Canadian ROTJ

[Starwarsgeek18]

The pictures in the CRL, and screenshots from the movies, are about as good as you can get for visual references. Along with the written descriptions, should be enough. After all, these are what your approval will be based off of.

FWIW, I have to go three counties away to find a seamstress. That's a 2 hour drive one way. I assume Canadian counties aren't much different in size than U.S. Counties? The guy I found to do my boots is just as far. I thought it was kind of funny, living in the middle of cowboy country, that I had to go that far to find someone who could make what is essentially a Roper style boot. Plenty of saddle makers and other leather workers around, but no one seems to own boot lasts, anymore.

I'd probably be better off hiking it out to Toronto for all it's worth, probably have a better chance finding somebody out that way, plus it's not as long a drive as Ottawa (no offence cooldevo)

[Starwarsgeek18]

Well, might have found my saving Grace, my mom called Fabricland yesterday after my let down with the tailor, and they said they actually have a book of seamstresses, so that's a massive help!!!

[cooldevo]

Since there really isn't a pattern for the outer robe, make sure the seamstress is comfortable working with picture references and CRL text.

As velvet is so expensive, I'd strongly suggest doing a muslin mock-up before cutting the velvet (post progresspics here as the fittings come and go for feedback). If something is noted that is amiss the sooner you catch it the better! If you make a mistake with muslin it's a few dollars wasted. If you make a mistake with velvet it's a LOT more money. It'll slow down the process a bit, but well worth not wasting the material. My seamstress used a spare bed sheet (non-fitted one) she had lying around her home. She ended up making a few changes on the fly that would have caused problems if it was done on the velvet.

And lastly, make sure you buy enough velvet. Red especially, can look quite different between dye lots. Make sure you work with material from one lot or it can look really really bad. My seamstress used the excess velvet to make my gloves. And I really like the way they look when it matches the inner material.

[cooldevo]

Well, might have found my saving Grace, my mom called Fabricland yesterday after my let down with the tailor, and they said they actually have a book of seamstresses, so that's a massive help!!!

My wife posted a 'seamstress wanted ad' on Facebook for the area that we live. She requested working solely off of pictures and text requirements, no pattern, and would be working with velvet. Got a 3 or 4 responses, and I ended up chatting with all of them. The seamstress I went with did a fantastic job, and I'll be using her for the soft parts for my Palpatine that is in the hopper.

Velvet can be tricky to sew with, the nap means it has a tendency to shift while it's being sewn. Make sure they are comfortable working with the material.

[Starwarsgeek18]

Well, when my mom was talking the person from Fabricland said to ask each seamstress for references so I could get a sense of what I was going into and of course I'd tell them my requirements as well and see what they say. I was also hoping to go out for sizing and such so they could tell me how much fabric to get rather than getting too much or too little. Also the difficulty of living in a small town, I'd be lucky to get offers in my area.

[Starwarsgeek18]

Well, this could complicate things... Looking at the IB website looks like they only go up to size 11 US, and from what I've heard I'd need to go a size up from my regular size. Problem is that I usually wear an 11 so... Would I possibly be able to get bigger from them or am I out of luck? I feel like I should email them but I wanted the forum opinion first.

[dwdj75]

Well, this could complicate things... Looking at the IB website looks like they only go up to size 11 US, and from what I've heard I'd need to go a size up from my regular size. Problem is that I usually wear an 11 so... Would I possibly be able to get bigger from them or am I out of luck? I feel like I should email them but I wanted the forum opinion first.

I bought a pair of boots off ebay, they work pretty well and they were cheap, if you want I can send you the link ?

Here's the before ...


and after ...

[Starwarsgeek18]

Send away, also, for getting the pleats and straps off, just use a stitch remover or a pair of scissors?

[dwdj75]

Well, this could complicate things... Looking at the IB website looks like they only go up to size 11 US, and from what I've heard I'd need to go a size up from my regular size. Problem is that I usually wear an 11 so... Would I possibly be able to get bigger from them or am I out of luck? I feel like I should email them but I wanted the forum opinion first.

Oh, and I wear a size 12 and IB does not go that high. That's why I had to go a different route.

[dwdj75]

Send away, also, for getting the pleats and straps off, just use a stitch remover or a pair of scissors?

Stitch remover worked for me ! I also cut the top off and hemmed it so it was not so tall.