Now that you know how to shop for materials, it’s time to sew. But how in the world do you go about doing that? This one’s for you, Neko_Sarah!

So I could totally write a post on hand and machine sewing basics, but I think there’s plenty of resources out there that do it a lot better than I ever could. So here’s a little crash course guide to some basics that will get you sewing in no time.

If you don’t have access to a sewing machine, and aren’t ready to invest in one (those suckers don’t come cheap!), you’ll be picking up a needle and thread. The only real thing you need to know to get started is a few basic stitches, and here’s where you can find them:

• Your Mother - or grandma, or sister, or friend - for most people, having someone show them how to do something is much simpler than reading about it. If you have this valuable resource, take advantage of it!
• The Internet - There are plenty of tutorials with diagrams on hand and machine sewing on the internet, with the links above being just a few examples. Everyone learns differently, so do a search and look around to find the guide or tutorial that works best for you.
• Books - If you’re willing to spend a little money, I would suggest Simplicity’s Simply the Best Sewing Book. If you have a machine you can use or plan on buying one I would also strongly recommend Sew U - I wish I had this when I had started sewing! It comes with free patterns and even has a guide to shopping for sewing machines, another thing that sure would have helped me out in the past.

One last piece of advice - Don’t wait until the last minute to make your costume! It will only lead to frustration and most likely an unsatisfactory outfit.

Posted: July 22nd, 2008 under Cosplay Creation Help.
Comments: 2

Character goes a long way at the CosplayLocator.com Blog (no pun intended). mmm_organizedcrime’s comment filled my guts with happiness today so I felt she deserved a dedicated post as a response.

Firstly…LOL Red Panda?? ^_^
I think you should just go as a red panda. Everytime someone says, who the heck are you? You can just scream, RED PAHNDA!!! And run away.

Bring some Bamboo along and maybe stuff a little kid in your pouch… Pandas are marsupials aren’t they? I think they are. Even if they aren’t it’ll make for an interesting conversation starter.

I think you’ll have to make this one on your own… ask JessJezzz for some help. And don’t forget to tell everyone at the Con that you got the idea from the COSPLAY LOCATOR BLOG!

Happy Cosplaying Otaku!

-B

Posted: July 15th, 2008 under Who Should I Cosplay As?.
Comments: 2

A lot of people new to the cosplay world don’t realize how expensive their new hobby can be. Whether you’re buying your first costume pre-made, having one commissioned, or making it yourself, it’s not going to be cheap.

Good materials are essential in the creation of a great costume. No matter how good your sewing skills, inferior materials will make your costume look amatuer - and even if your skills aren’t that great, good materials will make the task so much easier. Here are a few ‘rules’ to follow when considering what fabric to use for your costume.

1) NO SHINY FABRIC

Unless it’s absolutely clear in every way that part or all of the character’s costume is satiny, DO NOT USE SHINY FABRICS. Shiney fabrics are very slippery and hard to work with, making things all that more frustrating if you’re a beginner (or even if you’re not - they have caused many a crisis in my sewing room). Secondly, if the costume isn’t ment to look satiny, using a shiney fabric can make it look cheap and, well, costumey.

2) Cotton is your friend!

There are soooo many reasons why you should make your first costume (and probably most of your costumes) out of cotton.

- Your local fabric store will have plain cotton in a wide selection of colors

- Even high quality cottons are cheaper than a lot of other fabrics

- Cotton is breathable, so when you’re packed shoulder to shoulder at the rave or in the dealer’s room you’ll be way more comfortable than if you were wearing heavier fabric.

-100% cotton is 100% machine washable, so even if your costume does get stinky, you don’t have to worry about it getting ruined in the wash.

3) Things cost money. Deal with it.

Unfortunately, fabric costs money. Good fabric costs more money than crappy fabric. Now I’m not saying you have to go too overboard, since you’re not wearing this stuff every day (or are you?), but it will have to withstand a lot of activity. If you buy a fabric that only costs $2-$3 a yard, it will probably be very weak (and seethrough, which can be a big problem), and will fray and rip easily. Try and find a good medium weight cotton that you can’t easily see your hand through - it will probably cost around $5-$7 a yard. However…

4) Sales are your best friend (Yes, even moreso than cotton)

If you find a great fabric for $3 a yard that was $7.50 a yard (I’m just making up numbers here), by all means, go for it! Again, materials are not cheap, and many costumes require a lot, so get a good deal when you can!

Any questions? Feel free to ask away in the comments!

Posted: July 3rd, 2008 under Cosplay Creation Help.
Comments: 4