What LotR Costumes/Clothes Have You Made?

[Encaitare]

Well... it's what the title says! Tell us all what spiffy wearable LotR stuff you have made.

I've made one shirt; it's black with the White Tree on it in fabric paint (my friend actually made a White Tree stencil...what does that tell you about how we spend our spare time? :D ) and the back says "seven stars and seven stones and one white tree."

I'm also planning another shirt, meaning I've got the pictures all set up, but I need to buy that special paper that lets you iron images onto fabric. So this one will be to honor my favorite icky guy ever *points at avatar* and the front will have the picture taken from the art/costumes book for TTT and it'll say, "I dig pale, skulking, bookish types." The back will have a picture of him looking reaaaal nasty and say "Grima Lives." And when I wear it no one will know who the ugly dude on my shirt is and I'll probably get asked lots of dumb questions but thats ok.

And I wrote some LotR book quotes on my shoelaces :D

Anyhow, I am sure you guys have better ones than this, so let's hear em!

[ninlaith]

Well I consider myself sort of skillful with the needle but whatever i've tried hasn't worked out one way or another. I tried making a Galadriel costume a few years ago but I found out I didn't have enough fabric. And I imagine it would be easy to make a Hobbit costume but the special fabric is so hard to come bye where I live. Silks, crepes, leathers, and organzas are some of the types of fabrics that are used in most of the costumes in Middle-Earth and you can't exactly come across most of those in Wal-Mart. I wish there was some sort of Middle-Earth tailor nearby.

[Morsul the Dark]

I'm attempting to make an ent costume...But the bark thing is giving me trouble but I think I can make it work I do however need to stop being lazy and get on that I also carved my own staff Although I forgot about it and it was out in the rain for a bit soo...now its all icky and soft and such...

I think I'll make a Sam costume that should be fairly simple

[Encaitare]

Ooh, an Ent costume? That sounds hard, man. Go for it though!

For all the gals, here's a dress I found online that looks somewhat Eowyn-ish: http://www.thedarkangel.co.uk/cogent/387.html

[Meela]

I'm not the best with a needle, so I tend to cheat and adapt an already suitable outfit. I own a lot of Eowyn-type gowns and Gondorian court dresses. A lot of my Elven outfits are pieces I found in weird shops.
A friend embroidered a white tree onto a black tunic for me, for my Gondorian soldier style outfit.

I did attempt to make an elven dress from scratch, but it's incomplete and not exactly making an effort to hold together.

[Morsul the Dark]

Im not good with thread either

Ent- make the bark out of that foam stuff and wear elbow and knee pads put "bark" on these this eliminates the problem of making the joints moveable while stiffening your motion to more entish movement :p face paint may be tricky but getting the bark on is the worst do you just strap it on over a brown shirt or do you actually glue it to said shirt and then there's the back How to make one of those branchy things strong enough to hold two dolls(merry and pippin) and yet light enough not to make you uncomfortable

and the feet they need o be big but you also can't be tripping over them as you walk

[Lyta_Underhill]

I'm working on what I call the "Thrift Store Frodo" outfit, except I haven't paid that much attention to actual fabric type. I never have any time or money, so I don't know if I'll have the time and stuff to finish it up. Scrounging is a talent, though, and I did manage to convert a bright orange satiny brocade 1970's long wrap jacket into a sort of dyed orange-brown frock coat, but it still looks a little silly! Also picked out some velvety fabric from a yard sale bin, but I don't know if there will be enough to cover pants and a vest. It will be verrrry tricksey!

Morsul, the Ent costume sounds really cool! Is anyone making costumes for events? My Frodo outfit, if I can get it done, will "premiere" at DragonCon in Atlanta, Georgia this year.

Cheers!
Lyta

[Sirithheruwen]

I'm not the best with a needle...

*hides mangled mess of ribbon, thread, and needles that are the point shoes I'm attempting to resew*

...so I tend to cheat and adapt an already suitable outfit.

Same here. For Halloween, I used one of my Mom's old bridesmaids dresses (a long and flowing purple gown...beautiful) and just altered it so it fit me. It wasn't very comfortable, sadly, so I didn't rush to put it back on.

I also tried to make a hobbit costume out of khaki capris and a light blue blouse, but I just looked like a teenage girl with her khaki pant rolled up so that her unusually large feet poked out. :(

[Encaitare]

If I had the cash I'd buy all the pretty dresses, and a sword, and both wizards' staffs (staves?), and everything else... but for now I have to content myself with a spiffy black dress I got for $5.43. V. happy-making.

But if I can make something or find something remotely LotR-ish, I'll wear it to see the LotR exhibit at the Boston Museum of Science... this will kick so much arse, though. I cannot wait to go... if you're interested in tickets check out www.mos.org

[Isowen]

My mother made me a dress which Galadriel wears (in the film obviously), the pretty white one when she shows frodo her mirror.......
My brother has a t-shirt which has written on it "Aragon = White tree, how appropriate"
I used to have a brace (the kind which goes on the top of your mouth), a retainer to all those from the USA. When I didn't need it anymore, i wrote on it "Teeth, but we only has six!"- a gollum quote. Now everyone thinks I'm messed up but I thought it was a fun idea at the time!

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Well, I'm definitely going to have to get a cloak and other Ranger-gear for this Hallowe'en. I am still ashamed of my failure to do so last year.

[Sapphire_Flame]

...and both wizards' staffs (staves?)
It is "staves", I believe.

With the ever-welcome help from my mom, I have made the Fellowship cloak (yeah, it's kind of a charcoal blue colour, but still!) and a Legolas-ish type costume. I have a hobbit costume as well, which is mostly composed of things I found while raiding my closet, but I really like it. I've even got a mithril shirt! ^ ^

I also did a screen-printed shirt, actually as an assignment in art class, that's black and says "smells-like-lembas action!" on the front. (You kinda have to have seen the "action figure" episode of Strong Bad E-mail to get that....) I get really weird looks with that one...

I was on the staff for my high school literary magazine last year, and, because of injustices done to me the year before, I got to choose the design for my hoodie-sweatshirt instead of just having to get what everyone else had. On the front, little bitty by my shoulder it had my name "Aranel i Pheriannath" along with the magazine name "Tabula Rasa" and my position "Copy Editor" and on the back... I had the Lofty Tree of Gondor!

The other Ringers on the staff were so jealous. ^ ^

Abedithon le,

~ Saphy ~

[mark12_30]

I also tried to make a hobbit costume out of khaki capris and a light blue blouse, but I just looked like a teenage girl with her khaki pant rolled up so that her unusually large feet poked out. :(

Toss the blue blouse if you're wearing khaki breeches. ( Breeches-- get capris at Elfmart for twelve bucks.) Be careful choosing your earth-tones! Hobbits go with all earth-tones & woodsy colors. Browns, green, cream or khaki seem to send the loudest "hobbit here!" message. ( Bilbo's red vest, Frodo going to the Havens in silver and blue, are major exceptions. Frodo was in silver-and-blue because that's what the elves wear on the way to the havens.)

Be on the lookout for (brown, green, cream or khaki) shirts that lace up at the throat or that have embroidered patterns on the chest, or both. Layer over that: hobbit-colored vest. (Thrift stores.) Over that: hobbit-colored jacket. (Mine are cuorderoy, one green, one brown-- & they look fine.)

Cloak is optional (mine's brown) but it does add a lot.

My other indulgences are:
Same shirt & jacket & vest, but with long brown pants, brown socks, brown sandals-- an added cloak suddenly makes the whole thing elvish. Maybe 'cause I'm tall...? I went to RotK wearing that and got enough compliments to make my head swell.

Elvish dresses. Shop judiciously. Most of mine were under thirty dollars, some under twenty. Jewellry-- same thing. Look for celtic knotwork (I avoid the satanic ones!) but even better: look for leaves and flowers. Brooches, earrrings, rings.

After that, it's all in your head. I come to work dressed as either an elf or a hobbit three out of five days. It's just the way I dress. If I wore the cloak, it would be obvious; but if I leave the cloak at home, not many people figure it out.

ps-- I daydream about a "real Mirkwood Tunic". I may have to break down and make one.
I also daydream about making elvish clothes of green and brown and grey so heavily decorated with (very pretty) leaves and trees that they are essentially camo.
But for now, I'll make do with ranger-ish greens and browns.

[Lalwendë]

Well, as I posted recently on the Insanity Reigns thread, when I was a teenager I got my school overcoat and embroidered the White Tree of Gondor on the back, which caused my poor Mum much trauma. What is it with the White Tree when you're young? Anyway, keep up the good work! :D

Recently I bought a little pond thing for my garden and it had a lid, a nice round piece of MDF on top. I left it in the shed and kept looking at it, wondering how I could recycle it, and had the mad idea to turn it into a painted shield. So I did. I can only describe it as kind of a cross between Pugin and Saxon in style. Of course, it would provide no protection against arrows (not that they are a common hazard in modern day Yorkshire) so it stands on my soot-blackened hearth.

[Calathanien]

i'v never made anything (other than sords out of card bored does that count?!?!?!?) buuut my sister made a galadriel costume for her tech courswork it was really good, i wore it to a costume party aaaages ago :D

[Gorwingel]

I have tried to make an Eowyn dress, but right now it is just hanging in my closet in an unfinished state.

I was a person who took a ton of sewing classes when I was younger, but I am still not the best seamtress at all. I am also a perfectionist, which means I'm very hard on myself. So if I don't get it perfect, I am just not right with it.

But I could see myself buying custom ones in the future. Maybe just one or two good ones :cool:

[Elennar Starfire]

I made a nice elf-dress for Halloween last year...it's blue and pretty...I want to sew some silver beads on...then it'll be like Luthien's dress!

[Mithalwen]

I am not gifted at sewing but I bought a galadriel style dress for £20 in a GHOST factory outlet clearance but it is a "petite" and I am 5"10 so I finally admitted that I would not get the bodice to button in this lifetime and passed it on to my cousin..... :( But I found a quasi elf outfit in the next clearance that fitted :D alas no floaty sleeves ( I might just have enough skill to add them if I can find the right material) ..... but not far off.... floaty dress.... floaty long coat ..... just need the right occasion.... keep threatening a LOTR party ...... and make every one else come as orcs.... lol and I have a black rider mask for bad hair days...

[Saraphim]

I want very much to make an Eowyn dress, but I have no patterns to do so. I have a slight sewing ability, and would be capable of making one if only I knew how.

I also want to make a ranger outfit, but I still have the aforementioned difficulty.

Other than that, I just have:

~My Barrow-Downs shirt, of course.
~A baseball hat that says "Frodo Lives" (yes, I made that myself :D )

[ninlaith]

Saraphim, I don't know if you live near a Wal-Mart but they have a pattern for what looks like and Eowyn dress. It's not called Eowyn or anything from the LOTR collection but it's a white dress just like hers. I don't know if this helped or if anyone was even able to understand it. It's just hard to explain without a visual. The also have patterns for Tunics like Aragorn's. And Mithalwen I don't know of your sewing abilities but what you could have done to that dress that you gave to your cousin is you could have added a piece to the back of the bodice just enough to help it fit. Or you could have ripped out the seems and possible boning and let it out a little for yourself. Once again I don't know if this helped but I hope it possibly did. Just remeber nothing is a lost cause.

[Lyta_Underhill]

I admire those of you who even attempt the Eowyn and Galadriel dresses! Butterick #3648 is the hobbit pants pattern I'm using; hopefully it will work! The thing I love about hobbit pants is that, like mark12_30 above, I'll probably wear them as everyday wear! Maybe that's why I like hobbitwear. It is just so comfortable and you can do anything in it! I can't imagine going on my Walk to Mount Doom in an Eowyn dress (although I think I'd have lots of roadside admirers if I tried, as well as an inadvertent mud-hem!). I think I would like the whole Eowyn armor look though! (Although I prefer Pippin's Gondor armor) :D But my sewing skills are minimal at best. As I've often said, I sew by using the Force!
Just remeber nothing is a lost cause. A wonderful thought and great attitude, ninlaith!

Cheers!
Lyta

P.S. Goodwill stores have lots of capri pants these days and a whole lot of vests and even odd almost-elfwear dress thingies, as well as material...I love secondhand stores!

[Encaitare]

I have these greenish-navy blue-ish (actually I can't think of any way to describe the color, it's bizarre but subdued) capri pants that end a few inches below the knee. No drawstrings or anything, so I find them rather hobbity.

[Mithalwen]

Hmmm...well partly it was only later that I realised I had tried to wear it back to front.....(I am so thick :( ) and that would have made the "surgery" less radical.... aslong as I sacrificed some of the many tiny buttons and lowered the back but really it was such beautiful material I would have been scared to cut it... and my cous is my god daughter and she looks so much better in it ...being a good ten inches shorter ..... and it was such a change to see her in a dress.....lol ....and I love my dress.... which has lovely embroidery in gold and silver thread... butit is just that the other one .....had embroidery and sequins like gally's and G-D ..s mother is fab with a needleso I think she will be able to do what is required...... basically it is a chiffon overdress... you would need a slip dress underneath so it wasn't quite so dim of me to try to wear it back to front (no darts to give clues ..)

[ninlaith]

It sounds like a really pretty dress. I know what you mean by not wanting to cut beautiful fabric. I was the same way when I made my prom dress. But hey at least your cousin appreciates it that is a plus.

[Lady of the Pants]

I tried to put together a Galadriel-like costume for Halloween last year. It was awful. I used an old dress from one of my dance recitals. I also got an awful long, blond wig. It was so awful. Maybe I should try hobbit this year because I have some good hobbit-like wear. I have to go with my friend and raid the Goodwill. ;)

[Morsul the Dark]

along with ent and sam I think I shall attempt a balrog All red devil horns billows on my back to ake me slump over and make fire design on the nack fairly simple...but do I put on wings or not? ;)

[Laitoste]

I've made one shirt; it's black with the White Tree on it in fabric paint (my friend actually made a White Tree stencil...what does that tell you about how we spend our spare time? :D ) and the back says "seven stars and seven stones and one white tree."

I love this idea! It's awesome!

I also made a shirt. I wrote my name in Quenya Tengwar on the back and drew a really cool-looking fish. Why? Because I'm weird.

A few years ago, I went as an elf for Halloween. I bought the dress at Kmart, but it was too short and I didn't like the way it fit. I'm going to try to lengthen it and make the skirt fuller and mess with the sleeves so it'll be a Goldberry dress (at least, what I think would be a Goldberry dress...). Or maybe I'll make it into Eowyn's green dress. Oh, and I found a pattern at Hobby Lobby that is exactly like Eowyn's green dress, although it doesn't say it on the package. It's part of some fantasy thing. They also had Pirates of the Carribean. I think it was from Simplicity, but I'm not sure. I don't really sew, though. I made a duvet cover for my bed last year. I couldn't even sew a straight line!

[Encaitare]

Laitoste-- Thanks! Heh heh, I write my name in Quenya Tengwar *everywhere.* My hand, my bag, my notes, my school desk... destruction of public property? No, I prefer to call it "beautification." :p

::claws desperately at screen:: No, Morsul! No wings! NOOOOO!

But they sure look cool in the movie ;)

[Elennar Starfire]

Ye have to decide if ye want to put up with having two large things sticking off your back...and figure out how to keep them in the right place...a mouse tail that doesn't just hang down in back is enough of a pain...wires and such... :rolleyes:

[Morsul the Dark]

Laitoste-- Thanks! Heh heh, I write my name in Quenya Tengwar *everywhere.* My hand, my bag, my notes, my school desk... destruction of public property? No, I prefer to call it "beautification." :p

::claws desperately at screen:: No, Morsul! No wings! NOOOOO!

But they sure look cool in the movie ;)


Alright for you Ill refrain from using wings they would be hard any way

[yavanna II]

HEHE... my mom made a pattern for the White Tree using graphing paper... I did that, it was about 144ft^2.... then i displayed that... :D

If you're not good with needles, I highly recomend cross-stich... the needle isn't that sharp... and you've got a pattern.
To all embroiders out there.... SALUDO AKO SA INYO! I easily get annoyed with that stuff.... ;)

[Elennar Starfire]

I discovered a book of Celtic cross stitch patterns at the library...muchly pretty...I'm going to put them on my plain shirts!

[Encaitare]

I do cross-stitch; I've been working on this one with dolphins on it for the longest time because it's slow work and I only do it while watching movies...

I really want to make a shirt dedicated to Boromir. It shall be as such, three pictures with captions in a row:

1. "See Boromir." [Picture of Borry at Council of Elrond, preferably while doing the Great Eye hand motion :D )

2. "See Boromir die." [Boromir getting shot.]

3. "Die, Boromir, die." [Dead pasty Boromir.]

Sick but lovely :D

[Isowen]

destruction of public property? No, I prefer to call it "beautification." :p

I like the word there, Encaitare. Very nice :D

[Lyta_Underhill]

Alright for you Ill refrain from using wings they would be hard any way Morsul, maybe you should try making them from "shadow and flame" in only a rough shape suggestive of wings! That way you could satisfy both the "has" and "has not" contingent of Balrog theorists! ;)
I have realized just how difficult making hobbit pants is, but that is probably because I am out of practice with sewing. I went in vain search for rust colored velvet fabric (this is unfindable here!) and settled on red with some brown dye. Hope it works! While I was waiting for the person in front of me to have 6 bolts of fabric cut out in tiny strips for quiltmaking, I saw this year's run of Simplicity costume patterns, including the Jack Sparrow and an obvious Arwen riding dress. My husband is going to be Jack Sparrow for Dragoncon in September, but we've managed to put his costume together out of virtually nothing! An old shirt, black pants, a ripped up long vest from Goodwill, some colorful fabrics from various yard sales, and a really bizarre looking handbag (it has FRINGE!). I hope to have pictures, but, more importantly, I hope to be able to finish my costumes in time! If anyone is interested in the mad confluence of costumed freaks in Atlanta, Georgia, here is the site: http://www.dragoncon.org and the more relevant Tolkien Track at the One Ring: http://www.theonering.net/events/dragoncon/
I hope to see some other Barrowdowners there in really cool costumes!
Cheers!
Lyta

P.S. I'll be on the lookout for those White Tree T-shirts! I'm almost positive I'll see some there!

[Lalwendë]

Well, I had a mad whim and I've set out to see if I can make my own cloak, just for the challenge. I'm beginning with some cheap black fabric, and if it works I might go on to make a woollen one, although I don't use the sewing machine as trying to thread it makes me swear. In John Lewis (UK) you can buy some crazy patterns; I selected one for cloaks and robes (it also includes one for a Gandalf hat) from the Simplicity range, but you can also get a wide variety of medieval style dress patterns which look quite simple, and Butterick also do a lot of good ones - it's worth a look. I also went into a sari shop and saw some beautiful fabrics, which might make stunning dresses.

I did also see some sewing patterns for dragon costumes for dogs?!

[Encaitare]

Lyta-- Conventions rock! I'm going to a Renaissance Faire in a couple of weeks, and I have every intention of dressing up. My boyfriend says he will too, so huzzah! On Halloween a girl at my school dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow also; she had a wig, the bandana, beads in her hair, even the coat. I didn't even know her but I went up to her and congratulated her on her awesome costume making. Okay... this is going OT. Time to stop.

Lalwende-- Hmm... I think the only fabric-selling store near me is Wal-Mart, so I don't know how great the selection will be, but perchance I shall scour the area for nice patterns. Threading the stupid sewing machine is terrible, though. I can never remember how to do it.

[StarJewel]

I've already made one Elvish dress. I used Simplicity pattern 9891 (the one with the really drapey sleeves). Just be careful with that one...the sleeve faric rips really easily. I am also makig another dress (pattern 9450, I believe) from Simplicity. It looks a little like one of Arwen's dresses.

I am also trying to sew and ebmbroider a purse. All this has amounted to is me repeatedly jabbing myself with the needle while trying to sew a leaf desig. :rolleyes:

[The Perky Ent]

At one of our schools dances, it was a movie night thing. Everyone was dressed in Tuxs (Producers <_< ) but I dressed up as a hobbit. It's simple. I took a green fleece of mine, and folded it so it looked like an elvish cloak, then, with the elvish broach i bought, i cliped it on. Then, I got my one ring from a bookmark, and a ring chain, and woar the ring. I also had a string sword, so i brought that :D And the best part: I cut up a brown afro of mine, and taped it to my shoes, giving the effect of furry feet!

[Nurumaiel]

I was at Wal-mart just recently buying fabric and I stumbled upon a pattern with potential for a Hobbit costume... for only $1.74! Needless to say I bought it, and with a few color modifications it could make a nice Hobbit lassie costume. The pattern can be found on simplicity.com; #8855. There are two different dresses you can make... I would choose Dress A for a Hobbit lass costume. As far as modifying the colours, I'd choose a bright colour for the skirt (green, blue, etc.), a darker shade of the same colour for the vest, and the blouse could remain white or you could make it the same colour as the skirt. The hat I would discard, and the shawl could or could not be made, depending on personal preference of the maker.

I'm anxious to be making my Hobbit lassie costume, but I need to find time to run down to Wal-mart, and aside from that the pattern does take up quite a little bit of fabric. Nevertheless...

I made an Elvish costume once, as well, but I didn't devote very much energy to this and I just went by a thrift store, picked up a dress that was very Elvish-looking save the puffed sleeves, and when I got home I replaced the sleeves. The fabric was a lovely green, which seemed appropriate for an Elf, and while the costume turned out all right I fear it looked more like the green dress Eowyn at one point wears in the film in oppose to the Elvish outfit I wanted!

Alas, I never had the courage to go to one of the films dressed up.

[Lalwendë]

I've finished the cloak I was threatening to make. It was easy - apart from cutting the pattern, as I didn't have enough floor space and there was much swearing - but I can recommend anyone having a bash if they fancy a not-too-hard challenge. I got my old dad to model it for me and it was most amusing, seeing as he's 4' 11" (he wasn't always that small I hasten to add), it was swishing along the floor behind him. I told him he was a hobbit-wraith but he didn't get it. :p

[mark12_30]

Lalwende, congratulations on finishing your cloak! You tempt me to start work on the green woodland cloak I've been wanting. (20 + yrs ago I made a brown, and a dark blue, in wool.) Aside from the cloaks, I haven't made much of anything.

But I shop elvish and hobbitish. I wore elvish dresses all summer; but the nights are darkening earlier and chilling deeper, so Saturday I got out all of my hobbitish or elvish shirts and laid them out, planning my fall wardrobe. In the breezy summer, all those elven dresses are fine, but when the Narragansett Bay wind kicks up, I want breeches and a waistcoat, thank you.

Aside from my hobbit jackets (corderoy) which came from the dress barn, and my thrift-store vest & waistcoat collection (thank you RAE!) everything else has come from Elf-mart... roughly twenty shirts (mostly brown, green, or tan) that either tie at the throat, or have an elvish/ hobbitish/botanical motif on the front. Add to that hobbit-breeches (brown, green, or tan) and elf-leggings (regular knit pants in brown/ green/ tan) and the jackets, and it's an unusual day that I show up at work as something beside a hobbit or an elf.

Once in a while, I wear blue jeans; I'll have to use additional greys and blues, and make those "Grey Havens days".

[Annalaliath]

I have a grey cloke, and a big white dress.... i also have a skirt that i made that was LOTR inspired.

[Bêthberry]

I have resisted posting because I have nothing elvish to discuss, but with the sudden arrival of Hallowe'en boxes of trick or treat goodies in stores, I suppose I might be allowed to mention this.

A Shelob costume, with which I delighted the little ghosts and goblins last year: black, long-sleeved turtleneck and black pants. Face covered in black makeup, with red rings around my eyes. Short black witch's wig, with messy hair and black "witch" fingernails on my hands (which I also painted with black face paint). AND three large black feather boas, arranged around my body to suggest six legs. The boas did not shed too much, and I was able to move fairly easily.

I did have netting and tons of those little plastic spiders hanging all over my door. And every so often, if we knew the children at the door, someone in my family might jump out with a "phial" to scare me away so he could hand out extra goodies. We had fun. :D

[Son of Númenor]

The witch's wig and feather boas don't sound very canonical, Bb. ;)

I don't know how well this fits in with the topic, as I didn't really make anything, but my friends and I went around with blond wigs, shooting people with suction-cup arrows last Halloween. Luckily there were no lawsuits.

[Bêthberry]

Like a good fan dance, it's all in the artistic arrangement, Sono. ;)

[Morsul the Dark]

for my sam costume I bought a white shirt tan pants with zipper thing so I can make them into long shorts all i ned is a vest and boom Im sam although i may need a wig my hair grows fairly quickly but not quick enough too bad i got a haircut last week (same day I got my license) yahoo I am no an official driver! :D

[Nimrodel_9]

Last year, for Halloween (and every day wear ;) ) I made a Pippin costume.
This year, I`m making either an Arwen, Elf, or Frodo costume. Fun stuff. :)

Last summer I made a blanket using Swedish Weaving (since most don`t know what that is, it is weaving a pattern onto monk`s cloth with yarn, very beautiful) that had stars on it. It looked very LotRish, and the pattern was called Star Light. So, when I entered it in the fair, the name I put on it was Gilgalad.
Right now, I`m making one with trees, that I call Mirkwood. ;)

[mark12_30]

Yesterday I stopped off at elf-mart, and ended up seriously disappointed... it is clear that the LOTR clothing boom is over, past, done, finis. Not a laced, embroidered, or decorated neckline in sight. No earth-tones. Nothing that an elf or a hobbit would look at twice.

Everything was neon. You could wear the new stuff in the blackest depths of Mirkwood and be seen three leagues away. At night.

Boy, am I glad that I've been stocking up over the past four years. I'll have to start taking ***really good care*** of the elvish & hobbitish shirts, jackets, etc that I'd picked up. Who knows how long it will be til the next Tolkien movie comes out?

At least I can always pick up an elvish dress at any good (asian-) Indian import store.

[Atarah]

I once dressed up as an Elf, actually my version of an RPG character i've played as in the past. It was for my friend's birthday party last january. We all dressed up as LotR characters, then went out to MegaZone, a lazer shooting game thing. The looks we got! It was hilarious!

I've attached a pic that was taken of us. I'm top-left. I don't know if any o you will remember her, but Dragoneyes is the ringwraith top-center. In fact, we all had accounts here, but only Dragoneyes and I were active posters.

[AbercrombieOfRohan]

Every year for Halloweeen (and for other special occasions, like trips to the grocery store ;) ) I dress up as Eowyn. I've made both her green-gold dress (which was excruciatingly hard) and her white dress with the black vest over it. (seen in ROTK) My brother also dresses up so that we match, he has piipin's outfit and legolas's outfit.

[Lalwendë]

Yesterday I stopped off at elf-mart, and ended up seriously disappointed... it is clear that the LOTR clothing boom is over, past, done, finis. Not a laced, embroidered, or decorated neckline in sight. No earth-tones. Nothing that an elf or a hobbit would look at twice.

Everything was neon. You could wear the new stuff in the blackest depths of Mirkwood and be seen three leagues away. At night.

You could have a look for some UK web-based shops, as there seems to be rather a lot of fake 'vintage' around at the moment, and lots of it is in the sales too. Lots of strange floaty things, coupled with nice hobbity tweeds, and when worn the right way quite interesting! ;)

Was it that long ago I made my cloak? Since then I have also bought a rather lovely velvet cloak; it was double sided and so thick and soft that I just had to have it. So now I have two cloaks, but alas, I don't have the nerve to wear them outdoors... :(

[Encaitare]

So now I have two cloaks, but alas, I don't have the nerve to wear them outdoors...

Courage, dear Lalwende! Or, perhaps it's just the ghastly winter weather which has caused your reservations.

I've never gotten around to making my shirts or anything, since I'm rather broke. I may go to the fabric store and see if I can get some patterns and pretty fabric for decent prices. Also, a lot of online stores have vintage and fantasy clothing.

[Luinalatawen]

Along with fantasy, I love the Medieval and Renaissance eras so I've always wanted some sort of dress or outfit that fits into one or more of those categories. My mom told me she'd make me one probably a year or so ago but we never got around to finding patterns and fabric. Plus, I didn't think I'd be able to decide exactly what I wanted! But this past November we finally got out to a craft store and found tons of options. I wanted a Rohan/Eowyn style dress, a simple Medieval gown with long sleeves, and a Renaissance skirt/top. I decided on a more Renaisssance style outfit. So far, my mom has completed the skirt and a basic tunic-type shirt. I chose a dark maroon/burgundy, a light rose, and a dark green for the colors. Since I'm away at college, I don't know if she's finished the bodice yet. I picked a very customizable pattern, which includes different tie-on sleeve options, so I chose the long, bell-sleeves. I can't wait until I get to try on my completed costume, hopefully it'll be sometime soon :D

I almost forgot - she made me a long black hooded cape also! Still just the bodice that needs to be completed. There's supposed to be around 100 eyelets for laces on it! My mom estimated the full project to cost somewhere around $150.

[Lalwendë]

I almost forgot - she made me a long black hooded cape also! Still just the bodice that needs to be completed. There's supposed to be around 100 eyelets for laces on it! My mom estimated the full project to cost somewhere around $150.

Mums who can sew are worth their weight in gold! Mine used to make me no end of things when I was younger. She actually is not so keen on the sewing part but loves to cut patterns, which I despise, so I think I ought to team up with her as I enjoy the sewing.

Now, to keep your costs down I always recommend asian fabric shops. There's a lot near me as there's a large asian population, and the choice of fabrics is amazing. You can get both the cheap stuff and the elaborate hand enbroidered sari silks in colours that you didn't even know existed. By going to one of these shops, my own cloak cost me the princely sum of £10 to make. ;)

[mark12_30]

I visited my sister a week ago, and she has these sweet boots... suede, mid-calf and the tops fold down, low heel. They look like something from a Pauline Baynes illustration. She said she go them from Easy Spirit several years back.

I want a pair-- but Easy Spirit seems to have discontinued them; and I haven't found them elsewhere. Drat! I should have bought them when Legolas clothes were everywhere!!!!!

[Encaitare]

Now, to keep your costs down I always recommend asian fabric shops. There's a lot near me as there's a large asian population, and the choice of fabrics is amazing.

How interesting... perhaps if I happen to find myself in Chinatown anytime soon (unlikely, but I can hope) then I'll check that out.

Thrift stores are great sources as well. I just bought these three vests, two of which are decidedly hobbity, for about $2.50 apiece.

[mark12_30]

And now for something we hope you'll really like. Last night at band practice, a bag of secondhand boots arrived, sent from a good friend who was cleaning out her closet. YES!!! Thank God for friends; I enjoy wearing reminders of those I love dearly.

Scorecard: 1 pair mid-shin fold-down black boots (like my sister's only leather not suede) and one pair brown boots which, once stripped of non-middle-earth decorations, will also pass for third age.

Next related purchase: to the tack shop, for a good leather-treatment oil. I hope it deepens and darkens the brown boots.

Hallelujah... celebrating still!

[mark12_30]

You could have a look for some UK web-based shops, as there seems to be rather a lot of fake 'vintage' around at the moment, and lots of it is in the sales too. Lots of strange floaty things, coupled with nice hobbity tweeds, and when worn the right way quite interesting! ;)

Was it that long ago I made my cloak? Since then I have also bought a rather lovely velvet cloak; it was double sided and so thick and soft that I just had to have it. So now I have two cloaks, but alas, I don't have the nerve to wear them outdoors... :(

Thanks for the suggestion, and the "note" of hope-- when things go out of style, they arrive in the thrift shops-- HURRAH! I shall begin haunting the mathom-houses...

Regarding wearing cloaks outdoors-- wear them on brief walks, or out to check the mail, or out walking the dog if you have one. You'll get used to it. Also-- wear them with normal clothes, with a pair of boots. (Wearing a full costume takes a lot more nerve than just wearing "a nice full coat with no sleeves.") When Raefindel sent me my lovely, wonderful, new-favorite long green cloak, I wore it out in the front garden and ran around and played tag with my dog. (It moves beautifully!)

[Lyta_Underhill]

Regarding wearing cloaks outdoors-- wear them on brief walks, or out to check the mail, or out walking the dog if you have one. You'll get used to it. Also-- wear them with normal clothes, with a pair of boots. (Wearing a full constume takes a lot more nerve than just wearing "a nice full coat with no sleeves.")
Sometimes it is so cold that the grey cloak is mandatory walkwear for me! I can tell you that I don't wear hobbit breeches in cold weather--too many drafts! Suffice it to say that the winter hobbit wardrobe here at Chez Lyta is military surplus pants with many cargo pockets, one of which holds an East German canteen full of water (I find that miruvor tends to make the path a bit harder to follow!), a British military wool sweater over one of several Frodoish white buttondown shirts (easy to find at yard sales and thrift stores in many variations). The vest was harder to find, and I had to make it--it broke ten sewing needles in the process! AAARGH!

You're right about the full costume taking more nerve to wear, Helen. I have worn the full Frodo outfit a couple of times on my walk, but oddly enough, the looks I got were no stranger than the ones I get every day (since I carry Sting whether I dress up or not!)

I can tell you that, besides thrift stores, the upcoming yard sale "season" is a veritable gold mine for finding odd clothing and also material. Last year I bought a large remnant of brown velvet that was exactly enough to complete one pair of Mr. Frodo hobbit breeches! (Incidentally, the VERY hard to find button attached suspenders proved impossible to find at normal venues, but since Mr. Lyta is an avid collector of all kinds of military surplus, he dug out a pair of old style German submarine pants suspenders, which, although they didn't quite color coordinate, matched the hobbit style of suspender quite nicely!) So my recommendation is yard sales and military surplus stores, the less organized the better for lots of fun digging through the bins!

As a postnote to this, I managed some years ago at one of these dark, unorganized military surplus outlets to find all the components necessary to build an authentically beaten up looking lightsaber for a Jedi outfit I made. The parts cost $3, and replacing the Dremel head that was broken while making it cost $7--total outlay $10! And boy did it look used--not shiny like those things you buy out of catalogs. This one looked like it had been through the Clone Wars and several summers on Tatooine! But I digress...

Cheers!
Lyta (now back to box diving for fun and employment....)

[Lalwendë]

Regarding wearing cloaks outdoors-- wear them on brief walks, or out to check the mail, or out walking the dog if you have one. You'll get used to it. Also-- wear them with normal clothes, with a pair of boots. (Wearing a full constume takes a lot more nerve than just wearing "a nice full coat with no sleeves.") When Raefindel sent me my lovely, wonderful, new-favorite long green cloak, I wore it out in the front garden and ran around and played tag with my dog. (It moves beautifully!)

Alas, I have only to cross the room to check my mail and I have no dog. But last summer I attempted to get my cats to use harnesses. If I succeed (which I doubt as they sensibly hiss and spit when they see aforementioned items and work feline magic on my 'guilt' centre) I shall take them for 'walkies' while wearing a cloak and add to my eccentric reputation. ;) But, I'm hoping to wear my cloak at Tolkien 2005 in Birmingham, so I'm going to have to 'roadtest' it soon, aren't I? I have actually been toying with the idea of making a wizard's hat for fun, as I have a pattern for one; if I do, I shall have to take up wood-whittling and make a staff to match. ;)

About boots, I found a pair in the sales that are made from pale brown suede, with a fake lacing effect up the sides and a foldover top. I snapped them up because they look very Middle Earth - I have the same ones in black, bought for three times the price a few months before, but they strangely look more pirateish.

I was at York Viking Festival at the weekend and there were some wonderful stalls selling 'authentic' Viking goods including the heaviest, hairiest wools you can imagine, good cloak fabrics, furs (which I steered clear of, sometimes things are a little too authentic), jewellery and all kinds of interesting stuff including horns (for Boromir wannabes), drinking vessels and hand made knives. Here's a weblink to a site selling some rather nice cloak pins which I saw while I was there: http://www.runesmith.co.uk/index.html

[Thinlómien]

When I was six years old I made Tom Bombadil's boots. I took paper, coloured it yellow with crayons and somehow taped them around my feet like boots. Then I jumped around singing Tom's songs. I also wore a blue shirt and made a beard from my hair. (I luckily happen to have brown hair... :)) I was a bit crazy child then.
After these boots I haven't made any LotR costumes...

[Milady Revenwyn]

Well, if you call "Made" anything you just throw together...
I had a pair of khaki pants that I had cut and hemmed when I was a bit shorter. Then I got too tall for them. So I cropped them up more and made them capris. Then, I had a black velvet vest, and a collared shirt. So I then took my green bed sheat and with a leaf-shaped pin, held it together and used it as a cloak. :P
Price of costume? $O.

Outside of stuff I have made, I went to the ROtK opening in a gorgeous dress made by Lip Service and bought at Torrid. My hair was black at the time, and I went as Arwen (albeit I looked more like a hobbit trying to dress like an elf!)

You can see it here: Clicky (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v519/Revenwyn/jennyferdress2.jpg)

[Nuranar]

I can't believe I missed this thread...

Last fall (only last fall?) I made a Lorien/Fellowship cloak using the pattern on AlleyCatScratch (http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Things/FCloak/FCloak_pattern.htm). I sewed it by hand, because I was stranded at school without my machine, and ever since I have loved hand-sewing. I was tolerably experienced before, doing a lot of finished by hand, but now I have no objection to sewing even ordinary seams by hand.

Anyway, I made it out of a lovely soft, slightly fuzzy-ish wool suiting that's grey in effect but has grey, black, tan, and even blue threads in it. It's lovely and warm, but not heavy, and works for Civil War reenacting too. (Big reason why I made it from wool. Now I love wool for itself! Yum...) And just recently I've been wearing it when studying in the apartment. We're saving by running the heater as little as possible, so from time to time it gets bit chilly. I used to keep trying to wrap a too-small blanket around me, but then I had the brain-wave to use the cloak hanging in my closet! It works so much better, and can wrap around me twice... *blissful sigh*

I'm a reasonably experienced seamstress with many projects in the works. Among other things I want to make a Gondorian civilian costume, my interpretation of a Mirkwood elf, perhaps Arwen's mourning gown (I love those gold buttons!), Eowyn's refugee and white wool gowns... Yikes, time to prioritize again!

[mark12_30]

Nuranar, you did one of those cloaks by hand? Wow.

The reason I hesitate about that pattern is the question can you wrap up in it and be really warm? I want something that keeps me out of the wind, not in it. Soooo... you tell me....

I'm impressed by your to-do list!

With few exceptions, such as the cloaks and the archery vambraces (which I needed anyway, getting whacked by a longbow string really hurts) I buy everything. Which means, shopping with an elvish/hobbitish haze over my eyes. If an elf or a hobbit walked into this store and had to buy several outfits, what would they walk out with? I don't sew much... and now I need a new bow! Ack. My black longbow cracked last time I used it. (Shooting in the cold shouldn't be that risky!)

[Nuranar]

Well, Helen, your archery skills impress me! I wish I could do that. My brothers have made bows - of a sort - themselves. But we have a very small yard and my mother is (understandably) not too wild about them getting arrows, so they just have to make do. It's been very... interesting at times.

About hand-sewing the cloak: Well, the main part is only one piece, cut in a semi-circle. I would've hand-hemmed all those edges anyway, so it wasn't a biggie. The hood was four pieces that could've been machine-sewn faster, but it wasn't too bad. And joining the hood to the body by hand is probably a lot more secure than by machine! I sewed over it twice, very carefully; perhaps even backstitching. Actually, I find hand sewing very relaxing. It's ideal for listening to books on tape or sermons or something.

About the pattern: I like the pattern because of the way it hangs open. That means I can wear it around the house without it getting in my hands' way. But just because it hangs open doesn't mean there's not enough material to wrap up in. When I've worn it on reenactments, I've found it useful - and attractive - to swing one side across and pin the edge to my other shoulder. It draps across my neck (you can adjust how high) and hangs very nicely. This drape is also shorter than full length, so it doesn't get in the way of my hands. Actually, it hangs over my arms, keeping them warm but allowing me full use of them. Here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/Nuranar/P1010022cropped.jpg) and here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/Nuranar/P1010021cropped.jpg) are a couple of very bad pictures (I've cropped them for reasons of vanity ;)) that still may help you understand what I'm talking about. (The green and yellow is a jacket I'm wearing beneath the cloak; the blue is the skirt of the dress below that.) Here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/Nuranar/P1010024cropped.jpg) is one showing the cloak hanging open.

The other thing is I'd highly recommend making it in wool. And I don't mean super heavy-duty pea-coat-weight stuff either - that's like making a hobbit dress out of cotton tent canvas! :p Besides being the warmest thing going, as well as authentic, it drapes gorgeously and is a dream to sew with. I think the last four things I've made have been of wool! I love this stuff. :)

And as for the to-do list... *sigh* I need to get back to studying for my history test. Work before play, as always!

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I fell in love with Arwen's dress - the one with the fantastic red sleeves down to there - so that's the one I've been dreaming of making. I found a wonderful pattern here (http://www.burdamode.com/2484_Fee,1000018-1129004-1128999-1129006-1129019-1004253,deDE.html;jsessionid=635174D3ED67CDF4CFD05 49218CF05CC?mo=2&fi=1004255) and a fantastic fabric - well, two, actually - to use for it. They're both wine red; the one for the sleeves is transparent and pressed into tiny pleats, and the one for the main part of the dress is crinkle-pressed into roses! I hope it turns out as gorgeous as I envision it; alas, other projects have priority, so I will be sewing it in the summer. When I do (and if it turns out, of course!) I'll post pictures...

[Lalwendë]

That looks a nice pattern! I was thinking about ideas for making Elven style garments, and cast my mind back to the 80's when customising was more common. To make an Elven top like the one in that pattern, you could easily get a good quality (high lycra content) close fitting T-shirt style top with elbow length sleeves and attach draped sleeves to it, finishing these off with braid, to hide the join and to make the sleeves more elaborate. This could then be worn with a matching long skirt, handy if you're like me and don't tend to suit dresses for some reason!

The cloak I made was constructed from four shoulder 'yokes' with the main body pieces being attached to these, so it was actually quite complicated, and had I seen the pattern that Nuranar posted, then I might have tried that instead! Still, it was worth it as it does hang beautifully from the shoulders and is very 'full'.

I have a pile of lopped Leylandii branches in my garden since the monstrous trees at the back were cut severely back (hurrah, I have daylight again!), and I have been looking at them and wondering if I could use this wood to make anything. Would I be able to construct a staff or some such out of them, or would it be better to have seasoned wood?

[mark12_30]

Would I be able to construct a staff or some such out of them, or would it be better to have seasoned wood?

I like staves made from new wood, peeled and sturdy and flexible. Staves made from seasoned wood are lighter but I think they're more brittle.

[Thinlómien]

My friends made me a green cloak, covered a wizard-hat with green fabric and even made a staff for me as a birthday present. I don't know should I be delighted or furious. They think I'm a wizard. :rolleyes:

[mark12_30]

Rejoice! The hat isn't glued to your head. The green cloak is great for woodland hilkes, for hobbit, elf, or man. And the staff will double as a walking stick.

[mark12_30]

I was thinking about ideas for making Elven style garments
...and did you have a specific Event in mind, we wonders, we wonders????

:cool:

[Lalwendë]

...and did you have a specific Event in mind, we wonders, we wonders????

Well, I was thinking of ideas for Tolkien 2005, but since the other day.... ;)

My friends made me a green cloak, covered a wizard-hat with green fabric and even made a staff for me as a birthday present. I don't know should I be delighted or furious. They think I'm a wizard.

Don't be sad about that! A green wizard sounds good!

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Well, just in case *someone* ;) might be looking for an Elven-style wedding dress, there is a white lace version of my pattern to be seen here (http://www.burdamode.com/index.jsp?path=1000018-1129004-1128999-1129006-1129019-1004253). It's lovely, with a hood to use as a veil, and cut longer in the back so that it's like a train.

[Kitanna]

Cool costumes/shirts people have made! I thought I was the only nerd to do such craziness.
I've made two shirts to date, more in the near future I hope. My first had a picture of the Ring on front and it said "Is it not a strange fate we suffer so much fear and doubt for so small a thing" and on the back it had Theoden and in fabric paint I wrote his speech from ROTK. "Ride now! Ride now! etc.." My other shirt had the Rohan flag on the front and I used iron on letters to write Forth Eorlingas. On the back I had a picture of a map of Middle Earth and very carefully and very painstakingly I did the Elven script from the Ring under the map.

And this year for prom I'm making Arwen's red and blue dress from ROTK. The main reason I'm making it for prom is because I think it is so pretty and it fits with our theme (Once Upon a Time) and it will also hide my incredibly pale arms.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I'm looking forward to the Costume Extravaganza at the 'Tolkien 2005' conference this summer, since that's the occasion for which I plan to make that wine-red dress. However, with my luck, it could be raining then - does anyone have a good idea for a lightweight, water-resistant fabric suitable for a cloak?

[Lalwendë]

Esty - you expect rain? In England? In summer? ;) Well, the only kind of waterproof cloak I've ever seen are those capes which fishermen wear during their endless hours spent huddling by English canals; they are made from some kind of wax jacket material and are not very Elven, but you could almost carry off the Dunedain ranger look with one.

I just allow myself to get rained on because it's quite nice in the summer. But my serious recommendation would be a large umbrella. :)

[mark12_30]

Water-proof, I dunno. But water-resistant.... I'd say wool.

But use a tight weave. Maybe thoroughly pre-shrink the fabric (hot wash & hot tumble-dry) to tighten up the weave even more.

If you want to be super zealous there's always scotch-guard....

....afterthought.... Gore-Tex??? (http://www.rockywoods.com/) I'm amazed they sell it by the yard (http://www.rockywoods.com/breathables_main.htm)! Quick, Esty, sale ends March 19....

[Celebuial]

Hmmmm... Let me see. I made a long elvish looking dress for my GCSE Textiles course work back when I was at school, my teacher didn't mark me very well though because she said that it wasn't inline with the fashions of the time, or something like that. I said that with the new film out Lotr would soon become a craze and everyone would want elvish looking clothes. In response she laughed at me! I also made a top with really long and wide sleeves made of silky fabric (probably satin,I don't remember!) and I'm attempting to make a cloak at the moment.

I did think about cheating and buying one though.... I was thinking about one of the official ones, but then I found out that they were £300!!!!! Then I found a really nice one in a shop that was only £60. It was perfect other than the fact that it was velour not velvet and it had a frog closure. I don't think frog closures look very elvish. Oh- it was also about a foot too long (I'm only 5'1")!

I think that I'm just going to have to make it myself. I'm feeling rather lazy at the moment though.... Oh well I know a great shop that sells the most beautifull fabric, so I should probably go get started!

[Lalwendë]

Celebuial - You get marks for making fashionable things? How is this judged though? The mind boggles... it was all about technique and design when I was at school. Surely though, your teacher ought to have realised just how big a market there is for alternative clothing out there? There are always going to be people who want to buy medieval/elven style clothes!

Don't cheat with your cloak, they are so easy to make! All I would advise is lots of room to cut the pattern as I had a nightmare with mine! Mine was made from pattern 9887 here (http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?page=thumbnail.cfm&cat=4&type=19&sec=0&id=59&StartRow=11) and it's pretty simple, and moves nicely too. Though I did cheat and buy another when I saw a nice double sided cloak, as that would be too difficult to make for me!

[Celebuial]

Well, we were s'posed to do research and relate our projects to that. It was s'posed to be something that people would buy. I did lots of Tolkien research, and I even included lots of writing in tengwar so that I could make a care label in elvish. My teacher wasn't impressed!

The shop that I mentioned earlier with the lovely fabric has all the simplicity patterns too. I'd completely forgoten though.... Thanks! It would be much easier than making my own pattern. I shall no-longer be tempted with thoughts of cheating! I promise!

[Bêthberry]

Don't cheat with your cloak, they are so easy to make! All I would advise is lots of room to cut the pattern as I had a nightmare with mine! Mine was made from pattern 9887 here (http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?page=thumbnail.cfm&cat=4&type=19&sec=0&id=59&StartRow=11) and it's pretty simple, and moves nicely too. Though I did cheat and buy another when I saw a nice double sided cloak, as that would be too difficult to make for me!

Lalwendë, I don't suppose the "cheat" was in [b]davem[/]b's size, was it? Or will you make a matching one for him? :D

[Lalwendë]

Lalwendë, I don't suppose the "cheat" was in [b]davem[/]b's size, was it? Or will you make a matching one for him?

No, the one I made myself is more his size with him being tall, as it's actually far too long for me, but I doubt I'd ever get him to wear a cloak anyway, but if I do I shall be sure to get a photo! Now he will be very scared! :eek: :p Especially being spoken about in this way...I can expect retribution later! ;)

Celebuial, that pattern pack also has a pattern for a Gandalf hat! I've not tried that one yet, but it looked like fun to make.

[mark12_30]

Subtlety, Lalwendë, subtlety. IMO, forget "costumes". Go for "Garments" that have the flavor/ style you want and he will like. No arm-twisting needed. For instance, how about garments that remind you of the professor? Start with one garment at a time, with many compliments along the way. Just keep telling him how sharp he looks.

I talked my husband into buying a lovely tan-heather henley shirt, which strikes me as very woodsy, and country.

It also strikes me as very middle-earthy and hobbity. I didn't tell him that, of course.

[mark12_30]

How come nobody told me about this??? There's a LOTR section under the heading "Licensed Goods", and you can get Frodo's cloak for a reasonable price... and check out all the Aragorn stuff!

http://www.museumreplicas.com/

[Parmawen]

Sewing machines will be the death of me, but I did manage to weedle my mom into making me a Galadriel dress once, and I'm hoping for a decidedly Hobbit-like dress soon. I'm taking Clothing 101 next year, and for the Prom Dress section, I'm going to try to make something similar to the coat/dress thing Eowyn wears during the funeral of her cousin. It's so pretty!

I must say i'm impressed with everyone who finds the time (and talent!) to make those clothes.

[THE Ka]

My friend and I, (The illustrious Megan Le BoogerBeans) made hobbit coats last year...

Only problem is, I was too big for mine. She wore Frodo's green coat, I was stuck with Merry's. In the end, she had both, and I was called a stupid Elf... :( But, she did make me a head orniment out of clay... :) It hurts when you wear it for any extended period of time... Which in this matter, is about five minutes...

I'm planning now, to make an Elrond outfit and hold up my title... Since I have also been noted to be rather moody sometimes...

~ I'm listening to the Pope of Mope - Morrissey! Ka

[Holbytlass]

Me, I just make cloaks. And since capris have been in style for awhile, it makes finding short pants very easy. Nothing I have made is 'authentic' but I did buy a leaf brooch like the ones given to the Fellowship at Lothlorien. It's very pretty.

[Celebuial]

I did buy a leaf brooch like the ones given to the Fellowship at Lothlorien. It's very pretty

Me too. It cost me £80 so I can't wait untill my cloak is finished so it's in it's proper environment!

[Holbytlass]

Me too. It cost me £80 so I can't wait untill my cloak is finished so it's in it's proper environment!
Are you making an authentic one? I think it had been mentioned before, there is a website that has the patterns used in the movies. I have the cloak pattern that Galadriel gave the fellowship, but I haven't made one of those yet.

[Celebuial]

Actual patterns for the ones in the film, and not just ones that look like it??!!!??!!! Where? Do tell!

[Holbytlass]

I'm sorry I took so long, had to dig through all my papers.http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/

[Nuranar]

Aha, I've made the Fellowship cloak from that pattern! I actually wrote about it in this very thread. There's a couple posts, right in the middle of the 2nd page. I've got a few pictures (not very good ones, I must add) in my second post.

If you want specific tips for making it, just ask! :D

[Elentari_Elbereth]

Aha, I've made the Fellowship cloak from that pattern! I actually wrote about it in this very thread. There's a couple posts, right in the middle of the 2nd page. I've got a few pictures (not very good ones, I must add) in my second post.

If you want specific tips for making it, just ask! :D

The wool you used is so beautiful! I myself have just begun LotR costuming. I taught myself to sew and made a quite lovely Eowyn "Shieldmaiden" dress. I used Simplicity 4940 and created the sleeves myself along with various changes to the vest/corset part. I very much don't like the neckline though- it's way too high. besides that it turned out lovely- especially for my first work! :D I'll try to get pictures soon!

My next plan is to make Fellowship cloaks for my sister and myself. (of course using alleycatscratch's pattern)

About the Fellowship cloak, when making the hood, did you find it neccesary to alter the pattern for more room around the face as suggested on ACS? I have been wondering about that and have not yet made a muslin of it...

[Lalwendë]

Elentari - I've had that very same pattern for a few weeks now, but I've not yet started on it. The only thing which has put me off is that the amount of fabric needed will cost quite a bit and I was hoping to find something ridiculously cheap to have a practice run with. Was it very difficult to make? If not then I may just go for it anyway. Did you try the one with the extra bodice?

[Elentari_Elbereth]

Elentari - I've had that very same pattern for a few weeks now, but I've not yet started on it. The only thing which has put me off is that the amount of fabric needed will cost quite a bit and I was hoping to find something ridiculously cheap to have a practice run with. Was it very difficult to make? If not then I may just go for it anyway. Did you try the one with the extra bodice?

-Lawende
I unfortunately had terrible fabric (brocade satin i believe), but if you wanted something cheap I would reccomend a muslin of sorts. For my first time sewing anything on my own, it was very easy. The instructions were clear, and I made the cream dress part in 3 days. I don't like the pattern sleeves though...

-Yes, I did make the one with an extra bodice, which was also simple to make :)
The one thing I don't like about this pattern (for making the shieldmaiden dress) is the yoke/neckline, it's far too high up. (I plan on cutting it shorter)
As for the bodice, it's just a thin costume vest/thing without a lining.

Are you planning a "shieldmaiden" gown also? If you are I'd love to share details on anything :D

Happy sewing on this one!

p.s. Alleycatscratch.com was a great blessing for tips, inspiration, and pictures!

[Imrahil]

Haven't bought anything yet. I want a sword...Anduril or Glamdring would be nice. I saw a nice shirt online with the White Tree of Gondor...and I saw Aragorn's flag which is nice too...

Heck, if I had the money, I'd buy a full suit of Gondorian armor and a horse and ride around waving the Gondor flag shouting "For Gondor!" and "Stand Men of the West!"
Please tell me I'm not the only person to want to do that... :D

[Encaitare]

I saw a nice shirt online with the White Tree of Gondor

*immediately becomes rabid* Where???

[Imrahil]

Here ya go...

Gondor shirts (http://www.cafepress.com/shop/fantasy/browse/Ntt-gondor_Nty-1_pp-3_N-0_No-1_Ntk-All_D-gondor_Nao-1)

eBay - Gondor Shirt (http://search.ebay.ca/Gondor-shirt_W0QQcatrefZC3QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQ coentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfposZQ5AIPQ2fPost alQQfromZR2QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsacat ZQ2d1QQsadisZ200QQsargnZQ2d1QQsaslcZ3QQsbrftogZ1QQ socdpfcatZ73517QQsofocusZbs)

[Meela]

Heck, if I had the money, I'd buy a full suit of Gondorian armor and a horse and ride around waving the Gondor flag shouting "For Gondor!" and "Stand Men of the West!"
Please tell me I'm not the only person to want to do that... :D

You're not the only one. I'd probably swap the armor for a gorgeous Gondorian gown, but I'd be right up there on a horse, shouting encouraging words to the soldiers.

I'm planning an attempt at a new gown, something blue and Elven/Medieval, with drape sleeves. I fancied going to a few special places this summer, gatherings and such, and I decided I would look the part.

[Lalwendë]

I saw a nice shirt online with the White Tree of Gondor...

If only they'd had ebay in the early 80's, and then my mother would have been spared me 'customising' my best coat. ;)

For my first time sewing anything on my own, it was very easy. The instructions were clear, and I made the cream dress part in 3 days. I don't like the pattern sleeves though...

I'm glad you've said it was easy! The cloak I made was simple, and I even hand stitched it, so it sounds as though I ought to be able to tackle this project! I wasn't too keen on the neckline either, but I thought this effect could be had by simply tucking a chiffon scarf into the neckline, so it would be removable. I do like those mad long sleeves though!

[Elentari_Elbereth]

I'm glad you've said it was easy! The cloak I made was simple, and I even hand stitched it, so it sounds as though I ought to be able to tackle this project! I wasn't too keen on the neckline either, but I thought this effect could be had by simply tucking a chiffon scarf into the neckline, so it would be removable. I do like those mad long sleeves though!

Good luck on the project! It should turn out beautiful :)
The sleeves I made myself are really neat- when tied up nicely they hang below my knee while I'm standing. Not quite as long and awesome as the one in the films, but still great :D

I'd say I should go make a cloak or two! I'm glad they were also simple.

[Morsul the Dark]

I'm working on what I call the "Thrift Store Frodo" outfit, except I haven't paid that much attention to actual fabric type. I never have any time or money, so I don't know if I'll have the time and stuff to finish it up. Scrounging is a talent, though, and I did manage to convert a bright orange satiny brocade 1970's long wrap jacket into a sort of dyed orange-brown frock coat, but it still looks a little silly! Also picked out some velvety fabric from a yard sale bin, but I don't know if there will be enough to cover pants and a vest. It will be verrrry tricksey!

Morsul, the Ent costume sounds really cool! Is anyone making costumes for events? My Frodo outfit, if I can get it done, will "premiere" at DragonCon in Atlanta, Georgia this year.

Cheers!
Lyta

I was thrift store frodo over halloween if i can get a scanner i will shopw you all the picture :p

[mark12_30]

C'mon, Morsul, where's the pic? I wanna see.

I just found dark-brown linen Frodo-breeches at wElf-mart. I thought they were all burnt out on LOTR... guess they saved the best for last.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I finally finished sewing my red Arwen-style dress, which I will wear in Birmingham at Tolkien 2005. I have a picture to prove it, but I need to upload it somewhere before I can show it here.

[mark12_30]

How about the new barrow-downs photo album? We could use an Arwen pic there.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I've sent the picture to Tigerlily, but I don't know when she will have time to put it up.

[Lalwendë]

I've been making a staff today. We went out to the woods and I found a nice long piece of Beech wood lying in the undergrowth. It has a fork at one end, handy for resting my thumb on. Then we went off for a walk and finally sat down by a stream up in the hills (where I saw an enormous dragonfly) to have our dinner and then we whittled all the dry bark off. I think this gave the passing hikers something to talk about, but I don't care, it was a most pleasant afternoon :) . I've now started to sand it down, and it's looking great - lots of nice woodgrain patterns coming through. All for the price of £2 to park the car. ;)

[narfforc]

This has just reminded me to get on with my costume for 2005 at Aston. I have attended Oxonmoot as my hero The Witch-King, but this time I am going as Pallando. The Staff is half done, just got to put the orb on top.

[Encaitare]

Interesting choice of costume subject, narfforc. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone dressing up as Pallando before.

Feel free to post pictures of yourselves in your costumes here, or link to them. I'm sure we'd all love to see your handiwork!

[narfforc]

Once The 2005 celebration is over, I will send one to the picture page.





In The Lord of the Grins, Palindrome (Pallando) and Avatar (Alatar) each become a Dog God.

[Nimrodel_9]

I'm planning on making a t-shirt. I want either hobbits, Aragorn, the White Tree, or elven script. I can't seem to find a pic that I really like. Any help?

Nim :p:D

[Encaitare]

This isn't a movie cap or anything, but it's a really great version of the White Tree. (http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/art/d/a/daevorin/gondor.jpg.html)

[Lalwendë]

I was quite impressed by some mad head gear I saw online but alas was daunted by the prices (over £150 :eek: ). I thought "psht, I can make those myself" so today I've been making a mad head-piece 'thing' out of various thicknesses of twisted silver plated wire, little bells and beads, all worked into little spires and tangles and things. I might bring it along to Birmingham once it's finished, though I may have to wear the thing on the train so it doesn't get squashed...

[Bêthberry]

Oh, my goodness!

Lalwendë, if I saw someone wearing a hat like like that, after my experiences on Brit Rail (Well, mainly from Newcastle to York), I would assume you were part of one of those "hen parties". I saw three of them on the way down, and in fact, when we were leaving York, one of the parties was preparing to return North, so I got up the courage to enquire of them their pursuits. Well, not anything in any great detail mind now, but enough to get the gist of this very English ritual. Will you be having a Middle earth hen as preparation for your wedding with davem?

Hats, of course, are a particularly English form of costume, as I also learnt last summer. I wonder, was there an especially hobbitish form of haberdashery? Or were only the wizards noted for pointy things?

[Nimrodel_9]

This isn't a movie cap or anything, but it's a really great version of the White Tree. (http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/art/d/a/daevorin/gondor.jpg.html) Thanks Enca! I will consider using that one. Elfwood, eh? I have a good friend (also a Tolkien fan) who has drawings there. :)

[Lalwendë]

Lalwendë, if I saw someone wearing a hat like like that, after my experiences on Brit Rail (Well, mainly from Newcastle to York), I would assume you were part of one of those "hen parties". I saw three of them on the way down, and in fact, when we were leaving York, one of the parties was preparing to return North, so I got up the courage to enquire of them their pursuits. Well, not anything in any great detail mind now, but enough to get the gist of this very English ritual. Will you be having a Middle earth hen as preparation for your wedding with davem?

:eek:

You are a very brave woman. Approaching a hen party is fraught with danger. And it sounds as though these were Geordie girls, which is even more scary. Now seeing as I don't really drink (I can only handle a pint) and I find gangs of party-hungry women truly frightening, then you can safely assume that I shall not be getting up to those kinds of antics.

Oh no, the thingie I've made is rather random and strange, almost as though it had fallen apart and had to be put back together agian, or as though it has been found in an attic, all in bits. It's not the kind of thing a traditional girlie might go in for. At least I hope not... ;) I had to get davem to model it for me so I could see how it looked, and it didn't look girlie on him anyway (he'll kill me now...).

[Valesse]

I was going to make LotRs joke shirts for people but that requires money... which was what I wanted to get out of the shirts, but that kinda...no-go'ed.

Anyways, I HAVE made one shirt which simply reads: BOROMIR FOR PRESIDENT

Why? Well, I've said it in several other threads when we got a little off track... Who can't admire a man who gets shot repeatedly in the chest but continues to finally die AFTER a deeply moving (nearly five minute) monologe. There was even a debate saying that it was Aragorn's kiss that killed him. ; )

[Ellewen]

I have made a elven-warrior cloak and tunic useing everything else I could find to finish it off. I also just recieved two beautiful cloaks from a friend as a gift. One of which looks EXACTLY like the Fellowship's Lothlorien cloaks. I am making a Gondorian peasant costume though it looks like a pile of fabric now.

[Kitanna]

This May for my prom a friend of mine helped me make an Arwen dress. It turned out really nice and I love it so!

[Estelyn Telcontar]

How about some pictures of those costumes?!

[Kitanna]

Here (http://www.geocities.com/thunderdog1305/prom.jpg) is a picture of the dress that was made for me. It's in black and white so you can't tell what color it is. Unfortunately I have so decent color shots on my computer. I am quite interested to know what others think of it.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Looks lovely, Kitanna, and you look lovely in it! What color is it? The sleeve construction seems very interesting - does the cord pull the material together?

[Kitanna]

Thank you very much, Estelyn! :D
It was a navy blue body with red sleeves. The cord was there so if the sleeves got in my way I could pull them up and tie them.

[Encaitare]

Beautiful gown, Kitanna!

[Lily Bombadil]

I have what I call a Rohirrim gown. It consists of a gown and bodice, actually. The gown is an immense article of clothing, suited for any size, with sleeves that brush the ground at their longest point. This is made of off-white cotton gauze fabric, but don't be fooled by it's sheerness: it can be stifling in the Texas heat.

The bodice is made of an emerald green, course, loose-woven, rather stiff fabric that reminds me of burlap. it has wide shoulder straps, and it laces on either side. (I lace it with strips of dark leather so it looks rustic). Across the top of the bodice front is a strip of creme-and-hunter-green braid. It looks very Rohirrim to me. I love it. I have no pictures of it, unfortunately...

I like wearing long chains around my neck with it. It's so awesome.

I also have a cloak that looks very Elvish...well, I think so... Anyway, it's dark grey with a black and silver vine-like pattern and the hood (which has a black tassel) is lined with a silvery fabric. The pattern to this cloak is similar to the Fellowship's Elven cloaks, but mine drags the ground, so it's better suited to concealing my entire body than being travel-efficent (ie not making me trip!).

[Thinlómien]

This is really not a LotR costume, but I and my friends made kind of club-shirts. In the front there's a text "LotR worship" (my mom didn't really like it, and would have liked it less if she knew that I was serious ;) ). In the back I had text "Who shall gather the smoke of the dead wood burning", because its both poetical and environmental. My friens had "Near is the hour when lost should come forth", "Faithful servant yet master's bane" and Where now Boromir the fair? He tarries, and I grieve". (One of them actually had also a shirt saying "Minulle 7 kpl Fëanorin poikia, kiitos", which means "I would like to have 7 sons of Fëanor, please". That's pretty idiotic :p.)

[The Perky Ent]

Ah....my costume! I remember it like it was yesterday.

It was a Hollywood themed dance thingie. Most of the girls just wore dresses, and most of the guys wore suits from the Thrift Store. But I was different :cool: I decided to go as a hobbit! I had an old aphro that was lying around, so I cut it up, and taped it to my sneekers. Hobbit Feet! Then, I found a gold ring, and an empty necklace chain, and wore that around my neck. The One Ring. I then took a green fleese and wrapped it around my neck. I kept it on with an elven broach. Lothlorien cloak. Finally, I wore a LOTR shirt! My disguise was complete!

Unfortunatly, the person who won best costum was some random girl with a big dress who only really won because the judge was her brother :rolleyes: But I'll never forget that costume!

[Himilsillion]

I made a Faramir costume. It was mostly an old Jedi costume that I had only I made some armor out of cereal boxes. I covered the cardboard armor with tin foil to make it look more realistic. For my breast plate I made a Tree of Gondor emblem on my computer and pasted that on the cardboard armor. I bought a cheap plastic sword at the junk store. I also grew a pony tail for trick or treating. Then put on dark clothing and some boots the cloak and I fastened the armor on with string. I got lots of copliments and lots of candy for my great costume that only took a total of six hours. (Except for the pony tail)

[Firefoot]

I have just recently made a lovely green cloak using the pattern at AlleyCatScratch. Well, to say that I made it might be a little presumptuous - it was my first encounter with the sewing machine and to say my mom helped would be an understatement. More like I "helped" her...

Anyhow, the cloak is quite nice and I rather adore it. The only thing is that it doesn't sit quite right at the clasp, which we sewed on more than once... :rolleyes: I may yet try to fix it but maybe not. The pattern itself was not difficult once we figured it out.

[Morsul the Dark]

because I havenothing else to do I am currently working my halloween costume
an ent
now Im going to attempt to describe My plan to see what you think

I Plan on weara brown turtleneck brown pants (for bark/skin) over which I will wear a whit muscle shirtwhich will be covered in weaves so it looks like a tunic made from leaves and a vine type rope for a belt

also Im going to have a wood woven basket which will hang by my side by a, as before, vine type rope
i will wear a beard painted dark green

and in the basket at my side two dolls which i will pretend ar merry and pippin?

what do you think?

[Elfchick7]

ooh! I love this thread!!! When I was thirteen I made my own version of Arwen's "chase" dress from the FOTR movie. The next year a made a crack at her "bridge" dress from the same film. I love sewing!!! Sadly, I haven't had time to do another costume. I would love to invent my own elvish costumes. www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr is a great reference site. It helped me bunches. Actually, I have my second costume posted in the Elven part of their scrapbook. If you want to see some cool costumes, that is the place to look. :D

[narfforc]

If you look on the Photo Page I am standing next to Davem dressed as the Blue Wizard Pallando, I made the costume myself for the 50th Anniversary at Aston University, Esty saw it.

[Selmo]

Despite being a Hobbit, I've made myself a Dwarf costume.

It started out as a Viking outfit for a fancy-dress party (I have some Viking blood in me) and became a Saxon warrior's costume for a pageant before becoming my LoTR Dwarven gear.

I have a rough woolen tunic (looks home-spun - cut from an old army blanket), helmet, sword, battle-axe and hugh wooden shield. The helmet is a simple one like the one Gimli had at Helm's Deep, a leather cap re-enforced with iron bands, except that mine has copper bands. I lack the skill to work iron.

I dream that some day I might be able to buy a chain-mail shirt. Here (http://www.knightsgoneby.co.uk) is one supplier..

[Hookbill the Goomba]

As I've mentioned on the photo page and elsewhere, but it looks like here is really the best place for it, I've made a Tom Bombadil Costume

And his boots are YELLOW! (http://i9.tinypic.com/6chq73a.jpg)

It's not perfect, but it will serve its Oxonmoot purpose.

[Elfchick7]

Nice costume, hookbill! Tom is such a fun character. Do you go around singing everywhere when wearing that costume? Staying in character is great fun, you know. :D

[Finduilas]

lol. Did you change the color of the boots on the computer, or did you retake the picture with yellow boots?

After first reading the books, my sister and I made cloaks. We now have two black cloaks, one green cloak, one grey cloak wanabe(the hood came off of it, and my sister hasn't fixed it yet), and a tan colored cloak that is gradually ripping. Over the years we have advanced them, so the green one is pretty nice.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

lol. Did you change the color of the boots on the computer, or did you retake the picture with yellow boots?

Ah! You caught me out! :D
I recoloured them in the computer. But I have recoloured them in real life now, so perhaps I will retake it at some point.

[Finduilas]

It was yourand his boots are YELLOW! that gave you away.

But I love your costume... I really like Bombadil.

[Thinlómien]

To see what I, Nogrod, Aganzir and A Little Green - or Gildor Inglorion, Tom Bombadil, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins and Éomer, if you prefer those names - did today, inspired by Legate's late ww game, scroll down this page (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=14711&page=6). ;)

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Those pictures are priceless, Lommy! Thanks to all of you for sharing your fun with us! Costume pictures are even more interesting when you playact for them.

[Bêthberry]

I think Nogrod must be a very spiffy fellow to engage in that kind of fun play with youngsters. Great sense of spontenaiety and creativity in those costumes as well.

But some you of could easily have stood for the fair Goldberry--you are so fair and good looking yourselves. Perhaps you didn't want it to rain on your outdoor play?

[Nogrod]

Oh, I had to check that from a dictionary... :)

But thanks!

And that wasn't the oddest play we've had... :rolleyes:

It was fun indeed and the only thing I regret is that I had such a busy week before the shooting today that I had no time to actually plan my costumes and just had to come up with anything I could find this morning from my wardrobe. Although the boots are a different matter - they are my old rubberboots which Aganzir painted yellow. I will be quite happy to use them the next day it rains.

And well, the hat wasn't my own either...

But those others really made an effort and it was great fun to see them organise it and to be a part of the play.

[MatthewM]

I have Boromir's attire. I bought it off eBay for over $100...it was a nice Christmas gift :)

Although Sean Bean is not my Boromir, his costume was awesome and, minus the openly shown chainmail, is very close to what I picture Boromir wearing.

I'll take a picture of myself in it soon. I also have an old bugle horn, which is my Horn of Gondor. I have the broad sword from the movie as well, although I want a long sword because it was the long sword that Boromir truly wielded. The long sword is next on the list. Then the shield. Or whatever comes first.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

It was fun indeed and the only thing I regret is that I had such a busy week before the shooting today that I had no time to actually plan my costumes and just had to come up with anything I could find this morning from my wardrobe. Although the boots are a different matter - they are my old rubberboots which Aganzir painted yellow. I will be quite happy to use them the next day it rains.

And well, the hat wasn't my own either...

But you made it really great - this is the best actually when someone makes whole costume from spare things he has at home. We used to have great fun of this with my friends when they were still larp, resp. outdoor-battle-enthusiastic, and it was all about scavenging stuff where they could, but it ended up as really nice costumes like Nog's one here... and the advantage is, Nog, that you can wear parts of it for everyday (or, well, not everyday maybe, but some "common") use, and so be Bombadil and yet not really Bombadil at the same time :) In any case, you make a great Bombadil...

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Ever so many years ago -- about 1979 or 1980, I think; probably 1979 -- my husband, a bunch of friends, and I went to an SF convention in Minneapolis. Three of us decided to do Three Keepers of the Elven Rings for the masquerade. The woman who did Galadriel did her own outfit. I designed and constructed my husband's outfit (he was Elrond). With over four hours spent doing makeup and hair, I was Gandalf the White; the costume was based on a painting I had done of the character and sold in the art auction at that convention. I don't have any photos of the painting, nor do I have any of all three of us, but I do have one mediocre shot of myself, which was taken by one of the convention attendees who came as an Elf and wanted a photo done with me. The outfit was done on an extremely tight budget, and with the constraint that everything (except the staff) had to be packed into our baggage and carted on a train (a friend who was driving kindly toted the staff for me). I have many strange memories of that occasion, since I was coming down with a dreadful head and chest cold, and my voice, which is already low, dropped about an octave in time for the masquerade. There was so much work done with the hair and makeup and underpinnings that strapped me down, that with the deep voice, there were a lot of people unwilling to believe I was a woman underneath it all. I was given reports about this from other friends the next day, and I laughed myself silly. This is the grainy old image (and don't worry, I'm hotlinking to my own website, so it's okay):

http://www.mj-holmes.com/Images/mjgand.jpg

Since then, I have designed and constructed a LOT of Middle-earth character costumes. Since a bunch of my friends were into costume history as well as SF and fantasy (and I studied costume design in college as well), we've had some very interesting costume parties. I wish I had pictures of some of them, especially of my younger brother in his Melkor outfit (based on a sketch of the character I had once done) and my hubby in his Aragorn get-up, but alas, I can't find any, nor anyone who has them. Perhaps someday. *sigh*

[Thenamir]

I can't believe I haven't replied to this thread years ago. here (http://www.xenite.org/special_events/pics/2002HLP-dinner-02.jpg) is a link to a picture of Yours Truly in his Gandalf outfit created for the opening of The Two Towers. The lovely lady next to me is, of course, my wonderful wife. I envied her a bit -- I worked for some time with a sewing friend to make my costume, but my gracious and gorgeous spouse just pulled some things from her wardrobe and voila! An elf maid. Too bad elves don't wear glasses.

[MatthewM]

Here are three pictures of myself as Boromir. They were taken the other day.

http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g212/digapony02/Boromir/?action=view&current=Boromir12.jpg

http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g212/digapony02/Boromir/?action=view&current=Boromir15.jpg

http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g212/digapony02/Boromir/?action=view&current=Boromir1.jpg

[Morsul the Dark]

While this year I'm going as a Vide Game Character, A "Big Daddy" from Bioshock... surprised if anyone gets that... I once againsdebated with the prospect of a TreeBeard Costume. I'm thinking If I start now It'll be perfect for next year... Platform Shoes with molded rubber on the soles to look like stumps and make me taller or stillts with molded bottoms... then a mask might be easyish to do...

[Laurinquë]

Here are three pictures of myself as Boromir. They were taken the other day.


Wonderful! You make an excellent Boromir.

[Thinlómien]

I wish I had an(other) excuse to dress up in some tolienish costume, it's such fun. This year this far I've only dressed up as Darth Maul once and missed my chance to dress up as a Renaissance painting Virgin Mary. *deep sigh* *thinks of brainwashing a friend to change an upcoming Dinsey costume party to a LotR costume party* :D

And all you 'downers should dress up as people and post the pics here because it's so much fun. ;)

[Laurinquë]

When I was ten years old, which was right after The Two Towers film came out, I participated in an extremely abridged play version of The Fellowship of the Ring. I had never read FotR nor even seen the film but never the less I was chosen to play Galadriel for reasons still unknown to me. But as this was a very small production everyone was required to play two parts, my second being a nameless orc.

In order to fit my part I had to come up with a suitable costume for Galadriel; I carefully constructed myself a crown of golden aspen leaves that had a tendency fly off my head if the ribbons that held it in place came undone, something which I believe occurred at least once in the play. However this was probably not even noticed among the disorganised throngs of confused children trying to remember who was an orc and who was a member of the Fellowship (without much makeup we all looked rather alike). I also had a long purple dress fastened with a golden belt and a floaty white silk cape adorned with a tassel and beads. Canonical it was not but I remember having a wonderful time being aloof and speaking a majestic voice, I only wish I could do it again. :D

[Mithalwen]

How did you do your crown Laurinque? I was clipping back my willow tree yesterday (neither old man nor whomping) and thought about making a crown like Thranduil's Autumn one with the strands... so far it looks more like a crown of thorns but it was a first attempt and I have more...

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I just realized that I'm working on my next costumes and haven't even published a photo of the one I made last year. So without further delay, here's Ioreth.

http://x83.xanga.com/402f630462035261667299/m208521222.jpg

[The Might]

So sweet, checking if the warrior has fever. :D
Can already imagine the dialogue... "You don't look so good! Have you been eating right lately?"

Anyway, the costume looks great, I like how the red cross, becomes the red symbol of Minas Tirith, and blue and white fit well with working in the Houses of Healing.

Maybe a bag of athelas leaves as well?

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Definitely! It's hanging from the belt, unfortunately not visible from this angle. My athelas supply consists of peppermint tea bags - a modern, convenient way to have herbs at hand! ;)

[The Might]

Well... that would have been my only idea for improvement, but that means your costume was perfect.

All you need now is a picture with the costume amongst roses, to remind of Ioreth's home valley of Imloth Melui.