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andverygingerGalactica Duty Blues
For the uniform tunic/shirt, I've appropriated this pattern. It's fairly simple and so of course, I have to over complicate it: I'll have to add princess seams in the front, making it a four-panel construction. I'll have to either remove the shoulder darts or leave them in place, covering them with the suede. Darts will have to be added in the back, hopefully to line up with the pants I've chosen.
The pants have been a hard find. Because I am short-waisted and long-legged, the lower rise pants of today flatter me quite a bit more than pants worn at the waist. Finding a pattern for the lower-rise pants for a non-stretchy material has been nearly impossible. I started out with a Vogue "easy" pattern (yeah, right). It required a stretch twill, so I figured if I worked a little more ease in, I'd be okay. Still, I wasn't thrilled with them -- they were probably a little too low -- so I kept looking. I just happened to stumble across a Simplicity pattern that rides a little below the natural waist, and comes in three different cuts -- slim, average, and curvy. I'll have to modify the belt loops, but that will be a relatively easy fix, compared to everything else.
I've been experimenting as well, with the idea of making my own piping. Starting out, I wasn't able to find any vinyl to my liking. But, given that I'm going to practice a bit before moving up, I started out with some burgundy and tan microsuede. They weren't as stiff as vinyl might be, and they also proved to be a little slippery on the interior. I also found that the exterior dragged a bit on the zipper foot. With all the frustration involved -- and the realization that my rank pins are "major" -- I've decided to go with the light blue/grey of a junior officer.
The uniform material itself was an incredibly lucky find. Since moving to Houston from DC, I've been bemoaning the loss of my G Street Fabrics. So, I was "slumming" at Hancock Fabrics one day, and stumbled across their bolts of wool. This was early spring, and it was all on sale for 50% off. What I found was a wool/poly blend that was blue, mixed with black in a very unusual pattern -- not unlike the blue/gray mix for the actual Galactica uniforms. I can't remember what I paid, but I think it was about $5 a yard. You can see a scan of the material -- and my attempts at piping here.
Roslin
The quest for the "Roslin" suit has been long and frustrating. At first, I attempted to buy a similar suit. Doing a little digging, I discovered that it was from the 2002/2003 Armani Collezioni, and cost about $5000 off the rack. A year later, I found one on eBay for $400...and was outbid in the last 10 seconds. So, it finally came down to, "Why can't I make one?"
Pouring through just about every pattern on the planet revealed a decent facimile: Butterick 4298. It's not exactly the same, but I think it will do in a pinch -- and it should be fairly easy, as there are few (if any) mods that I'll have to make. The key feature -- that strange buckle/snap thing she has -- was impossible to find. I've instead opted for an unusual hook and eye closure that's really hard to describe. When I'm feeling less lazy, I'll post a pic in the photostream over at Flickr.
The hair, of course, won't be perfect, but I'm already a redhead, and I don't feel like messing with my color. The style will be similar, and I'll have my glasses, so that will have to do. =)
This, by far, will be the easiest of all my costumes thus far.
And probably in the years to come as well. Why? Next year, it's Susan's battle costume from Prince Caspian. Chainmail -- FTW!
For the uniform tunic/shirt, I've appropriated this pattern. It's fairly simple and so of course, I have to over complicate it: I'll have to add princess seams in the front, making it a four-panel construction. I'll have to either remove the shoulder darts or leave them in place, covering them with the suede. Darts will have to be added in the back, hopefully to line up with the pants I've chosen.
The pants have been a hard find. Because I am short-waisted and long-legged, the lower rise pants of today flatter me quite a bit more than pants worn at the waist. Finding a pattern for the lower-rise pants for a non-stretchy material has been nearly impossible. I started out with a Vogue "easy" pattern (yeah, right). It required a stretch twill, so I figured if I worked a little more ease in, I'd be okay. Still, I wasn't thrilled with them -- they were probably a little too low -- so I kept looking. I just happened to stumble across a Simplicity pattern that rides a little below the natural waist, and comes in three different cuts -- slim, average, and curvy. I'll have to modify the belt loops, but that will be a relatively easy fix, compared to everything else.
I've been experimenting as well, with the idea of making my own piping. Starting out, I wasn't able to find any vinyl to my liking. But, given that I'm going to practice a bit before moving up, I started out with some burgundy and tan microsuede. They weren't as stiff as vinyl might be, and they also proved to be a little slippery on the interior. I also found that the exterior dragged a bit on the zipper foot. With all the frustration involved -- and the realization that my rank pins are "major" -- I've decided to go with the light blue/grey of a junior officer.
The uniform material itself was an incredibly lucky find. Since moving to Houston from DC, I've been bemoaning the loss of my G Street Fabrics. So, I was "slumming" at Hancock Fabrics one day, and stumbled across their bolts of wool. This was early spring, and it was all on sale for 50% off. What I found was a wool/poly blend that was blue, mixed with black in a very unusual pattern -- not unlike the blue/gray mix for the actual Galactica uniforms. I can't remember what I paid, but I think it was about $5 a yard. You can see a scan of the material -- and my attempts at piping here.
Roslin
The quest for the "Roslin" suit has been long and frustrating. At first, I attempted to buy a similar suit. Doing a little digging, I discovered that it was from the 2002/2003 Armani Collezioni, and cost about $5000 off the rack. A year later, I found one on eBay for $400...and was outbid in the last 10 seconds. So, it finally came down to, "Why can't I make one?"
Pouring through just about every pattern on the planet revealed a decent facimile: Butterick 4298. It's not exactly the same, but I think it will do in a pinch -- and it should be fairly easy, as there are few (if any) mods that I'll have to make. The key feature -- that strange buckle/snap thing she has -- was impossible to find. I've instead opted for an unusual hook and eye closure that's really hard to describe. When I'm feeling less lazy, I'll post a pic in the photostream over at Flickr.
The hair, of course, won't be perfect, but I'm already a redhead, and I don't feel like messing with my color. The style will be similar, and I'll have my glasses, so that will have to do. =)
This, by far, will be the easiest of all my costumes thus far.
And probably in the years to come as well. Why? Next year, it's Susan's battle costume from Prince Caspian. Chainmail -- FTW!