I am making a Jack Sparrow costume! And no it's not for Halloween, it's going to be used in a cape and sword show.
I am using Simplicity 7082 as a base pattern, but I have to strengthen the whole thing so my friend Nicolas can actually fight with it, wash it, weather it and make it look like the real Jack Sparrow frock coat which is fully lined and has functioning button holes and pockets. The budget is limited, so trying to find ways to save money, I used old thrifted sheets and tea dyed them to achieve that dirty beige weathered look.
Yesterday, I made a strange brew and left the lining to seep overnight. Now I can add cooking to my sewing skills!
The buttons are especially hard to find at a reasonable cost so I bought a lot of really nice mismatched ones in several thrift shops, but they are too shiny, anyone anywhere has a suggestion on how to make them duller?
8 comments:
How fun! you could mix some weak black/brown paint with pva and paint it sparingly on the buttons to dull them down a bit. Only put a bit of paint in for lots of glue otherwise it will go on too dark, you want it transparent. and do several layers, not all in one.
I'll second the paint. I also made a Jack Sparrow-inspired costume several years ago (for myself, for pirate weekend at the Ren Faire!) And I found this $10 piratey-looking sword/sheath at a flea market. Only problem was that it was entirely this bright shiny silver. So to dull down things like the hilt, I watered down some paint. (I used acrylic, but mine's just for costume purposes.) To give it a really antique look, you can also paint the entire thing, and then wipe it off just a little. The most raised parts of the metal will be a little shinier again, and the rest of it will look like it's got more of a patina.
(p.s. I also found the buttons for my coat at the same flea market. So if you have anything like that nearby, it might be worth a look.)
My first thought for dulling down the buttons is shoe polish, probably brown, but I'm not sure if that would rub off or not. I'd try on one, then probably jump to a can of brown spray paint. Spray very very lightly and from a pretty good distance.
Good luck, those are some pretty awesome buttons. I wish I could find some like that around here.
Paint and buffing is probably your best bet. The glue-paint mix is an excellent idea. Or if you want to go super cheap and quick, sharpie and buffing.
Can't wait to see the final product! Great job on the dying! :)
LaLaLauren
Editor on Duty
I know that pattern. My sister made that pirate shirt for her boyfriend for an S.C.A event
There is a product called rub and buff. It comes in a tube and you can use it on all kinds of things.
Thank you for all the tips, I never thought of using tinted glue, good one!
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