If you are a costume designer, it's time to pull the plug on your Swinger and pull the trigger on your brand-new glue gun. In-the-know costume designers have long abandoned tedious stitches in favor of the quick sealant and staying power offered by a glue gun.
As Kevin Kelly from Cool Tools puts it, "A trade secret from professional costume designers: throw out your sewing kit. The way to make quick and dirty costumes is to scrounge for old clothes, cut them up creatively with your scissors, and then instantly reassemble the pieces using a hot glue gun."
Kelly goes on to explain the benefits of using a glue gun for costume design. " No measuring, no patterns, no threads. The glued clothes hold up remarkably well. Since you can even wash them, it works for local theater shows."
According to the book Instant Period Costumes: How to Make Classic Costumes from Cast-off Clothes by Barb Rogers, "A glue gun and glue are the most important tools you will need. With them, you will be able to place fabric where you want, embellish your garment without sewing and seal raw edges. A glue gun produces a versatile substance that dries quickly, is washable and a great time-saver."
The author discusses her search for the perfect glue gun. "I've tried several types of glue guns over the years. When they first came out, they were all "hot" glue guns. When I was beginning to wonder if I had any fingerprints left, I found a low-temperature gun that works just as well. It can still burn you, but doesn't go through three layers of skin. It dries more quickly than the hot gun and is washable."
Rogers brings up an important point that not all glue guns are created equal. The new cordless glue guns, battery-operated glue guns and dual-temperature glue guns are all examples of innovative new models that will prove most handy to a costume designer.
Newer glue guns also boast consumer-sensitive features like workspace lights and ergonomic grips that make costume designing more pleasant and enjoyable.
According to another craft site, an extra benefit of working with a hot glue gun for costume design is glue's forgiving nature. "It sets quickly and makes less mess than most other glues and has the unique advantage of being re-melted for easy positioning," the site states.
When deciding which glue gun to get for your costume design needs, it helps to consider the type of project you are doing. If you are doing light applications such as gluing on dolls' eyes, floral construction, light assembly and repairs, an inexpensive glue gun could do just fine.
If you are doing more heavy duty glue-gun work, such as carton sealing or woodworking, a more expensive glue gun is in order. Depending on what kind of glue gun work you are doing, it is not always necessary to pay a ton of money, but do remember when it comes to glue guns you definitely get what you pay for.
Note: the one thing to consider when costume designing with a glue gun is that you cannot wash the costumes in anything but cold water and then air dry them. Heat will undo your glue gun's hard work! Happy gluing!
Some information taken from: Cool Tools, Kevin Kelly
http://www.glu-stix.com/shop/page/Hot_Melt_Glue_Overview.html
Leave a comment