Patterns for LOTR Costumes
For those itching to create a LotR costume, but not confident or
experienced enough to drape one without any help from a paper pattern, here
are some ideas that can be used as "jumping off" points. While most of these
are available from the "Big 3" pattern companies, sometimes one needs to
delve into the realm of Living History Re-enactors to find a pattern that's
closer. In most cases alterations will need to be made to every pattern,
whether it's changing the neckline, changing the sleeve shape or changing a
front-lacing bodice to a back-lacing bodice. But at least you have something
to start off with.
Keep your purpose in mind: are you trying to make an outfit that is
recognizably "in the style" of a Lotr costume, or are you obsessively
concerned with matching the pattern on Merry's quilted vest? There's room
for both. Pattern suggestions are made by race and character suitability,
for greater detail look on the Character Pages for more hints and close-ups
of specific outfits. If you know of a pattern that might work for a
particular costume, and it' s not listed here, it's probably only that we
haven't seen it! This list is certainly not inclusive and we am in no way
connected with any company listed.
Also, we've got a list of the patterns,
indexed by the shapes of the patterns.
Here we are presenting costume patterns and our comments on how
they work.
Hobbit Patterns
Elf Patterns
Human Patterns
Other Patterns
Kids Patterns
Cloak Patterns
Pattern Shape Index
Reviews and examples of costume patterns from the big 3 and more:
Various Patterns from Dawn including shirts, tunics, bodices, and
breaches
A company that has all the big 3 patterns on line as well as the pattern
backs...
- www.sewingpatterns.com
can be used to search for all current patterns from the a half dozen of
the main pattern companies
Simplicity has updated it web site, searching is now just done off it's
front page.
- alternately, you can visit their site though category. Elven is
in prom often.
Historic pattern references
- http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wittie/sca/garb.html - includes cloak
patterns
A number of the costumes are based on Cotehardies and Houppelandes.
We've found some fabric swatches to
help you make your costumes!
Please contribute.
Much thanks to Jen, Lisa and Cat for all of their pattern suggestions and
information! Section Editor: Judy
General notes on quickly modifying patterns:
A lot of the costume patterns from the "Big 3" are the same patterns
recycled with different artwork and slight changes on the
accessories/sleeves. If you lay a lot of them down together matched at
the shoulder seams, you will see how a how a lot of the arm holes
match up. The neck treatment varies as do the sleeves.
Bodies are the same for the unfitted tunics. They don't redraft. They
grab pieces and recombine. A pattern that doesn't sell well may only
seen one printings. They'll tweak something about it to correspond to
today's tastes and send it out again. There really id very little difference
between what they market for a wizard or a nativity player, but they
certainly will package with different art work. Different wizards even
require different accessories or sleeve lengths. Fairy tale dresses
often are only separated by where the waist line is. And if the
waist line is the same, pieces may again be recycled. Their passion
play/nativity patterns for generic elf and tunic. You get lots of pieces and
some accessory suggestions, including open robes, etc. One, even has extra
notes for Roman soldiers (i.e. armor).
If you've got a pattern that fits in the body, remember these aren't
historical patterns and the arm hole doesn't really matter... unless you're
doing a coat, you can mix and match a light sleeve pretty well. A
theatre trick: Take a sleeve pattern you know works with the garment,
line up the pattern on the grain line of the new fabric. Cut the sleeve cap
area out... mark how the underarm section starts... get the length... and
modify what's in the middle... wider, shorter whatever. If it's a short
sleeve pattern, grab a shirt that fits and get the measurement from it for
the length... use the underarm measurement along the seam. But muslin first.
With a muslin, there's nothing wrong w/ the technique at all.
Though actually I do suggest a muslin anytime you haven't made the pattern
up already.
-Cat-
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This page was last updated
11/23/09
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