Denver Senate Guard Build
Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 9:33 pm
Hello Everyone!
I'm very excited to see you all here and showing interest in the Senate guard! I couldn't tell you why I think it's cool either, but here we are...
I started mine about 3 years ago. As with all costumes, Research is the most time consuming part of any costume! Unfortunately someone beat me to the CRL in Completion, but I was close! Here is a short documentation of how I completed the guard and I hope you can take some things away to help make yours!
Start with Fabric: (paint for the helmet is easy to get in different shades, but fabric can be a pain.)
The Senate guard is shades of blue. "Royal" blue is the easiest thing to base upon since it is very common. Just start there and adjust as necessary!
For my outer Tunic, I went with a Royal blue Velveteen because it's much richer in appearance than the "real thing" (I think they used a type of fuzzy linen, but velvet is just as good) DO NOT GET A CRUSH VELVET! Sometime's the right color is tough to find, so buy samples (swatches) first. Depending on how tall you are, you'll need 1.5 to 2 yards per panel! There are 4 panels. Don't forget the liner and inner robe. for the liner, I found a satin that the back matched in color to the inner robe cotton material I used.
DON'T USE THE ROYAL GUARD PATTERN! This is a different design and the Royal guard pattern won't get approved.
Here are some images of what the royal guard pattern should look like. (it's really simple.)
Senate guard robes
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
Just Cut up an old T-shirt, leave some extra room for seam allowance, make it look like a dress (I used ALL the width of the fabric to make it really full) then sew! Make sure you use a cheap muslin or bed sheets to make you pattern unless you're 100% certain.
I used a simple hook clasp to hook the head opening. This can be sloppy, because the neck is covered by the helmet. Just make sure you hem the liner shorter than the outer.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
Inner robe: Same idea. Use an old T-shirt to pattern, I used another old dress shirt to cut off a sleeve. This has a key hole neck and is hemmed at mid to lower calf.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
Boots are basic "jack boots". I get mine from a seller in ETSY. Either Russian or German are good. No Zippers, no buckles, mid calf.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
Gloves: are just simple blue leather Gauntlets. Again, Found mine on ETSY. If they have the mickey mouse detail on the back of the hand, just stitch it. Don't go get custom gloves made. Not worth that money!
NOW, for the Helmet...
The Helmet... It took me about 2 years to get this right. I had to design my own as I DID NOT like the one available on Thingiverse (which was copied and is currently being sold by most of the recasters around now) I'm sure mine will be stolen eventually too, but for now.. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3974886 IT'S FREE TO PRINT
There is an Ep.1 and 2/3 Hawks in there and will fit most heads (I would HIGHLY recommend printing the smallest part of the neck and test fit to make sure your brow and nose will fit before doing the whole thing, it's a tight fit!)
I'm working on and will post a "Hair" tutorial on the site also.
ALL FINISHED:
Ep1
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
Ep3
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
I'm very excited to see you all here and showing interest in the Senate guard! I couldn't tell you why I think it's cool either, but here we are...
I started mine about 3 years ago. As with all costumes, Research is the most time consuming part of any costume! Unfortunately someone beat me to the CRL in Completion, but I was close! Here is a short documentation of how I completed the guard and I hope you can take some things away to help make yours!
Start with Fabric: (paint for the helmet is easy to get in different shades, but fabric can be a pain.)
The Senate guard is shades of blue. "Royal" blue is the easiest thing to base upon since it is very common. Just start there and adjust as necessary!
For my outer Tunic, I went with a Royal blue Velveteen because it's much richer in appearance than the "real thing" (I think they used a type of fuzzy linen, but velvet is just as good) DO NOT GET A CRUSH VELVET! Sometime's the right color is tough to find, so buy samples (swatches) first. Depending on how tall you are, you'll need 1.5 to 2 yards per panel! There are 4 panels. Don't forget the liner and inner robe. for the liner, I found a satin that the back matched in color to the inner robe cotton material I used.
DON'T USE THE ROYAL GUARD PATTERN! This is a different design and the Royal guard pattern won't get approved.
Here are some images of what the royal guard pattern should look like. (it's really simple.)
Senate guard robes
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
Just Cut up an old T-shirt, leave some extra room for seam allowance, make it look like a dress (I used ALL the width of the fabric to make it really full) then sew! Make sure you use a cheap muslin or bed sheets to make you pattern unless you're 100% certain.
I used a simple hook clasp to hook the head opening. This can be sloppy, because the neck is covered by the helmet. Just make sure you hem the liner shorter than the outer.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
Inner robe: Same idea. Use an old T-shirt to pattern, I used another old dress shirt to cut off a sleeve. This has a key hole neck and is hemmed at mid to lower calf.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
Boots are basic "jack boots". I get mine from a seller in ETSY. Either Russian or German are good. No Zippers, no buckles, mid calf.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
Gloves: are just simple blue leather Gauntlets. Again, Found mine on ETSY. If they have the mickey mouse detail on the back of the hand, just stitch it. Don't go get custom gloves made. Not worth that money!
NOW, for the Helmet...
The Helmet... It took me about 2 years to get this right. I had to design my own as I DID NOT like the one available on Thingiverse (which was copied and is currently being sold by most of the recasters around now) I'm sure mine will be stolen eventually too, but for now.. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3974886 IT'S FREE TO PRINT
There is an Ep.1 and 2/3 Hawks in there and will fit most heads (I would HIGHLY recommend printing the smallest part of the neck and test fit to make sure your brow and nose will fit before doing the whole thing, it's a tight fit!)
I'm working on and will post a "Hair" tutorial on the site also.
ALL FINISHED:
Ep1
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
Ep3
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148855175 ... ed-public/