Leather can be sewn into almost any kind
of costume out of it. A lot of people are often apprehensive about using
leather for their costume because it's hard to work with. But in this article,
we'll be sharing how to make your leather costume dreams possible. Here are
some tips and tricks to get you started with your leather costume.
Test Your Material
Before
you start with your DIY, you need to test your leather first. You need to test
it for its flexibility, durability, and the type of stitch that suits the
material. You want to get to know the kind of material you're working with, so
you can adjust how you'll work around it. Once you've tried the type of leather
you'll use, you have a better sense of whether it's the kind of material you're
looking for.
Another
important reason why you need to test your material is that you want to
eliminate all potential sources of mistake. If the material is something you
can't work with, then at least you can look for alternatives.
Make Sure it Fits Perfectly
One of
the reasons why you’d probably want to wear or use leather is for tight
costumes. Often, many cosplayers use leather in their costumes because it
accentuates their bodies and portrays their character better. To make their
cosplay realistic, they even wear crazy and clear contacts for
cosplay to complement their look. Tight leather
costumes are popular today, and if there's one thing you should know before you
do your project, is to get all the measurements down.
You
can’t afford to make a mistake in the measurements, because there’s no redemption.
Once you’ve punctured a hole on your leather, there’s no going back for you
unless you start all over again. You need to get the proportions down
accurately, so all you'll have to do is sew and wear it afterward. If you make
a mistake, you'd have to work on the entire thing again. Working with leather
is unlike other materials, and it's for this reason, which makes leather often
challenging to work with.
Never Use Pins
When
you use pins to work with your leather, you're tearing your material and leaving
it with a hole. Unless you're going for this kind of look, you should never use
pins. In the alternative, tape and clips are great to work within crafting that
seamless and flawless look for leather materials. Invisible tapes are also used
often, especially if you want that smooth look.
Cut Your Patterns One At A Time
If you
have any patterns for your costume, make sure to trace it one by one on the
material, so each cut out ends up with the same. Don't forget to put the sketch
on the opposite side of the leather and use a marker or tailor's chalk to guide
you. Instead of using scissors for cutting, rotary cutters can do the job
correctly. Don't rush cutting your patterns and cut it one at a time if you
have to. There's little room for error when you're using leather, and rushing
things won't make it any better.
Choose Your Needles Well
There's
no way for you to sew your costume without using needles. This being the case,
you need to choose a needle that works well with leather. You need to remember that
leather, unlike other materials, is denser and thicker. You'll be needing a
durable needle that can pierce the material smoothly. You don't want to risk
any needle getting stuck on your leather because it's too thin or light
compared to the material you're working on.
Scotch Tapes are Your Friends
One of
the problems you'll experience when sewing leather is that it'll stick to the
presser foot or throat plate at any time. This is very annoying for many sewers
because a lot could go wrong, especially when you're working with leather. One
of the major disasters you might face is when your leather gets stuck on the
plate, and the material rips when you pull it.
You
can avoid this from happening entirely by using scotch tape. Who knew that
scotch tape could be such a good solution. If you place scotch tape on the
bottom of your plate or universal foot, leather can glide smoothly as you set
your costume.
Don’t Mind Unfinished Seams
Once
your costume is done, you're next to target is it probably clean out the seams.
When you're working with leather, you don't have to worry about having an
unfinished seam because sometimes keeping it as is often looks better. However,
if you want to put seams on your costumes, make sure to consider which ones
would look good for your overall outfit. You can choose from:
●
Single or double topstitched;
●
Faux flat-fell; and
●
Lapped;
If you don't want the hassle of finishing up your seams,
you can opt to glue them instead with an adhesive compatible with leather.
Now
that you know the tips and tricks in handling leather, you're now ready to
craft your leather costume. You can finally achieve that effortless, seamless,
and elegant look you've always wanted, without breaking a sweat. Our tips and
tricks are easy to remember, but it sure is helpful and essential for anyone
planning to make their DIY costume.
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