Wee Ninja - Part 5

Yesterday was a pretty interesting day in project Wee Ninja. First off, I test fit the armor with the new snaps and the sword. Somebody liked the outfit a lot. He liked it so much that he proceeded to draw the sword and then whack me over the head with it while I was trying to take his picture.

WEE NINJA ATTACKS!!!!!!





After test fitting I started working on the pants and shirt. I don't have a pattern obviously. Having just tried to make two garments without a pattern I now understand the value of having something to follow. I actually ended up making the outfit twice, but that wasn't on purpose. I started off using a heavier cloth because this thing is going to be worn in October and that's not exactly a warm month in most of the country and especially not in Seattle. Before I got to the sleeves though, I ran out of cloth. Keeping in mind I was going to have to remake everything anyway I decided to just test fit the pieces I made on the little monkey then make some adjustments when I made the second set.

First off, using the Japanese style shirt I have for reference I drew and then cut out some pieces for the front and the back.





I then used a pair of pants that sort of fit him how I want the ninja pants to fit to cut out a pattern.



I then sewed everything together. As a side note for those interested, sewing a pair of pants is a rather interesting endeavor. I've been into martial arts for over 20 years now, and when I was younger my mom used to make my uniforms to save money. I didn't realize it at the time, but having seen her put a pair of kung-fu pants together was really useful today.

First you sew up the outside edge, and then along the inseam. Rinse and repeat on the other side.



Since I didn't mention it already, you're doing all the sewing for this garment (and really most garments) with theh thing inside out.

Next step is to sew the two pants legs together by folding the cloth of each leg towards the inside and then running a stitch down the middle. What you'll end up with is something like this:



And viewed from what will be the outside:



After I finished the pants and the shirt I tried them out on Wee Ninja. Total elapsed time from cutting the fabric to trying out the garments: 45 minutes. That's just friggin cool. I LOVE SEWING! Everyone should learn how to do this. What other skill can you use where you go from completely raw materials to a nearly finished item in that short of a timeframe?

Side Note: Man, do I get some weird looks and conversations in the fabric store. First off, I've been to three different ones and haven't seen a single man working in the store. It's mainly older ladies and younger girls, the latter of which seem to be primarily of the Emo variety. The older ladies are shocked that I know how to use a sewing machine. The girls are just shocked I'm not gay. Here's a good example:

Emo Girl: "So what are you making?"
Me: "You seen Batman Begins? I'm making the ninja costume from that for my three year old."
Emo Girl: "Wow you have a kid?"
Me: "Yeah...??"
Emo Girl: "Well, it's just, you know. You know how to sew."
Me: "And what implication might that have?"
Emo Girl: "Well, most guys that come in here that look like you are gay."
Me: "Great. I'll take three yards please."

I'll take the "I look gay" part as a compliment on being clean cut and slim. As for the rest I'll just say that people who are hung up on dated heterosexual notions of what's manly or not manly need to get over that BS. Straight guys should go out and buy a sewing machine and learn to use it. Tell yourself it's a survival skill or whatever you need to to make yourself happy.

Back to Wee Ninja.

Trying to use a toddler as a fashion model is a rediculous affair. He won't stand still for even ten seconds. I had to have his mother come over and grab him just to keep him somewhat contained for long enough for me to even get the clothes on.

The shirt was right on. Sweet.

Tha pants were the right lenght, the right width at the waiste, but down the legs they were too tight and didn't have the kind of baggyness above the knees that I was going for. I could have been depressed by this. Here's what I do when that happens:



I drew out a slightly different shaped set of pants and re-did everything in the lighter fabric that I have vast quantities of. I haven't test fit the new garments yet but I'll get to that later on today. More to come!