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| Kermit collar closed and pressed. |
I pinned both satin pieces to each other, good side to good side, on each spike, and a few pins on the neck opening. First I hand sewed, with a backstitch, the side back seam, on each piece. Then I opened up the seams, and pinned both pieces together on that seam. I started hand sewing, also with a backstitch, both pieces together, on the outside seam, with the spikes. When it was completely sewn, I trimmed and scored the edges, and turned it. It was a patience step, and it took a while. Then I test inserted the foam collar, to realise, half way, that it was a bit too big. So, I took it off, and trimmed the EVA foam about 1mm on the spikes side and side/shoulder seams. I glued the shoulder seams back together, with contact glue, and proceeded to insert the foam inside the satin. I did this spike by spike. About half way, I realised I was inserting the foam front to the satin back, so I had to take it all off and start again. Double checking if the foam was matching the satin, I started to insert each spike again. I ended up using a method where I folded the spikes upwards, matched the inner corners, and then carefully, with the help of a bamboo spatula and a bamboo skewer (the rounded side), I rolled each spike inside the satin. Some worked better than others, but they all look fine. I should have rounded the foam spike ends by 1cm, as the point added a bit too much bulk and was harder to insert. After a while, a bit too long, I finally inserted all 10 spikes. Then I adjusted and reajusted all, until I was happy with it, and pressed each spike and the whole collar. One of the inner corners frayed a bit, but I added a drop of UHU glue to it, and it worked. I've been out of Fray Check for ages... Then I scored the satin neck opening and turned it, both sides, to the inside, keeping, like with the spikes, the fabric folds to the bottom part. I pinned them together and started hand closing them, with a ladder invisible stitch, straightening and flattening the satin in each spike as I went.
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| Beaded Kermit collar. |
Looking at the reference picture, I marked where the half spheres would go. As only about three spikes are visible in the available pictures (and I wasn't in the mood to watch the film for such a small and random detail), I based the bead placement on the others on those three. One thing they had in common were one bead on each spine point, alternating between one green, and one yellow. Then I put a glue bead on each dot, a few at a time, and proceeded to glue all of them, usually starting with the yellows, as there are less of them, and then filling in the greens. I made one or two blunders, where the glue is noticeable, but it's mostly OK. I used super glue, because my E6000 is almost dry. I hope they will keep steady, but on futher inspection, I think i even hlued them to the foam inside, so, I think it's OK.
Meanwhile there was a spray paint promotion at Lidl, so I got a matte clear varnish, a white and a black paint. I also sanded the Xmas ball edges. I'm now trying to figure out how I'm going to attach the eyes to the hood.
So far, this costume has been a bit off, as far as materials and colours is concerned. The satin should have a bit more blue in it, the velvet should be a little less bright, and the beads should have been crystals. Jit to talk about Miss Piggy's ears and snout, which won't be made like a Muppet's, and pingpong balls are too small for a human sized Kermit hoodie. But it's fine as long as the overall result works well together.
+ I was very eager to make this, and it looks awesome. It wasn't hard to make, even if there were a few blunders, and if it tried my patience at times.
- Having to insert, and reinsert the foam inside the satin 3 times, wasn't fun. I also should have rounded the spike points in the foam, it would make them easier to insert, and add less bulk to the points.
THE CUNNING PLAN
Cut the velvet parts, and make the gloves pattern. Also make the Kermit eyes, and Piggy ears and nose.
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