Weekly Workshop - Costumes

[Arwen Evenstar]

Day 1:
I know many people love the cotumes in LotR, and would like their own, so this week's workshop is focusing on how to get your own costumes. Mostly it will be about making your own, but I also have links where you can buy some things.
Today's will take a look at the cloaks featured in the LotR movies, the differences between them, and how to go about making one.
There are different styles of cloaks, which are shaped differently. The cloaks the members of the Fellowship are given in Lothlórien, while different than most, are semi-circular cloaks. Here's a pic of Merry wearing his:

This site tells you how to make you own pattern: www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Things/FCloak/FCloak_pattern.htm
Or you could use Simplicity pattern #9887. While not entirely accurate to the ones made in the movie, they're pretty easy, and look pretty similar.
That pattern will also work for Galadriel's satin cloak. Her cloak from the farewell to the Fellowship scene in FotR is different in that it has sleeves. You could use view A from Simplicity 9887 for this. View B would work for a Ringwraith costume.
In RotK, we see Arwen wearing two different cloaks. One is the one she wore when she left Rivendell, and the other is a little different. For either of these, I would recommend view C of Simplicity pattern #5794. The hood isn't quite right, but it seems to be the closest you can get. The hood on the first cloak of Arwen's is rather unique, and I haven't yet seen a pattern for it. I have made myself two cloaks now. The first one was with material I got on sale for $1 a yard. I used that as a practice one, before using my expensive velvety material. If you are going to use expensive material, I would strongly suggest making a practice one first, to learn how to do it and check for fitting.
If I've let anything out, or you have any questions, feel free to let me know, and I'll help in any way I can.

[Elessar]

What a great idea for a workshop!! I've been wanting to make a costume for awhile.

[Arwen Evenstar]

Day 2:
Hobbit costumes
Hobbit costumes are relatively easy to make, since they are rather simplistic folk. How difficult it is also depends on whether you want to be completly accurate, and make an exact replica of the costumes from the movies, or just make one that looks a lot like them. If you aren't trying to make it entirely accurate, it will be much easier, and not as much sewing is required.
Male hobbits
Find an old pair of pants, and cut them off about 1" longer than you want them for your costume, then fold them up 1# and hem them. Pretty easy. For the shirt, I would suggest looking in thrift stores first to see what you find.That's always a good place to look, as there's no telling what they will have. They don't make mens shirts anymore like the shirts the hobbits wore, gathered that much at the seam where the sleeve meets the shoulder. This site has information about their shirts: www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Hobbit/Frodo/Fellow/FShirt.htm
So you'd need to either find another shirt, of a different style and use it, or get a pattern and make one yourself. The pattern would most likely be complicated, so unless you're pretty good at sewing, you might want to just stick with another shirt. It you're wearing a vest over it, it won't be that noticable anyway. For a vest, once again, look in a thrift shop first, but if you can't find one, there are many patterns to choose from. At the bottom I'll post a link to a site that gives good suggestions on what pattern to use.
female hobbits
Most of the girl hobbits wear very full skirts, sometimes two or three at a time, a vest that laces in the back, and a blouse. For the skirt, its very simple to make one, especially if you use elastic. They didn't use elastic in the movies, but if you don't mind, it is easier to make. Measure how long you want it to be, from your waist to mid-calf. Add 2" to that measurement. Then measure your waist. Depending on the size of your waist and how full you want the skirt to be, you will want to cut two or three panels of material the length of the first measurement. Then, stich the two or three pieces together at the sides, making a tube. Fold over 1" at the top, and stich. Run elastic the size of your waist through that casing, then try it on. You may need to tighten the elastic. When that is finished, fold over 1" at the bottom of the skirt, and stitch. It will then be finished. It's really quite easy to make. For the vest and blouse, I will give a link at the bottom for the pattern suggestions.
Links
For pattern suggestions:
www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/makingem/Patterns/Hobbits.htm
Where to buy jewelry and ears:
www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Buyit.htm

Once again, I would be happy to answer any questions!

[Arwen Evenstar]

So sorry I haven't posted every day! I kept forgetting it was here!
My dear friend Charis over at CoE said that I could put up the link to her site. She has a Frodo costume, and has pictures of herself as Frodo, and herself as an elf, and pictures of other people in costume. She also said that if you have any questions about making a hobbit costume, you can leave your email address in her guestbook, and she will be happy to help you!
Her is the link to her site: Hobbit at Heart

Here is another wonderful, wonderful site with loads of information about every costume from the movies: LotR costume research.

The Noble Collection has quite a bit of jewelry, and some weapons from the movies, although they are expensive: www.noblecollection.com/index.cfm

Ren Store has some of the LotR jewelry, and some that just looks like the right style: www.renstore.com/cgi-bin/renstore.storefront

This has a few cloak clasps:
www.enchantedground.com/dc/clasps.htm

This site tells you how to make a very full skirt with a waistband, perfect for a hobbit skirt: staff.haas.berkeley.edu/tmiller/fullskrt.htm

Tolkien Town has some jewelry from the movie, and some other beautiful jewelry that was inspired by the movie: tolkientown.com/shop/

I hope these links help!

[Galadeth Greenleaf]

Tolkientown has really good stuff!

[River Daughter]

Thanks, those are some really good sites!