Welcome! This is my cosplay blog - where I'll be posting pictures of my complete and w.i.p. cosplays, original designs, makeup and wig work, tutorials, and answers to costuming questions! Click that 'about' link to learn more. Check out CosplayPretty - a help-blog I administrate! Thanks for stopping in! ♥
Having totally adored the makeover Ghostbusters got this year, I decided I would jump on the proverbial bandwagon and make a cosplay! ...Well, that is, until I saw maybe a small handful of people cosplaying from it. There was really no bandwagon at all. Which, honestly, really made me sad. I was so excited about this movie because it was about four people who happened to be women that were doing some really fun science shit and working together and saving the day with their smarts and having important -real- friendships. Female characters that are whole people. What a fucking concept. (And you know what? It was awesome.)
Anyway, my big hooplah with this movie coming out was that there would be fun costumes for little girls this Halloween. I’m eager to offer them a choice beyond the ridiculous “girl ghostbuster” bagged costumes. Having a choice beyond “witch, princess, and genderbent superhero with a tutu” (or more recently, a crayon?? Seriously, what is that about?) is epic, too. This was especially awesome for black and plus size girls. Main characters. That look like them. (All things considered, you could even toss in non-binary or lesbian/bi girls - if you consider to Kate Mckinnon :P)
I’ve only seen a small handful of adult cosplayers doing these costumes (even though they’re really easy to make and wear?), even at a major convention in my state. This weekend, I was at a small, very family and kid friendly convention, and I did see a mom and her three daughters all done up as the new ‘busters. It was adorable! They were running around getting to be be kids - not just ‘girls’.
It’s obvious how important a movie like this is for young girls and for women everywhere. Even if it’s a comedy about spooky ghosties. I’m hoping as we get closer to Halloween, I see more Ghostbusters (see: the new, actual outfits. Not Halloween pop-up-store bagged ~sexy ghostbusters~.)
Hence, my wanting to share how I’m making my costume!! Woo! Okay, this is what you came for...
The Jumpsuit... What you’ll need:
Light Tan fabric (I used nice cheap broadcloth), as much as your measurments require. I had 5.5 yards to work with.
Neon orange trim/ribbon - 5 yards
Metallic silver/reflective ribbon - 5 yards
(Note: you can buy trim on Amazon that looks pretty similar to the movie’s, but I wanted to make my own)
Tan and neon orange threadspools
1 non-separating metal zipper, close to the length of the front of your jumpsuit. A plastic zipper would be fine, but I wanted to keep to the industrial feel with a hearty metal zipper.
2 inch wide elastic
Silver size 3 sew-on snaps
“Ghostbusters” Logo patch, either iron on or sew on.
Basic sewing machine and a very basic idea of how to sew
That’s right, no pattern needed. I promise you can do this, even if this is your first project! I normally buy about 6 yards of fabric when making a body-covering type costume (I’m 5′2″, 110lbs), but I picked mine up at my local fabric-by-the-pound store, so I didn’t get to pick the length. I made this length work though, with a few clever tricks.
Start by getting your fabric laid out. If you want to iron it all before you do start ‘patterning’, now is the time to do it. I didn’t iron because this thing is going to be very baggy anyway. Plus I’m lazy. Choose if you are going to make your suit with one layer or two. Two eats more fabric, but makes it more durable and makes it look a little more authentic. But one layer gives you a lot more fabric to play with, and if you live somewhere hot, it’ll be slightly cooler too. I did mine doubled.
Now, grab a comfy T Shirt of yours that isn’t very stretchy, and a pair of PJ pants that are somewhere between comfy and baggy. Put them on first and figure out where the bottom of the tshirt ends on the pants while on you, and mark these points with safetypins. Here’s what I had:
See where I’m going here? Put the shoulders of the shirt near the top of your fabric, leaving seam allowance. Also make sure your “pattern” doesn’t go off the selvage edge of the fabric (or you’ll be missing about an inch!)
Alright, pin, mark, lay down on it and see where it all falls, adjust if needed, make sure it’s all even, and cut! Leave your pins in to keep your layers together.
Then, do the same for the back. If you’re like me and didn’t have quite the perfect amount, or you’re tall (what is that like!), You might have to follow my trick here for the back: Turn the “pattern” so the shoulders are on the “long” edge. Wherever the pants cut off is fine. I know, it will look like shorts. You’re going to mark this point with pins on your pattern. Find a nice clean edge, and make two rectangles with the bottom of the pants pattern. We’re going to just sew these right on to the back of the jumpsuit’s legs. For me, this point will be hidden in the boots, but I made the seams look nice with flat-felling anyway. Here’s what that looks like on the right side:
And from the inside:
Flat-felled seams. Yay!
So you should have two pieces cut out now, front and back! Mine is wider at the top because I’m busty and this fabric doesn’t stretch. Here’s the back piece of mine:
Sew the front and back and shoulders together.
Find the center point of the front neckline and mark. Then make a centered line to about 5″ from the crotch curve. Huzzah, this is where your zipper will go! Cut a nice, centered, straight line...
Now then, to get that scrunchy waistband. Slip into your baggy monstronsity and find where you’d like your waist. I recommend pulling the outfit up a bit because you want it to be baggy over the waistband. Mark where you’d like the top of the waistband with safety pins on both sides of the front, as well as the center back. Take it off, and make sure the pins make a nice straight line all the way around your suit. Mark this line! Lay your elastic down about 1/2″ from this line. Trace a parallel line under your elastic all the way around. Get the elastic outta here for now.
To sew the casing for your elastic... Cut a long rectangle of your original fabric that’s about 2.5″ wide. Length needs to be the measurement of the waist on your jumpsuit. (Lay it flat, measure from side to side, where you have your waistband line marked, then double the number.) Stitch this casing along the lines you made earlier on the waistband.
Pin a safety pin to the end of your elastic, sit down, and get comfy. Pull the elastic through your casing, flat. You want the length of your elastic strip to be about your actual waist measurement so the suit will be pulled in to your actual size and give you a shape. Pin the ends to the suit/casing openings. Or, if you’re like me, leave it long until you’re sure about the length.
Try your shit on!
Next will be sleeves, lapels, and the collar. But for now...
Making the trim...
Lay your neon orange (like seriously, day-glow coloured) ribbon flat. Don’t get the satin or shiny ribbons, they will melt. You can opt to sew your silver metallic ribbon onto this for 5 yards, or you could not be a maniac, and hot glue that shit. It’s pretty zen. Just make sure your line remains straight.
Use a really thin line of hot glue and press the silver ribbon on firm. Keep at it, and 5 yards later...
You’ll have a giant ball of the stuff. Dunno if 5 yds is really crucial, but I’m making my boyfriend’s costume as well, so I wanted to be safe. Trim goes fast. I’m also making the proton backpack thing, so I made the straps for it in a similar way...
Just with wider ribbon and tacky spray. I used papers to keep the spray line from getting too wacky.
That’s it for now. I’ll add to this post as I finish this costume, which should be this week. Thanks, and let me know if you have any questions! :)
Hi! It’s been a long time! Wowwie wow things have changed lol. But that’s not why you follow my cosplay blog! :P
The most relevant news though:
I’m in a costume design program (finally), and am being made head of the wardrobe dept for the upcoming production. So I’m going to be learning how to make all kinds of new stuff! Woo!
I’m going to start posting more tutorials and such :) Yay! Hope you guys will stick around as I make all kinds of new things!
Did you guys know I did a photoshoot for the awesome local shop that sells these sick Widow and Hawkeye leggings?! Talk about fashionable. They are SO comfy, and not see through at all!!! Check 'em out on We Love Fine: http://www.welovefine.com/hawkeyeandblackwidowleggings-9277.html (Photo: ThreeFirstNames Photography)
You guys have all been awesome! Thanks for the follows, likes, and all of those kind words! <3 they make my heart feel like magical happy goodness. To celebrate your-guys' awesomeness, have a priceless shot of Adam, Anthony, and me from Sabo, courtesy of AJ Rodriguez <3!
your hawkeye(s) cosplay are AMAZING. fraction hawkeyes for life!
Omg! *elbow bump* Fraction Hawkeyes for the entirety of my existence and beyondddddd hhhh my love knows no bounds!! Thanks so much <3!!! Rock on, Hawkbuddy!
I got a couple of vague questions regarding how I made my Hawkeye cosplay, so here are some vague answers. It's pretty easy! I've been cosplaying for a long time, so it didn't take me much time at all. If you want to make a body suit without buying a pattern, just lay down flat with your limbs spread out on some paper. Have a friend closely trace your body, then get up, equate your measurements between a front and back piece (so you'll probably add a few inches all around) and cut! Trace it onto your fabric (preferably a 4 way stretch Lycra!) and sew with zig-zag stitches around the entire thing, save for the crotch (straight stitch), including the wrists and ankles! I added piping to my suit to make it a little more interesting - you just sandwich the piping between the fabric pieces and sew :)! For the hip holes, I used a flesh tone fabric and sewed it directly behind the cut outs with a straight stitch. Boots, glasses, gloves, and a wig are easy enough to find via search. The glasses are purple polarised ones I got from Claire's. My wig is an Arda Imaldris lace front in Natural black, with their short clip on bangs added. I got the lace front so I could go from Fraction's Kate to YA Kate. The bow pictured I'm using is my baby - and I wouldn't recommend buying an actual functional bow to use as a prop, as I use mine for actual archery. But you can get fibreglass youth practise bows at sporting goods stores for under 30$ :) Adam's bow is an old broken compound bow found on Craigslist. you'll need a quiver (also youth), some arrows (which you can make yourself with some dowels and feathers or craft foam) , a shooting glove, and an arm brace - if you want to look like an archer :) Yay vague answers!!! Feel free to inbox me about any other questions <3
Photography | Myself as Kate, Adam as Clint (No Tumblr)
These are some of our favourite cosplays to wear and be recognised in. Because if you read Fraction's Hawkeye, you're automatically cool and we need to be bros. Like, now.
"I'm gonna be her prize fighter
And I'm dancin' to the beat of her drum;
She's always on my side, rich or poor
And she's with me all the way to the Golden Door..."
Kate Bishop - Myself | Clint Barton - Johnny | Photoes - Jeremy Jpool | Prize Fighter - the Killers
Got fabric for Hawkeye today! The arrow material is for a bag or something - it was just too cute not to get. Thus far she's cost me about $32 including the sunglasses. I'm gonna try to keep the price low on her so I can throw a ton of money at Lady Loki!
Guess what? The raw images from the PCC shoots are back! Yippeeee!! Becky will be editing some of the especially nice ones to make them even more especially nice and I’ll be editing some others. Regardless, I’ll be posting them as I get them from her - so keep an eye out!
Thank you so much to Becky for doing these shoots in 120.F heat this weekend - you’re my hero!!!
Reblogging from my personal blog to add that I'll be selling prints for the first time! If you see a photo posted with "Print Contender!!", that means you can vote for that photo to be printed (via limitless reblogs) and even pre-order it! Wow! More info on this will be posted as the details come to light.
Some more Lady Sif progress! More weathering has occurred since I took that last picture, but you get the point. I’m really unhappy with this cosplay. Almost a week to the con!!!!!
Kid Loki post!
Undershirt is 2 way black cotton Lycra with green 4 way spandex colour blocks on the arms; gloves are the same black material. Boots are some thrift shop wedges upholstered in the same aforementioned green spandex with gold toes matching the cuffs. Boot and glove cuffs are craft foam upholstered with gold metallic spandex, buttons are from my brothers button box. Belt thing is a craft foam/ Worbla combo, again upholstered in gold metallic spandex. The button/rivet things are spray painted googley-eyes. (Crotch button is also a googley-eye.)
Tiara is gold flat wire with hand sculpted wings and “horns” out of Sculpy, “engraved” with runes I enchanted myself uwu
Chest piece is a GIANT googley-eye, with hand painted “horns” and the runic alphabet. Tunic is handmade from 100% cotton, gold trimmings appliquéd on; features a separating zipper and two gold rings for attaching stuff.
Leggings from eBay. Wig is currently for sale, as I bought a new one from Arda. Drinking horn is actually one I use for magical ceremonies and ren faire stuff, and isn’t canon at all, but I thought it might look neat so I clipped it on! The pouch is also something I made, upon realising my lack of pockets/ a bra to hide things in.
I didn’t keep track of this cosplay’s cost, since I remade it about 3 times, but the final cost of this version was probably around $115, thanks to my local fabric-by-the-pound shop! It was much more creatively intensive than purchase intensive, and I loved making it. I’ll wear this brat whenever I can!!!!
