Question about using old bed sheets for armor

I was building a set of sci-fi shoulder plates and the usual craft foam was way too expensive. I had this pile of old cotton bed sheets from a garage sale, so I tried something wild. I cut the shapes, soaked them in a mix of white glue and water, and molded them over bowls while they dried. After three coats, they were rock hard! I painted them with some cheap acrylics from the craft store and they looked like real battle-worn plastic. Total cost was maybe $5 for the glue and paint. Has anyone else tried this fabric stiffener method for bigger pieces?

2 comments

2 Comments

emma_hayes8026d ago

Hold up, you molded them over bowls? Like, regular kitchen bowls? I can't get past that part. My brain keeps picturing a salad bowl with weird armor shapes stuck to it. Did you have to sacrifice a whole set of mixing bowls for this project, or did you find some at a thrift store? That's some serious commitment to the craft.

the_iris26d ago

That's a solid hack for sure. Did you add any water to the glue mix, or just use it straight? I've found a 50/50 ratio gives it more time to soak in before it starts to set up.