Jedi Costuming, Part II Tunics, Sash, Tabards, Pants By Jedi Kai-Thri Ona Overtunic Following one line of thought, the overtunic and undertunic are nearly exactly alike except for the sleeves. The overtunic is like a karate gi or a kimono in that it is loose, one side overlaps the other and it has wide sleeves. In The Jedi Meditation Chamber (website, http://www.rebellegion.com/jedigarb/ ), Amber recommended Simplicity pattern number 8311, at left (no longer commercially available). I’ve also found McCall’s pattern 2940, middle, which includes a gi pattern as well as kimonos. As of August 2002, another pattern came on the market that appears to be the closest thing yet to Jedi costume. It is Simplicity 5840, second from right. Then Simplicity 0579 (at right) was issued. However, neither is really quite correct but the are a good starting place. As of this writing, it is rumored one or both will be taken off the market. I use the same pattern for both over and under tunics but just alter the sleeve for the undertunic. Make sure you make the overtunic long enough so that when it’s belted it still looks right. Undertunic The undertunic differs from the overtunic in that it has longer, tight sleeves that are “rucked”. I also think it makes it easier to wear if the undertunic is of lighter weight fabric. The sleeves can be cut tighter if they are cut on the bias as that will make the fabric stretch slightly to fit over the hand.. Both tunics are held closed with ties. I’ve lately tried used Folkwear #111as the undertunic. I use this for streetwear and it fits so well I decided to also use it for my Jedi costume. I is not screen accurate. 1 KateB jedikai at comcast dot net updated October 2006 The finished edge of fabric is the salvage. The bias runs 90 degrees to it. Cutting on the bias gives the fabric piece extra stretch. This is a photo of Qui-Gon’s tabbards which illustrates the seam. Band No band There have also been some photos found that give evidence that at least the overtunic has a waist seam. The back of Obi-Wan’s tunic seems to flare as he moves, giving further evidence that it may have a skirt like piece. At left are the pattern pieces for the front of the tunic. At right is the back. The curved waist of the skirt can be eased into the straight top piece. See “Making a Jedi Tunic with waist seam” The photo above illustrates that the band collar only goes to the waist. Below the waste there is no band. 2 KateB jedikai at comcast dot net updated October 2006 Obi is the sash which wraps around the waist under the belt. I first tried a fabric belt which was just a very long, wide strip of the same fabric from which the tunics were made. I found this to be quite unsatisfactory. The best design I’ve found for this is done by Sauja Dupen. His web site was http:// members.rogers.com/james.sauve/jedi/obi.htm but it is no longer up. There is also noting wrong with using belt in the Simplicity patterns. Use hooks and eyes or Velcro to close it at the back. A good technique for hook and eye closure is to alternate the placement. Hook, eye on once side and other the other Eye, hook. Tabards: These are just two long rectangles. I sewed two pieces of fabric together. Make them proportional to your shoulders and a few inches longer than the tunics. Recent evidence is that there is a seam, tough. Pants You can either make some simple pants or buy some off the rack. Mine are inexpensive cotton pants from Lands End and Wal-Mart. Cotton Khaki pants work well also. Amber’s site has instructions for making simple, drawstring pants. KateB jedikai at comcast dot net http://home.comcast.net/~jedikai/ 3 KateB jedikai at comcast dot net updated October 2006