PanderCosplay @pandercosplay - Tumblr Blog

Learn different embroidery stitches to fix beads on to fabric and leather to do bead embroidery.

Introduction to bead embroidery

Beads are a really fun way to add some interest to boring clothes, or to cover up a stain.

How to get started:

Sew Guide's introduction to bead embroidery shows twelve basic stitches to get you started. They also have an article with ten easy flower bead designs and nine beaded borders, and an article with nine different beading styles.

The Spruce Crafts also has a guide to bead embroidery materials.

Much like embroidery, beaded pieces need extra care when washed.

Make your beading more sustainable by reusing beads from old or thrifted jewellery, or by getting your beads through thrifting or freecycling platforms.

Some ideas:

Beading can be used to make a picture come to life. It's a nice way to decorate fabric or to make an art piece for your wall.

(Image source) [ID: a floral bead embroidery sampler in muted colours and a variety of beads and buttons, shaped like a circle with a few stand-alone flowers at the centre. Text: "Bead Embroidery Sampler. ©christenbrown".]

It can also be used to spruce up clothes you haven't worn in a while, like this sweater and pair of jeans.

(Image source) [ID: close-up on the shoulder of a gray knit sweater embellished with beads and rhinestones.]

(Image source) [ID: close-up on the edge of a pocket of a light blue pair of jeans. The edge has been embellished with white and silver beads and pearls.]

Beads can also be used in visible mending to decorate a mend you've made.

(Image source) [ID: close-up of a hole in the knee of a pair of blue jeans. The rip has been patched with a black piece of fabric. Black beads have been sewn in and around the patch.]

Aside from mends, they're also great to cover up stains with.

(Image source) [ID: close-up on a red knit sweater. An abstract patch of red, blue, and gold beads covers up a stain in the fabric.]

You can combine beads with different sewing techniques, such as embroidery for example, to achieve different effects.

(Image source) [ID: an embroidered moon and stars in gold thread on a black fabric. Sequins have been sewn among them to add shine to the embroidery. A metal hoop with two birds lies in front of the embroidered piece.]

Conclusion:

Bead embroidery is a technique that can be used in a wide variety of ways to embellish your clothes, to hide mends, and to cover up stains. Experiment and have fun with it!

vinceaddams

If you want to do a very dense area of beads, quickly and efficiently, here's a pdf with a great tutorial for that!

I've tried it and it is very fast and sturdy.

wastelesscrafts

Thank you for your addition!

cosplayinamerica

If you are looking for a convention directory, check out @CosConCenter. Cons are broken down by type, location, date and there’s even an archive section.

https://www.cosplayconventioncenter.com/

fuckingrecipes

Convention Foods

Alternate title:

Holy shit I’m worried about all of you, please eat at cons!

A friendly guide to travel-ready foods and snacks so y’all don’t pass out, I’m serious I saw 3 people wheeled past by EMS this weekend at katsucon ‘cause y’all were dehydrated and didn’t eat anything but noodles for 3 days.

You can avoid being a dehydrated, starving husk of a cosplayer at 3 and 4-day conventions by doing some basic meal planning and prep before you leave. Eat like royalty and share your bounty with the masses.

You can seriously bring your own herbs and spices. You can bring knives and flatware if you pack it in a normal suitcase and not a carry-on! Stop living on ramen, for fuck’s sake!!!!

Keep reading

cosplayinamerica

https://twitter.com/xGabbyNu/status/1092962974308851712

Quick and easy way to make your own elf ears for cosplay. Over the years I’ve cosplayed as a character with large pointed ears several times, and while the latex ones you glue onto your own e…

Just uploaded a new tutorial on my blog!

#cosplay #diy #elf ears #cosplay tutorial

ardawigs

Cowbutt Crunchies demonstrates how to make scales out of hair! Perfect for an aquatic or dragon gijinka hair design. Featured products: Short Wefts in Fire O...

Cowbutt Crunchies Cosplay demonstrates how to make scales out of hair! Perfect for an aquatic or dragon gijinka hair design. 🐉🐠

fabrickind

Stretch applique is a huge pain, but it’s totally worth it in the end.

My tips for stretch applique:

- If you don’t have a stretch straight stitch, use a narrow zigzag with a short stitch length. I used the narrowest zigzag my machine allows with a stitch length around 20 stitches per inch (which is how it’s labeled on my machine). You may need to play around with these settings to prevent skipped stitches.

- Use a tear-away stabilizer on top of the applique. It may be difficult to see your applique through the stabilizer (I used white tissue paper), so go slowly and carefully, and feel for the edges. You may be able to mark the edges with pins by pinning the issue directly to the fabric.

- Use lots of pins! you don’t want it to shift around as you sew.

- Use a stretch needle. this is a ballpoint needle specifically designed to prevent skipped stitches on knit fabrics.

- Be very careful not to stretch the materials as you sew, since this causes wrinkles and ripples and increased likelihood of skipped stitches.

- Make sure your materials have a similar amount of stretch and recovery. If you need to have one with more stretch than the other, it would be better to have the applique be stretchier than the main fabric, since there would be no risk of the applique preventing the rest from stretching properly.

cosplaytipsandtricks

You can’t defend blackface for cosplay.

I can’t talk for characters that are literally ink black in a fantasy setting, such as dark Link from Legend of Zelda or Snowman from Homestuck. I can’t talk about if that’s okay because I am very white. I’d appreciate some input from others on that subject later.

But what I’m talking about is characters that are obviously coded as not white. Like the Gerudo from Legend of Zelda or Atsuko from Michiko to Hachin. Who could pass as real people in our world with modern clothing.

At the end of that day you can wash that off and never deal with the racism that comes with it. Real life people’s skin tones is not a costume.

I do not care if you say ‘well it’s only for accuracy’ or you try to defend ‘real blackface’ as being “a product of it’s time.” It was wrong then, it was wrong now, and you don’t have to paint your skin to portray the character if you get the key characteristics of their costume right (look at Homestuck again).

Blackface is never okay.

cosplaytipsandtricks

Hi this is still relevant and I won’t let this point die.

april-pilot-whale

Aribeth - Aveline Vallen lots - Isabela Isilmarille - Merrill Lilith - Bethany Hawke Haruhi - Marian Hawke

Photo by Dmitry Gabdukaev

obijuankenobiismyonlyho

holy cow where did you find this lovely bedroom??

ultraboltz

Alright, here’s a quick summary of the painting process for the rocket pack. First, primer. After primer, lay down some silver/aluminum wherever you think you’re going to want the fancy paint chip. I just do it for high-visibility areas, and anywhere where I need a lot of metal to show through. It’ll make more sense later. Read on!

Step 2: With the silver on, I use Crayola kids “Project Glue” as a masking substance. Just paint that stuff right onto the prop wherever you want your simulated paint chips and scratches to show the silver underneath. Definitely test whatever glue you use before you put it on your prop! I use kids glue because it peals off super easy.

Step 3: So once the masking is all done, it’s time to start laying down your base colours. Boba’s rocket pack in ROTJ actually has the most preschool color scheme you’ve ever seen. Thankfully, weathering is a beautiful thing.

Step 4: details, stencils, stuff. These are just made by verrry carefully cutting stencils out of painters tape–though there are a million ways to make stencils.

Step 5: The good stuff! I start with a “grunge” pass. I’ll do a wash with a sort of oily black-brown, and then airbrush on the accumulation of dirt, dust, carbon, etc. Remember, weathering tells the story of your prop, and it shows if you just put it on randomly. Story is king!

Step 6: last but certainly not least is the “scratches” pass. My favourite. This is where I use a fine pen-knife/exacto blade to peel off the kids glue and reveal the beautiful silver underneath. I ALSO do a fine detail pass with a brush and some Testors silver model paint to put in all the really fine scratches and worn corners and stuff. There are tons of techniques for weathering, and no rules, so have fun! Write your prop’s story. Hope some of this is useful!

helloasha

How I draft my patterns.

***DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL SEAMSTRESS. I DID NOT GO TO FASHION SCHOOL. SEWING IS A FAMILY TRADE THAT HAS BEEN TAUGHT TO ME.***

I am writing this post because often friends ask how i draft my patterns. This is a step by step guide of my process. Basically I use clothes i already have to help with design and sizing. Today’s example will be my new pattern for my Raven cosplay that I am working on.

So why might one draft their own pattern.

For me it was simply dollars and cents. I started cosplaying in high school and I didn’t have alot of extra income and i still don’t. While i am frugal when buying commerical patters I soon started spending more money on patterns than fabrics and to be honest I’d rather buy better fabrics than spend $20 on a pattern that I’ll only use 1 or 2 pieces from.

Also truth be told sometimes you cant find what you need in a commercial pattern. I mean have you seen some of those costumes in our favorite anime and mangas.

Let’s get started

Step 1 Find quality reference photos

This is essential for any cosplay. I often try to find character sketches with the subject in various poses. At least showing head on, profile, ¾ and back. This allows you to see their whole outfit so you can see how their clothes fit their body. Take time to then raid your closet because odds are that you have a few articles of clothing that can be pieced together to get the shape you’re looking for. For this Raven cosplay I found a t-shirt that fits me well with a higher neck line and a pair of booty shorts that will create the bottom.

Step 2 Gather Materials

Large news print roll or old news papers

The clothes you’ll use as your template

Scissors

Pencils, Pens, Markers

Ruler

Good music because this maybe a long process

Step 3 Know your measurements

Plain and simple if you are going to sew anything it is helpful to have this handy. While sewing you may have to tweak the pattern as you go.

Step 4 Layout

After you’ve analyzed your characters outfit and chosen clothes from your closet now it’s time to layout your clothes to create your pattern. This example I am doing today is a perfect example because I have to take 2 clothing items to make 1 leotard. If I had a one piece swimsuit or dance leotard with me then it would be easier. Yet this makes a better example for you. Here if you look at the picture of my clothing layout. You can easily see what I am going for based on the photo of Raven’s bodysuit.

Step 5 Trace and modify

As noted above if I were to trace this layout as is it would not give me the desired result. Take note of all the differences between your clothes and the desired out come as you get ready to trace things in PENCIL FIRST please please trace in pencil first, you will thank me later. Now trace the clothing on the paper and it’s general outline. I tried to take a picture of this but the pencil lines didn’t show on camera. So here’s the result after some tweaking.

Take a look at the things I modified

I cut (not literally) the short sleeves off my top making it a tank top.

Next instead of tracing the scoop neck line I created a higher neckline.

Also I lined the top up with the shorts

These are all simple adjustments that anyone can do. When making adjustments refer to your measurements to ensure you are not modifying to much.

For example for this body suit i made sure to note my measurements from my neck line to crotch to ensure the body suit would be long enough and not cut too high. I also measured how long I wanted the shorts hem to fall on this bodysuit.

Step 6 Use a ruler to straighten lines and darken them with a marker.

There isn’t too much explaining to do. Use your ruler to even up your lines a bit. Make sure the straight lines are straight and the curved ones a little smoother. This just makes it easier to cut out of fabric later.

Now you’re pretty much done

Keep doing the same process with other pieces of clothing until you have all the pieces you need for you cosplay.

Then label the crap out of everything! If you think it needs a label then put one on it. Trust me you’ll probably forget. Especially in the middle of con crunch and it’s 12am and you’re trying to finish.

I would recommend looking up reference pictures of patterns if you are stuck on how to draw something. You’d be surprised what you could find and sometimes it is helpful to have a jumping off point.

The last picture is of my pattern. The sleeves arent finalize because I needed help measuring my arm.

But i hope you find it helpful. I will post more about this cosplay as I continue to work on it.

Good luck and happy cosplaying!

pastel-nightmare-cosplay

An Alternative to Resin: Making Cosplay Ornaments Out of Thin Cardboard Tutorial

Materials: - As much chip board / thin cardboard as you need - An X-acto Blade - Pencil - Triangle or Ruler - Glue of your choosing - Mod Podge or Sealant - Acrylic Paint of your choosing

Optional: Translucent Fabric and border

Step 1: Trace out your shape in this case I’m making Soraka’s Star Guardian Stars. Draw lines for where you are cutting/scoring the material. I draw symbols on the lines so I know which pieces fit together.

Step 2: Cut out the shape with your X-acto knife.

Step 3: Use a straight edge to cut the shape into four pieces.

Step 4: Score NOT CUT down the center of each piece. Basically only slide your X-acto knife along the material using a minimal amount of pressure.

Step 5: Slightly fold each piece along the recently scored line to create a ridge.

Step 6: Line up the pieces and glue them together. For this I used hot glue but you can also use wood glue or white school glue.

Paint the final product with acrylic paint, wait to dry and then seal with glossy or matte mod podge. If covering with fabric it doesn’t matter which one you use.

To cover shape with fabric spray sealed work with spray adhesive in a well ventilated area and then place fabric on sprayed area. Wrap edges and trim to clean it up.

cosplaytutorial

Foam dremelling Basics

Tutorial by: Valentine Costumes Tutorial Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YpBjd2qiPw

helloasha

Too many ideas?

This is literally me all the time. So here’s how I decide on which cosplays I do and which ones get shelved for a later day.

1. List your cosplay ideas and rank them from favorite to least favorite.

This can be a tricky task to do. I personally like to keep things simple with a rating simple of 1-5 with 1 being meh…it can wait and 5 being OMFG I HAVE TO DO THIS! Usually after all my ideas are rated I next focus on those with a rating of 3.5 or higher. Because I feel that it is important to work on cosplays that you are passionate about.

2. How much time will it take to create?

Once you’ve narrowed things down this is the very next thing you should consider. Be mindful of any conventions that you plan on attending or competitions you’re entering. While it’s important to love the idea you also require time to create it. If there is a convention coming up in 2 weeks you probably don’t want to start working on the full body Palidin armor for your Voltron cosplay. In this case you may want to simplify your Voltron cosplay or do something different all together.

2.5. How much money?

This is really simple cosplay can get expensive really really fast. So if you’re a struggling grad student like me you need to be wise about it. Personally if I like to research and estimate total cost of materials. This can sometimes be the tie breaker for me. I strive to keep my cosplays budget friendly. But sometimes in order to truly be happy with my cosplay it requires a little more cash. So often times I’ll put a project on hold until I have more money in the bank.

3. What props or elements can you do without?

Props for cosplays can really add up FAST. Not to mention the time it takes to create these things. If you’re really wanting to cosplay as a particular character sometimes you can do without a particular prop. In many cases you and people at the convention will be able to recognize the character minus the propd. For example Rose Quartz from Steven universe without her shield and sword. Besides you can always creat the prop at a later date when you have more time and/or money.

4. Skill level

While I believe you can cosplay whoever you want regardless of skill but sometimes skill level matters. Especially if you’re like me and enjoy DIY-ing your cosplay. I must admit unfortunately i dont have much experience building armor. This is something I’d have to teach myself and may take me a few months to complete. As I’ve mentioned in #2 time is a very important factor when choosing what character to cosplay as. If I have 2-3 months required to complete a particular cosplay then I’ll defiantly teach myself a new skill. Or if it’s something that can be bought (and it’s in my budget) then do that instead.

5. WIP Cosplays

I’m sure if youre like me you may have 1…2…or even 3 cosplays that are currently WIP. Or maybe they’re finished but there were a few minor details you wanted to add or change. These cosplays always get top priority before I start something new. For me personal after the last convention I decided I wanted to change her shirt and top into one dress. Because dresses flatter my body more and I dont have to worry about the skirt rotating. I have learned that if I don’t finish any WIPs or minor changes it will never get done.

6. Make up

Unfortunately as humans we aren’t born with green, blue or pink skin. And sometimes applying all of that cosplay make-up can be a deciding factor. Of course there are some ways to get around full body make up. You can wear tights on your legs and arms if you don’t have green skin. But if your cosplay doesn’t require outrageous make-up then consider the time it will take to achieve that certain look. Think about things like eyebrow coloring and contouring which can take time. Don’t forget that make-up can be expensive too.

Usually after I’ve considered all of these things I have narrowed my very long list to 2 or 3 characters. If not then I’ve realized I have quite a few WIPs to finish. Since conventions are usually between 2-4 days this is where I stop. Because I like to dress as different characters during the convention. However, if you are still stuck heres some other things to consider:

Is the cosplay for a group photo

Do you plan on entering any competitions?

Do you currently own clothing or costume pieces that can be used to create the cosplay?

Popularity? I know this is a controversial one but sometimes I like to be unique. If it is a Cosplay you feel is over done how can you make it unique?

Can you buy this cosplay instead of diy? Sometimes it can be cheaper and save time.

Luggage space? If you’re flying to the convention will you have room to pack it?

And if after all of this and you still have a mile long list then I don’t know what to tell you. Besides good luck.

Happy cosplaying!

tsunmiki-miniwan

Bringing up my Mop hat/mob cap tutorial because I noticed the Macrophage from Hataraku Saibou also wear them. Sew the elastic casing/circles closer to the outside to make the ruffles smaller and the back bigger to better fit the Macrophage. Good for Touhou characters as well!

krainecommissions

Tutorial: Fabric Painting - Freezer Paper Stencils

I had written a basic guide for fabric painting a long time ago. But it was pretty basic and I felt like it could be more detailed and improved upon. So I made a more detailed guide on using freezer paper for fabric painting!

Keep reading

sophieriis

Princess Hilda and princess Zelda! A little royal selfie ❤

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