How to get this look to the fabric edges...

[Shadowe]

So I am making a costume for my hubby...the picture is the character he is going to a Science Fiction convention as, and I have a bit of a problem...



I need to get the ragged edges, like shown in the picture on the collar, sleeves/cuffs and the hem of the coat bottom and sleeves.

How to I get this look without it looking...I don't know, "planned"?  Any suggestions would really REALLY be appreciated.

I am using a woven poly blend in a medium to heavy weight for the coat, and a lighter shirting weight for the shirt.

Thanks in advance for all your suggestions, I just know someone will have some kind of idea that will work! 

[jamesosews]

You could try sandwiching a two-sided fusible between two pieces of your fabric.  That would give you some support to the collar and cuffs, help the jagged edges remain flat.  Then some choppy scissor strokes at the edges?  The fusible, hopefully, would allow you to not finish the raw edges.  This would get your around what would be a really scary challenge...turning that collar. 

[Claudine]

James has a good suggestion if you want to collar to lay flat, but that picture looks to me like the fabric at the collar is supposed to be pleated, and the peaks are the peaks of the pleats.  See how the collar is sticking up at the shoulder?  You could try fusing the white and black layers together with fusible web, then pleating them with the iron and snipping them to make it more jagged.  The fusible web should prevent fraying.  This looks like a really fun project.

[Shadowe]

Thanks for the suggestions James and Claudine! 

The collar is not necessarily supposed to lay flat, in the anime, the character is a spirit come to human form, and the whole thing is very, ummm, floaty(?) and flowing.  In this picture:



You can see the fabric is acting more like a very light silky fabric, blowing about in the wind.  So I will try the fusible, but perhaps go with the lightest weight I can manage to find.

I am NOT looking forward to doing the hems on the coat or shirt!  LOTS of ragged edges...but it's what hubby wants for a character!   

[shams]

I would not do a sewn hem on ragged edges.  It would weigh down the floaty effect you desire.  I would cut it in the ragged fashion you want -- in fact, I would have your HUSBAND do the cutting, since it's his vision.  Then I'd get out my economy size Fray Block and go to town.  Unless you want ravelly edges, of course.  Or maybe ravel the edges a bit and then prevent further ravelling with the Fray Block

I made DD1 a Polychome fairy costume years ago.  (Polychrome is the rainbow fairy from the original Oz books.)  I used organza for the skirt and I first "painted" a ragged edge using Fray Block.  When it dried, I went and cut along the "painted" edge.  Worked pretty well.  This is one of the few Halloween costumes I still have, so I should take photos at some point.

DD1 has her own tube of Fray Block.  She is a ballet dancer and uses it on the ends of her toe shoe ribbons.  I love the stuff.  One of my most useful notions. 

[my_seamstress]

I would draw the jagged edge on, straight stitch or zigzag the layers together & then cut the jagged edge.  There is a product called "Fray-Away Spray" that I get from Rowley Co.  I'd spray that on the raw edges.   I wouldn't try to stitch & turn edges like that.  I don't think I could get that to look right.

[Katherine]

There is a knit fabric called Glissenette.  I'm sure it's used for many other things, but I've seen it used in ice skating costumes.

It's a sheer knit that's light weight.  Since it's a knit you could cut your jagged edges & not do anything to them.

[Shadowe]

There is a knit fabric called Glissenette.  I'm sure it's used for many other things, but I've seen it used in ice skating costumes.

It's a sheer knit that's light weight.  Since it's a knit you could cut your jagged edges & not do anything to them.

Katherine,

THANK YOU!!!!  I ran out of time to get the garb done for this year, but since I have started on it, and we've bought several props, I will get some glissenette and play with it.  But, it sounds like you hit paydirt for me! WOOT!