Here are some of the sites that our members have come across that provide a list of fairs, helpful information and access to further cosplay and costume resources.
Where To Wear Your Costumes
This site lists various Renaissance fairs, locations, dates, and links to the events.
How To
Stain Removal:
Click the Download button for a helpful article from Creative Costume Academy, Trisha Camacho, owner.
Reusing Denim:
These two sites are great resources for those wanting to transform their old denim into something new.
wandee easy sewing (youtube.com)
Wigs and Styling
Gorgeous hairstyles worn by Viking women
Like art and fashion, hairstyles can indicate their time period, like the glory days of the Vikings. Known as explorers and conquerors, their women and men both were warriors . Viking women’s hairstyles ranged from a simple ponytail to an intricate crown of braids.
This link offers videos of historic hairstyles of women from Greek to Roman, Viking, Victorian, and Hollywood depictions that “represent” such historic styles. Her tutorials are meant for the self-styler without help from others. She also recreates hairstyles from popular movies and TV shows and teaches in a way that you can replicate on yourself. See her videos for hairstyles themes on Game of Thrones, Outlander, Vikings, Star Wars, and more, with options here for every hair length, hair type, and gender.
Design
This delightful sewist offers tutorials and informational videos on costume design, pattern fitting, and interest in fantasy, vintage fashion, and books. Sit down, grab a cup of tea, and stay a while!
Construction tools and techniques
This demo shows a simple and quick approach to connecting the ends of elastic and attach it to the waist of a skirt or pants — music only.
Simple exposed zipper tutorial
If you’ve ever wanted to sew a zipper into the middle of a single piece of fabric, not along a seam, this is the reel for you — music only.
How to finish a v-neck with multi-color trim
Finishing a v-neck can be challenging. Following this tutorial shows the simple steps to create a clean finished look for a front neckline — music only.
Sew over batting without catching
If you’ve ever tried stitching through batting, without any other layer of fabric, this demo offers a clever trick to keep your presser foot from getting caught on the batting fibers as you stitch along — music only.
Hand sewing needles & their uses (download)
Choosing Fabric for your Viking Age Kit- BEGINNERS GUIDE! (youtube.com)
The Wyrd Kindred channel offers this new guide on choosing appropriate fabrics for a beginner’s Viking kit. We learn about different weave types (tabby, twill, reversed twill), wool (and allergy workarounds), outer and inner wear, planning for seasonal wear, the use of over-dying colors to improve social status throughout the Viking Age. At the end is a recommendation to start a kit with just and under tunic and over kirtle (dress), as we collect bling and accessories to raise our character status. This brand new series will continue through the steps from choosing fabrics, measuring, cutting, sewing, and adorning to a final costume.
How to correctly sew on a button
This short reel shows how to correctly sew on a flat button to a garment. It features an efficient way to prepare the thread on the needle, starting the attachment process, finishing up by adding a nice shank, and hiding the thread tail for snipping off.
How to add elastic to the end of a sleeve.
In this short reel, we see how the end of a sleeve is prepared before adding elastic. Rather than sewing a tube or tunnel and then pulling the elastic through, we can see how to anchor the elastic ends before encasing the elastic.
Quilting/Home Dec techniques
Brilliant Last Binding Join For Your Quilt
This demo is a brilliant way to do the last join when adding a binding on an edge — verbal tutorial.
sewing tools and tutorial Zipper on quilt cover and pillow case Part
If you’ve ever wanted to add a hidden covered zipper to a pillow slipcover, this is the demo for you — music only.
Suppliers
Shipwreck Beads – The World’s Largest Selection of Beads
A great place to find beads and beading supplies.
Chalk and Notch offers PDF and printed versions of patterns that come in sturdy heavy-weight folders with lots of information about how to adjust the pattern to fit your body. They offer a library of fitting posts for each pattern and a custom adjustments library.
LEATHER:
Lonsdale Leather Warehouse
- http://lonsdaleleather.com
- Vancouver, BC
District Leathers
- https://www.districtleathers.com
- New York, NY
- Bernina site “we all sew” leather projects
FABRIC WEBSITES:
Stylemaker Fabrics
- http://stylemakerStanwood, WA (fast shipping!)
- Oriental fabric sources; linen & blends; cottons & canvass; lots of great fabric.fabrics.com
Gorgeous Fabrics
- gorgeousfabrics.com
- Boston, MA
- Many nice fancy fabrics as well as designer deadstock
Stone Mountain and Daughter Fabrics
- Berkeley, CA
- Nice selection of fabrics, many from England and Japan; 50% off on their sale fabrics
Amanda’s Bundles
- Amandasbundles.com
- CA
- Mostly knit fabrics, quality for great prices; Amanda often does trunk shows at Quality Sew & Vac
Vogue Fabrics Store
- https://www.voguefabricsstore.com
- Evanston, IL
- They offer a subscription that sends swatches 6 times/year. It’s great way to know what you’re ordering
SEWING NOTIONS & ACCESSORIES:
Pacific Trimming & Buttons
- pacifictrimming.com
- NY, NY
- Zippers – any size, color – can custom cut to specified length.
Mood Fabric
- moodfabrics.com
- NY, NY
- Buttons, great trims – and lots of fabric
Wawak
- WAWAK – Finest Sewing Supplies l Since 1907
- Great prices on thread and sewing supplies
Sewing Parts On Line
- http://sewingpartsonline.com
- Love their emails offering sales on threads, accessories, patterns, fabric and machines