With many students stuck on campus without a car, it can be easy to turn to ordering Halloween costumes online. Outside sources seem like the obvious choice, but there is an option right below students' noses: the MSU Library and Surplus Store.
Online shopping means dealing with shipping and it can quickly become very pricey as students sometimes want multiple pieces for multiple costumes. Meanwhile, thrifting clothes or getting fabric from the Surplus Store is often a very cheap option, with most pieces being under $10. Students could get yards of fabric and work from there, they can transform an existing article of clothing into something new or use it as is. They can also dig into their own closets to find things they no longer wear and turn that into a costume piece.
Making a costume is easier than students would think with the help of sewing machines in the main library and the surplus store. Tucked away on the west side of the main library’s second floor is the Hollander Makerspace, home of 3D printing, Cricut and more. For sewing specifically, there are sewing machines, mending kits, other sewing tools and thread available for use either at the makerspace or for lending.
These materials are free, with the exception of late fees that will incur if the lent product is not brought back in its allotted 21 days. The Makerspace welcomes walk-ins, or students can make a reservation through the Makerspace’s website to guarantee that the item they’re looking for will be available.
The space has both mechanical and computerized sewing machines. Computerized machines may be more difficult for beginners to use, but every machine lent out comes with an instruction manual.
“Almost all of your sewing [for costumes] is going to be a straight stitch or a zigzag,” Makerspace Coordinator Jamie Moriarty said. “So in that regard, if you just want something basic, the Elnas [Elna 340 sewing machines] are pretty much able to handle anything, and pretty easy and straightforward to use.”
Sewing can be difficult, so hand mending is also an option, as mending kits are also available for use and lending.
Another way that the Makerspace can be utilized for costumes is through the 3D printer. Students send in the design that they want through the Make At State website, and then they will receive a price for the print, which they can approve or decline. The prints can take up to two to three weeks, depending on how busy the space is.
“We have had people print things like masks and costume parts here,” Primary Student Supervisor at the Makerspace Alex Seddon said. “[I] definitely have seen people do costuming that way. And I've never seen this happen in the Makerspace, but we have the vacuum former, which is like an old school way– the stormtrooper armor from Star Wars was all made on a vacuum former. But that requires a consultation before getting in. [It’s] pretty advanced, but it is available if somebody ever has that idea, maybe for next Halloween to have something vacuum formed.”
Vacuum forming, a way of shaping plastic through heat and a vacuum, can be an efficient way of making costume pieces as it takes a few minutes for one copy of something. Therefore making multiple copies, maybe for a group costume, would be easier on a vacuum former than the 3D printer.
Makerspace also hosts events and workshops throughout the year. They have Intro to Sewing classes multiple times a year, and they will be hosting a Clothing Repair-A-Thon on October 24, just in time for any last-minute costume adjustments.
The MSU Surplus Store and its creative reuse branch, Spartan Upcycle, can also aid costume making with their weekly Upcycle Friday events from 11-3 p.m., where they repurpose materials to make guided crafts. They are encouraging students to come to the space and work on their costumes using the supplies at the space, like sewing machines, hand sewing, fabric glue, tape, cardboard and more.
“Since we have [Upcycle Fridays] multiple times, we're hoping people have enough time to put [costumes] together,” Surplus Store and Recycling Center Education Coordinator Katie Deska Radigan said. We also are able to open up our workshop space if there's interest and requests for that. So as people are like me and they crunch for their costume, if that comes up, then they can ask about that. We'll see what we can do.”
The store hopes to offer up a clothing swap at each Upcycle Friday this month to help students find costume pieces. These swaps allow students to bring clothes they no longer want and trade for items that the store had or that other people brought.
“We have fabric [and] a bunch of other supplies,” Deska Radigan said. “We're putting out a call for more from the public, we're taking donations from the public at the Surplus Store Monday through Friday for things that students can use to make costumes. So clothes, accessories, Halloween costumes that they can reinvent. Crafting basics, like elastic, pipe cleaners, Velcro, buttons, zippers, stuff like that. And so we're hoping that'll really help to replenish us through the month.”
Students wondering what supplies the Surplus Store has or what times they can work on their costume can email recycleatmsu.edu for more information.
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