Chinese Emperors. These will be done in multiple shades of rose and mauve.

I have found a picture of a real medalion of a lotus flower, which looks an awful lot like the one on Sesshy’s kosode, and have traced the design, and am going to use that for the giant lotus blossoms, changing the colors from the original medalion, to deep magentas and rose for Sesshy’s fuisode.

All in all this is a majorly advanced embroidery project and will take me at least 3 or 4 month to complete before I well be able to begin constructing the kimono. (Historically, the cloth is embroidered, before being cut and sewn, so that is how I am making this one.)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Lord Sesshomaru’s Kimono: Alternate Kimono #3 (Movie Only)

Alternate Kimono #3:

Sesshomaru’s Alternate Kimono #3, is of a less formal style than the other three. This is the kimono we see him wearing before he became a Lord, seen only once during a flash back. This kimono is the one he wore when he was still quite young, aged at about 14 or 15 years old in “human years”. Once again, it is of solid white, with full swinging sleeves that sweep in lengths just above his ankles. The lower quarter of each sleeve is dyed a deep-bright reddish-rose pink, more accurately called a shade of magenta.

On the front and back of each sleeve, floating just above the boarder of the dye, is painted three very large and bold lotus flowers (twelve in all). The flower pattern is repeated with yet another large lotus flower on the neck and shoulder of the left side extending down to the sleeve.

Beneath his Kimono Sesshomaru wears a white (or sometimes lavender flower print) Nagajuban.

With this version we see Sesshy wearing his purple armor, and dark blue velvet Heko-obi.

(my art from my fashion design costume portfolio)

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know by now that my silk has arrived from Japan (was lost by our local post office) and after much debate over how to handle said silk, work is now underway on the construction of this pink furisode kimono.

This being Lord Sesshomaru’s Court Outfit, which he wears at home in his palace, I am taking a more dramatic road with this one, and embroidering it in the 16th century Noh Theater style.

The white sections are going to be completely embroidered in an overall pattern of chrysanthemums and butterflies, embroidered all in white.

Because Lord Sesshomaru’s palace is in China and not Japan, and because Sesshomaru is a Prince, I am taken a huge leap of liberty and turning the blocks of rose color on the sleeves and hem, into the traditional “ocean wave” pattern seen on the Dragon Robes worn by Chinese Emperors. These will be done in multiple shades of rose and mauve.

I have found a picture of a real medalion of a lotus flower, which looks an awful lot like the one on Sesshy’s kosode, and have traced the design, and am going to use that for the giant lotus blossoms, changing the colors from the original medalion, to deep magentas and rose for Sesshy’s fuisode.

All in all this is a majorly advanced embroidery project and will take me at least 3 or 4 month to complete before I well be able to begin constructing the kimono. (Historically, the cloth is embroidered, before being cut and sewn, so that is how I am making this one.)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Lord Sesshomaru’s Kimono: Alternate Kimono #3 (Movie Only)

Alternate Kimono #3:

Sesshomaru’s Alternate Kimono #3, is of a less formal style than the other three. This is the kimono we see him wearing before he became a Lord, seen only once during a flash back. This kimono is the one he wore when he was still quite young, aged at about 14 or 15 years old in “human years”. Once again, it is of solid white, with full swinging sleeves that sweep in lengths just above his ankles. The lower quarter of each sleeve is dyed a deep-bright reddish-rose pink, more accurately called a shade of magenta.

On the front and back of each sleeve, floating just above the boarder of the dye, is painted three very large and bold lotus flowers (twelve in all). The flower pattern is repeated with yet another large lotus flower on the neck and shoulder of the left side extending down to the sleeve.

Beneath his Kimono Sesshomaru wears a white (or sometimes lavender flower print) Nagajuban.

With this version we see Sesshy wearing his purple armor, and dark blue velvet Heko-obi.

(my art from my fashion design costume portfolio)

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know by now that my silk has arrived from Japan (was lost by our local post office) and after much debate over how to handle said silk, work is now underway on the construction of this pink furisode kimono.

This being Lord Sesshomaru’s Court Outfit, which he wears at home in his palace, I am taking a more dramatic road with this one, and embroidering it in the 16th century Noh Theater style.

The white sections are going to be completely embroidered in an overall pattern of chrysanthemums and butterflies, embroidered all in white.

Because Lord Sesshomaru’s palace is in China and not Japan, and because Sesshomaru is a Prince, I am taken a huge leap of liberty and turning the blocks of rose color on the sleeves and hem, into the traditional “ocean wave” pattern seen on the Dragon Robes worn by Chinese Emperors. These will be done in multiple shades of rose and mauve.

I have found a picture of a real medalion of a lotus flower, which looks an awful lot like the one on Sesshy’s kosode, and have traced the design, and am going to use that for the giant lotus blossoms, changing the colors from the original medalion, to deep magentas and rose for Sesshy’s fuisode.

All in all this is a majorly advanced embroidery project and will take me at least 3 or 4 month to complete before I well be able to begin constructing the kimono. (Historically, the cloth is embroidered, before being cut and sewn, so that is how I am making this one.)

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Is Buying a Costume Instead of Sewing It Considered Cheating?

[QUOTE=Meiria;2446201]I’m just getting into the cosplay scene and was wondering how some veteran cosplayers feel about it.

I’m not talking about those $50 nylon naruto Costumes that you can find on eBay (obviously, they are in bad taste!) – but is buying an expensive ($150-$500) premade costume “tacky”?

I have intermediate sewing skills, and have worked with simple pattern modifications before. But making a custom kimono, for example, with several layers and embroidery, would be beyond me. I know how to sew, and want to learn more, but with the constraints on my time, and my advanced beginner level abilities, is making a fancy costume from scratch through pattern modification a stretch?

Is someone only a “good” cosplayer if they made it themselves or commissioned it?[/QUOTE]

Ahh… making AND embroidering a custom kimono…. now you are talking my language! I’m an embroiderer, and for me, making my costumes is not so that I can say I made the costume so much as it is so I can say:[I] “OMG! I can’t believe I actually embroidered every inch of this thing myself!”[/I]. I am currently in the process of hand embroidering antique silk to make Lord Sesshomaru’s Pink flower furisode kimono (from the movie), and I’m doing it in 16th century Noh Theater style covering every inch of the cloth with embroidery… it’s going to take me at least 4 months to embroider, and could take 8 or 9 months.

If you are going for a historically accurate embroidered and layered kimono… OMG! Those things can take up to 4 years to make! Some of the detail work that goes into them are amazing, but hand embroidery is just the slowest thing you could ever try to do. Embroidered kimonos are usually done by 5 or 6 people all sitting around it and embroidering sections of it, and even than it takes 4 or 5 months to finish. If you are talking 16th century embroidery in the Noh style, you are talking a majorly advanced project that you’ll really have a hard time finding a seamstress willing to do. Those things are a real pain to make… I know, because, I’m doing one right now.

Weird thing about this is, I’m not doing it to enter any Cons or contests, and I’ll probably never go to a Con (haven’t been to one yet, but that never stopped me from CosPlaying). I will however wear this as part of my street cloths, as I do with all of my CosPlay stuff.

I do this because I just love to sew and embroider things. For me, personally, CosPlay is all about the actual construction of the costume… the designing, the planning, the hours spent in fabric stores looking for just the right fabric, than the months spent sewing.

However, as I said, that me. Everyone is different. And you know what? You do not have to make it yourself to CosPlay!

In fact the best most detailed costume I ever wore, was one of the ones I did not make myself. It was way to advanced, and I knew my sewing skills would not cut it, so I had a seamstress make it up instead and she did an amazing job on it. It was Miss Piggy from the Muppet Show, and it had a full head mask, that looked EXACTLY like the Miss Piggy puppet on the show, the whole thing was made out of sculpted felt and was utterly amazing. I could have done the dress, but I just let her do the whole thing. It was the mask that really stumped me, because I just can’t sculpt fabric and make it look like anything.

A agree with this statement here:

[QUOTE=Danzikumaru;1807749]*

It isn’t cheating to buy a costume. It IS cheating to enter a costume contest with a bought costume and claim you made it.

*[/QUOTE]

For me personally, I’d feel like I was cheating if I wore a bought costume, because I’m so damn good at sewing that I’d run myself through a guilt trip over it (unless it was so advanced that I couldn’t make it myself). But that would be me judging me, not me judging someone else. I started sewing at age 6, because my mom was a seamstress. I grew up sewing costumes, it’s just second nature to me, so for me to buy a costume would just [I]feel [/I]wrong.

On the other hand though, I would never accuse any one of cheating for buying a costume. I know first hand just how much time and money and long hard work goes into sewing a costume, and I also know it’s not something every can or wants to do. It takes a lot of work to make a costume, and even people who have the skill, may not have the time, what with school-jobs-family, for a lot of folks, sewing a costume, just really is not an option, even if they did want to sew it themselves.

To me, I feel it’s really snobby, for anyone to tell you that yo are cheating it you didn’t sew it yourself.

CosPlay = Costume Play, nothing more and nothing less. CosPlay does not mean Sewed Costume Myself Play, it doesn’t dictate that you MUST sew the costume yourself. All it dictates is that you wear a costume, not how you came by said costume.

So, my feelings are that you are only cheating if you bought the costume and than said you sewed it.

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Is Buying a Costume Instead of Sewing It Considered Cheating?

[QUOTE=Meiria;2446201]I’m just getting into the cosplay scene and was wondering how some veteran cosplayers feel about it.

I’m not talking about those $50 nylon naruto Costumes that you can find on eBay (obviously, they are in bad taste!) – but is buying an expensive ($150-$500) premade costume “tacky”?

I have intermediate sewing skills, and have worked with simple pattern modifications before. But making a custom kimono, for example, with several layers and embroidery, would be beyond me. I know how to sew, and want to learn more, but with the constraints on my time, and my advanced beginner level abilities, is making a fancy costume from scratch through pattern modification a stretch?

Is someone only a “good” cosplayer if they made it themselves or commissioned it?[/QUOTE]

Ahh… making AND embroidering a custom kimono…. now you are talking my language! I’m an embroiderer, and for me, making my costumes is not so that I can say I made the costume so much as it is so I can say:[I] “OMG! I can’t believe I actually embroidered every inch of this thing myself!”[/I]. I am currently in the process of hand embroidering antique silk to make Lord Sesshomaru’s Pink flower furisode kimono (from the movie), and I’m doing it in 16th century Noh Theater style covering every inch of the cloth with embroidery… it’s going to take me at least 4 months to embroider, and could take 8 or 9 months.

If you are going for a historically accurate embroidered and layered kimono… OMG! Those things can take up to 4 years to make! Some of the detail work that goes into them are amazing, but hand embroidery is just the slowest thing you could ever try to do. Embroidered kimonos are usually done by 5 or 6 people all sitting around it and embroidering sections of it, and even than it takes 4 or 5 months to finish. If you are talking 16th century embroidery in the Noh style, you are talking a majorly advanced project that you’ll really have a hard time finding a seamstress willing to do. Those things are a real pain to make… I know, because, I’m doing one right now.

Weird thing about this is, I’m not doing it to enter any Cons or contests, and I’ll probably never go to a Con (haven’t been to one yet, but that never stopped me from CosPlaying). I will however wear this as part of my street cloths, as I do with all of my CosPlay stuff.

I do this because I just love to sew and embroider things. For me, personally, CosPlay is all about the actual construction of the costume… the designing, the planning, the hours spent in fabric stores looking for just the right fabric, than the months spent sewing.

However, as I said, that me. Everyone is different. And you know what? You do not have to make it yourself to CosPlay!

In fact the best most detailed costume I ever wore, was one of the ones I did not make myself. It was way to advanced, and I knew my sewing skills would not cut it, so I had a seamstress make it up instead and she did an amazing job on it. It was Miss Piggy from the Muppet Show, and it had a full head mask, that looked EXACTLY like the Miss Piggy puppet on the show, the whole thing was made out of sculpted felt and was utterly amazing. I could have done the dress, but I just let her do the whole thing. It was the mask that really stumped me, because I just can’t sculpt fabric and make it look like anything.

A agree with this statement here:

[QUOTE=Danzikumaru;1807749]*

It isn’t cheating to buy a costume. It IS cheating to enter a costume contest with a bought costume and claim you made it.

*[/QUOTE]

For me personally, I’d feel like I was cheating if I wore a bought costume, because I’m so damn good at sewing that I’d run myself through a guilt trip over it (unless it was so advanced that I couldn’t make it myself). But that would be me judging me, not me judging someone else. I started sewing at age 6, because my mom was a seamstress. I grew up sewing costumes, it’s just second nature to me, so for me to buy a costume would just [I]feel [/I]wrong.

On the other hand though, I would never accuse any one of cheating for buying a costume. I know first hand just how much time and money and long hard work goes into sewing a costume, and I also know it’s not something every can or wants to do. It takes a lot of work to make a costume, and even people who have the skill, may not have the time, what with school-jobs-family, for a lot of folks, sewing a costume, just really is not an option, even if they did want to sew it themselves.

To me, I feel it’s really snobby, for anyone to tell you that yo are cheating it you didn’t sew it yourself.

CosPlay = Costume Play, nothing more and nothing less. CosPlay does not mean Sewed Costume Myself Play, it doesn’t dictate that you MUST sew the costume yourself. All it dictates is that you wear a costume, not how you came by said costume.

So, my feelings are that you are only cheating if you bought the costume and than said you sewed it.

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

Is Buying a Costume Instead of Sewing It Considered Cheating?

[QUOTE=Meiria;2446201]I’m just getting into the cosplay scene and was wondering how some veteran cosplayers feel about it.

I’m not talking about those $50 nylon naruto Costumes that you can find on eBay (obviously, they are in bad taste!) – but is buying an expensive ($150-$500) premade costume “tacky”?

I have intermediate sewing skills, and have worked with simple pattern modifications before. But making a custom kimono, for example, with several layers and embroidery, would be beyond me. I know how to sew, and want to learn more, but with the constraints on my time, and my advanced beginner level abilities, is making a fancy costume from scratch through pattern modification a stretch?

Is someone only a “good” cosplayer if they made it themselves or commissioned it?[/QUOTE]

Ahh… making AND embroidering a custom kimono…. now you are talking my language! I’m an embroiderer, and for me, making my costumes is not so that I can say I made the costume so much as it is so I can say:[I] “OMG! I can’t believe I actually embroidered every inch of this thing myself!”[/I]. I am currently in the process of hand embroidering antique silk to make Lord Sesshomaru’s Pink flower furisode kimono (from the movie), and I’m doing it in 16th century Noh Theater style covering every inch of the cloth with embroidery… it’s going to take me at least 4 months to embroider, and could take 8 or 9 months.

If you are going for a historically accurate embroidered and layered kimono… OMG! Those things can take up to 4 years to make! Some of the detail work that goes into them are amazing, but hand embroidery is just the slowest thing you could ever try to do. Embroidered kimonos are usually done by 5 or 6 people all sitting around it and embroidering sections of it, and even than it takes 4 or 5 months to finish. If you are talking 16th century embroidery in the Noh style, you are talking a majorly advanced project that you’ll really have a hard time finding a seamstress willing to do. Those things are a real pain to make… I know, because, I’m doing one right now.

Weird thing about this is, I’m not doing it to enter any Cons or contests, and I’ll probably never go to a Con (haven’t been to one yet, but that never stopped me from CosPlaying). I will however wear this as part of my street cloths, as I do with all of my CosPlay stuff.

I do this because I just love to sew and embroider things. For me, personally, CosPlay is all about the actual construction of the costume… the designing, the planning, the hours spent in fabric stores looking for just the right fabric, than the months spent sewing.

However, as I said, that me. Everyone is different. And you know what? You do not have to make it yourself to CosPlay!

In fact the best most detailed costume I ever wore, was one of the ones I did not make myself. It was way to advanced, and I knew my sewing skills would not cut it, so I had a seamstress make it up instead and she did an amazing job on it. It was Miss Piggy from the Muppet Show, and it had a full head mask, that looked EXACTLY like the Miss Piggy puppet on the show, the whole thing was made out of sculpted felt and was utterly amazing. I could have done the dress, but I just let her do the whole thing. It was the mask that really stumped me, because I just can’t sculpt fabric and make it look like anything.

A agree with this statement here:

[QUOTE=Danzikumaru;1807749]*

It isn’t cheating to buy a costume. It IS cheating to enter a costume contest with a bought costume and claim you made it.

*[/QUOTE]

For me personally, I’d feel like I was cheating if I wore a bought costume, because I’m so damn good at sewing that I’d run myself through a guilt trip over it (unless it was so advanced that I couldn’t make it myself). But that would be me judging me, not me judging someone else. I started sewing at age 6, because my mom was a seamstress. I grew up sewing costumes, it’s just second nature to me, so for me to buy a costume would just [I]feel [/I]wrong.

On the other hand though, I would never accuse any one of cheating for buying a costume. I know first hand just how much time and money and long hard work goes into sewing a costume, and I also know it’s not something every can or wants to do. It takes a lot of work to make a costume, and even people who have the skill, may not have the time, what with school-jobs-family, for a lot of folks, sewing a costume, just really is not an option, even if they did want to sew it themselves.

To me, I feel it’s really snobby, for anyone to tell you that yo are cheating it you didn’t sew it yourself.

CosPlay = Costume Play, nothing more and nothing less. CosPlay does not mean Sewed Costume Myself Play, it doesn’t dictate that you MUST sew the costume yourself. All it dictates is that you wear a costume, not how you came by said costume.

So, my feelings are that you are only cheating if you bought the costume and than said you sewed it.

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

SCA Judging Critera: Embroidery, Counted and Free Form: Advanced

I was looking up embroidery competitions, cause I’m thinking of entering my kimono’s in one after I get them finished, which is maybe a year or so down the road, but if I want to enter I need to know the rules before I start! Well, I’m copying the rules here to my blog, from their web site so that I’ll be able to reference them. Here is the Advanced Rules:

SCA Judging Criteria: Embroidery, Counted and Free Form: Advanced

DOCUMENTATION 0-8 pts. Judging and scoring for Documentation is based on a graduated level of knowledge and discussion of the components of the item. Advanced level documentation should have a thorough discussion of the components of the item, explains the rationale behind methods, materials, skills and tools, provides illustrations (if available), references and notes, as well as any original research or experimentation. Any conscious compromises should be explained. A summary page is helpful if the documentation is exceptionally in-depth, and more detailed work can also be put in appendices. Verbal feedback during the judging, how well the entrant understands the period practice and process of the creation of their item beyond what is written, can enhance the Documentation score. Give score based on the following:

*Description and discussion of entry including the following: country of origin, period of origin, characteristics of style for that period.

*Thorough knowledge or discussion of materials and skills used to complete the project

*Thorough knowledge or discussion of methods and tools used to complete the project

*Research and reference: very complete sources and visual or descriptive references, includes a bibliography and cites sources in a standard format (endnotes, footnotes, parenthetical, MLA, etc.).

AUTHENTICITY 0-8 pts. Judge this at the Advanced level, keeping in mind any deviations or substitutions from authentic period equivalents (reasonable substitutions for elements that are too toxic, too expensive or too rare) must be plausible and explained. Efforts to achieve a completely authentic item (except those items that are unsafe) will score best.
* Form/function—is it a period item and does it work in a period way (apparent knowledge or application of period practice)
* Methods of creation— handwork vs. machine work, any charting, transfer, pattern, etc.

* Materials used—stitches, pattern, backing and thread material (linen, silk, wool, vs. DMC floss, etc.)

*Design, style–period design or style or gives a period effect

COMPLEXITY 1-5 pts Rank the ambition of the entry, not the workmanship, based on the following. Judge the entrant at the Advanced level, keeping in mind that not all period items are complex.

*Scope of endeavor (# of pieces, size of work in relation to amount of detail, etc.)

*Difficulty/variety of design elements used—variety of motifis/ how they are combined

*Difficulty/variety of techniques attempted—elements/motifs/stitches

*Difficulty/variety of media, materials, tools used—e.g. velvet, metallics, handspun, etc., are harder)

*Extent of original work or ideas

WORKMANSHIP 1-5 pts. Rank the quality of execution and success of the entry. Judge the entrant at the Advanced level, based on the following:

*Effective use of tools, methods, and techniques

*Techniques, handling of materials, etc.—tension, starts, ends, neatness, evenness, finishing

*Design: period aesthetics, motifs, design (note: period sense of balance and proportion is not necessarily the same as modern) etc

*Form/Function: does it do what it should do and look as it should look?

*Period styling or personalization or special embellishment

OVERALL QUALITY 1-4 pts. Evaluate the work as a whole, rating the aesthetic effect and appeal beyond the mere technical proficiency. Consider how you react to the entry (intuitive response) and other items not previously addressed. This is the ‘wow’ factor; following are some examples to consider, but the category is not limited to these.

*Completely authentic from the ground up

-OR-

*Unique or outstanding display or attempt at period presentation

-OR-

*Logical creative endeavor within a period methodology (creativity/individuality)

-OR-

*You want to take it home because it is really outstanding

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

SCA Judging Critera: Embroidery, Counted and Free Form: Advanced

I was looking up embroidery competitions, cause I’m thinking of entering my kimono’s in one after I get them finished, which is maybe a year or so down the road, but if I want to enter I need to know the rules before I start! Well, I’m copying the rules here to my blog, from their web site so that I’ll be able to reference them. Here is the Advanced Rules:

SCA Judging Criteria: Embroidery, Counted and Free Form: Advanced

DOCUMENTATION 0-8 pts. Judging and scoring for Documentation is based on a graduated level of knowledge and discussion of the components of the item. Advanced level documentation should have a thorough discussion of the components of the item, explains the rationale behind methods, materials, skills and tools, provides illustrations (if available), references and notes, as well as any original research or experimentation. Any conscious compromises should be explained. A summary page is helpful if the documentation is exceptionally in-depth, and more detailed work can also be put in appendices. Verbal feedback during the judging, how well the entrant understands the period practice and process of the creation of their item beyond what is written, can enhance the Documentation score. Give score based on the following:

*Description and discussion of entry including the following: country of origin, period of origin, characteristics of style for that period.

*Thorough knowledge or discussion of materials and skills used to complete the project

*Thorough knowledge or discussion of methods and tools used to complete the project

*Research and reference: very complete sources and visual or descriptive references, includes a bibliography and cites sources in a standard format (endnotes, footnotes, parenthetical, MLA, etc.).

AUTHENTICITY 0-8 pts. Judge this at the Advanced level, keeping in mind any deviations or substitutions from authentic period equivalents (reasonable substitutions for elements that are too toxic, too expensive or too rare) must be plausible and explained. Efforts to achieve a completely authentic item (except those items that are unsafe) will score best.
* Form/function—is it a period item and does it work in a period way (apparent knowledge or application of period practice)
* Methods of creation— handwork vs. machine work, any charting, transfer, pattern, etc.

* Materials used—stitches, pattern, backing and thread material (linen, silk, wool, vs. DMC floss, etc.)

*Design, style–period design or style or gives a period effect

COMPLEXITY 1-5 pts Rank the ambition of the entry, not the workmanship, based on the following. Judge the entrant at the Advanced level, keeping in mind that not all period items are complex.

*Scope of endeavor (# of pieces, size of work in relation to amount of detail, etc.)

*Difficulty/variety of design elements used—variety of motifis/ how they are combined

*Difficulty/variety of techniques attempted—elements/motifs/stitches

*Difficulty/variety of media, materials, tools used—e.g. velvet, metallics, handspun, etc., are harder)

*Extent of original work or ideas

WORKMANSHIP 1-5 pts. Rank the quality of execution and success of the entry. Judge the entrant at the Advanced level, based on the following:

*Effective use of tools, methods, and techniques

*Techniques, handling of materials, etc.—tension, starts, ends, neatness, evenness, finishing

*Design: period aesthetics, motifs, design (note: period sense of balance and proportion is not necessarily the same as modern) etc

*Form/Function: does it do what it should do and look as it should look?

*Period styling or personalization or special embellishment

OVERALL QUALITY 1-4 pts. Evaluate the work as a whole, rating the aesthetic effect and appeal beyond the mere technical proficiency. Consider how you react to the entry (intuitive response) and other items not previously addressed. This is the ‘wow’ factor; following are some examples to consider, but the category is not limited to these.

*Completely authentic from the ground up

-OR-

*Unique or outstanding display or attempt at period presentation

-OR-

*Logical creative endeavor within a period methodology (creativity/individuality)

-OR-

*You want to take it home because it is really outstanding

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

SCA Judging Critera: Embroidery, Counted and Free Form: Advanced

I was looking up embroidery competitions, cause I’m thinking of entering my kimono’s in one after I get them finished, which is maybe a year or so down the road, but if I want to enter I need to know the rules before I start! Well, I’m copying the rules here to my blog, from their web site so that I’ll be able to reference them. Here is the Advanced Rules:

SCA Judging Criteria: Embroidery, Counted and Free Form: Advanced

DOCUMENTATION 0-8 pts. Judging and scoring for Documentation is based on a graduated level of knowledge and discussion of the components of the item. Advanced level documentation should have a thorough discussion of the components of the item, explains the rationale behind methods, materials, skills and tools, provides illustrations (if available), references and notes, as well as any original research or experimentation. Any conscious compromises should be explained. A summary page is helpful if the documentation is exceptionally in-depth, and more detailed work can also be put in appendices. Verbal feedback during the judging, how well the entrant understands the period practice and process of the creation of their item beyond what is written, can enhance the Documentation score. Give score based on the following:

*Description and discussion of entry including the following: country of origin, period of origin, characteristics of style for that period.

*Thorough knowledge or discussion of materials and skills used to complete the project

*Thorough knowledge or discussion of methods and tools used to complete the project

*Research and reference: very complete sources and visual or descriptive references, includes a bibliography and cites sources in a standard format (endnotes, footnotes, parenthetical, MLA, etc.).

AUTHENTICITY 0-8 pts. Judge this at the Advanced level, keeping in mind any deviations or substitutions from authentic period equivalents (reasonable substitutions for elements that are too toxic, too expensive or too rare) must be plausible and explained. Efforts to achieve a completely authentic item (except those items that are unsafe) will score best.
* Form/function—is it a period item and does it work in a period way (apparent knowledge or application of period practice)
* Methods of creation— handwork vs. machine work, any charting, transfer, pattern, etc.

* Materials used—stitches, pattern, backing and thread material (linen, silk, wool, vs. DMC floss, etc.)

*Design, style–period design or style or gives a period effect

COMPLEXITY 1-5 pts Rank the ambition of the entry, not the workmanship, based on the following. Judge the entrant at the Advanced level, keeping in mind that not all period items are complex.

*Scope of endeavor (# of pieces, size of work in relation to amount of detail, etc.)

*Difficulty/variety of design elements used—variety of motifis/ how they are combined

*Difficulty/variety of techniques attempted—elements/motifs/stitches

*Difficulty/variety of media, materials, tools used—e.g. velvet, metallics, handspun, etc., are harder)

*Extent of original work or ideas

WORKMANSHIP 1-5 pts. Rank the quality of execution and success of the entry. Judge the entrant at the Advanced level, based on the following:

*Effective use of tools, methods, and techniques

*Techniques, handling of materials, etc.—tension, starts, ends, neatness, evenness, finishing

*Design: period aesthetics, motifs, design (note: period sense of balance and proportion is not necessarily the same as modern) etc

*Form/Function: does it do what it should do and look as it should look?

*Period styling or personalization or special embellishment

OVERALL QUALITY 1-4 pts. Evaluate the work as a whole, rating the aesthetic effect and appeal beyond the mere technical proficiency. Consider how you react to the entry (intuitive response) and other items not previously addressed. This is the ‘wow’ factor; following are some examples to consider, but the category is not limited to these.

*Completely authentic from the ground up

-OR-

*Unique or outstanding display or attempt at period presentation

-OR-

*Logical creative endeavor within a period methodology (creativity/individuality)

-OR-

*You want to take it home because it is really outstanding

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!

SCA Judging Critera: Embroidery, Counted and Free Form: Intermediate

I was looking up embroidery competitions, cause I’m thinking of entering my kimono’s in one after I get them finished, which is maybe a year or so down the road, but if I want to enter I need to know the rules before I start! Well, I’m copying the rules here to my blog, from their web site so that I’ll be able to reference them. Here is the Intermediate Rules:

SCA Judging Criteria: Embroidery, Counted and Free Form: Intermediate

DOCUMENTATION 0-8 pts. Judging and scoring for Documentation is based on a graduated level of knowledge and discussion of the components of the item. Intermediate level documentation should have at least minimal discussion of the components involved. More in-depth discussion or period practices or conscious compromises is encouraged and should receive higher points. Verbal feedback during the judging, how well the entrant understands the period practice and process of the creation of their item beyond what is written, can enhance the Documentation score. Give score based on the following:

*Description and some discussion of entry including the following: country of origin, period of origin, characteristics of style for that period.

*Some discussion of materials and skills used to complete the project

*Some discussion of methods and tools used to complete the project

*Research and reference: cites more than one source and one visual or descriptive reference, includes a reference sheet (bibliography) or cites sources in a standard format (endnotes, footnotes, parenthetical, MLA, etc.).

AUTHENTICITY 0-8 pts. Judge this at the Intermediate level, keeping in mind any plausible/explained deviations or substitutions from authentic period equivalents (reasonable substitutions for elements that are too toxic, too expensive or too rare). Efforts to achieve a completely authentic item (except those items that are unsafe) will score best.
* Form/function—is it a period item and does it work in a period way (apparent knowledge or application of period practice)
* Methods of creation— handwork vs. machine work, any charting, transfer, pattern, etc.

* Materials used—stitches, pattern, backing and thread material (linen, silk, wool, vs. DMC floss, etc.)

*Design, style–period design or style or gives a period effect

COMPLEXITY 1-5 pts Rank the ambition of the entry, not the workmanship, based on the following. Judge the entrant at the Intermediate level, keeping in mind that not all period items are complex.

*Scope of endeavor (# of pieces, size of work in relation to amount of detail, etc.)

*Difficulty/variety of design elements used—variety of motifis/ how they are combined

*Difficulty/variety of techniques attempted—elements/motifs/stitches

*Difficulty/variety of media, materials, tools used—e.g. velvet, metallics, handspun, etc., are harder)

*Extent of original work or ideas

WORKMANSHIP 1-5 pts. Rank the quality of execution and success of the entry. Judge the entrant at the Intermediate level, based on the following:

*Effective use of tools, methods, and execution

*Techniques, handling of materials, etc.—tension, starts, ends, neatness, evenness, finishing

*Design: period aesthetics, motifs, design (note: period sense of balance and proportion is not necessarily the same as modern) etc

*Form/Function: does it do what it should do and look as it should look?

*Period styling or personalization or special embellishment

OVERALL QUALITY 1-4 pts. Evaluate the work as a whole, rating the aesthetic effect and appeal beyond the mere technical proficiency. Consider how you react to the entry (intuitive response) and other items not previously addressed. This is the ‘wow’ factor; following are some examples to consider, but the category is not limited to these.

*Completely authentic from the ground up

-OR-

*Unique or outstanding display or attempt at period presentation

-OR-

*Logical creative endeavor within a period methodology (creativity/individuality)

-OR-

*You want to take it home because it is really outstanding

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.

Thank You for reading my blog’s RSS feed. Don’t forget to come to my blog and check out the links in my blogroll too!