My first con in 2010 cost me maybe $40 total for a Jedi robe

I made it from a brown bed sheet and a rope belt. Back then, I thought that was the only way to do it cheap. About five years ago, I found a local thrift store that sells old curtains and tablecloths for fabric. Now I can make a full pirate coat for under $15 using a heavy curtain. The material is way better and looks more real. I still use bed sheets for some things, but having more options changed the game for me. What's your favorite thrift store find for a costume base?

3 comments

3 Comments

janaf761mo ago

That curtain fabric trick is solid. I once made a whole wizard robe from a thick, patterned tablecloth I found for three bucks. The brocade pattern looked like real embroidery from a distance.

dakotaw841mo ago

My cousin's Ren Faire costume last year was made from shower curtains, so tablecloth wizard robes are basically high fashion. That three dollar find is the kind of win that makes digging through a weird thrift store bin totally worth it. I love when a pattern tricks the eye like that from across a room. It proves you don't need fancy materials, just a good eye for a bargain and some decent sewing skills.

dylan_stone3327d ago

That "pattern tricks the eye" part is so true. I see it everywhere now, like printed vinyl that looks like tile or contact paper made to seem like marble. It's all about finding that texture or repeat that sells the idea without the real material cost. Makes you look at discount bins in a whole new way.