Gift Ideas for Cosplayers: 2015
The holiday season is here, and for anyone looking for Christmas and other gifts for their cosplay friends it might be a challenge to figure out what they want and need. So we’re sharing a new list of gifts to bring some cheer to the costume crafter in your life! You can check out the 2014 list here.
Unless your friends choose costumes that are 100% sewing, they are probably doing at least a little crafting! Having the right tools for the job is important for both safety and creating high quality work, and in many cases those tools are going to include an X-Acto Knife. A set comes with more than the standard blade, helping your friends cut a variety of materials and even carve or chisel.
Cosplay Tutorial launched some Cosplay Shirts earlier this month, which would be a great addition to any Cosplayer’s closet. However, if your friends never want to be out of costume I suggest checking out costume-shirts like this Princess Peach Skater Dress, Totoro Shirt or Captain America Tee or hoodies like the Pusheen the Cat Sweater (which I own, and it is both cute and comfortable!)
3. Black Worbla & TranspArt
These new thermoplastics have a lot of hype, if your cosplay friends like creating props this would be a great gift to experiment with. Black Worbla is hailed for the smoother surface, which means less priming, and TranspArt is a clear plastic that is used to create transparent effects.
Craft foam, EVA foam, insulation foam, expanding foam … it seems cosplayers are all obsessed with the stuff! If your cosplay friends are always working with foam, make their lives a little easier by giving them the right tool for the job. Foam sculpting tools heat up, making it easy to cut through the material. (Just make sure your friends know to wear the proper PPE and are working in a well ventilated area!)
A good percentage of cosplayers dress as characters they love, from media they love. If you know someone is passionate about a character, try finding merchandise or fan-art of that character or series. Fan art and craft items are a great way to present something unique, especially if they are commissioned pieces. However if the media is very obscure, purchasing licensed/official merchandise will support the series and still make an excellent gift!
There are a lot of great books and e-books for cosplayers, and many new ones came out this year. If your friends wax-poetic about their hobby, try grabbing them a copy of Cosplay In America Vol 2 by Ejen Chuang. If they are avid learners, try Painting and Weathering for Props and Replicas by Harrison Krix or Advanced Prop Making – Guns & Rifles by Svetlana Quindt.
Is cosplay taking over your friend’s room? Help them out with storage bins! There are contaciners for threads and beads, pen holders can hold a variety of tools and large bins are great for storing craft supplies. Garment bags and jewelry hangars are also really useful.
8. Basic LED or Electronics Kit
Many cosplayers and propmakers are looking to learn new skills or add some flair to their projects; LEDs and electronics are a great opportunity to do both. Purchase the LilyPad Design Kit, Chibi Lights Starter Kit or LittleBits Base Kit for your cosplaying friends as an introduction to working with electronics.
If your friends already have a grasp on the basics, try checking our SparkFun’s tutorials for something unique and challenging. Then you can gift them the supplies required, and send them a link to the tutorial.
9.Tracing Wheel & Carbon Paper
Does your cosplay friend often make similar outfits that may be based on the same pattern? Then they might find the tracing wheel and carbon tracing paper is their new best friend!
You can use these tools to create duplicates of patterns or to transfer a pattern onto fabric, simply by layering the pattern over the carbon paper and placing them over the paper or fabric you want to transfer to. When you run the spurred Tracing Wheel over the lines on your pattern, the carbon paper transfers the lines to what’s underneath. It’s neat, and makes it really easy to duplicate patterns for altering. It’s also great for preserving patterns, since you won’t need to cut them! You can learn more about how to use a tracing wheel here.
10. Sponsor a Photo Shoot
A lot of talented photographers lend their talents to the cosplay and convention scene, offering photo shoots at conventions and other events. High quality photos are one of the best ways to show off your costume so photographers are in high demand!
I suggest asking your cosplaying friend who their favorite photographers are in the local community and who they would love to shoot with. If your friend doesn’t have suggestions you can try asking on Facebook groups for local conventions or checking out who other local cosplayers are shooting with. Most photographers have Facebook fan pages or websites where you can contact them to see about rates and events they are attending.
What NOT to Get a Cosplayer
While it’s tempting to surprise a cosplayer with a wig, fabric or pre-made piece for an upcoming costume; It’s best if you don’t make a purchase without their involvement. For those who craft their own costumes, making these decisions is an important part of the process! Instead, consider giving them a gift card for their favorite seller, taking them on a trip to the sewing district or asking them specifically what costumes/pieces they’ve been looking to buy.
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