Create A LARP Costume! LEVEL ONE of Level Up LARP 

Level Up Seam Ripper Pro Tip: Use it right-side up. ** life changed **

for the extra sleeves instead of a wearable garment, I think an unorthodox-shaped bag or pouch would be interesting. And it would make sense for an adventurer to reuse loose fabric. Plus if you use the same chrometan leather it can match your vest! Just a thought! Love what you're doing mate!

I actually have very little interest in getting into LARPing. But I do play DND and I have been getting into bushcraft stuff a lot the last few years. I feel like this still all translates. I love your videos! If nothing else, the editing and your talking is super entertaining. And I just want to make a full character and outfit for no reason whatsoever. Keep doing all the awesome things!

13:15 you should use those to add hidden pocked inside the piece you just altered. when you sew them in, continue the sewing line so it looks like a kinda pattern on the outside.

I'd call your character Hex. A big part of making LARP fun for everyone is playing along with the little things.

Been waiting for this! Can't wait to see what you do with the Burgschenider stuff!

Double fold your hems so they won't fray with use or forget folding and seal the whole thing in bias tape. It can add a cool border and you won't lose fabric to the hem.

if you find your bracers falling down towards your wrist; use the sleevs to go under the bracers. the little bit of bulk will help keep them in place. Also, they will protect your wrists from the leather edge rubbing them raw

You could sew the sleeves together and add straps to create a thigh pouch. That away you have a large thigh pouch to carry stuff and it matches the vest/ over coat bringing the upper and lower sections of your outfit together as matching.

OHMYGOD that seam reaper thing i am SO MAD at my mum and gran! NOBODY TOLD ME. Thank you, Kit

That fabric would make a great scarf! Scarves go undervalued in LARP, can be taken off for bushcraft needs, cleaning cook gear, stopping a wound temporarily, and above all else: temperature control! Soak it to cool off or cover your nose and mouth to warm up. Also, every rapscallion rogue needs a scarf

Love the dog collar addition on your right arm. And I see you with that new dagger ;)

I absolutely love including your dog's collar!

Interesting. Sometimes it is so strange watching these projects working. Then when it all goes together.... WOW!!!!

I could feel your terror during the cutting sequence, but look how good you did!

That seam ripper tip, a life saver thank you!

You could use the excess fabric to add pockets to the project. Pockets are always good.

for the sleeves, you could turn them into a part of leather chaps acting as part of the linkage from belt to chaps and protecting sensitive areas from leather chaffing ;)

My thought for the sleeves is to make tube bags using them, especially if the more pointed shapes can be maintained on the bottom and top-flap.

I was definitely today's year old on that seem ripper, that's life changing lol

Now that you mentioned you have a doggo you must pay the doggo tax. Cerberus must cameo in your next video!!

I just bought a top at the Renaissance faire that ended up a tad too small for me, but I’m going to use these tricks to make it fit me! Genius!

I'm so stoked for this contest. Everyone has been creating so many amazing things so far! I hope I can get mine done on time. I had so many setbacks, but things are coming together. >w< Also, your laylin tunic was probably too small because the one available for the contest was for women. They're just made smaller. :P As for the extra pieces; bracers, greaves, gloves, or pouches for your belt.

Be careful with Garath's pipe. On your elbow that stem will take a beating. You may want to install it on a loop on the inside of your surcoat. I get the Churchwarden style, between Gandalf and its actual use, it makes sense for a fantasy ranger type. But practicality (since he probably isn't smoking it on patrol) a short stem would work most effectively in dealing with breakage. The Churchwarden (ostensibly) gives your eyes a break from the lighting process so you can maintain your vision without obstruction. (You know, being warden of a church or something at night.) But you may just want to make a firm leather case specifically for the pipe, to protect it. I love that pipe man. I have been buying and smoking pipes for 25 years, and that was a fun project. I'd hate to see it lost.

Use the sleeves for jack straps or "Leg wraps"

You should consider using brown bag decoupage for cuir bouilli. You can find tutorials for doing brown bag decoupage on RU-vid, but basically you use brown shopping bags or builder paper, rip it into pieces, crumple it, then glue it down. The end result looks like expensive leather, and you can use wood stain to tint it any colour you want. The glue makes it pretty stiff, but you can also finish it with Minwax to make it waterproof and rigid. You can cut up some cardboard and piece it into shape with duct tape, then do brown bag decoupage over it and it'll look just like cuir bouilli. I had a store with terrible, hand-made counters. The landlord wouldn't let me remove them, so I used brown bag decoupage to turn them into expensive-looking leather countertops. Doing 20 feet of countertop cost me less than $10. The best part is, because it's just paper and glue, if it happens to get damaged, you can fix it by just gluing down a patch of brown paper over the damage and it's good as new.

As a spy you need secret pockets in that new garment to tuck in some spells or healing items as well as an escape and evade kit like some caltrops, flash paper or smoke bomb type things. The extra cloth will work well for this as it matches the material already.

I think using the extra bits as padding for under your bracers would make sense both from a character standpoint and from an in universe functional standpoint, as having them sit just on your tunic sleeves or shirt sleeves would make for less shock absorption from an impact, and it would also give you a little extra wear and tear protection from your bowstring as well.

The sleeves might be fun as pockets on the over tunic. Keep in mind they will add weight and maybe help the lay of the garment

Well, you leveled me up. I had no clue about the seam ripper thing. I've been using it wrong since grade 6 family studies... mid 80s

For the leftover materials (sleeves), make pockets inside your vest/coat

I would definitely use them along the shins as a type of gaiter, maybe opened up along the back and secured with fabric straps of the same color (if you have enough material).

You can use the sleeves as lining for other bracers or greaves so you can have more thieves tools, spells, potions, or your money

I think it would be really cool to see a video of all the tools you think a starting maker would need. Or maybe like tools that you use the most?

So you are a thief, spy, archer and spell thrower at once ? WOW!

Attach the sleeves back to the shirt with the same leather loops and cordage you used to attach the sides together -- this way, it can be an 'add on' when it gets cooler out... kinda like zip off legs on dad shorts, but this is tie on sleeves for LARP shirts:)

DUDE!!! That seam ripper tip! I've been doing it upside down for my entire life!!

This was a fantastic addition to Garath's garb. I loved the side splitting and tabs to secure it back together. With the sleeves, you could always make them into pouches that could be attached inside of your new tabard kinda like you did with your rabbit fur pouches in your winter gear.

Turning the sleeves to boot gaiters would tie the costume together nicely, especially with a little leather added like the vest.

This came out awesome! Great job!

Your not alone, from you I leaned I was using a seam ripper wrong and I know a lot of people who know how to sew. For the sleeves maybe some Victorian cooking sleeves covers. I love your videos.

Thank you so much for the tip about the seam ripper, cause I didn't know that.

Use the scrap sleeves as arm covers. Maybe look up gambeson construction and give it a gambeson look. I recommend this because those bracers are hard up on your arms and might get uncomfortable while wearing. Make yourself some padding to protect you from your armor. An important concept for when you move to plate armor. ;)

I've been (hobby) sewing for nearly 2 decades and never realised I was using a seam ripper wrong.... wow I feel oblivious, thanks for the tip!

I think you should turn those sleeves into fingerless gloves. I really loved last year's LARP ranger gloves, and it's a shame they didn't see much use. However, I quite enjoy your new "refined" look, while still remaining true to Garath's woodsman roots. So some smaller, more refined gloves of the same fabric as your new duster would look cool. And you could still reinforce them with leather, especially the right-hand one, or your drawing hand. Archers often had leather tabs on their gloves to protect their fingers from the bowstring. Your LARP bow isn't nearly heavy enough to be a danger, but in-character, it seems realistic.

You could sort of re attach the sleeves with lacing and keep them detachable if that interests you, fabric scraps to carry on you to make repairs also makes sense

You give so many amazing ideas!!! Love your character backstories!

Oh My God the Seam Ripper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIFE CHANGED! Thank You!

A roll hem might have been a better idea for the edges to prevent fraying. As to the sleeves, a pouch, hidden pocket, lining for another project, even better---a hat.

You should make them into boot covers. I think that would look cool

Your leather sewing machine is a cobbler's shoe patching machine, and YES they are great for costuming.

You could use the sleeves to make a hood for the duster. Maybe attach a strip of the same leather to the top edge to match the rest.

Thanks for the great content! It has been really fun to watch your content, not only is it informative, but your presentation is amazing and fun! Even my teen son enjoys watching, which is something considering there is no video game content, lol. For the left over arm pieces do the same lacing but back to the shoulder as a detached sleeve. This gives a great layer affect with the under garment and if you can get some more of the same fabric you can make a "long sleeve" variant for cooler weather. Have done this for a medieval "princess" dress and looked stunning.

From your thumbnail I lost you lost weight😂 “how to upgrade costume after weight gain” That was really tight on you!

McLovin the Double Sword Draw...great homemade bandoleer.

I love the detail of adding your dog's collar to your garb! I still have my dog's collar two years later.

I've always hated using seam rippers, I could never figure out why I couldn't make them work... Learning to turn it right side up might be the biggest thing that I've learned from your channel.

I love your thieves tools. Can't wait to make A set of my own.

Oh, and that brown leather on the new tunic... could certainly use a Skill Tree logo... 😀

You might sew the sleeves into a nice matching livery

This reminds me of that "How fashion people want men to look vs How men want to look" picture 🤣

I have literally worked as a Seamstress and I didn't know that seam ripper trick! Thank you for that!

Love the vid as always. I will say though longswords are by defenition two handed swords, things like D&D and other pop culture have simply missused the term to describe arming swords wich are the actual one handed swords. Real longsword are the classified by pop culture as great swords wich are also historical weapons but they are more like polearms instead of actual swords since they are by definition larger than the person wielding them. Just something I always feel the need to adress whenever it comes up since I actually work with these thing on a regular basis IRL.

Use the cut off sleeves as either short garters over longer garters for laters or save them to patch your vest/cardigan thing

@8:00 You could use the unroll the sleeves under your arms to give your self the room you need.

Ayy my man awesome work as always! also, use those scrap sleeves to fit on some boots, I reckon those would look pretty nice. Also, I wanna thank you for reigniting my "Crafting spark". I now got some stuff I´m making myself.

Extra arm pieces.. use them for the basic form for mittens for those Winter Ranger days...

If the sleeves are stretchy (like t shirt material) i would make them into a buff or face covering. Old t shirt sleeves work great for this. You can leave the edge ragged for a badass look or put some frills or lace to dress them up. Good way to camouflage tour face when going stealth mode.

10:20 one trick I learned (being super poor) was to use some brownish Walmart yarn and twist it like how you turn plant fibers into rope. The end result is similar to twine (if done tight enough) but tends to take me about 30 minutes to an hour for a foot of the finished product. After finishing with twisting, I run a lighter down it to burn off the small frays that pop out from the string. I think it looks somewhat cool and might work in place of leather strips... though the oils from your fingers might untwist some of the yarn near the end, which will make it almost impossible to continue twisting it (it is noticeably different, no matter how much you twist it back and it may appear worn in that spot :c).

For the extra sleeve bits, you could do a set of hand warmers/gloves, you could even do a hidden breast pocket under your added leather panels

Ugh it looks so good I'm so jealous

Okay, so my idea for the extra sleeves is that it becomes a visual diary, it will also require a specific subskill in Textiles. Embroidery! My idea is that each larp you participate you take the most memorable moments and embroid a pictures onto the sleeve. On other larps if someone asks you what this picture means, you can then take the picture as a visual input for a tale of your past adventure. Imagine sitting at campfire showing people the embroidered sleeves retelling your greatest moments (all that in a naturally feeling aspect of your character). Edit: it would also be a potential long-term project where you can show specific embroidery techniques, making embroidery perhaps even worth of being it's own skill

Weathering! Weathering really ties an outfit together, I would love to see you weather your outfit

Down in the doobly doo....that’s a phrase I haven’t heard in a long time.

Great work you doing

I'm so glad you didn't use the scissors I just about had a heart attack.

Using the sleeves as an arm wrap under bracers is what I would do, leather bracers aren't the most comfortable part of an outfit, and that fabric underneath would be great. I did this with extra material from my sash on a pirate garb I'm working on.

Too clever! What a happy misfortune of ordering & sizing failure.

WHAT so I've been using the seam ripper upside down the whole time too?! Oh man thank you, this changes everything 😅

Late to the party but totally think just making detachable sleeves will make this look DOPE

I really was scared you were going to butcher those sleeves! Cheers on the seam ripper discovery.

I was today years old when I finally learned the right way to use a seam ripper...

Literally had no idea that there even was a right way to use the seam ripper, and presumed that it just took that long to rip seams. I’m still chuckling about it.

So.....I've been using them upside down as well. lol Thanks for the new info. XXXD

Try making a hidden pouch, or maybe a sleeve sheath for a knife with the extra fabric. I feel like your character, who is somewhat rogueish would maybe hide a dagger in a sleeve/bracer.

I have been binge watching your entire channel for the last week plus, going all the way to the end as we know the RU-vid algorithm loves it when we do and of course liking every video. I would like to add a challenge for you with something you seem to enjoy and also have the tools to make. I think it would be epic for you to make your own functional pipe. That is one rabbit hole I can certainly see you going down with great glee and excitement and be able to put your own special spin on the design. Always looking forward to your next video and thanks again for all you guys both do for the community.

Amazing as always dude!

you can use the sleeves to make a mask, since you said that Gareth is a spy. I was imagining like cutting a mask piece and then to tie it in the back to have 2 leather loops tied together with leather cord, to mantain the same look as the "jacket" and maybe even add some leather decorations on it. BTW here are some names for the "jacket" (flow vest, magicians poncho or casual rangers vest).

I love these videos. I wish i could afford to get into the competition. It looks like a blast, but again, no monies to buy...well anything. But i have learned a lot and i cant wait to get into my first real larp later this year

Awesome work, I love your content. I would take long sleeve clothing or a wizards robe, or something like that, and add the cut off sleeves from the tunic as a reinforcement of lower arm portion. Probably something of a different colour, light green for example, to add a bit of contrast. Big, strong and fluffy dragon hug for all of you.

Ugh...you always make me want to buy more tools...that leather sewing machine looks clutch.

Hi Kit, Just watched this video and, as usual, it's great! Just one small thing of occurs to me, maybe you slip the dog collar under the lacing of your sleeve to keep it in place when you're moving more actively, eg. Fighting/ running etc. as you wouldn't want to lose it especially as it's your actual dog's collar! Or perhaps make one specially for your character! Anyway, great vid! Keep leveling up!!!

I didn't know that about a seam ripper. An arm cover looks good.

With some laces or buckles, those sleeves could become gaiters to cover your boots

So that's how you make a leather strap. Good to know. I need a pants video please. Pants and shoes are my sticking points.

That nice an simple but yet complex I like the style that school and it didn't take long probably a lot more effort in person versus the video that was edited probably several times lol thanks for your knowledge

I too was today years old, thanks for the tip!

You should finish the sleeves the same as the rest of the garment and have them connect to the shoulders the same way you laced the sides. That way you have removable sleeves like some gambesons have

You could use the remaining sleeves as the topmost layer in upper arm gambison. Just add some reinforced mounting points to the upper shoulders of that open tunic and you could get a cool cross lacing design. A good example of what I'm talking about would be the arms on Living Anachronism's custom gambason. It would give you a slightly more war-like look, a bit more armor, yet wouldn't heat you up much more on the LARP field.

I’m not sure about the sleeves, but those two pieces of leather you stitched on at chest level just scream “pockets” to me