Dystopian Kimono

This week I've been working on a new piece for my Dystopia Rising Gear. My character, Kurai, has been pretty stable for a while and I figured she had enough extra cash to invest in proper Genjian clothing again. That was she could stop looking like a barbarian. :)

That being said I had to now make the Kimono. Kimono's are...either very easy to make, or a pain. Personally, after learning some square cutting methods from a friend, I've been using those techniques a lot to make things. I did it with my friend Haori, and now this kimono. The whole piece is one huge square.

Originally, in Japan bolts are specifically sized for kimonos. It takes a whole bolt for one kimono. It's really fascinating and kind of scary to think about. In this ones case I took my measurements and made some cuts. I cut the neck hole first, then opened the front up. After that I figured out the sides and cut into the main piece for the sleeves. This is all one piece of fabric if you take out my cuts. This is much easier than cutting a ton of pieces out and wasting fabric. Saving fabric would be something someone would try to do in a dystopian era too.

 After the main body was hemmed I focused on designing it. Kimono's actually have meaning when you wear them. Certain seasons require certain colors and images. However, Kurai's colors are also green ad gold so I wanted to stick with that. I decided to go with a sort of winter motif.

I started out wanting to do a bleacing effect. It failed badly and for a bit I was bummed I'd ruined this, but I'm not one to give up easily. So after staring a bit I pulled out my paints and added the branch. What I got was that ghostly green effect. I liked it so I left it.

 The little yellow leaves are my characters family symbol. In Japan families, at least in the past, I don't know about now? had symbols called kamon, or mons in the game. Each clan has one and there's a whole lore based around them, so we've slowly been growing them over time. Mines the old Nakamura mon. The leaf in an octogram. Here I just used the leaf to look like dying leaves falling.

 In this image I decided I wanted a simple design on the front so I extended the branches from the back over the right shoulder. I like it, but it might need more flowers.

Here is the front side. So far I'm happy with it, but I need to carry the image over to the front bottom right a tiny bit. Might do a pile of leaves or something.

I also need to fix the neckline, and possibly sew this shut. It's not fun running around a game and popping out of your clothing. others might like it, I do not.

ALso, if I can there will be a full picture of me in gear someday.

As always, fi you have questions, comments, critiques, etc please leave me a comment.

Review: Think Geek Laser Scissors

At the wedding my husband and I received a pair of the think geek laser scissors. I was excited, very excited. I had wanted a pair of these for a good long while. He was meh about it.

When I finally cycled back into sewing I was a bit disappointed in theses. However lets do the good first.

These are light weight. Easy to handle. The grip is nice for both left and right hands (a problem I have since I'm left handed but hate lefty scissors). And the laser is really helpful in making straighter lines. Overall, I'll probably use these a lot.

However there are some bad issues, especially in the areas of using these for sewing.

The biggest problem is that the blade has a weird serration on it which I assume is their attempt at trying to do something like pinking shears, but it really doesn't work well. This causes it to chew threw fabric like a deranged T-Rex, versus a clean cut if. Especially if you're cutting anything more than two pieces of cloth. Add to that the blades being of what i assume is tin, aluminum, or some soft metal, then sharpening these is going to be a problem. However, if you can get them sharpened go for it. This serration is only on one blade, so I think adjusting that might make these awesome.

Don't get me wrong I'll keep using these for a long time, especially for that guiding light. it makes my messy lines so much nicer. And that is probably where all the design wen't into these thing. Honestly I wouldn't buy another pair again unless that serration is gone and the blades get better.

EDIT: As of 11/7/14 I've discovered these scissors are great for chewingthrough felt, fleece, and any of the heavier materials. While they eat up the softer/thinner materials and are not good for those they are amazing cutters for the thicker stuff.
Feel free to ask questions, leave comments, etc. I"m always up for a chat!

Missed update again

I'm really sorry for the lack of updates. It's just been really hectic again. I did two events back to back over the last two weeks. And it's been hard getting back on track. I'll hopefully have at least a small one this friday. Untill then have a dragon playing with their older sibling!

Missing Update

This last bit of the month was hectic. I went to Tortuga, a local pirate fest, as a merchant. It was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work and sadly I have anyother event coming up as well. Pacwar is this weekend and these events cut into my blog time. I'm hoping to be able to post something before I go but I'm not sure I'll be able too.

Therefore you get another dragon...playing dead.

New Dystopian Armor

Yes its very bright, yes it's odd, and yes I'm late...again. Sorry!

I've been very busy lately getting ready for Tortuga and i took on a quick commission so that when Dystopia Rising starts up again in October it's paid for.

What a friend needed was a Haori that was armored. His color is a bright blue and i happened to have a few yards of it. After much discussing we came up with what i have here.

I've also worked with Japanese designs before. My first ever sewing project was a kimono...if you don't count the millions of pillows and pillow cases I made before that too.

Anyway, my first pattern was kimono, however this was my first foray into making something without a pattern. it's...hard.

My poor commissioner had a ton of questions tossed at him. In the end I got the basic form made. I'm not 100% happy with it, but I'm hoping but the end I will be.

 

This eventually became my stencil. The character has what's called a Mon in game, a symbol that identifies their faction or family. His was a scorpion.

These are cut from a sheet of foam which I later painted silver to look like metal.

The haori ended up a bit long. For now i left it till the commissioner could see it.

This is all done after much measuring and it's all simple straight lines. I have a close friend to thank for even knowing where to begin in this. it literally took me a day and a half to figure out all the proper measurements

 The front with the painted Mons attached.

The back with the painted Mon attached.

 Here I cut down the coat a bit. then I began laying down the ground work for the plating. This is again foam padding. Dystopia Rising doesn't require actual armor. It's cool if you have it, but it only requires that it look like armor. I seem to have built my focus on armor making on the aspect that it is light, flexible, and quite possible to be slept in.This was the back.

This is the front set up. We decided the take one row out in the end.

Armor shoulder pieces. He did not request the mon be added there. I kinda did it as a special bit. :)

Progress so far. it's coming along nicely, but...I'm probably going to have to line it. I hate the inside peeking out. For the record I've been using E6000 to attach all the faux plating. I would have sewn them in but it's very noticeable and we really wanted this to look natural so I opted to glue them. E6000 is a glue god btw. 

Metal plating after it's second layer of paint. These are the foam pieces from above. I did one layer of paint, then used hot glue to make the rivet/grommet/whatever you call them. Turns out glue turns shiny when you spray paint it. It's a nice affect.

This is the back after the plates were painted, grommet-ed, painted again, the scarring added, and painted a third time. I only have the front left.

Feel free to ask questions, leave comments, etc. I"m always up for a chat!

Wire Ears

I'm working on my stock of wire ears for Tortuga here is Lebanon Or. I ran out last time so I want to make sure I make enough this time. I'm also working on a variety of designs.

These are just the base designs. I mold the wire to my own ear then give it a bit of leeway for others ears. the circular part can be stretched to fit other ears. The little rolled part fits under the lobe of the ear where you'd get a piercing, but I try to make ones that don't interfere with earrings.

For the record these are just bases right now. I'll be adding more too them as soon as I meet my quota.
Feel free to ask questions, leave comments, etc. I"m always up for a chat!

More ponys

I'm really sorry I haven't making my usual posts. I'm gearing up for Tortuga at the end of the month so I'm using all my time to make stuff. Hopefully I'll have one more post this week that is on time (hopefully). if not I will at least keep trying to update with what i am working on.

Currently I just finished the last pony.

You've seen the tutorial I used to make these. However, I gave up and had to do some modifying to it. It was just being too much of a pain in a few places.

What I modified was the little flange pieces on the belly piece, the piece that connects the butt and neck to the side pieces. I widened them both because the pattern had them too small, or my printing make them too small or something. Either way its a bit nicer to sew now. I also am playing with adjusting that cut out in the center of the tummy. It hasn't worked right once for me so far, but I haven't found a decent solution. It's suppose to cause the ponies to keep their legs together, but it's really not.

If I figure something out I'll make a post. For now, pictures.

This is Dr. Whooves. Not sure which version, but he came out rather cute.

 One of my two naughty ponies for Totuga which is a more adult event. Her name is shibari. She really like ropse lol.

 This is the second Naughty Pony. I might make more, but no promises for now. This is leather head. He's got a fascination with toys so his little satchel has all sorts of stuff in it and he has a little riding crop on the other side.

 Simple Big Mac. I feel like I need to make his yoke that he wears, but I'm undecided.

Finally, Mare do well. This was more of a challenge. I had a blue body I was originally going to make into Luna but could not find the right color fur for her. So in trying to make her clothing I made a purple body, decapitated Luna, sewing that head on to here and started the decorating process after that. Suffice to say hats are a pain to make, but I really do like how she came out.

If I have time I plan to make a pirate pony and maybe one more naughty pony. However, I need to switch over after this for a while a make a bunch of wire ears so I can't keep spending time on these for now. I've made my goal I need to switch now.

ALso two of these guys will be for sale on my etsy because I need some money. Here is the link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KristelsKreations

Feel free to ask questions, leave comments, etc. I"m always up for a chat!