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Thread: Do it Yourself

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    Default Do it Yourself

    Does anyone make their own dance wear? I have a hard time paying 15.00 for a bit of cloth with strings (bikini top) [boobies] Thats going to end up on the floor anyway. lol. Making such small items shouldnt be to hard...I suppose if you just alter existing patterns a bit.

    Anyone have any suggestions?

    Thanx Callie

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    Featured Member LEIGH_LANDON's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    Unless you can legitimately sew - get it made.

    It may look like 2 bits of cloth with a string, but all the edges are hemmed, measured and sewn, and the string is measured cut rolled and sewn, there's the time involved and the cost of the machine, the thread the fabric....theres more to it that 2 bits of fabric and a string.
    Once you attempt to make your own? I think you will come back around to not having any trouble dropping 15 dollars on a bikini top.
    LIVE LONG & PROSPER!
    Leigh Landon

    Never explain yourself to anyone, because the person who likes you doesn't need it and the person that dislikes you won't believe it.

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    Veteran Member anklefrog's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    $15?????? Must be nice. In Holloywood where I shop, a bikini top and g-string runs me about $40! And full length dresses are $80-150.
    It's better to be looked over, than overlooked.

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    Featured Member LEIGH_LANDON's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    Yes, here too. A sequined underset bra and T-bottom $100, a regular t-back & bikini top minimum $40 for plain/average. Up to $80-$100 for special fabrics and unique designs or cuts.

    I too was taken back by $15!!!! Thatsa STEAL! LOL!
    LIVE LONG & PROSPER!
    Leigh Landon

    Never explain yourself to anyone, because the person who likes you doesn't need it and the person that dislikes you won't believe it.

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    Senior Member Chelle's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    Don't forget you are also looking at the fact that most times you are buying from a middle man. not to give to much away for them i was a middleman once and the rule of thumb back then was a 1.25 mark up on what ever the item cost was. I am not sure what it is now.

    small plug hehehe All of my tops are made by me and are completely lined. the plain ones with no accents of any kind are $12-15.00

    Chelle
    www.Geocities.com/lolascostumes
    Chelle
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    "Everyone always says to look outside the box- I prefer to believe there is no box"

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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    check out my outfits on ebay
    my user id is dance-wear
    i have some great deals

    i will be listing a lot of new auctions tuesday night !

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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    http://www.bang-wear.com/.sc/ms/cat/1054627275588884/9/nc--^202http^3A^2F^2Fwww^2Esunsetstrip^2Enl^2Fshops^5F 01^2Ehtm/Bikinis%20%21--Seperate%20Tops%26Bottoms

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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    http://www.bang-wear.com/.sc/ms/cat/1054627275588884/9/nc--^202http^3A^2F^2Fwww^2Esunsetstrip^2Enl^2Fshops^5F 01^2Ehtm/Bikinis%20%21--Seperate%20Tops%26Bottoms

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    Featured Member Veronika's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    Just my 0.02, if you get the technique down, it actually is pretty easy to make your own dancewear. But I have been sewing since I was a kid...

    Patterns for dancewear can be made from existing dancewear without even taking it apart. A good book for this (found at Barnes and Noble) is called "Patterns From Finished Clothes: Re-Creating the Clothes You Love" by Tracy Doyle. "Threads" magazine deals with the issue of stretchy or slippery fabric quite often. You will need a serger as well and it will take practice.

    You need to ask yourself, though, if you will really be saving that much money if sewing is something that you don't already enjoy.
    Currently dancing at the Men's Club of Reno, NV
    under the name of Veronica! I am a 2007 calendar girl for MCR, so message me if you want a calendar!

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    Senior Member Chelle's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    Both of those sources are great for info you can also find out alot at the library in the how to section. But Veronica is right all kidding aside unless you really plan on dedicating the time to practice this there is an art to sewing those little pieces together.

    It is however very rewarding to wear something you made yourself as long as your sure that when you don't do a lttle spin at the pole and find yourself a little more without clothes that you thought.

    Good luck,
    Chelle
    www.geocities.com/lolascostumes
    Chelle
    www.geocities.com/lolasfeature

    "Everyone always says to look outside the box- I prefer to believe there is no box"

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    Senior Member Charisma's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    I love making my own clothes, but then i was a costume designer in my pre-stripping days

    -C

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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    I make several of my own costumes , not for your line of work but simply because I cannot find outfits that will move, drape, reveal what I am trying to do.
    Has anyone ever worked with metal mesh?

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    Featured Member Veronika's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    Like fine metal mesh or more like chainmail? I am a costume tramp so I must ogle virtually: what kind of things are you making?

    My friend who makes some of my costumes is also costuming this project: http://valarproject.com/. Nice use of chainmail and mesh incorporated into some sexy fantasy costumes.
    Currently dancing at the Men's Club of Reno, NV
    under the name of Veronica! I am a 2007 calendar girl for MCR, so message me if you want a calendar!

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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    Veronica, I am talking about fine metal mesh. I do have a chain mail outfit but I had it custom made. I do not have the tools or expertise to make one myself.
    I make belly dance outfits.

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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    Realistically after you buy the material and all the other supplies you needed and consumed all the time involved in making it, you would have to be doing it more as a hobby then a way to save money. If you think about it, at $40 for a t-back bikini set ( here for that it will include a pair of hot pant's or mini skirt ) the material is going to prolly cost $10 - $15. The time involved in making it will be a few hour's. You really wanna save some money, whip out a coupla pair's of D&G or Diesel jeans, now there's where the saving's are at.

    Hey it's a woman's genetic right to spend money frivolously on clothing, it make's you look good, feel good and in this case it's tax deductible..... what more could you want.


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    Member ibenu's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    With a regular baby lock sewing machine I make tons.. Never bikinis though.. They are soooo finicky..
    I make all the gowns with the slits down the sides.. stretchy stuff sewn down the side till you want the slit.. finish edges with a turn of the fabric and a zigzag.. Pull very tot on the slit and bottom while zigzagging to get the frilly curly edge.. remnants at fabric store run 1-5 bucks... Then I spend money on t backs and such... Saves tons and you will love the gowns.. so will the others.. I sell them to the other girls.. tube dresses with slits.. Buy remnants.. hold them to your body at the store.. Really really easy....

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    Featured Member Veronika's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    There is a place here in town that sells good stretchy fabric remnants by the pound (which means CHEAP!!). I can make a costume for $2-$4 in materials and have it be higher quality than what the shops sell. Again, my caveat: I already know how to sew and *like* to do it. I still have a a lot of things made by my friend.
    Currently dancing at the Men's Club of Reno, NV
    under the name of Veronica! I am a 2007 calendar girl for MCR, so message me if you want a calendar!

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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    Um, $15 is too much? The last I checked, regular bikini tops from a store at the mall run $20-40 each. Slap some sequins on or use special fabric and the cost goes higher. I agree with the others, it is just not worth the hassle and time to do it yourself, especially if you do not already know how to sew. If you are a dancer, your time is worth, say $100 an hour. That means you would have to be able to make the bikini top in 25 minutes or less to be worth your time.

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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    Realistically after you buy the material and all the other supplies you needed and consumed all the time involved in making it, you would have to be doing it more as a hobby then a way to save money.
    That's fine for most Bob but in my case , nobody was making what I needed so I had to take the task to hand.
    Many of my costumes turned out to be first time/last time. The first time I tried to make it and the last time I'd ever attempt it again.
    Never having designed fashions before with materials that no one worked with proved to be a challenge. Some projects took months to complete. Then I learned the problem of maintaining such an outfit. Sometimes took two days to recondition after one performance.
    Forget about saving money. If someone figured how to do it more economicly I would have bought from them!


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    Senior Member Chelle's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do it Yourself

    Um, $15 is too much? The last I checked, regular bikini tops from a store at the mall run $20-40 each. Slap some sequins on or use special fabric and the cost goes higher. I agree with the others, it is just not worth the hassle and time to do it yourself, especially if you do not already know how to sew. If you are a dancer, your time is worth, say $100 an hour. That means you would have to be able to make the bikini top in 25 minutes or less to be worth your time.
    Another good thing to remember is where you are buying the out fit. If you are buying from a catalog or from someone like me who designs and sells it. This can make a big difference in the price issue. On some things designers like me can get better deals on fabrics and materials than the average consumer. But this is not totally what the pricing is based on it is also the time factor and the hand detail that you may not always be able to get from a catalog.

    For those of you who sew your own things this is a great accomplishment. But for those of you who rely on people like me to provide great quality merchandise at reasonable prices always remember that we all know that lowest prices are not always best. Some times the money you spend is on quality and piece of mind.

    Chelle
    Chelle
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    "Everyone always says to look outside the box- I prefer to believe there is no box"

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