Adventures of an Urban Jungleboy

It took 3 tries and about 3 1/2 hours, but the top of the front zip in my SlickItUp racing suit is no longer askew.

I had to disassemble and re-fit the suit from the waist up shortly after I bought it in February, as it was a good 2" too long in the waist for me. This was an interesting design challenge, as the suit is raglan-sleeved. Somehow, one side of the collar ended up 1/4" higher than the other, and I hadn't had a chance to go back and fix it.

Fixing it proved to be more than simply picking out the zipper and re-stitching it (I thought I'd stretched one side slightly when installing it); it turned out the top edge of one front panel had to be shaved down, and then I had to re-stitch the top 4" of zipper. This is patent-finish coated black spandex with a BRIGHT SCREAMING RED zipper, so mistakes would be obvious. I was smarter this time around and hand-basted the whole works instead of pin-basting, and I *still* ended up redoing one side 3 times. I finally hand bar-tacked the neckline seam of the uncooperative side to match the side that went in smoothly, then let the stretch of the spandex ease the remainder onto the zipper tape as I stitched it. Then, finally, I could stopstitch the thing down.

Unpicking was always challenging, because I'd copied the original stitching by using black top thread and red bobbin thread *which blended into the zipper tape perfectly* when I needed to find it to pick out a bad seam.

In any case, it's done and I'm happy with it. I even had time to go back and move the straps on one of the Liberacicus bracers.

bovil shot some good photos of all three outfits, I'll post them soon.

The final piece of Liberacicus mk II: a silver "Laurel Wreath" for his head. I wanted something that actually looked like foliage, so went shopping in the floral department at Michael's. No laurel or olive leaves, but I found something I thought would serve.
I made an armature by braiding heavy floral wire into a band, and then wove the stems of the leaves from the fake foliage into it:
( pictures under the cut )
In the course of weaving the leaves in, I discovered the enamel was still slightly soft, so the whole thing is out curing in the sun right now (and is *very* shiny!). I'll add a lining (craft foam, or felt, or something after it's hardened a little more, as otherwise I know the aluminum wire (and pigment in the silver paint) will leave black/grey marks on me.

So all the pieces are done well in advance of packing for Montreal!
( Of course, there's one minor bit of other sewing to do... )

This weekend has been productive. I've finished the gaiters (or greaves, call 'em what you like) for Liberacicus mark II:
( photos beneath the cut )
I have to admit, I'm glad I'm done working with the leather and oh-so-sticky-in-the-sewing-machine sparkly blue vinyl.

I love when a plan comes together.

I'd been given a couple yards of this machine-pleated blue tissue-lame (on a bonded backing that could be peeled off if so desired). While not a perfect color match to the blue glitter vinyl, it was close enough to use for the sash
( photos under the cut )
All that is left now is the greaves. bovil persuaded me that the silly hat I had in mind would add nothing to the costume, and suggested I make a silver laurel wreath instead. That will actually work with either mk I or mk II. I will still probably make said silly hat, as it is a perfect PenWAG show-and-tell item. It just doesn't have to be part of this costume.

Tonight's project: making the wrist bracers/gauntlets for Liberacicus mk II.

As I mentioned earlier, I was planning to use some of the scrap vinyl as trim on these.
( pictures under the cut )
I'm really pleased with how they turned out. The pockets work, and the bracers look nice and clean.
Still to go: Sash, hat, and (maybe) matching greaves. There's enough of the dagged scrap to do them, too.

I ended up spending a major part of the weekend working on the opening slides for a keynote presentation my manager is giving in the morning (only a few hours away for him, now).

I did, however, manage to finish the "Trojan Kilt" for Liberacicus mk II.
( images behind the cut )

Now I need to buy more leather machine needles so I can do the bracers, and greaves (the vinyl ended up eating the last 3 in our stash by the end of the topstitching).

Thursday and Friday I got the main pieces riveted together and the strapping prepared:
( photos under the cut )

For the It's Volcano Day! party at Gallifrey One last February, I threw together a "Roman" themed bit of costume silliness that was supposed to be the floor show lounge singer's stage costume. It consisted of one of those goofy "Trojan Kilt" things in silver PVC(a set of strips hanging from a waistband) over silver hotpants, a sash draped out of a piece of silver knit with little silver holographic sequin dots all over it, and classic laced-up-the-calves sandals. From 3 feet away the sequins looked like rhinestones, and the costume was duly dubbed "Liberacicus" at the convention.

I really liked the overall effect, silly as it was, and when a 54"x24" piece of blue glitter banquette vinyl came my way, I decided to build Liberacicus mk II.

After about 6 hours work(!) I've got the main pieces for the kilt all cut and ready to assemble:
( Photos behind the cut )

Tonight I'll punch and rivet the pieces together, then topstitch a lining inside the waistband and through all the layers (the rivets give me precise alignment, the stitching is more dependable for long-time durability since the vinyl *will* stretch off of the rivets).

Then I just add the buckles. I've already got the metallic blue shorts to go under it.

The wrist bracers (or gauntlets, if you prefer) will be black leather with bits of the dagged vinyl leftovers as trim; I may make some leather greaves similarly. Then for the sash, I was given some Fortuni pleated blue tissue lame (with a backing to stabilize it). I may make a stupid hat out of some of that, too.

The nice thing about this: all the pieces open up flat for packing (even the stupid hat I have in mind). I can put a cellphone pocket at the bottom point of the sash, and ID/money pockets in the bracers.

If I had any blue liquid metal on hand, I'd be tempted to add a short superhero cape and make a mask out of the pleated lame, too. ( Secret identity under the cut )