I finally managed to finish part of my Sora Naegino cosplay this week but it was not without sqealing as I kept thinking that I would glue my hand to my head or something.
All of us have gone though this multiple times; the annoying numb sensation because you have a thick layer of Superglue on your hand! It is not very practical at all!! It keeps flaking and you could barely feel a thing. It is not a clever idea to bite it all off as it could cause more trouble than before.
The quick solution? NAIL POLISH REMOVER!
That is right! By using an Acetone based nail polish remover you can soften the glue. The Acetone creates a reaction to the cyanoacrylate by softening it,
Be sure to soak you skin in soapy water as it would help loosen it a little quicker. Then simpy apply the nail polish remover after lightly drying your hands. Acetone degrades the polymer and gets rid of the icky feeling.
Acetone dehydrates your skin so be sure to treat your hands to some moisturizer at the end. You may want to wash yor hands too as it smells icky!
Whatever you do do not use cotton be it be buds or whatever. Cotton contains cellulose that would fizzle and burn in reaction to the Cryanoacrylate.
I apologise for the lack of activity as life has been pretty hectic lately. It was a jumble of volunteering, costume making, attending Em-con and stuff. Hopefully pretty soon things will settle when I get a job and I can post more again.
Warning: This is written way past midnight so forgive me if any of this sounds like gibberish.
While I have been on-topic a common question that cosplayers ever ask themselves is: is it ever okay to put 'cosplay' on my CV?
What is the purpose of a CV (the UK equivalent to an American resume) is to give an employer an insight to who you are as a worker. This will include you personal details, work history and education and is often a first step for employers to determine your suitability for the role.
We are talking serious business here but at the same time you want to show that you do more in your life than watch Jeremy Kyle and drinking cheap ciders on street corners. As a cosplayer that may be the unlikely case but for someone to just know you on paper they may be unaware that your life is far more exciting that that.
On the flip side, many outsiders are very unaware of the nerdy side to this. Not aware of the many hours you have spent behind the sewing machine getting the seams right or the hours of emboldening they might only see cosplay as a childish and unprofessional hobby. The media shows mixed and sometimes even distorted views on the hobby so watch out!
There is no definite right or wrong answer to this, and the decision varies from person to person. However if you do decide to proceed with it you may want to consider the following:
Be smart! What exactly are you applying for?
Consider how it fits into the job description. If you are going for a seamstress job, theatrical costume designer or a haberdashery/fabric shop then YES!!! However, if you are going for something more serious and reputable like Law or Science then that might be another case.
How would you word it?
One common idea concerning this is that you should avoid using the word 'cosplay' and use something more universally understood such as 'sewing', 'dressmaking' and 'theatrical costume design'. 'Cosplay', to someone who is unaware of the hobby, might sound ludicrous or even a fetish scene so it could be off putting to some potential employers considering that the term is not widely used and understood.
Would you feel comfortable explaining it?
You might be asked to elaborate on that hobby at an interview at some point. While I like to tell my none anime-fan friends that it is simply 'the recreation of attire sourced from fiction', the way I would word it elsewhere may vary depending on how comfortable I am with that person. I often say that 'I do a lot of sewing so I am familiar with different types of fabrics and textures' at an interview for shops that sell soft furnishings or clothing.
Cosplay involves the following:
Careful planning and initiative; ability to plan ahead, budgeting, research and working interdependently.
The drive to meet deadlines, priorotisation, concentration and working under pressure.
Problem solving and creativity.
Ability to use various tools and materials.
Ambition, challenges and confidence.
Willingness and confidence to be around people, especially strangers.
Mathematics.
Actually many jobs will require most, if not all, of the above skills!
With caution cosplay can show that one can be a promising and determined employee. Cosplayers come from all walks of life, many are students and many work too. I'd strongly advise that playing around the terminology and thinking about how you can make sewing sound as if it is in a professional light.
Anyone who knows me well will know that I love entering masquerades!
Being backstage can be very daunting but don't let
it put you off from doing a good show!
At any anime convention you will expect a stage event where cosplayers volunteer to show off their work on stage. Depending on the event some masquerades are competitive where others tend to just be just a little fun. There is alot to them so here is a little guide to help you make the most of them.
A common misconception is that masquerades are only for the best cosplayers. This is, in fact, not true at all. While some cosplayers go to show off their best efforts, entrants often join in for the thrill of it or to simply work on their confidence.
Please not that this guide is aimed for the UK convention scene and many events may have different variations to what may be expected. On YouTube it seems that some countries use the word 'Masquerade' to what we Brits call 'Skits' or the 'Omake'. To avoid any confusion,please read the guidelines for your chosen event.
Pre-registration
Not only they are popular to watch, but they are popular to enter. Naturally there may be a limited number of slots to allow the event to not drag too long (think of the entrants near the back and those behind the mics).
At a certain time before the event there may be a application form you may fill in. Nothing drastic, they just want to know a few details such as your name, character and sometimes even your choice of music. Entrants would often enter their best costume they bring to the con. It would be an absolute waste to wear a PE uniform on stage while you plan to wear this amazing ball gown on the floor. Get a group together if you wish.
Changes and special requirements
If you decide to opt out for any reason or have a new costume planned at any point then please e-mail or inform the event organisers as soon as possible. If you have any special requirements such as wanting to be near friends in the que, health issues or wearing a costume with limited visibility/mobility then it will be a good idea to let them know these things and they will do their best to help you out, such as getting a helper to guide you on-stage if you are unable to see properly.
The atmosphere
Masquerades are often performed on stage in front of a large number of attendees.Being a staple event, expect the majority of the con to be rooting for you! You would often get lined up in a certain order so the person calling your name to get called onto the stage will know exactly who will be on the stage next and you too will be aware of when to be strutting your stuff.
Before the masquerade you will be asked to attend a briefing. They allow the organisers to register who has turned up. You will be given the opportunity to ask any questions at this point aswell and to make changes (I will advise you to email the organisers for anything major). Use this opportunity to soak up the atmosplhere and try to visualise what poses would look great on stage.
The set up varies depending on the event itself; MCM Expos and Alcon have the main stage, Kitacon is well remembered from its glorious catwalk, FushiCon (videotaped below) had the box and AmeCon relays across several rooms. You will always be informed by the set-up by the organisers so be sure to listen to it during the briefing.
Lets make the most of it!
Arriving on-time
On the day you arrive make you read the schedule carefully as there will be what is known as what will be along the lines of 'masquerade preparation'. You MUST make sure you arrive before the designated time. You may be disqualified from the event if you fail to attend. Some event might make exceptions only for those who have entered events in the past but it would help alot if you attend. You are not expected to have you conbags or conbadges at this point so make sure you allow a friend to take care of your stuff for you. It should be just you and your costumes.
At this point there will be a register roll and your names will be called out. This just makes sure that everyone who should be there are present and cross off the non-attendees. You will be given instructions on how and where to pose and be given the opportunity to ask questions. Your names will be called out again to get in line for the que so the names of the participants will be parallel to the names listed when they get called out when you are ready to go onstage!
It is highly recommended that you are dressed ready for the event at this point too bar some quick make-up touches. Is this a judged event?
Remember not all masquerades are judged while sometimes are combined with the contest. Some people have a competitive streak while some just like being on stage. Check with the convention to see if they are the same event or if they are separate. You can even take part in both if you wish!
Staying in character
This is important if you are going to be serious about this. It is generally acceptable to enter just for fun but many of the best photos tend to show personality. If you are dressed up as Guy-sensei, show off some awesome kicks, if you are Princess Tutu and ballet trained, do some lovely ballet poses (or do some good research to get the stances right but please do not go en-pointe if you have not been trained properly!). They do not all have to be signature poses but doing the right poses, walk, expressions and stuff are all signs that you are well connected to the character.
Mess around backstage and make friends
The other entrants will be just as nervous backstage so it is a good time to mingle with other cosplayers and share the joy to help yourself (and others) to calm down. Do Darlek impressions with the electric fans, laugh, joke around and make a mustache using your hair/wig. It may make a massive difference for the good to the girl on the brink of tears (or even nausea). It is a good time to get to know others, which helps distract you from the anxiety.
Even veterans get nervous
Sometimes you will be nervous but there will be times where you are more excited. Sometimes it could be a mix of both so don't let nerves put you off from future events.
Walk with confidence!
This is perhaps the most important thing! You would not slump when you get photographed on the con floor so why should you when you get shot my dozens, if not hundreds of photographers at once? Keep your back straight, strut, keep your chin up! You'll look fabulous so don't let bad posture ruin a good photography opportunity! If you are nervous, fake confidence! The rest of the convention will be behind you cheering and you will get a lot of respect for your guts.
POSING!!!!
To avoid looking like a dork, be sure to plan ahead and have some idea how to pose. This is especially important if you are in a group but if you are going solo you can improvise. This is the opportunity to show that you know the character and doing this properly can get you some extra brownie points from the fans.
Due to the lighting of the room chances are you will look more washed out than usual. To avoid looking like a ghost be sure to tone up your make-up to further promote your finer features. Use plenty of foundation, keep natural looking tones for your eye-shadow and add some warmth to your cheeks too! Food! Glorious food!
Be sure to do this at all times during the con but it is especially important in the masq! With the briefing, wait for the event to start, wait to get up on stage and watching the other entrants it may take a few hours and you will be hungry/dying for a beer by the end of it. The lighting here will be more intense than in the halls so to minimise poor skin showing and the risk of passing out be sure to have a light meal before the event.
Be sure to have a light meal before the briefing. I like to take my time while getting dressed and drinking tea to help calm me down. It will be handy to have a light snack in your room at this case but be sure to eat before getting into costume. It helps to take your time to apply make-up and getting the wig right so it helps stretching the time it takes to get ready. If you don't take care of yourself it will show!
Take your time
Not everyone has fast cameras and some people will be using their smartphones so it is a good idea not to rush if you want the crowd to fully appreciate your work. My favourite way around this is to keep on moving while having poses in between movements. Make a performance out of it, freeze for 5 seconds, show your grace and repeat. The photographers will be grateful for it, the videographers will have some nice footage and you will be happier with the results.
Avoid speaking/shouting unless you are Goku shouting 'KAMEHAMEHA!!!!!!!'
This is more of my opinion than anything. You are unlikely to be given a microphone so your voice will be washed out by the background noise and music. Masquerades are an opportunity to show off your costume and is often seen more as a visual art. You may want to enter the omake instead if you plan to have any dialogue.
It is a quiet Friday night. You have just finished gaming
and nothing exciting is happening on Facebook when you suddenly get a
hypercreative brainplosion when you realize you have some leftover cardboard
tubes, a toy gun and some glue. The convention is not until like 6 months later
but it would be nice to get that rifle out of the way before you advance onto
the sewing.
Later on you have managed to get all of your costumes done
so the last few weeks before the con is going to be a breeze…that is until you
suddenly you realize that not everything will fit in the suitcase! Your clothes
fit in fine, and the same with your costumes. You have managed to put your
toiletries into your rucksack. It is just your rifle you are having trouble
fitting. For starters, it is too big, and even if you can fit it in it would be
far too delicate to stay in such cramped conditions.
Oh dear! You haven’t finished your driving lessons yet so
that is a major no-no and none of your friends are willing to pay the
extortionate parking fees so using a car is out of the question. It is a real
shame as this would actually be the easiest option as you can go straight to
the convention and just leave your stuff in the boot while you travel. You have
decided to go by train. However, you have done such a fantastic job on your
rifle to the point that it could stir up some panic if seen. Many cosplayers
have come across this problem in the past, and there is always a huge number
that will. It is a wonder that so many props make it to the convention in one
piece.
If it is a staff or looks especially harmless (and not
easily broken) you can just carry it by hand assuming you have light luggage.
If this is not the case it would help to pop your prop in a bin liner. You can
consider using bubble-wrap to give it extra protection. Sadly, you lose a hand
to carry the rest of your luggage so either have a friend to help you can
consider packing light to make the journey a pleasant one. Props that are
sheathed onto your back can be carried the same as you would in costume as long
as they would not interfere with you moving about.
If you are transporting something much bigger (like Halo armour
for example), extremely fragile or a specifically styled wig then the practical
option would be to put them into boxes. Smaller boxes can be put into suitcases
so you get the best of both worlds of safety and convenience. It can be a good
idea to play Tetris with parts of costumes and T-shirts to help cushion your
work while at the same time free up space in your normal luggage.
Alternatively, you can make them in a way you can collapse them so they would
be much easier to manage. From experience, I have found that using a clear plastic
bag (particularly the zipped ones where car parts are sold in) is really useful
as not only you can make sure the props are intact, but it also shows other
commuters that there are some fragile objects that they need to watch out for!
Things you might need to consider:
How much walking do I need to do?
How can I make carrying all my stuff more conformable?
Can I handle all the weight throughout the whole time?
How busy would public transport be?
No matter how well you transport your props and regardless
if they survive or not there is also the issue of them breaking during the
weekend. It would be helpful to bring super glue and extra repair supplies in
case such accidents happen. As a last resort you can always ask a family member
to give you a lift if you don’t live too far away.
Cosplay is certainly not without the odd bit of suffering,
whether it is wearing high heels, needles jamming right into your foot and the
odd uncomfortable journey but do not allow that to ruin your chances of having
a good challenge. You’ll arrive and people will see all the work you have put
into everything and you will forget the rage you had to endure.
Please be aware of the rules the convention may hold for props and weapons. Chances are that there will be a size limit and materials will be taken into consideration, and such props may only be allowed for masquerades, competitions and certain photoshoots. Please read the rules before you begin making your weapons (SRS BSNS!!!)
Sometimes you need time to decide on your next costume. Considering time, money and resources it can be at times quite a difficult choice. Their may be numerous costumes you would like to attempt but at times you may need to weigh up the pros and cons of making a costume, such as learning curves and what features of your body you are willing to show.
The good old Sailor Scout uniforms are
excellent examples
Some costumes, while they may seem beautiful on the character, might be a challenge in itself trying to figure out how to make them look good on yourself. Most of us of this world are not born with long and slender legs, eyes the size of dinnerplates and completely flawless skin so if we strive for perfection there are many challenges that we must consider to make the costume look best on yourself.
Despite all of that a common misconception is that a perfect cosplay is in perfect proportions to the character. That on the other hand this is not quite the case as we are born with many body shapes and sizes so it is up to us to decide what looks best for us as we are the ones wearing the costume. If it is the case that the'one size fits all' rule applies strictly on costuming then lots of opportunities to make a costume look even better for yourself becomes wasted, or even not attempted as 'visual perfection' would not be possible in the 3D world.
If you are cosplaying a character that shows leg or stomach and don't with to put these on show as much then you are more than welcome to add a few more inches onto your clothes to better cover problem areas.
Revealing costumes don't just apply to those that are showy on the skin; they can include skin-hugging costumes too. Although they may mimic your own natural body shape it is often pretty easy to wear some foundation garments under the costume to prevent unwanted jiggling and panty-lines. Some fabrics may be more flattering to certain body types. For example, T-shirt fabric might be a possible alternative for spandex for those who are not quite as confident with their bodies as it is thicker but still has a nice stretch. Make sure you don't make anything too tight as fat would bulge, and if they are too loose then the costume would look unfinished.
Now we have gotten the types of costumes I wanted to take a look at, the number one rule rocking any costume is to be confident! If you don't feel comfortable with what you are wearing then it would show and affect your posture and mood, making you appear worse than you feel. Confidence and generally feeling good about yourself would often make any costume look (or at least give the illusion of it)better where slouching and generally being unhappy would make even the most well made of costumes look bad. Don't stress yourself and certainly do not be afraid to challenge yourself every now and then, bring back ups when in doubt and wait until you feel more at ease if you need extra time for weight loss or confidence.
From experience I find, although very uncomfortable, that heels are often a great asset to making a costume more visually appealing. This creates an illusion that the legs appears longer than it seems, making them appear slimmer. However, I suggest that unless you often wear them that they should only be worn for short periods at a time or changed to flats regularly/while going for long walks. Most people will understand if you need to change back into them for photos. Consider putting some time aside that night to pamper your feet as they deserve a break and they would most likely ache that time. Gel cushions work wonders so be sure to prep some before to go to the event! Pantyhose/tights will give your legs a nice sheer and will also give your legs support and hide away imperfections.
At the end of the day, costume making is basically your own interpretation of the design. It is your creation, a result of your own hard work. In other words, be happy with what you do!
I secretly had this tutorial prepared for you guys since Boxing day as I couldn't help but to want to start the New Year with new content. Thankfully I had most of this written already considering I have been nursing a hangover today.
The patten I made for Hikaru's bodice using this tutorial
I know it sounds odd but masking tape and cling film are pretty handy for certain cosplay techniques, especially if you are make form costumes such as non-stretch leotards and maybe even corsets. Here are some examples to how to make your costumes easier to make.
Sometimes normal pattens can be hard to come by or a deadline is getting close so you cannot even consider buying one so you will have to improvise. You come up with a draft but its not going to plan. It needs to be close fitting and it needs to be perfect. Try wrapping yourself in cling film! I know it does sound kinda awkward like some creepy BDSM practice but it is a very handy and accurate method getting patterns quickly. I am defiantly not a fan of maths and measuring tapes but I can reassure you that they are really easy and you can alter and reuse the patterns. Sadly I didnt have any photos of the process a few months back so Ill do my best to explain :'D Sorry guys! However I did manage to save the patten I managed to create using the method.
These methods are really simple and the materials are as cheap as chips and easily found in many shops! You will need the following for all of them:
Cling film
Masking/duct tape
Permanent marker
Scissors (make sure they are thin!)
1) Pattern making
Say for example you want to make a bunny suit (a classic example for this method). Unlike most leotards they are often made out of a none-stretch fabric such as PVC in the cosplay world and they would often have complicated pattens if you were to go with the usual design. It can be possible to do this alone like I had to with my Hikaru cosplay but if you have a friend to help you it would be much easier.
To do this, you begin by wearing whatever underwear you plan to wear on the day (this is important as shapewear could alter your figure slightly).
Wrap your torso with a few layers of cling film in the areas you wish to pattern on your body. Make sure you add a few inches as masking take can get annoying with contact to skin.
Repeat step 2 with masking tape.
Get your marker pen to mark where you would like to cut. Think about the best places to add the seams.
When you are happy with that, carefully cut yourself out along one of the marked seams. It feel likes you are removing a suit of armour at this point.
Cut the rest of the seams.
You should now have a patten! Draft it onto some spare fabric to make a mock first to ensure you are happy with the measurements. Don't forget to add seam allowance!
2) Making a cast
If you have a lot of complicated bits of thermoforming to do for some accessories but the heat would be a bit much and you may need somewhere safe to put them in between making them.
Arms and legs are much easier to add clingfilm and tape on than torsos. You can easily do it yourself. Taking the arm for example:
Wrap your arm with cling film.
Repeat with duct tape/masking tape
Draw a line from one end of the arm to the other. This will act as a line to cut your arm free.
Once it is removed, get some additional tape and reconnect the cut to make a tube.
Carefully seal one of the ends but try not to distort the shape.
Using any scraps you can fun (paper, fabric, even bits of tape) stuff the hell out of it!
Seal the other end.
DONE!
3) Duct tape dummy
Just imagine the steps above but it concerns the body from the neck down (or just your torso). I already have a second-hand mannequin so I never really had to take this step but I feel that is it very handy to know should you feel it is of use. If you have no access to a mannequin (they are pretty expensive) they are a much cheaper alternative and you can be sure to get the measurements right. The end result should resemble a shell-like bodysuit with stuffing.inside.
Due to my lack of experience and your safely, I will cover the basics but I'd suggest looking into researching proper ways to make these. You will need a friend or 2 for this so it will be a good laugh! Be sure to use the bathroom first as the process may take a while.
Get some old clothes that covers every inch of your body. Painter's coveralls are ideal and really cheap. Please note whatever clothing you wear will get destroyed in the process so old and unwanted clothes wiil work best.
Cut the tape into short strips! Make sure it is heavy duty tape. Begin at the torso around the stomach.
Make your way around the body and keep going.
Once you are done use a marker to mark out any costume construction details.
Carefully get cut out and use some additional tape to repair the cuts.
Before going into cosplay myself I had never imagined it to have such an impact in my life. My life pretty much resolved around the arts back then and now it made me realise that it is pretty much my lifestyle too, not just a phase. I always enjoyed Graphic design, gaming and drawing, and before I knew it I have gotten into costume making and crafts. Now it branched into fashion, game design and make-up too!
Back in late 2007 all I wanted was a friend that I felt could relate to me over my love of art and anime. Thankfully back in the early-mid 00's I was an active member of the AZ:UK forum, a close knit on-line anime community back in the day where anime was relativity unknown to most people in the UK. I have made lots of friends at the time so I was overwhelmed to find out I was not the only one. Although there were plenty of my own species in the virtual world it wasn't until much later where I had found others in my own home town. Sadly living in a small Nottinghamshire village made it very difficult to be myself at times and even when I was in my last job recently there was no way I can be my dorky, silly self without people thinking I am some sort of weirdo.
Thankfully years ago I have found out about AmeCon 08. Like the reckless dumbass I was back then I registered and paid for my space but there was one problem; I still didn't know any anime fans! I have always been a forum nut (still no different today!) so I have spent countless hours getting to know what others and out of a blue found out there was a local cosplay event happening. To make it even better there were a number of people going to Amecon!
May 27th, 2008 just a few minutes after 7PM...that was a the start of meeting some of the best friends I have ever made and 6 years later I still meet a lot of them, at the same place at the same time every week.
I was always socially awkward to the max. I still am pretty shy now but back then much of my life was either at home or at school trying to keep up with my A-levels. As soon as I have gotten to know these people I begun going into town, having cinema trips, helping to organise picnics and even attending other anime conventions during the day. It was a massive leap and looking back I genuinely wonder how I managed to muster up all this courage to meet all these people. Maybe because we have all these geeky things in common I no longer feel like a foreigner in my own country. I now can deal with public transport on my own, go around town without feeling judged and I even had a few retail jobs; that in particular I thought I would NEVER do.
Breaking this social barrier was only the start. It was only the start of the battle to fight against something much greater; my own self esteem!
I was happy with my social life, I attended my first convention and I felt that I am becoming much more independent but I had never realised that being in the convention could be such a double-edged sword.In a way my anxiety levels around people were still an issue. I am bad with crowds and I have begun questioning my sewing skills as most people outside my own circle seem to have been in the scene for years. Being a timid newcomer surrounded by many veterans can be scary for some. Maybe that is what driven me to make this blog as I knew all along I would be completely lost without my friends. I remember watching the masquerade and being in awe as every single entrant looked like they belonged to that stage. No chance I would be able to show off my work with such confidence.
I carried on attending smaller conventions with friends that were more relaxing. As time went, so did my social anxiety and began to feel more comfortable in crowds. I began talking to more people, made some friends from outside my home town, and been inspired by a close friend to begin entering masquerades myself. I never thought that being on stage would feel so...so fantastic! My name gets called and the stage...no, the world becomes my own! People cheering for me, camera flashing everywhere! Oh my goodness I feel like a celebrity! Everyone can see the hours I put into this costume and the cheers completely any negativity in the room. It is wonderful!
Friends, check! Learn to manage social awkwardness, check!
What more can I do? Ah yes! Learn to love myself!
Strangely enough, that was the part that was the most difficult to motivate myself to do, but seem to have the fastest progress once I got into the zone. Much of my previous insecurities was due to my low self esteem. How does one raise their self esteem? Is there a globally agreed way of doing it or is it just simply a result of always doing your best in life.
I began becoming more ambitious with my cosplays, dedicated more time and effort to get things right and even been taking make-up into account. In fact learning cosplay make-up has taught me to become more fashionable in my everyday life and begun experimenting and explored my feminine side. Now I have learned to love myself, my body, my personality. It is very empowering and I am starting to struggle with deciding what would be my next move.
Today I wish to share some simple tricks while working with sticky fabrics.
Some fabrics such as leatherette and vinyl can be quite challenging to sew through with a machine as they tend to have a slightly sticky surface. As a result they may now flow through the machine as well as cotton would. There are ways around this.
Before you start you may want to ensure that you have suitable sewing needles. Your usual ones may not be strong enough to pass such materials with ease and may result in a number of skipped stitches and worn out needles. Sadly vinyls and pleathers are not able to heal once punctured but thankfully there are needles that are designed for such projects and are widely available. Denim and Leather needles work fine.
One way to reduce friction is by using a Teflon foot. They basically replace your usual metal foot and work the same way. They are pretty cheap and easy to access. Highly recommended that if you plan to work with a lot of such materials.
Alternatively, you can separate the foot and the fabric with a layer of tissue paper. You can reduce wastage by cutting it into strips and you can simply tear the paper off without disrupting the stitching.
My method when I worked on the belt for my Suzaku belt is simply covering it with talcum power. Most households will have it and can be accessed quickly but it may cause a bit of a mess so you best be prepared to bring towels and clean the machine and the sewing area when you are done. I just simply got a wet cloth and washed it off when I was done. Sadly not all fabrics are suitable for washing so be careful!
While on topic I wish to address that while cutting and patterning these fabrics it is not advisable to use pins on areas that will eventually be shown on the costume. I try to use objects nearby to weigh them down. From experience PVC in particular grips to quite well when cutting with the reverse sides facing outside. Rotary cutters tend to be better than scissors when it comes to straight lines. Be sure to use a large cutting board and a ruler.
Craft foam is a popular material. It can be found easily in a number of arts and craft stores, is very cheap, lightweight, easy to use and comes in many colours. Many cosplayers use it at least once and it can be used to make simple accessories and armour. Although it might look like something that a small child would play with, when crafted right it can really bring jaw dropping results.
Pst! That does not look exciting at all!
Oh...my...God! (and this is just the basics!)
The stuff can be cut, painted, used to make patterns, glossed and even heated up to change shape. The possibilities are endless!
I have made several Sailor
Moon tiaras using this method!
The only major downside I have found with Craft foam is that it requires some preparation if you plan to paint it. Being a porous, sponge like material, it would absorb whatever paint that touches it. The solution is simply apply several (usually more) layers of PVA glue (the type you played with back in your school days) that is watered down. About 2/3 water should do. If after applying several coats and the paint job still looks iffy then you can still always add more glue. I love adding more layers because it makes it so shiny shiny na no daaaa!!!!
Craft foam can be layered for added sturdiness but if you don’t what it to become too thick you can simply use some PVA glue to attach some fabric behind it. Should be nice and sturdy after a few coats. For my Sailor Jupiter tiara I have simply reinforced it with a layer of craft card onto the back as it can be quite flimsy without the support.
Scissors does the trick when you cut the Foam but for neater edges you may be better off using a cutting knife or scalpel.
One particularly neat thing about Craft foam is that it can be thermoformed. Although this term might sound intimidating it is actually rather simple and very handy technique to know. Like Worbla, it can be manipulated with a heat source, usually a heat gun, an oven stove or simply a hair dryer. Using my Justin (Grandia) armour for example, I have managed to keep it in shape by cutting the foam into shape before taping it onto a large drinks bottle and blasting it with a hairdryer! For the ‘bumps’ I have slowly dug a egg cup up from under the surface while keeping it heated from the other side. When done long enough it should maintain it’s new shape even when relaxed. You can also just simply fold something for a few days and it stays curved but I'd recommend the heat method for longer lasting results.
As you can see in the picture they are still unfinished as it will need several more coats of paint and then be glossed with several layers of PVA glue. In fact I would like to play around with different paints for a more metallic effect! I have heard good things about rub'n buff for a more finished look!
Agh! Its Transparent! Right click and open in new window to view details XD
I have made this tutorial back in 2012 for my Deviantart page. There has been a number of people planning to cosplay from the series and unsure where to start with the collar so I made a tutorial. It has proven very popular in the community and hopefully it will also help others around here too!
I had to make one for a friend so I made a tutorial while making the second one. I gave it to her before I could photograph the final step so the last 2 were from my own. Mine was made in a bit of a rush so its not quiiite as neat and has been worn a few times.
Just a quick work of warning, some glues make polystyrene melt so you might wanna test a little bit on some scrap first. Uhu glue is one of them as I found out 0_0 I have used Loctite super glue for both and it works a treat!
Feel free to use and send to friends ^^ Let me know if you are gonna put it online somewhere.
BONUS
I have also made my own Cast Cards ^^ Drawn on Adobe Illustrator and mounted on card :D So proud!
For my blog I wish to talk about my experiences in costume making and attending conventions. For my first post I wish to share the progress of one of the funnest, challenging and exciting costumes I have ever made!
Back when I was in school I have began to watch an anime called Angelic Layer. Sadly it was before I have discovered MyAnimeList considering I have only gotten into anime at the time I sort of lost track where I was and didnt get the time to get back to it. Funny enough, my local anime society shown the entire anime a year ago and reminded me why I enjoyed it back then. In fact I enjoyed it more as an adult than I did when I was a teenager. My love of the series drove me to cosplay the doll the lead character, Misaki, had created.
I love working with spandex and stretch fabrics so thats some guarantee that I will enjoy making some parts of it but it is also required for me to learn to use Worbla (a thermoplastic that is manipulated by heat) and PVC if I wanted to do a good job of the costume. For this post I will just talk about the headset.
Yaaaaay selfie time!
The first step was research! It seems that Worbla would be really promising for this so I just jumped on the bandwagon as its a really popular material at the moment! I brought a large sheet on CosCraft and while waiting for it I made a simple paper pattern. I have also got myself a cheap headband to make sure it keeps it's structure!
Once I was happy with the design I have drafted the pattern onto the Worbla and used some simple scissors to cut it out. When heated not only does it start taking shape, but one of the sides gets sticky so you can layer it. Due to the bold colours, I just shaped everything for now and painted it all before glueing it together. There is also some craft foam sandwiched in to add a little thickness in some places. Like Worbla, craft foam can be thermoformed.
I found that acrylic paint works by far the best on Worbla. The white was painted used some wallpaper paint as I couldnt find any >< turned out ghetto but thankfully the worst of it was covered by the lush red layers X'D hehehe
I have used 3 different kinds of glue:
Poundland super-glue-Agh! Hate using that stuff as it clings to my fingers for days but it does the job well.
PVA glue-Perfect for varnishing!
Uhu glue-Does not work as fast as super glue and gets stringy but if used right the stuff is excellent.
I have also got some Loctite glue on hand for emergency repairs. My favourite glue as it can be used for alot of things and thanks to the nozzle I can use it without worrying about making a mess.
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