Join us on July 18th for the first of a two part workshop being presented by our good friends from the Southwest Costumers Guild, Nyki, Mahala & Paula!

Pyle Center in Tempe
July 18th -
10:00 am to 12:00 pm: History of Middle Eastern Costume & the Influence on modern Media (Lecture)
12:00 - 3:30 Open workshop & Middle Eastern pattern drafting

Bring your patern drafting tools, there will be several paterns available to use and alter to fit your own needs.

I realized some of you might not know what "pattern drafting tools" consist of. Here's what I recommend bringing:

Easy Pattern*
Scissors
Marking Pencil
Eraser/Sharpener for those pencils
Tracing paper/wheel (optional, but makes it easier)
Measuring tape
Ruler
Straight pins
Sewing Machine

*I know JoAnns sells Easy Pattern in their interfacing section. Other stores may sell a different brand under a similar name (Pattern Ease is another one). Ask a clerk for it if you can't find some. It looks similar to interfacing - like a stiff tissue paper. You can also use scrap or cheap fabric (like Muslin) to draft a pattern, but Easy Pattern is so much easier (lol I guess they named it right) because it's transparent, making it loads easier to trace and transfer the pattern.

Even if you don't plan on doing a particular middle eastern costume, pattern drafting skills are something every costumer can use!

At the Joannes by me you have to ask the cutting table clerks to get it, as it is behind them. So if you see a bunch of bolts behind the cutting clerks, then you have to ask them for it

Our guests recomend using clear shower currtains, but I don't know how well this will work.

I got a lot of cool ideas at this workshop for my bellydance costume. ^^ I hope to finish it for the Renaissance Festival, maybe sooner. I have the pattern for the bodice, I have the chemise, and I'm sure harem pants I can do without a pattern. Finding the right fabric is going to be the hard part!