Burda Style For people who sew

Description

One of my favorite hobbies is replicating movie costumes for dolls; and luckily, my little sister happens to be a Barbie doll nut. We’re also both Star Wars nerds. So making these doll costumes was natural. I’ll break them down one at a time.

1. First is the famous metallic bikini from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. I hand-sculpted the bra-top out of Sculpy bakeable clay. I painted the gold rim around the edge with a tiny brush. I sculpted the metal pieces on the skirt, and brushed gold paint in to the grooves. The velour skirt is sewn to a matching polyester swimsuit bottom. I also bothered to make the boots: which was nearly impossible on the sewing machine, but I managed to do it somehow. I used vinyl faux-leather in dark brown, and painted on the gold accents.

2. Top, Belt, Pants, & Sheer Coat from Bespin in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. I made the top, pants and belt out of the same rust-orange cotton fabric. For the sheer sleeveless coat, I used a drapery sheer from the Home Decor department, and lined it with matching broadcloth.

3. Top & Pants from Hoth in Epi V: Empire Strikes Back. I made this set out of stretch velour with a woven diamond-quilted-shape. The padded oval patches on the arms and legs are made of white cotton velvet. The top is trimmed with 1/8" white satin ribbon.

4. Classic White Hooded Dress in Epi IV: A New Hope. This dress seemed like it would be simple, but it was a little more complicated than I thought. It was hard to draft the hood and the collar properly without having too much bulk. In the end, it turned out fine. I used white shirting cotton.

5. Rebel Alliance Uniform in Epi VI: Return of the Jedi. I made the pants out of blue polished cotton and trimmed them with tan ribbon. The shirt is made of peach/tan broadcloth. The vest is hand-dyed grey broadcloth, trimmed with a metal-encased plastic jewel to look like the rank-badge. I also made the green camoflauge hooded poncho which she wears on Endor. The black ribbon belt feeds through the poncho with green metal grommets.

6. Brown/Light Grey Rustic Ewok Dress in Epi VI: Return of the Jedi. I used a sort of linen/challis for the body of this princess-seamed dress. I used grey broadcloth for the lower sleeves, which tie closed with braided embroidery floss. I made a ragged tie for the waist, and stitched embroidery floss on the neckline like a lacing. The hem is cut, but unfinished to add to the rustic look.
Because my sister’s Leia doll has permanently secured hair in a braided bun, I came up with the idea to make her a hairpiece. I used craft doll hair. I braided the strip in the front of the wig and twisted embroidery floss around it. Then I sandwiched the long, loose hair in 1/4" wide brown double fold bias tape and sewed it. I added a snap closure in the back. With the hairpiece, the outfit is really complete.

Material Notes

Various fabric scraps, Sculpy Bakeable Clay, Paint, Jewelry Findings, Hook & Eyes, Snaps, 1/8" wide satin ribbon, elastic.

Difficulty

Advanced

Categories

For

Home/Deco

Garment Type

Costume

Style

Geek, Other

Material

Cotton, Blends, Leather/Fur, Other

Credits

Thanks

to my sister Allie for the use of her dolls!