Justice League Unlimited Huntress Costume

The Justice League Unlimited Huntress costume was Completed June 2007. The costume was designed by myself and my friend Angela. The costume was sewn by Angela.

Why I wanted to make it:

After watching Justice League Unlimited and seeing how interesting and fun the Huntress character was I was really wanting to build the costume. I knew from the history of the character there were many versions of her costume. After researching and trying to decide which comic book version to do, I decided to just do the JLU cartoon version since that was my favorite portrayal of the Huntress character.

Work in Progress:

I started looking for some lycra dance fabric in black, white and purple. Angela recommended I should purchase a body suit with a high collar and then add the details and cape to it. I found a great dance supply store online and ordered the body suit, shorts and over-the-knee socks. I miraculously found some lycra fabric in the colours I needed, for the cape and purple detailing lines. Bodysuit Link

The belt was bought at a local clothing store and the belt boxes/pockets are actually ring boxes from Claire's Accessories, painted to match the purple. I found some purple eyelets to push into the boxes as "faux buttons". I attached two small elastics though the back of the boxes and then slid them onto the belt. The wig was purchased off ebay.

The mask for the costume was custom-made from a seller on ebay. Link I sent them my design as per the exact measurements to my face... sometimes its good to know how to use a design program that you can draw vector graphics in!

The boots where also found on ebay and the purple lycra stripes sewn to them. The boot's soles actually disintegrated at SDCC (2007) and I haven't replaced them yet... I just wear another pair of black boots I own instead (sans purple stripes). I also want to replace the over-the-knee socks with something better, they were a bit more thick than I thought when I ordered them and not as tight so they fall down a little bit. I think I know what I am going to do to fix it (I will post that when complete).

Since Angela sewed the costume I am not sure of all the techniques she used. She has a serger so she was able to make it easier than I would ever be able to do! The white trim on the whole costume is a 2" width on the cape and then the vertical strip on the body suit is the same.

Costume and Price Breakdown (estimates):

Fabric: About $40 worth of Lycra fabric... I bought extra purple so I could redo the boots and socks. The bodysuit, shorts and socks... about $60 with shipping.

Pattern: n/a

Wig: $40

Shoes: Booooo to these boots, they looked perfect, but fell apart, but they only cost me $30... need to be replaced!

Weapon Props: n/a (I know she uses a bowstaff and crossbow, but carrying stuff is sometimes a bother!)

Other Accessories: The leather mask was about $50. I also bought some crazy magenta-pinky lipstick like she has in the cartoon. It looked really bright! The belt was $20 and the ring boxes where about $10. Purple eyelets where $5 and paint $2.

Time to Build: Not sure how long it took Angela to sew everything together... I will ask her! The belt boxes (painting & attaching the elastic and eyelets) was about an hour or so. Sewing the lycra to the leather boots took a long time and then found out after I could have easily glued it... but that is for next time!

Enjoy the photos :)

Hello, and First Costume Blog

Welcome to my Costume Blog, where I will be describing in pretty good detail the process of how I make/design/sew/produce my costumes. And to let everyone know right now, I DO NOT make all my costumes by myself, though, I have made a few on my own. I have a lovely group of girlfriends that help me make my costumes when I unable to figure it out. Sometimes it's just out of my comfort zone or I don't have the right machine. Some pieces for costumes I have had commissioned or have traded work for work.

My first costume I am going to go over is, since Halloween is getting closer!!!:

Sally - Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas

Completed March 2009

Why I wanted to make it:

This costume came from my love of this character. She is very sweet and innocent, but can show her stronger side by meeting adversity (or should I say Oogie Boogie) straight on. I always thought this would be a fun costume to design and make. Plus, I really wanted to make a Tim Burton character... and I have a few more in the to do pile. :)

Work in Progress:

I felt that I could pull everything together myself, the only daunting thing was the dress. As usual I wanted it to be spot on to the one in the movie, with the very subtle colours and designs (not the horrible easter-egg coloured Disney version you can buy at Halloween).

I started looking for fabrics that would match or reflect the colours and designs on the dress. But it soon became too time consuming and frustrating since I wanted it so exact. One evening I was doing research online and I came upon a seamstress that had designed a Sally dress to be pretty much exact to the movie! She designed the dress initially for children, but I found out she had made some adult sizes. So I emailed her for a quote and sent her my measurements and a few weeks later it was in my hands. The dress was exact, down to the muted colours, designs and embroidery, and it was all hand stitched together using black yarn!

Where I found it.

The wig was another challenge. I decided to go with a yarn wig rather than a 'hair' wig because I wanted to portray Sally in her ragdoll form rather than just a 'human' version of Sally. I did a online search for a yarn wig tutorial (really easy and great pics for instructions) changed it a bit to reflect Sally's hair. I bought a nylon netted wig cap and attaching the yarn to that was very easy (time consuming, but easy). I bought dark red yarn from Michaels.

The shoes where my own. I bought them from Spring Shoes. And the socks where actually licensed "Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas", I found them at Claire's Accessories last Halloween, I only had to fold them once so they were the correct length.

Costume and Price Breakdown (estimates):

Fabric: n/a - Commissioned dress from another seamstress - about $200

Pattern: n/a

Wig: Yarn (800 yrds)-$8, Nylon Wig Cap-$7

Shoes: My own... I think they were $50, plus the stripped socks... bought two pairs for good measure... about $20

Weapon Props: n/a

Other Accessories: I got red nail polish, red lip stick, black contacts, large fake eyelashes (kinda spaced like Sally's, and then white-blueish-green make up for my skin and blue eyeliner pencil for stitch marks.

Time to Build: The wig took a long time to make, probably around 5-6 hours, applying the make up took about 3 hours. I would like to thank my wonderful friend Rita Rogers for applying the makeup and drawing on the stitch marks (oh yes and Liann helped too!). Rita is a fantastic makeup artist. :)

Enjoy the photos :)