Fabric suggestions for Mad Love Harley Quinn cosplay

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  • Hello!

    Im going to be sewing myself a Mad Love Harley Quinn costume soon, i am aware that using a 4-way stretch fabric is best as a bodysuit needs to be able to be stretchy. I however am curious as to what fabric you think would look best, fit best and is easy to work with. I know alot of cosplayers use shiny fabric sometimes even latex, i dont want my bodysuit to be made out of that. So please post your suggestions as to what fabric you would reccommend to someone who is making their first bodysuit, many thanks in advance. Will post a reference image below however im sure that you all know what she looks like. :)

    [url]https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1468871990i/19754561._SY540_.png[/url]

  • You can buy matte spandex or lycra blend fabrics.

    You can also buy two body suits and cut and swap sections to create that too, depending on your time, budget and skill.

    Reasons to do the cut & swap:
    - it's faster that sewing from scratch
    - may be cheaper
    - less complex sewing if you are less experienced

    Reasons to sew from scratch:
    - better fit all over because you can tailor from the beginning (particularly if you are very short)
    - more control over fabric choice

  • Thank you! Now i know what to look for when i go to joanns.

  • [QUOTE]when i go to joanns.[/QUOTE]
    Good luck.
    I like JoAnn's, they have a large quantity of stuff that's commonly needed for ordinary sewing and the latest trendy things whether it be the trendiest quilt prints or shiny sparkly things every little girl wants their Halloween costume made from. The key words in that sentence are "commonly needed". If what you are looking for doesn't fall into the mainstream, you won't find it at JoAnn's. I know they will have several varieties of very shiny spandex fabrics, no promises on matte. Try Fabric.com and SpandexWarehouse.com for your needs if you strike out at JoAnn's

  • I just bought some fabric. Its not shiny latex but it does have a nice sheen to it which i love. However there is one problem. There was no red fabric in the same matterial or feel so i just had to buy it white. Im going to dye it red since ive dyed fabeic before with no problems. Both the white and black fabric is made out of spandex and polyester so im going with the idye poly brand which i love due to how vivid the colours are. Im just debating on which of the red products to use. Which would you recommend? I want more of a vivid red but not too bright. Again many thanks

  • Using the right kind of dye is the first hurdle, and you seem to already have a handle on that. :)
    Color is too subjective for recommendations on the internet, everyone's screens can be different. If we were standing side by side in the art store, I could talk at length.

  • I have a question about dying fabric. Im going to be buying the dye tomorrow to make the white fabric red, i however am too impatient and want to work on cutting the white pieces of the fabric out to get the rest of the pattern pieces so i can progress. Would you recommend waiting until tomorrow and dying it first then cutting the fabric or would it be fine to cut the white fabric out in the pattern pieces and then dye it all in a boiling pot? I know you're supposed to dye it before hand so it ensures a clean consistent colour however if i just cut the white fabric in the correct pattern and dye it all together in a pot would it give the same effect as if i were to dye the entire fabric before cutting it out? Many thanks, always so greatful for the advice

  • Actually having it cut but not sewn might serve you well. Why? less fabric in the pot, no dye wasted coloring fabric you aren't going to use :)

    You do have a pot both big enough AND not something you cook in, right? Dye is not food safe. Hit the thrift store for a pot if you don't have one. You might already know that but I emphasize it every time the topic comes up.

  • I have a seperate cooking pot that i use only for dying fabric as i know its a health hazard to use a pot thats has dye in it. My fabric is made out of 90% polyester and 10% spandex, in order for the idye poly to work i have to boil water, add the dye packet and the fabric however will that make the fabric shrink? Could i just dye it in a pot thats water is still hot but not boiling hot and still dye it succesfully? Many thanks as always

  • Polyester fabric does not shrink, since it is a synthetic fiber. It's basically plastic. As such, it is difficult to dye polyester. Usually when fabric is made, the polyester is colored before the fibers are created and then the fabric is made. HOWEVER. your fabric contains spandex. By the time the water is hot enough for the polyester to take in dye, the spandex fibers may be damaged.
    I would test a swatch to see if the fabric is affected before you proceed.

  • So i dyed the white fabric red and it still stretches fine. I have a question though. The seams look wavy and not straight. I have been using the tight zigzag stitch and pulling the fabric taut whilst i sew. I also changed the needle since prior to changing it, it was creating skipped stitches. Have any recommendations on how to create nice straight seams when sewing on fabric that is 90% polyester and 10% spandex. Many thanks in advance

  • A regular zigzag stitch? not intended for stretch fabrics. Most modern machines come with built in stretch stitches, read your manual. If it's an older machine, well, that's why I didn't sew and stretchy fabrics until I got a modern machine...

  • I got the correct stitch type, much more straight but still allows it to stretch. I kinda messed up on my the cowl. Around the face, i cut abit too much and it shows too much of my hairline, any simple tricks on how to avert this issue? Many thanks in advance

  • [QUOTE=sadievic;5062454] joanns.[/QUOTE]

    [QUOTE=Penlowe;5062463]Good luck.
    [/QUOTE]

    I know I'm a bit late for this, but Joanns does carry Yaya Han's cosplay fabric line, including stretch fabrics in various colors and finishes. It's actually pretty darn decent as far as I can tell, and if nothing else, you can at least see and feel what you're getting without having to order swatches. Here's the site for future reference: [url]https://www.cosplayfabrics.com/collections/yaya-han-collection[/url]