Supplies
This is not meant to be an endorsement. In some cases here, I’d even tell you not to get things where I got them, or to get a different brand, but FYI, here’s info on everything I used and bought for the costume, alphabetized.
Acrylic Paints and Medium
Type: Titanium White, Phthalo Green blue shade, Burnt Umber, and Burnt Sepia, plus Gloss Gel Medium
Brands: Liquitex (artist quality), American Craft (craft quality)
Source: various art stores including Michael’s, Racine’s, and Palace Art
Cost: varied, 98 cents for the little containers of craft-quality, up to $10 a tube for artist-quality
My opinion: all good
Used for: headpieces, sandals
Bias Tape (“ito”)
Type: single fold, 13mm, lavender
Source: Joann’s Fabric
Cost: a couple bucks
My opinion: if you can’t get real ito or don’t want to, this will do in a pinch, but it’s not the real thing
Used for: sword, scabbard
Cardboard
Type: mostly single layer, non-corrugated
Source: collected over time from moving, packages, etc
Cost: free
My opinion: cardboard rules
Used for: sword, scabbard, headpieces
Copper Wire
Type: narrow gauge
Source: bead store (I forget the name)
Cost: I forget, maybe about $5?
My opinion: worked fine for what I needed it for
Used for: headpieces
Dowel
Type: poplar, 3/8”
Brand: Lowe’s
Source: Lowe’s Hardware
Cost: 49 cents
My opinion: very handy and cheap
Used for: hakama
Embroidery Thread
Type: rayon, silver-white and light green
Source: Joann’s Fabric
Cost: on sale, 49 cents each
My opinion: pretty! Worked fine for what I needed it for.
Used for: headpieces
Fabric and Thread
Type: black and white mercerized cotton/polyester thread, simple cotton/polyester fabric in black and white, the green fabric for the scarf was something else, but I forget
Brand: various
Source: Joann’s Fabric, Sew & Sew
Cost: varied, total investment about $40 in fabric
My opinion: I would get heavier weight fabric for the hakama, but it would be more expensive
Used for: kimono, obi, hakama, haori, gloves
Gaff Tape
Type: white
Brand: Surtape
Source: inherited from a show I SM’d
Cost: free in this case, but normally ranging from $6 to $25 per roll
My opinion: gaff tape is the best tape in the world, I’m bummed I used almost my whole roll
Used for: headpieces, scabbard, under it all
Gloves
Type: white “wrist-support”
Brand: can’t read the kanji, from Japan
Source: Ichiban-kan (store in Japantown, SF)
Cost: $1.50 each
My opinion: worked fine, especially for the price
Used for: gloves
Hair (synthetic)
Type: #1 jet black, 18” Yaki Pony Braid (is just hair, does not com braided, is the straightest synthetic hair you can get)
Brand: Sassy Collection
Source: Sally Beauty Supple
Cost: about $3 per package, I got two
My opinion: it worked better than I’d expected once I straightened it
Used for: headpieces
Hair Clips
Type: “no slip” for fine hair
Source: Longs Drugs
Cost: a few bucks
My opinion: did not work for the unusual purpose I put them to
Used for: headpieces (then cut off when they didn't work)
Hair Dye
Type: midnight black, semi-permanent
Brand: Natural Instincts by Clairol
Source: Longs Drugs
Cost: on sale about $5
My opinion: worked great, I like Natural Instincts brand, but it really stained everything it touched
Used for: my hair
Hair Ties
Type: black rubber, a large amount
Source: Sally Beauty Supply
Cost: $3
My opinion: worked fine
Used for: headpieces
Headband
Type: smooth black pleather, stays on with tension
Source: Safeway
Cost: about $3
My opinion: tension gave me a headache, didn’t stay in perfectly, but worked okay, made it possible for me to wear my headpieces, so I’m grateful
Used for: headpieces
Hot Glue Gun
Type: a tough kind, not the cheap, pink, little kid’s hot glue gun
Brand: Stanley
Source: Target
Cost: $20, plus glue
My opinion: it rocks
Used for: headpieces, sandals, sword
Iron (clothes iron)
Source: my friend had it
My opinion: essential for hakama making
Used for: kimono, hakama, obi
Modeling Clay
Type: white, air-dry, non-toxic
Brand: Daas
Source: Racines Office and Art Supply
Cost: about $4
My opinion: worked fine
Used for: headpieces
Modeling Clay Tools
Type: wooden
Source: Palace Art Supply
Cost: about $4
My opinion: definitely useful
Used for: headpieces
Monofilament Line (“fishing line”)
Type: not sure any more, clear, and moderately thick, but not for ocean fishing
Brand: unknown
Source: I forget (probably Payless, which tells you how old it is)
Cost: long forgotten
My opinion: one of the essential things in life
Used for: headpieces
Newsprint, plain
Brand: unknown
Source: packing material
Cost: free
My opinion: worked fine
Used for: sword
Pattern, Kimono
Brand: Folkware
Source: Fabric Indulgence
Cost: $24
My opinion: hard to understand, confusing, but we made it work in the end
Used for: kimono
Pattern, Hakama
Type: standard (not the pattern for extra large people)
Brand: Round Earth Publishing
Source: direct from company, over internet
Cost: $17 plus shipping
My opinion: really hard to understand, but we made it work in the end
Used for: hakama
Pins and Needles, etc
Type: straight pins, hand sewing needles, and sewing machine needles
Brands: various
Source: various, mostly fabric shops, some inherited
Cost: varied, a few bucks
My opinion: essential
Used for: kimono, hakama, obi, gloves, haori
Placemat
Type: hard plastic
Brand: Target
Source: Target
Cost: $4
My opinion: worked great
Used for: sandals, hakama
Rope
Type: natural fiber
Source: Soko Hardware
Cost: $12
My opinion: worked fine, glad I found it
Used for: sandals
Sandals
Brand: xhileration
Source: Target
Cost: about $7
My opinion: worked fine
Used for: sandals
Sewing Machine
Brand: Singer
Source: my friend had one, and I used my mom’s
Cost: already had them, normally expensive for a good one
My opinion: essential, but I’m glad my friend was driving
Used for: hakama, obi, kimono