Creating the Jumpsuit or Coveralls

[DarthVader1]

This is the link where I got them from:
http://dickiesonsale.com/cottoncoveralls.htm

These are the real deal. Hope this helps. For the Red Kap coveralls, go to the link that's earlier in this thread.

And by the way, if you plan in ordering these, the size is according to your chest measure, and in Small, Regular, and Large sizes (not sure about X-Large or XX-Large)as of height, specially from your neck to the crotch area (which I think that costs just a little more) .

Robert

 

[fett234]

Dont want to take over this thread, But Im going the same dickies route, But around my way is a uniform store for nurses, cooks, mechanics and the have awsome used dickiesand redkaps and for $8-$10 .Plus they are already beat to hell. I love it. Only thing is I have to wait for grey ones to come in used. They have green and a electric blue like. And was wondering to get the light blue for ESB would getting the electric blue type and using rit work. For those who know.

 

[DarthVader1]

Not a bad idea, and more economical for your Fett needs. Just make sure that if you buy one of those, better take two. Remember the "extra" sleeve, shin and tight pockets.

Robert

 

[phantomfett]

BobaFettish--email sent with pic of the bolt info.

DarthVader1--Do you want a sample off of the bolt I got? I'm telling you, this stuff rocks! LMK. And it was only $2 per yard for sure. Also, how much of a "little" sample of the vest fabric do you need?

 

[TK3130]

phantomfett wrote:
Go twill--I found an entire bolt of light grey twill fabric at my Super Walmart in Omaha, Nebraska. I think is was $2 per yard--I got about 13 yards on the bolt. Twill has the right texture, and it has an awesome weight--kind of like denim. The bolt I found is just a slight shade darker than that vest fabric we all just got. Let me know if you have any questions.

Do you have a item or stock number or the name of the fabric? I'll have to see if the Walmart around here has it. Any pics?

 

[DarthVader1]

Well, I got already the Dickies' jumpsuits two days ago, and I can't afford anymore to try to look other ways to do the Jumpsuit, which I decided to go thru the Dickies and lighten them up. You could still send me a sample of the fabric at least to see the right shade of grey I'm looking for. PM me for info to send the sample.

By the way, cotton and twill in my opinion is not exactly different...cause there's cotton and there's cotton twill (used for work jumpsuits and coveralls), which I think that's the actual fabric used in the original, just looking at the Ref. CD and the jumpuits I got.

Now that you mention fabrics...do anyone have a little sample left available of the "actual" fabric used for the vest??? If anyone have a good piece available, PM to me and we'll talk about business here later on.

Robert

 

[ManicMandalorian]

After being tempted to buy the Dickie's jumpsuit on the weekend. $50 (approx.$35 U.S.) Today I found a jumpsuit at Goodwill for $15 ($10 U.S.) It's a Toyota! The colour is almost perfect and the armpits are ventilated. It has a double zipper too. Unfortunately, it's a little too short for me, so I guess I'm modifying it. If I'm only 5'6" the previous wearer must have been really short. The fit of the lower half is next to perfect, not baggy , but not tight. Keep your eyes open for these. I looked for the manufacturer's label for you guys but couldn't find one.
-MM

 

[DarthVader1]

I just tested my Dickies bleaching characteristics with a piece of the fabric left over from one of the jumpsuits. I used 1/4 (or less) part bleach (normal bleach), and 3/4 parts water. I left it inside a bucket for about 30 mins, and it lighten up a little bit...so the Dickies could be bleached, and you don't have to spend money and use the RIT dye remover. Of course, I have to repeat the process one or two more times to have the right shade of grey I'm looking for, actually using the fabric sample that FPOATO sent me a while ago. I'll be posting more of this process and progress soon.

Robert

 

[DarthVader1]

At this moment, I'm re-doing the bleaching process for the same piece of fabric, but this time leaving it for a whole hour, just to see how it comes out and doing the same with the black canvas I got for the boots. (Tyler...yes, I know...you said it before: the real ones were white and then painted...I know. I'm just testing the process as an experiment. If it doesn't work...I'll go for the white/tan color and paint.

But back to business about the Dickies...I just noticed that for the short sleeve "false seam" in the front, it's actually real! You could take out both sleeves and put the left on the right and viceversa. You'll notice that the seam is already there (where actually was in the back of the sleeve). Before attaching them to the long sleeves and the torso, you'll have to sew in the other lines (4 lines, I believe they are) that probably you could add just 3 cause the closure seam counts as one. After doing this, proceed with attaching the sleeves to the torso.

I'll be posting the results as soon as I finish with the bleaching process.

BTW...:cry I feel terrible to destroy and taking apart a good pair of Dickies coveralls for this :cry But the result will be worth it!

Robert

 

[DarthVader1]

I just went outside, and looked at the piece of fabric, and it's slightly lighter than the last time. I'm in the process of leaving the piece of fabric another hour to see what happens...just looking for the right shade of grey for the jumpsuit.

Robert

 

[Jedi Bob]

Robert,

I just want to say thanks for the updates. I am going to be following your tutorial very soon.

Keep em' coming!


Jedi-Bob

 

[DarthVader1]

Final result:

After leaving the fabric for a total of 2 hours in the bleach-water mixture (1/8 part bleach, 7/8 parts water), this is how the sample piece (center) of the Dickies looks like afterwards compared to the original Dickies fabric (bottom) and the light grey satin for the vest (top)

I'll leave it as it is now, cause the sunlight will lighten it up a little bit more with the time, and after a few washes in the machine (remember that's gonna really sweaty and stinky after a convention or activity).

Just remember to do this outside, cause the bleach has a strong smell, but not as much or stinky as the RIT dye remover. This process was a result of a "trial-and-error" basis, leaving 30 mins. first, rinse it, let it dry. Then another hour, rinse, let it dry. Then another second hour, rinse, and dry it (total of 2 1/2 hours) and drying outside in between washes, until you get the right shade of grey. I recommend to leave it for just 1 1/2 hours in the solution, and hang it outside with the sun, for a continuous bleaching process and to avoid lighten them up too much. The bleaching process also depends on how much bleach you use for this, but too much bleach will result in fabric weakness in the future, and will probably damage your coverall. So, just take one step at the time.

I'll be posting more about this and if you guys have a suggestion or if you like the colors so far for both my vest fabric and the jumpsuit, let me know.

Robert

 

[DarthVader1]

fpoato: Buddy, thanks a lot for the patterns before, I was able to do copies of the shin and thigh pockets and neck patterns. It's still like less from half way to get to the same color as the fabric sample you sent me before. I'd say that it's in the scale of 1-10 (1 is the darkest, 10 is the real deal) is about 7.
I'll leave it as it is for now, cause you know that the sun, the real weather, and the continuous washing will fade it a little with the time. I don't want to have a white jumpsuit in a year from now.

Thanks guys for your opinions, and I'll keep posting

Robert

 

[Jedi Bob]

DV - - what patterns did you end up using for the shin, thigh and neck pieces for the jumpsuit?

 

[DarthVader1]

Jedi-Bob wrote:
DV - - what patterns did you end up using for the shin, thigh and neck pieces for the jumpsuit?

Well, it's a collection of info from a lot of sources all in one. I made the copy from fpoato's pattern for the shin and thigh pouches, which Bobo has those patterns now, and now I'm in the process of customizing them for my needs. He probably gave me an average size (and probably accurate size) of pattern, which was made in a "Green Pepper jumsuit", which I think there's a thread of it somewhere around here, and he had to make changes to it making custom patterns for those, including the neck. At this point, I'm decided to attach the neck to the vest instead of the jumpsuit, that would be easier for me to hide the cable for the voice amp.

As of the shin and thigh pockets, I got those made from fpoato and I'm in the process of customizing them, so everyone could have an update of those and to see the easier way to make them, to fit the DarthFlan's shin tools and compare and measure with the side pouches I have so far for the thigh pouches...that's why I'm taking a little time with them, just to try to see the best way to make them easier to everyone and in the jumpuit (besides as accurate as possible). And the neck, I'm using the one it came with the pattern I'm using for my vest now. You could check the thread for the vest here http://tdh.prop-planet.com/viewtopic.php?topic=271&forum=3.

This week I'll have an update about the shin and thigh pouches and how far I'm going with those.

Robert

 

[Jango Wes]

Sears or JC Penny. I don't think Wal Mart carries them, but you might check.

Wes

 

[fett234]

You could even check workers wharehouses. Or thrift stores. I have a couple of uniform shops around my way in S Jersey and found a boat load of used Dickies and Redkaps here for $8-$15. And they look great, already faded and beat to heck. All colors from electric blue,green,grey ECT.

 

[Jango Wes]

Yeah! I didn't even consider Goodwill or the Salvation Army. I would think $2 is pretty cheap. I should probably head down there myself!

 

[DarthVader1]

Glad you got them.

Guys, I edited the recipe quantity for the bleach/water solution, just to make it easier and slowly. I don't want anyone to blame me for damaging the Dickies with bleach. Besides, that prevents the fabric of weakening in the future.

Just remember...one step at a time.

Robert

 

[Boba Freekk]

jumpsuit dilema

well its finally time to order my dickies for my ESB fett but im a little concerned about ordering what size.as for me im 5'6" and 130 lbs with a 30" waist.

these are the sizes on the dickies site:

Inseam 30" Sizes 38 to 56
Inseam 32" Sizes 38 to 60
Inseam 34" Sizes 42 to 52

i assume inseam 30" Size 38 would be my best bet.i know it seems like a dumb question but i just want to double check.