#cosplay how

[fateforetoldcg]

At our launch party this weekend, we had our very first cosplayer, MagicalMBeth! It was wonderful to get to see the Oracle come to life with her dazzling costume work, 100% hand-made! 

[criscura]

Types of Fabrics

Types of Fabrics

  (Make sure you look at the pictures for this one!)

You don’t realize just how many different fabrics there are until you have to walk into a store and try to choose one. This is a small list of some commonly used fabrics and their defining features.

Everyday Clothes

  You’ll usually find these materials in T-shirts, blouses, skirts, and other kinds of casual wear. They’re easy to work with and versatile enough for almost any costume.

  Cotton

A soft and wrinkle-resistant material that will keep you warm in cold weather. It’s easier to dye than linen, but it isn’t as absorbent.

  Linen

Strong, soft, and durable, linen fabric will keep you cool on hot days. It’s a little more absorbent than cotton but it isn’t as stretchy.

  Rayon

Made as a cheaper alternative to silk in WWII, rayon is a slinky fabric that will keep you cool in hot weather. It’s cost-efficient, stretchy, and drapes beautifully, but will shrink when put into a dryer and wrinkles easily.

  Spandex

Very popular for skinsuits and athletic wear because of its incredible stretch. Spandex is cool, shiny, and durable. It will also give a nice drape if used in loose clothing. Must be hand-washed.

Special Occasion

  When you have a big event coming up, you’ll want to use these fabrics. Great for magical or royal costumes and lingerie.

  Velvet

A soft material covered with small fibers that will keep you warm in winter. Has a gorgeous shine and gathers nicely. Can be very expensive and must be hand-washed or dry-cleaned.

  Silk

A high-quality material with a beautiful shine and drape. Silk will keep you cool in hot weather and is relatively easy to work with, but it can be pricey and requires special care.

  Satin

Lightweight and shiny, satin is similar to silk but generally a little stiffer and more fragile. Can be bought for very cheap at most craft stores. Does not have much stretch, but is easy to cut and sew. Must be hand-washed.

  Lamé

Shiny, stretchy, and breathable, this material is frequently used in avant-garde outfits. Relatively easy to work with, but is prone to snag and burn. Must be hand-washed.

  Toughies

  These fabrics are made to withstand rough use. Perfect for hunters, warriors, barbarians, and post-apocalyptic survivors.

  Leather

Very durable and stylish, but doesn’t breathe and can shrink if improperly dried. It’s also very expensive and can be difficult to sew. Not animal-friendly.

  Suede

A kind of leather with a velvety finish. Durable, but very difficult to maintain. Cheaper than leather and a little easier to work with.

  Pleather

Literally “plastic leather.” An artificial version of leather that’s cheaper, easier to work with, and that will let your skin breathe. Available in more prints than leather. Easier to clean, but can be less durable and may crack over time.

  Vinyl

A shiny, stiff, and waterproof material that’s popular for accessories, catsuits, and fetish clothing. Wet Look is a subset of vinyl. This material is easy to clean, but it can be difficult to sew because it sticks on itself and finished materials.

  Under and Over

  It would be hard to make clothes out of these materials alone, but they really help give that extra oomph. Good for royal, fairy, and magical costumes.

  Gauze

A light and absorbent material that will keep you cool in hot weather. Can range from sheer material like those used in veils or opaque material used in sundresses and summer blouses. Can get holes if put to hard use.

  Chiffon

A sheer, lightweight fabric with gorgeous drape. Perfect for royal costumes because of its billowing effect. Its slippery and fragile quality makes it difficult to cut and sew and it must be carefully hand-washed.

  Organza

Sheer, lightweight, and shimmery. This material is great for layering on clothes to add structure. It’s stiffer and easier to work with than chiffon, but can still be difficult when sewing and cutting. Must be hand-washed.

  Tulle

A very stiff and dense net material often used in tutus and petticoats. Tulle won’t frayed when cut, so it doesn’t need to be finished. It doesn’t drape well but gives fantastic volume when worn under skirts. It needs to be hand-washed.

If you’d like to know about any other kinds of fabric, check here: http://www.fabric.com/SitePages/Glossary.aspx That’s just a glossary, but if you type a kind of fabric into the search bar at the top you can look at and buy any of the materials listed there.

  This guide was made under the wing of Costume Discounters (www.costumediscounters.com). Please go check out their site!! They sell wigs, shoes, shirts, essentials…all sorts of goodies.

[criscura]

Basic Tools for Sewing

Basic Tools

  When you’re first starting out, sewing is going to be a little intimidating. That’s okay! Everyone gets the jitters before they take on a new project.  The secret of conquering that fear is being well-prepared and having all the tools you need to get going.

  Here’s some essential starter gear for first-time seamsters:

  Sewing Needles

  Thread

  Shears

Do not use the dinged up, crooked, greasy pair of scissors you have in your kitchen. You won’t be able to make long, straight cuts with them and your project will become infinitely harder.

  Measuring tape

Get a bunch of these--they’re easy to lose.

  Fabric pencils

In a pinch you can use a white colored pencil, but it’s good to have this on hand. They’re incredibly useful when you’re planning where you’re going to cut and pin.

  Straight pins

  Clear ruler

Being able to see through it is a major advantage--it lets you keep an eye out for any pins, folds, cuts, hems, etc. in the area that you’re working on.

  Thimble

  Seam ripper  

Everybody makes mistakes. A seam ripper makes sure that you can fix them without tearing up the whole outfit. These are also pretty easy to lose, so get a couple.

Don’t feel like you have to break the bank by stocking up on sewing tools before you start on your costume. Look around the house first--these guys have a habit of getting lost in cupboard corners and you could make good use of them. A lot of dollar stores carry them as well. If you can’t find them in either of those places, though, just go to your local convenience or craft store and pick up what you need.

This guide was made under the wing of Costume Discounters (www.costumediscounters.com). Please go check out their site!! They sell wigs, shoes, shirts, essentials…all sorts of goodies.

[criscura]

Intro to Sewing

A Stitch in Time...

  via Shots for Passion

  Sewing is one of the most useful skills for a costumer to have. After all, being able to make anything gives you the freedom to be anything! Knowing how to sew also means that you aren’t limited to which custom outfits you can afford or what pre-made pieces are available in your size.

  The following sections are designed to help you figure out how to sew your own costumes, tell you what to look out for, and give you inspiration for your own work. They’re geared towards beginners and intermediate seamsters, but experts will find plenty of useful tips to help them along too.

This guide was made under the wing of Costume Discounters (www.costumediscounters.com). Please go check out their site!! They sell wigs, shoes, shirts, essentials…all sorts of goodies.