HeroOfThePeople
New Member
您好，托制造商和Browncoats的! (Hello prop makers and Browncoats!)
With Halloween fast approaching my fiance and I hadn't yet selected our costumes. With both our time and budget constrained by wedding planning expenses and activities we wanted something relatively low budget and easy. Last Wednesday my beautiful bride to be suggested Simon and Kaylee, "Yes! Done! I concur!" was my enthusiastic reply. We spent a couple days thinking and on Friday 10/4 I got started in earnest.
Our first Halloween event is on the 26th, so that's 23 days in total (including the day of the event) to complete both costumes, 20 days remaining as of this writing. In this thread I'll log my progress, talk about my process, and share WIP pictures, I hope you enjoy following along. I'll be doing both Simon and Kaylee as they appeared in Serenity (the pilot of the series, not the Big Damn Movie), though fortunately for the screen cap hungry costumer Simon wears the outfit several times throughout the series short run. The vest appears in Serenity, The Train Job, Jaynestown, and Ariel. The jacket appears in Serenity and Janyestown. Kaylee's coveralls are in practically every episode, though the brocade jacket is never seen again.
Day one Friday 10/4: Planning
Day two Saturday 10/5: Shopping
Day three Sunday 10/6: Pattern Work.
Tonight I hope to cut and start sewing vest. I'll update this thread with pics when I get home from the office.
Will I get done in time? Will these costume's be as shiny as I hope? Is there a power in the 'verse that can stop me? Stay tuned to find out.
With Halloween fast approaching my fiance and I hadn't yet selected our costumes. With both our time and budget constrained by wedding planning expenses and activities we wanted something relatively low budget and easy. Last Wednesday my beautiful bride to be suggested Simon and Kaylee, "Yes! Done! I concur!" was my enthusiastic reply. We spent a couple days thinking and on Friday 10/4 I got started in earnest.
Our first Halloween event is on the 26th, so that's 23 days in total (including the day of the event) to complete both costumes, 20 days remaining as of this writing. In this thread I'll log my progress, talk about my process, and share WIP pictures, I hope you enjoy following along. I'll be doing both Simon and Kaylee as they appeared in Serenity (the pilot of the series, not the Big Damn Movie), though fortunately for the screen cap hungry costumer Simon wears the outfit several times throughout the series short run. The vest appears in Serenity, The Train Job, Jaynestown, and Ariel. The jacket appears in Serenity and Janyestown. Kaylee's coveralls are in practically every episode, though the brocade jacket is never seen again.
Day one Friday 10/4: Planning
[*=1]Re-watch Serenity to make observations, notes and take screen captures.
[*=1]Because time is limited I identified the key iconic recognition elements of both costumes as well as the supplementary details and laid them out in order of priority. Simon just isn't Simon without the waistcoat and red spectacles, Kaylee must have the floral print 3/4 sleeve shirt and the coveralls (complete with patches and Chinese character embroidery). These must have's will be prioritized first in the build.
[*=1]Additional nice to have elements in priority order: Kaylee's sky blue floral brocade mandarin collar jacket, Kaylee's Parasol, Simon's no collar or lapel black jacket, Kaylee's flip-flops, Simon's surgical apron, Simon's doctor's case.
[*=1]Key observations: Simon's vest has a very flat front, no pockets, not especially fitted, really high neckline for a waistcoat, subtle black on blue wavy brocade front with black back. Kaylee's jacket has a rounded mandarin collar, her parasol has a lot of wear and weathering. Kaylee's coveralls drape like their mostly cotton
[*=1]Made a trip to the fabric store for investigation & inspiration. The brocade for Simon's vest will be hard to come by, but good offerings for Kaylee's Jacket are readily available.
[*=1]Did some pattern research looking for Kaylee's jacket.
Day two Saturday 10/5: Shopping
[*=1]Fabric store trip: Picked up a pattern for a Mandarin collar jacket, it will need some tweaking, but its close. Since I can't find the right Brocade for Simon's vest in time or on budget I went with a navy satin. Picked up black lining for the vest as well. Got the sky blue floral brocade for Kaylee's jacket as well as a yellow lining (the lining isn't ever clearly visible on screen but I chose the yellow as it seems to compliment the brocade, and its cheery just like Kaylee). Also got the requisite interfacing and notions.
[*=1]Military Surplus store: Picked up an olive flight suit, would have preferred a set of mechanic's coveralls but no such luck. Fortunately this was an older one, high cotton content, no nomex. It needs to be made sleeveless and add a band around the waist in order to more closely match. Beyond the required alterations to match the costume it also needs to be tailored for fit. As my lady is 5'0" this suit is way too long, Kaylee wears the legs rolled up so no pressing need to hem them but the crotch hangs way too low. The torso needs to be shortened.
Day three Sunday 10/6: Pattern Work.
[*=1]Not a lot of work time today but I modified an old Buckaroo Bobbins Victorian vest pattern I had laying around to make the Simon vest. The pockets came out. The darts were made less severe. The neckline was raised. Fortunately these modifications actually make the vest simpler to make. I ended up with a four piece pattern: front, back, facing, and belt.
Tonight I hope to cut and start sewing vest. I'll update this thread with pics when I get home from the office.
Will I get done in time? Will these costume's be as shiny as I hope? Is there a power in the 'verse that can stop me? Stay tuned to find out.
