I have decided to attempt to pleat the fabric, using a fusible interface to stabilize both the fabric (I agree it looks stiff) and the pleats themselves. I am going to paint the pattern on after pleating it, since the pattern is not interrupted by the pleats themselves, but flows right along with them. I'm hoping this will create both the look of the lines and the flow of the pattern. I will have to have the tabards extend into the skirt. I think the best place for the seam is underneath the torso armor, down the sides of the skirt portion. The torso armor should hide most of the seam. I am pretty sure it has a tan piping around all the edges. Yay. . . Piping. . . After the last costume I worked on piping is not my friend.
I have a body suit pattern that I will modify to make into a shorts body suit. With an invisible zipper up the back. The neck piece will be separate, I think. Then figure out something for the stripped pattern on the sides. The ones that run perpendicular to stripes on the tabards. So much to still work out.
I have swatches of purple stretch fabric on the way for the leggings and glovelets. Now to figure out how to make armor from scratch. I can manage the torso and shoulder armor, but really want to find someone to make a 3d model of her lovely helmet. I, unfortunately, haven't got the skills to do something that complicated.
