Making a Leotard: Part 1

[@susanmadison4066]

This video series has been a GAME CHANGER for me. I can't thank you enough! I can't wait to watch your other videos!

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

I'm so happy it was helpful to you! Thanks so much for watching!

[@sarahherschell119]

I've been trying to sew baton twirling costumes for the last 5yrs and gave up a year ago as just couldn't get to grips with it. But just seen tour video and it's so detailed. I am going to give it another shot. Thank you for the detailed videos. 🤞😁

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

Sarah Herschell you made my day! This is why I’m doing these videos. I was in your shoes about 20 years ago, and my friend taught me how to adapt a pattern. Now I’m trying to pay it forward. Happy sewing!

[@rosestewart1606]

Thanks for the tips! I've been making baton twirling costumes for my daughter since she was 4 and had to figure it all out on my own. I always traced my patterns too and then made changes on the copy. Thanks for showing how to add the shape to the bum. I needed that because my daughter has one now 😂

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

Sounds like you and I learned much the same way! I did have a friend who helped me get started, but most of what I learned was through trial and error ... emphasis on the error!!! Sooooo much ripping in the early days!!

[@melissagreenhough4015]

Fantastic videos! Thank you!

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

Glad you like them! Thanks for watching!

[@wendyfuselier8934]

Thank you for your video!! I am a seamstress who is wanting to venture into sewing dance costumes. All the best!!!

[@housevssarah]

Thank you so much! This is so incredibly helpful!

[@FreetheTongue]

I'm SO glad I found your channel! I am a rollerskater and we wear costumes similar to ice skating dresses. They are EXPENSIVE, and I get why but I've been wanting to learn. I have made a couple following the pattern exactly but I want to learn how to make my own designs. Thank you for showing those steps! My question is, how do you know where to cut those different neck and backlines without showing things you don't want to? You seem to know where on the pattern those points should be, which I'm assuming is from experience, but how did you figure it out in the first place? Did you take certain measurements? Thank you again for these videos!

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

I really just use the eyeball method, but you can learn to do this too! You have to visualize where the bust, waist and hips are. Since you're only sewing for you, make a leotard out of some light colored lycra from your favorite base (but don't serge your seams), then mark with a pen or pins to show your critical coverage areas. Rip the leotard apart and transfer the markings to your pattern. Now you're ready to draw whatever you can dream up! You may want to go and watch my videos, "How to Make a Custom Dance Costume Pattern" and "How to Make a Custom Dance Costume with Cutouts". They should help get you started. You can do this!

[@FreetheTongue]

@@RhinestoneQueenCostumes mind blown. Never would have thought to make a basic leotard and mark the places on myself! Brilliant! TY

[@samiwoo22]

I just adore this fabric, I know the video is 2yrs old but do you by any chance remember the name of the fabric? I live in the UK so I will have to source it from the Internet...... no "Joanne's" in Britain 😭

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

Sadly, no, I don't know the name. I picked it up at a local store in New Orleans a few years ago. It may not even be made anymore. You're not missing much without a Joanne's! Their selection of dance fabrics is limited AND expensive! I buy mostly online.

[@samiwoo22]

@@RhinestoneQueenCostumes thank you so much for replying. My business is in alterations, manly wedding dresses and evening wear...... I have been asked to make a competition ballroom dress, and am really nervous about it, this is how I have found your videos...... I am loving them all. They are really helping me. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise with us all. Kind regards

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

@@samiwoo22 You've made my day! I so admire people who do what you do! Whenever someone comes to me with a wedding dress related anything, I just want to run away! They frighten me so much!

[@EllaSimone113]

This was really helpful! could you tell me where you got your template for your leo? I am struggling with mine.

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

I think this was Kwik Sew 2263. I probably bought it 10+ years ago at Joann's, but I've seen this pattern available online on Etsy. Just keep at it ... you'll get it! I made so many errors when I first started! Just remember - the only people who don't rip are people who don't sew! You've got this!

[@oceansea799]

Thanks

[@belensilva5561]

Hi there! what a great videos! can I ask you which kind of materials for lining? Thanks!

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

I usually buy swimsuit lining from whatever spandex vendor I'm using. I buy most of my spandex from Stretch House, Spandex House, or Spandex World in NYC. They should all carry the lining. Thanks for watching!

[@heidiklepsch2074]

This tutorial is brilliant, thank you so much for sharing it! I'm new to sewing and dream of having my own dancewear and costume business. ♥️ What fabric are you using as a lining? Does it have stretch that is equal to the outer lycra? *whoops, all I had to do was watch 5 seconds longer to get my answer! 😅

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

Glad you found it, and sorry that I'm just seeing the second part of your reply that contained a question! You can order spandex lining from any of the Lycra vendors. I usually buy online, but sometimes can find it at Joann's (the ONLY fabric store in Baton Rouge!)

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

Thanks so much for watching!!

[@Michelle_Volk]

Thank you for this! my daughters dance solo costumes and figure skating dresses are beginning to get VERY expensive! Im REALLY good at rhinestoning, and know the basics of sewing...so I'm going to try this out and maybe in the future I can design her stuff! My question...my daughter is 8 and I have this pattern in the size 4, 5, 6, 7...she's VERY tiny for 8 and her measurements are putting her in the 4 size except for girth (I'm assuming that's height on the pattern) she measures 42" instead of the 41" in the pattern...would I at 1" at the shorten/lengthen ling? Also, the lining fabric, is that a mesh, or is it just a nude thin lycra?

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

Lots of my little clients are shaped like your daughter. Your pattern should have a shorten/lengthen line near the waist. Trace your pattern onto paper, cut at the shorten/lengthen line and add the spacing needed to stretch the size 4 circumference to the size 8 girth. Watch my video on how to make a pattern if you need to see how it's done. The lining I used in this video is no longer available. I had a huge bolt that I bought from a sale table years ago and it just finally ran out. I'm now in the process of figuring out the lining I prefer. I've tried the one from Joann's and the ones from Stretch House and Spandex house. They all work fine. The one from Joann's is not a full 4 way stretch, so I cut it on the bias, which means more waste. I do like the light weight and thinness of both of these and have used both successfully in costumes. I'll probably lean towards the ones from Stretch House or Spandex House (they're the same) for now, just because it's less expensive and I don't have to cut on the bias.

[@breannawilliams6641]

Where do you buy quality fabrics? I found that at some of the chain stores, if you stretch the fabric, it doesn’t go back to its normal state after being stretched. If that all makes sense!

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

The base fabric of the leotard in that video was from Jefferson Variety, a local store in New Orleans, and the black milliskin used for straps and trim was ordered online from Stretch House out of NYC. I make most of my bases out of 4-way stretch fabrics - milliskin lycra, velvet, pin dot, metallic, etc. I buy most of my lycra from Stretch House, but have also been pleased with stretch fabrics that I've purchased from Spandex House (NYC) and Blue Moon (CA). All 3 of these places can provide you with swatch cards, usually at a cost. I'm blessed to have a couple of fabric stores only an hour's drive from me in New Orleans (Jefferson Variety and Promenade Fabrics), so I shop there in person often and have had great finds, like the fun print on this leotard. Occasionally, I get lucky at Joann's, but for stretch, it's mostly online ordering for me.

[@polkadot8788]

If you can't find swimsuit lining can power mesh be used as a lining?

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

You can use any lightweight Lycra as a lining. Just make sure that it stretches 4 ways. Sometimes power mesh stretches only 2 ways, so make sure of the stretchability when you purchase your fabric. Since making this video, I've begun purchasing my lining from Blue Moon. I really like their feather nylon spandex for lining. It has great stretchability and it's lightweight. Here's a link ... www.bluemoonfabrics.com/products/feather-nylon-spandex-fabric?variant=41843136856218

[@susanhornsby2876]

Could you tell me what fabric I need to buy for the lining please, thank you.

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

The lining I used in that video was from a 15 yard or so bolt that I picked up on a clearance rack a VERY long time ago. It finally ran out, so I searched to find the best lining. I finally discovered "Feather Nylon Spandex" from Blue Moon (CA). It's lightweight so it doesn't add too much bulk to seams AND it stretches 4 ways! Love it!

[@susanhornsby2876]

@@RhinestoneQueenCostumes thank you so much.

[@brendahughes1661]

Where can I find the patterns?

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

You may have difficulty finding the exact patterns I'm using because they are probably considered "vintage" by now. I've had them for probably 15+ years. I like Kwik Sew patterns, but there is a newer company since I've been sewing, called Jalie that sells leotard patterns online that many of my colleagues really like. Kwik Sew is still available, but you may have to use a different pattern than I did. I'm in the USA, and can find patterns at Joann's or any fabric store. You can also find them on Etsy. Just choose one that has the basic shape that you want and make modifications from there. I do have a video on making a custom dance costume pattern that may be helpful to you. Hope this helps! Happy sewing!

[@amifarrow1982]

Thank you for your lovely videos! I love the bubble butt cut you added to this. I’m wondering if you have any tips for accommodating large breasts on an otherwise pretty small teenager. When I use her correct measurements I get a very strange shaped pattern and end up have to alter the dress in the end. (Figure skating dresses) thank you ❤️

[@RhinestoneQueenCostumes]

Darts or princess seams are going to be your friend with a large busted dancer. Try to find a pattern with either of those to use as your starting point. I cut the bust/waist/hip measurements as they are for each person, so one person might be a L bust, but M waist and hip or some other combination. When I'm doing a costume for a large busted client, I usually use my mannequin wearing a bra filled to my client's size (bust and under bust measurement) then drape the cut bodice and pin my darts in. You also may want to watch some videos on increasing the bust measurement on a pattern. (Sorry, I don't have any of those.) When I sew for myself (which is rare), I refer back to those to adjust my patterns. I can't recommend a specific one, but there are a few out there that I found helpful.