It has come to my attention that I only know two cool people: Eric and Max as they are the only people who want to go to the movie with me. In all of the frantic commotion to get tickets I bought four and I have an extra. I have been trying to sell it on craigslist but I'm not really good at that sort of thing so I've been checking in all day to see the competition.
This afternoon, I found someone selling a ticket to tonight's show with John Cho! I emailed him and he never got back to me.
Later, I found an even better offer: I have two tickets to a pre-screening for Star Trek for tonight at 7:30. But unfortunately I couldn't make it, aghhhh. All you trekies must understand how..shitty this is..that i can't go lol. Anyways I will give the tickets for BEST OFFER OR FREE! Also add why you think you should have it! Best reason wins!
So I responded, with shaking hands: I should have these tickets because I am so obsesses with this movie! I am making an Uhura costume to wear to the movie (I pulled an all-nighter last night to have it in time for Thursday)! I am writing a blog about my costume adventures… http://sogetthisblog.blogspot.com/
I think I got to this person too late because I never heard back and I can't imagine anyone having a better reason than me. Or using more exclamation points! At least I still have Thursday.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
One large coffee later...
I'm having fun and enjoying the project but realistically it might not get done.
I can handle that. No tears this time like over my last Halloween costume.
I can handle that. No tears this time like over my last Halloween costume.
I think my problem is that I'm trying to make it too symmetrical and spending a lot of time on little things. I made a pretty solid muslin dress but now I have to go through the same process with the real thing. The fabric will be more forgiving but it will also snag more easily. I have enough for two attempts.
The books I got last night were of little help. Neither was a good reference guide on sleeves or collars and I didn't have the patience to read the full tutorial.
Taking a work break for a little bit then I'm back at it tonight!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Crunch time - literally!
This post is coming from NYSC. Due to the current work-out competition in place, physical fitness is of critical importance. I didn't expect to be at work so late otherwise I would have gone in the morning.
I went to Mood today with a co-worker and got fabric! It's got a great texture and color, the only problem is that it's a little sheer. If I don't have the time or knowledge to line it I will just buy a little tank dress to wear underneath. It's fairly stretchy so I didn't get a zipper. I did get a fabric scissor and some matching thread.
I didn't get a pattern from Mood because I don't think they sell them and I decided to get a book instead, hopefully the book will offer some advice on my fitting issues. I got out of work just in time to make it to Borders at Penn station before they closed (although B&N at lincoln center is open till midnight I don't have time to be running all over town).
I would like to make some good progress tonight so that I can celebrate the 5th of May tomorrow and kickball on Wednesday. I may be aggressively optimistic but I also subscribe to the belief that sleep is a crutch.
I went to Mood today with a co-worker and got fabric! It's got a great texture and color, the only problem is that it's a little sheer. If I don't have the time or knowledge to line it I will just buy a little tank dress to wear underneath. It's fairly stretchy so I didn't get a zipper. I did get a fabric scissor and some matching thread.
I didn't get a pattern from Mood because I don't think they sell them and I decided to get a book instead, hopefully the book will offer some advice on my fitting issues. I got out of work just in time to make it to Borders at Penn station before they closed (although B&N at lincoln center is open till midnight I don't have time to be running all over town).
I would like to make some good progress tonight so that I can celebrate the 5th of May tomorrow and kickball on Wednesday. I may be aggressively optimistic but I also subscribe to the belief that sleep is a crutch.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Whole Story
You may be wondering, much like my friend Trent, "what movie requires a homemade dress?"
That movie is Star Trek. I prefer Next Gen as a series but for movies, nothing beats the originals. My personal favorite is Star Trek IV where they go back in time because my family once made a trip to see the whale in the movie.
I've been looking forward to this movie for at least a year. It was originally going to be released in December 2008 and they pushed it back in order to avoid the competitive holiday season. If you ask me they should have released it because it would have whomped on every other movie but I'm a biased.
Since I was sooo excited for the movie, I wanted to do something to show that I wasn't just another movie-goer on opening night. Also, I know this movie is going to be HUGE and I need to set myself apart from all the new Star Trek fans (I would like to point out that I am not nor at any time have been a Trekkie). Obv I would be going to the earliest possible showing but I wasn't going to fly to Europe to watch it at an earlier time like we did for Star Wars. I decided to dress up as Uhura, the main (and only) female in Star Trek. I found the costume online at a number of sites but none were available. I assumed they were sold out so I started calling around to put in a back order.
Turns out the costume wasn't available yet! I began calling on a daily basis because no one knew when they would be getting it in. I rotated the retailers I called so I didn't seem super crazy. I built a relationship with one of them who gave me the phone number of the manufacturer. Yes! I called to see when it would come in and they said they had no idea. They didn't think it would be ready in time for the movie due to some issues with the factory. Super bummer. At that time, I made the decision to make the costume. I didn't have much time so I ordered my sewing machine that day and that's where the magic began.
That movie is Star Trek. I prefer Next Gen as a series but for movies, nothing beats the originals. My personal favorite is Star Trek IV where they go back in time because my family once made a trip to see the whale in the movie.
I've been looking forward to this movie for at least a year. It was originally going to be released in December 2008 and they pushed it back in order to avoid the competitive holiday season. If you ask me they should have released it because it would have whomped on every other movie but I'm a biased.
Since I was sooo excited for the movie, I wanted to do something to show that I wasn't just another movie-goer on opening night. Also, I know this movie is going to be HUGE and I need to set myself apart from all the new Star Trek fans (I would like to point out that I am not nor at any time have been a Trekkie). Obv I would be going to the earliest possible showing but I wasn't going to fly to Europe to watch it at an earlier time like we did for Star Wars. I decided to dress up as Uhura, the main (and only) female in Star Trek. I found the costume online at a number of sites but none were available. I assumed they were sold out so I started calling around to put in a back order.
Turns out the costume wasn't available yet! I began calling on a daily basis because no one knew when they would be getting it in. I rotated the retailers I called so I didn't seem super crazy. I built a relationship with one of them who gave me the phone number of the manufacturer. Yes! I called to see when it would come in and they said they had no idea. They didn't think it would be ready in time for the movie due to some issues with the factory. Super bummer. At that time, I made the decision to make the costume. I didn't have much time so I ordered my sewing machine that day and that's where the magic began.
Frankendress
After I cut the tube off of myself I started working on the sleeves. I used my MTV bar crawl t-shirt to get an idea for sleeve size. I was using the trial and error method for fitting the sleeve but I didn't want to start by pinning it because it was so tight and difficult to get on and off. I was working on this sleeve all day! Sewing it on, putting on the dress, taking it off and re-adjusting. I lengthened the stitch so that I could rip it out easier.
While telling my roommate Kaite about my plan of attack, I realized it would be immensely easier to use a pattern. Duh. If I don't have a good template by tomorrow, I'm going to buy a pattern. I was hoping to be a lot further a long by T-3 but I have to pull a costume related all nighter then that is what I shall do.
I feel as if today was unproductive even though I worked on it all day. The only thing I accomplished was watching many hours of Hannah Montana.
While telling my roommate Kaite about my plan of attack, I realized it would be immensely easier to use a pattern. Duh. If I don't have a good template by tomorrow, I'm going to buy a pattern. I was hoping to be a lot further a long by T-3 but I have to pull a costume related all nighter then that is what I shall do.
I feel as if today was unproductive even though I worked on it all day. The only thing I accomplished was watching many hours of Hannah Montana.
Rainy Day is Good for Sewing
Agenda today: make a dress prototype. I need to run up to midtown to exchange the purple shoes so I will try to do a little fabric shopping if anything is open. I also need sewing scissors.
I started by tracing this grey dress I have because it has a similar cut to what I need to make. I skipped a bunch of steps and just cut out the muslin in the shape of the dress. I'm going to make the sleeves as separate pieces so now I'm working on the main piece.
After quickly sewing it together I put it on... I wish someone was here to see it because I was completely stuck and it was probably funny. I'm pretty surprised it didn't rip. I finally got it over my stupid right shoulder. Looking good! It's not quite easy to breathe while wearing but I will be using a stretchier fabric for the real thing. Here is a pic! I should have used a longer timer on the camera so I had time to pose but whatever.
So here I am, still wearing the tube. I'm pretty sure I have to cut it off of myself. I also think I need to add a zipper.
I started by tracing this grey dress I have because it has a similar cut to what I need to make. I skipped a bunch of steps and just cut out the muslin in the shape of the dress. I'm going to make the sleeves as separate pieces so now I'm working on the main piece.
After quickly sewing it together I put it on... I wish someone was here to see it because I was completely stuck and it was probably funny. I'm pretty surprised it didn't rip. I finally got it over my stupid right shoulder. Looking good! It's not quite easy to breathe while wearing but I will be using a stretchier fabric for the real thing. Here is a pic! I should have used a longer timer on the camera so I had time to pose but whatever.
So here I am, still wearing the tube. I'm pretty sure I have to cut it off of myself. I also think I need to add a zipper.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
I Made Something
The other day, I packed my straightener in my gym bag in case I decided to go out from the gym. Later, I noticed that it was co-mingling with my keys. What if it got scratched!?! It may not have the same environmental impact of scratching a non-stick pan but it could have an impact on my hair. I needed to get one of those little pouches for it.
FF to today and I want to practice my sweet, sweet, sewing skills so I make a little pouch for my straightener out of the extra muslin (I got double what I needed for practicing purposes). It may not be pretty but i did it! I need to remember to make things big enough to fit around the little arm thing of the machine. It's not easy to sew something in a circle if it's not around the sleeve.
P.S. I've made a huge mistake...the email from the costume shop: I didn't actually read it before; I just read the subject line. Just now I read it and they were saying they WEREN'T going to get it in time. problem solved and lesson learned. Super doi. In a way I am relieved because I know I'm still on the right track! But still, how considerate of them. I recommend costumecraze.com for future costume needs.
FF to today and I want to practice my sweet, sweet, sewing skills so I make a little pouch for my straightener out of the extra muslin (I got double what I needed for practicing purposes). It may not be pretty but i did it! I need to remember to make things big enough to fit around the little arm thing of the machine. It's not easy to sew something in a circle if it's not around the sleeve.
P.S. I've made a huge mistake...the email from the costume shop: I didn't actually read it before; I just read the subject line. Just now I read it and they were saying they WEREN'T going to get it in time. problem solved and lesson learned. Super doi. In a way I am relieved because I know I'm still on the right track! But still, how considerate of them. I recommend costumecraze.com for future costume needs.
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