Jedi Build #1
I already loved Star Wars enough to the point of reciting the lines of the original trilogy. I flicked my hand to open automatic doors to use the Force. So if you think I hadn't made myself a Jedi costume of some kind before now even starting this blog you've underestimated my geekiness.
Now unfortunately this means that I made these before getting into the habit of writing tutorials. So if you're overwhelmed by my righteous skills and/or less-than-expert craftsmanship you're going to have to use some imagination. And also follow the links to the inspiring people who did this way better. For some of these I am working on a mark 2 version now, so they might show up as tutorials in the future.
Drawings
To make a non-traditional set of tabards, I ended up testing a lot of concepts out on paper. Jedi are pretty much the humble space wizard monks of the galaxy, so in the films their clothing is fairly sedate. But in the prequels, our best understanding of canon Jedi at their height, there is definitely variation in the tunics and tabards within the knights and masters. Some individuals incorporate designs and dress from their home planets, like Luminara Unduli's and Barriss Offee's Mirialin robes and tabards. Or they reflect they partially reflect their profession or views, such as the librarian Jocasta Nu's geometric motif tabards. The common thread is more related to natural colors and materials, with common elements such as the tunics, tabards, and belts.
Encouraged by the variations we see in the films, I decided if I wanted to build my own Jedi design it should utilize some of my own interests. I draw a lot of strength and inspiration from natural forms. This also kind of fits with the Jedi, as they study and rely on the Living Force that flows through all living things. So I played around with using stylized tree branches or roots in the tabards, experimenting with different designs and color schemes. I wanted it to be a natural form that was stream-lined and simplified.
And through a lot of sifting through tutorials and methods other geeks before me have perfected, I began my own journey in crafting a new Jedi. Because of my interests in Rebel Legion and since they have a pretty good system for standardizing Jed costumes, I used their requirements for guiding my costume.
Minimum Requirements
1. Outer tunic
To make the outer tunic, I bought a Simplicity 5840 from eBay. First item I'd bought from eBay, definitely found out that a "complete" set means that it was missing half of the patterns. Still, it had the outer tunic pattern. So I bought some silky gauze fabric in cream, a rayon fabric from Joann Fabrics. Easy enough to work with, though it doesn't breathe very well and it crinkles like heck. It's also really big with odd stitching. But it was first project from a pattern, so I'm inordinately proud of it. I would probably use an osnaburg fabric to make another one, and use the medium size rather than the large pattern.
2. Tabards
These tabards were made based on a pattern from the Rebel Legion tutorial by Eean Ledgor using brown suiting material for the base and standard cotton calico cloth for the details. Brown tabards are pretty standard for Jedi, but I decided to personalize it with the branching designs. I drew these stylized tree branches, figuring the design would be fitting perhaps for a Jedi who studies the Living Force. The strips of sea-foam green and aqua are sewn on the front and back, but the tabards can be flipped to a plain brown side for a more standard Jedi costume.
3. Obi
This is a basic 6 inch wide obi made from the same brown suiting material as the tabards. There are lots of basic tutorials, I can't find the one I used but this one's similar.
4. Utility belt
I searched for a long time in thrift stores for a wide leather belt, but never could find one I liked. I finally said to hell with it and decided I'd make a wide belt, and then attach a thinner belt on top. I bought some brown "leather" vinyl on sale, cut enough for my waist, folded it, and sewed up the back. I added screw posts, an old matching leather purse strap, and a neat belt closure I bought on Etsy. I used some snaps to fasten it in the back. When worn, the belt appears as a flat piece. It's not exactly screen accurate, but I didn't have the tools or funds to custom-make a leather belt
.
5. Lightsaber
6. Lightsaber clip
I decided for a traditional D-ring clip, like those used in the original trilogy. I found two cheap cellphone cases at a dollar store with wide metal clips for about $2 total, and essentially cut them up for the clips and magnetic fasteners. I attached the two clips together with a paper fastener you can get easily and cheaply from an office supply store. The one clip is to attach to the belt, the other is for the D-ring to slide onto the clip.
7. Pants
I searched and found tan, loose, cotton slacks at a thrift store for about $7. The key is to get them in natural fibers, it looks more authentic.
8. Boots
Another thrift store buy! Below-the-knee boots in women's sizes are not hard to find, I think I picked these up for less than $10. They might be called "equestrian boots", and they're generally around in stores but easier to find in the fall. Key part of Jedi boots is to find a pair with low heels, no laces, minimal straps, and a discreet zipper/tie. And for the Rebel Legion the color of the boots have to match the color of the belt, so a Jedi's brown belt should have brown boots.
Minimum Extras
1. Inner tunic
I also based the inner tunic on the Simplicity pattern 5840, which really amounts to a dickie. I bought a tan sleeveless shirt at a thrift store for about $4, cut and sewed the pattern's collar, and then attached the collar to the shirt. I added a few Velcro patches to ensure I could fasten and unfasten the collar as needed.
2. Jedi pouches
I bought two hard-sided eyeglass pouches from a thrift store, for maybe $4 total. I had leftover brown "leather" vinyl from making the belt, which I cut up to cover the exterior of the pouches. I glued them down, then cut up diagonal strips of leather to add detail and depth to the pouches. I also had to add a belt strap to the back of one of them.
3. Food pellets
For these, I bought pens with rounded caps from the dollar store, maybe three sets at $2 to $3 total. I had metallic spray paints on hand, in gold, hammered silver, copper, and a dark bronze.
So here are the final shots!
Now unfortunately this means that I made these before getting into the habit of writing tutorials. So if you're overwhelmed by my righteous skills and/or less-than-expert craftsmanship you're going to have to use some imagination. And also follow the links to the inspiring people who did this way better. For some of these I am working on a mark 2 version now, so they might show up as tutorials in the future.
Drawings
To make a non-traditional set of tabards, I ended up testing a lot of concepts out on paper. Jedi are pretty much the humble space wizard monks of the galaxy, so in the films their clothing is fairly sedate. But in the prequels, our best understanding of canon Jedi at their height, there is definitely variation in the tunics and tabards within the knights and masters. Some individuals incorporate designs and dress from their home planets, like Luminara Unduli's and Barriss Offee's Mirialin robes and tabards. Or they reflect they partially reflect their profession or views, such as the librarian Jocasta Nu's geometric motif tabards. The common thread is more related to natural colors and materials, with common elements such as the tunics, tabards, and belts.
Encouraged by the variations we see in the films, I decided if I wanted to build my own Jedi design it should utilize some of my own interests. I draw a lot of strength and inspiration from natural forms. This also kind of fits with the Jedi, as they study and rely on the Living Force that flows through all living things. So I played around with using stylized tree branches or roots in the tabards, experimenting with different designs and color schemes. I wanted it to be a natural form that was stream-lined and simplified.
And through a lot of sifting through tutorials and methods other geeks before me have perfected, I began my own journey in crafting a new Jedi. Because of my interests in Rebel Legion and since they have a pretty good system for standardizing Jed costumes, I used their requirements for guiding my costume.
Minimum Requirements
1. Outer tunic
To make the outer tunic, I bought a Simplicity 5840 from eBay. First item I'd bought from eBay, definitely found out that a "complete" set means that it was missing half of the patterns. Still, it had the outer tunic pattern. So I bought some silky gauze fabric in cream, a rayon fabric from Joann Fabrics. Easy enough to work with, though it doesn't breathe very well and it crinkles like heck. It's also really big with odd stitching. But it was first project from a pattern, so I'm inordinately proud of it. I would probably use an osnaburg fabric to make another one, and use the medium size rather than the large pattern.
2. Tabards
These tabards were made based on a pattern from the Rebel Legion tutorial by Eean Ledgor using brown suiting material for the base and standard cotton calico cloth for the details. Brown tabards are pretty standard for Jedi, but I decided to personalize it with the branching designs. I drew these stylized tree branches, figuring the design would be fitting perhaps for a Jedi who studies the Living Force. The strips of sea-foam green and aqua are sewn on the front and back, but the tabards can be flipped to a plain brown side for a more standard Jedi costume.
3. Obi
This is a basic 6 inch wide obi made from the same brown suiting material as the tabards. There are lots of basic tutorials, I can't find the one I used but this one's similar.
4. Utility belt
I searched for a long time in thrift stores for a wide leather belt, but never could find one I liked. I finally said to hell with it and decided I'd make a wide belt, and then attach a thinner belt on top. I bought some brown "leather" vinyl on sale, cut enough for my waist, folded it, and sewed up the back. I added screw posts, an old matching leather purse strap, and a neat belt closure I bought on Etsy. I used some snaps to fasten it in the back. When worn, the belt appears as a flat piece. It's not exactly screen accurate, but I didn't have the tools or funds to custom-make a leather belt
.
5. Lightsaber
I made a super simple prop hilt customized it to my taste. It's essentially a pop-up sink drain assembly, the plastic version with fake chrome, which you can get at a home improvement store for about $8. I attached a D-ring to the pommel, so that it could be slipped onto the belt clip I made. I purposely did not replicate a face character's hilt, and instead added odds and ends to it to make it my own. I plan on writing up another article explaining this process more in detail.
I decided for a traditional D-ring clip, like those used in the original trilogy. I found two cheap cellphone cases at a dollar store with wide metal clips for about $2 total, and essentially cut them up for the clips and magnetic fasteners. I attached the two clips together with a paper fastener you can get easily and cheaply from an office supply store. The one clip is to attach to the belt, the other is for the D-ring to slide onto the clip.
7. Pants
I searched and found tan, loose, cotton slacks at a thrift store for about $7. The key is to get them in natural fibers, it looks more authentic.
8. Boots
Another thrift store buy! Below-the-knee boots in women's sizes are not hard to find, I think I picked these up for less than $10. They might be called "equestrian boots", and they're generally around in stores but easier to find in the fall. Key part of Jedi boots is to find a pair with low heels, no laces, minimal straps, and a discreet zipper/tie. And for the Rebel Legion the color of the boots have to match the color of the belt, so a Jedi's brown belt should have brown boots.
Minimum Extras
1. Inner tunic
I also based the inner tunic on the Simplicity pattern 5840, which really amounts to a dickie. I bought a tan sleeveless shirt at a thrift store for about $4, cut and sewed the pattern's collar, and then attached the collar to the shirt. I added a few Velcro patches to ensure I could fasten and unfasten the collar as needed.
2. Jedi pouches
I bought two hard-sided eyeglass pouches from a thrift store, for maybe $4 total. I had leftover brown "leather" vinyl from making the belt, which I cut up to cover the exterior of the pouches. I glued them down, then cut up diagonal strips of leather to add detail and depth to the pouches. I also had to add a belt strap to the back of one of them.
3. Food pellets
For these, I bought pens with rounded caps from the dollar store, maybe three sets at $2 to $3 total. I had metallic spray paints on hand, in gold, hammered silver, copper, and a dark bronze.
So here are the final shots!
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