GReader bou asked how to make Gravitation character Shuichi’s trenchcoat, saying they had a sewing machine, but “absolutely no sewing skills.” Well bou (and everyone else out there), let me be the first to tell you that the only way you’ll ever get them is to jump right in.  Bou, go out a find a pattern as close to what you’re looking for as possible, and have at it!  Seriously, just go for it!  You may make some mistakes, but that’s the way we learn - just be sure to have a seam ripper by your side!  Here’s some tips to help you get started on your very first project.

1. Before you even go to the store, take your measurements!  I cannot emphasize this enough!  If you’re not sure how to take your measurements, just Google it - it’s a very simple process so don’t be intimidated.  If you can, have someone else take your measurements for even more accuracy.
2. Go to the fabric store and look through to pattern books - this will take a while, so be patient!  Find a pattern as close to as what you’re looking for as you can.
3. Once you have the pattern, see how much fabric you need for your costume and make sure to pick up the notions needed for the costume, too - both of these are listed on the back of the pattern envelope.  If you are confused or need help, ask a fabric store employee!  They are happy to help you and very knowledgeable. While you’re at the fabric store, make sure to pick up a seam ripper if you don’t already have one - you will probably need it!
4. Go home and jump right in!  Sewing takes time, so don’t be surprised if it takes you a looooong time.  I like to spread the work out a few hours a day for a few days, so it doesn’t get too overwhelming.  Just follow the instructions and if you make a mistake, don’t fret! - rip it out and move on.

Until next time, good luck with all of your cosplay creations!

Posted: January 8th, 2009 under Cosplay Creation Help.
Comments: 2

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: 3