Question for all you Clown sewers

Miss Petunia · #1 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 08:33 AM

Hey everybody,
What is the best option for fabric when making a clown costume? I need something light-weight because I tend to overheat easily. I will be making a rag-doll style dress (I think) and bloomers. Probably an apron or two also.
Thanks in advance for your input,
Carrie

Nettie Belle · #2 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 08:59 AM

Hi Carrie ...

I use cotton or whatever I like, but I don't wash my costumes a lot because I have so many. My friend, Hopscotch, however, will only use poly-cotton, because it retains it's freshness and doesn't wrinkle as much, even with washing it a lot. She's a stickler for "POLY-COTTON".

Miss Petunia · #3 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 09:10 AM

Thanks Nettie-Belle,
I was thinking poly-cotton, shouldn't wrinkle as much (I hope)
Carrie

Fitzwilly · #4 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 12:23 PM

Pricilla Mooseburger only uses poly-cotton on her normal creations. I had her search and find a special weave so mine is wool, but she swears by the poly-cotton.

Miss Petunia · #5 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 12:53 PM

Fitz,
Yours is wool! Isn't that rather warm? Maybe you have a special wool from hot-blooded sheep so they don't need thick wool

Carrie

Fitzwilly · #6 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 01:15 PM

Lets just say that I wash my suit quite frequently, even after winter gigs.

Miss Petunia · #7 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 03:16 PM

Have to keep hydrated! You must be dedicated, my new outfit will be as cool as possible, even if it have to be made of 100% cotton and ironed!

Gummy the Clown · #8 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 03:43 PM

My wife says use 100% cotton because it will pull the moisture away from the skin and keep you cooler.

Fitzwilly · #9 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 04:03 PM

I wear cotton underneath or one of the cheaper new athletic wicking materials.

P.S. What is an iron?

Giggles the Clown · #10 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 05:54 PM

Like you, I am very heat sensitive (aren't we all to one "degree" or another!) I wear cotton and cotton poly, loosely fitted, no long sleeves for Giggles. But the biggy for me is the wig. Can't wear one, simply too hot. I wore a full wig on Christmas Eve (outside)and it was still too warm. So I sew pigtails into bucket hats and decorate the hats with large flowers and other clown-like objects (as long as they are light in weight). I make the pigtails from wigs, just take them apart and braid them. I am very careful to wear shoes in the summer that breathe a lot. Now, I will never win a clown costume contest, but my outfits seem to please the kids and their parents, so I'm happy, and best of all, I'm not uncomfortable nor am I at risk for heat stroke (I hope).