You can Cosplay

This blog is meant to inspire and help more people to cosplay. Providing all followers with tutorials, tips, advice, videos, and messages to improve their cosplay. Yet, primarily focusing on the positives of cosplay, embraces all cosplayers, and shows the various reasons why people partake in the hobby. Here the blog encourages more people to cosplay, in ordered to better the cosplay community. Like our title, ‘You Can Cosplay’

[ivorivet]

Full Body Duct Tape Dress Form with Removable Arms Tutorial

The average cosplayer has probably made a duct tape dress form at least once.  For most applications a torso-only dress form is fine, but what about the times where you need arms and legs?  I needed a full body dress form for a few upcoming projects and didn’t want to shell out $500+ for a commericial option.  I also wanted the chest to be bound so I could use it for crossplay, which pretty much eliminates any possibility of finding a stock commercial option that would be even remotely close to the measurements I wanted.  So I ended up making this guy!  

I also want to give a HUGE thank you to @stella-sews who helped me with the parts of this project that required two people, and I couldn’t have completed this without her.

The dress form not only accurately reflects my measurements but also has removable arms and a removable stand so I can actually put things like bodysuits on it.  Making the dress form turned out to be a little less simple than I initially thought, but the final result is something that I’m probably going to be able to use indefinitely unless my body shape significantly changes.

Here’s the super quick version of the changes I made to the normal duct tape dress form routine:

Made duct tape shell

Taped wire to outside of shell to make a temporary rigid exoskeleton

Put in internal PVC skeleton for support stand and detachable shoulder joints

Filled with expanding foam

Removed wire exoskeleton

Cut arms off and cleaned up shoulder joints so arms are removable

For an in depth walk through of what I did, read below the cut!

This tutorial, as well as future tutorials, will be cross-posted to my new Patreon account! It will be 100% free always, but is another way you can keep an eye on my cosplay tutorials and write-ups.

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[ivorivet]

Houseki no Kuni Wig with TranspArt Tutorial

I just got back from Cosplay America in Raleigh, NC and I’m really excited to share how my Amethyst wig turned out!  I watched Houseki no Kuni after seeing a bunch of lovely pictures of people cosplaying from it, and once I finished the show I started kicking around a few ideas of how I could make a wig that had a glass-like finish like the way the 3D models are rendered.

For a walk-through on how I made this wig, please read below the cut!  (Header photo taken by Coffee_cat_cat on IG.)

This tutorial, as well as future tutorials, will be cross-posted to my Patreon account! It will be 100% free always, but is another way you can keep an eye on my cosplay tutorials and write-ups.

Keep reading

[cowbuttcrunchies]

Your new favorite cosplay tool: the hot knife

Let’s take a few minutes to talk about our new favorite tool for finishing fabric edges…. the hot knife!  For those who are unfamiliar with this product, a hot knife is similar in size to a soldering iron with changeable tips.  Once plugged in, the tips will heat up so that you can use the hot end to cut or heat various materials.  Hot knives are pretty cheap too - the below set will run you $22 on Amazon.com.

Many cosplayers already use hot knives to cut foam and other prop materials, but you can use a hot knife on fabric too!  So long as your fabric is made from unnatural material such as polyester, a hot knife will melt and slag the raw end of your fabric, turning it into a hard, plastic-like line.  However natural fabrics like cotton will not melt and slag - instead these will simply burn away if you try to light them on fire or use a hot knife.  To test your fiber and perform a burn test, follow these steps.

But why would I ever want to melt my fabric??

There’s a few reasons!

Edge finishing.  Is your fabric edge an odd shape, or something that can’t easily be rolled or serged?  Slagging or cutting with the hot knife prevents your fabric from fraying, and allows you to create whatever shape your design calls for.

Distressing.  We used the heck out of the hot knife for our Sakizou costumes, since it required so many raw and distressed edges.  Holes and rips can look a little strange if your fabric is the kind that frays easily - what looks great now may not look so hot in a day or two when threads are beginning to unravel.  Sealing the edges of your fabric with a hot knife guarantees that the edge will not fray, no matter how much you wear your costume.  We used the following methods while creating our Sakizou cosplays:

Slagging while cutting - on satin, I first traced out my distressed pattern while using chalk.  I then chose one of the tips that came to a point, and “cut” along that pattern with the hot knife.  The heat from the knife burned through the satin and sealed the edge in one go.  A heavy piece of cardboard should be placed under your work so that you do not accidentally cut or burn your table.  This method is great for weightier fabrics or ones that will not roll under the knife.

Slagging after cutting - on chiffon, the above steps were difficult to do since the fabric was so prone to sliding.  Instead I first cut the basic shape I wanted with scissors.  I then used a flat tip and ran the hot knife along all edges of the fabric to seal.  Be careful of the heat setting and how long you stay in one place while using this method, as light fabric can melt easily.

Some general hot knife tips:

Don’t over-heat your knife.  Test first to determine which temperature is best for your fabric; something too hot can melt away your fabric more than you intended.

Don’t leave your hot knife unattended or around animals/children.  It’s really hot!

As always, make sure you use your hot knife in a well-ventilated area since you are in essence melting plastic, and different polyesters can give off fumes.  Keep children and pets away from the room, and consider a respirator depending on your fabric.

[abisue]

My updated Legacy Rogue! 📸@journeysincolor

#rogue #roguehair #legacyrogue #marvel #marvelcosplay #imadethis #spandex #cosplay #geekgirl #green https://www.instagram.com/p/BnmYNw1AtBw/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tx1zp2buuqg2

[cosplaychoco]

Saboten con went really great! First trails and errors of the armor went as expected for my first full armor build. I’m glade that people thought I was a good Allura though!!

Character: Princess Allura

Series: Voltron the Legendary Defender

Cosplayer: @cosplaychoco on instagram

[primevalcos]

My Diamond Cosplay, Photo taken by icy12ice on Instagram.

Check out my Instagram primevalwings !!

[cosplayinamerica]

For over a year, I have been wanting to cosplay Lum but never had the confidence to. Throughout my life growing up, I was bullied for my size. I developed eating disorders and hid my body with baggy clothing. I felt very discouraged that a plus sized girl like me wouldn’t be able to pull of such a thin and slim character. Especially knowing I could possibly be body shamed and become more insecure with myself than I already was. Because let me tell you, people can be really cruel. However, A couple months before the convention took place, I made a quick decision that it was finally time to get out of my comfort zone and be myself rather than hiding myself. And in a result, I felt so much happier with myself doing so. It was a moment I couldn’t ever forget. That I wasn’t ashamed of my cellulite, the rolls when I sat down, and the stretch marks throughout my body. And that I was for the very first time in a long time, confident in who I am.

I am a cosplayer who will make the best out of cheap eBay cosplays and low-cost crafting materials. For the pieces I did craft and work, I reused my white undergarments and bought an affordable pair of white stockings. I dyed all those pieces yellow and added the black lines using fabric paint. I made my horns using aluminum foil and layering it with plaster wrap. I then painted them and completed it by gluing on clips. Something only cosplayers would understand, would be the struggle of wearing a cosplay at a convention. From my experiences, I could say the struggle is real. As I was in the restroom fixing up my Lum cosplay, it became more of a laugh worthy moment when another cosplayer walks in saying how she had already got here and is ready to leave due to how tiring it is being in cosplay at a convention. It was one of the most relatable things that I felt considering how much my feet were in pain, the makeup was already sweating off, and having dry contacts in less than a couple hours being at the con. And for the most part during that time, I was sitting down! We both laughed at it and made each other feel good about relating to one another. Cosplay has impacted my life for the better. Cosplaying has taught and gave me a chance to experience my own self love, happiness, confidence, and empowerment. As someone with depression and anxiety, my passion of cosplaying has been one of the little purposes why I haven’t given up on myself and my own happiness. As much as it could be considered silly to someone that running around dressing up as fictional characters could do such, cosplay takes me out of reality, and makes me a much more livelier person that I wouldn’t have been without it. One of my many purposes to cosplaying is to now inspire and encourage others who are afraid to be themselves, to express themselves however they want. So don’t let anything stop you from finding your own happiness. You’ll be happier that you did rather than not at all.

— https://www.instagram.com/its.empress/

[calefroadcrafts]

It’s WIP Wednesday! It’s sooooo hard to finish a project when there’s a cool new pattern out there.

See my stack of unfinished everything for details.

[yoko-tsuki]

Facebook | Instagram | Wig Stylist: 1 // 2 | Photographer: 1 // 2

[cosplaychoco]

I love being a mermaid!!! 🧜🏽‍♀️✨

Mer! Allura Series: Voltron the legendary defender Cosplayer instagram: @cosplaychoco

[ardawigs]

The next Arda Wigs banner contest is about to start! ✨ As always, you can win the opportunity to be featured on our website and social media (Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, etc) banners.

Each grand prize winner will receive $100 USD to Arda Wigs or $125 CAD to Arda Wigs Canada. Deadline for submissions is September 19th at Noon/12:00 P.M. CDT!

🍂 Full details and application form here: http://bit.ly/ardabannerfall2018

[finalcosplaycorps]

Yay it didnt catch on fire. #twitchcon2018 #twitchconcosplaycontest #cosplay https://www.instagram.com/p/BnkLYE7AwmR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=g0h4pabullg0

[sirfrogsworth]

The Black Panthress!

Cosplayer CutiePieSensei thought it would be neat to create a Black Panther costume in the event Shuri ever had to take the mantle. 

This might be even more impressive than the movie costume because it’s not CGI. In many scenes they kept nothing but Chadwick’s head. 

CutiePieSensei [ instagram | facebook | tumblr ]

[cosplayinamerica]

Marvel Becoming YouTube spoke to me in March and asked if I was still interested in making Thanos as I had expressed a interest back in 2015. I sculpted as much of the costume as possible, head, hand, arms, belt and boots. Were then molded and cast. Silicone was used for the skin part and urethane for armor. I also made a custom muscle torso and legs to gain the bulk needed.

The response at Dragoncon was great. People really seemed to appreciate the effort I had put into the build and as he was 7ft he was pretty imposing. Often when posing for photos I would often go cross eyed to try make the person facing off with me laugh ( I’d always stay for a serious photo though ) other than a very drunk girl trying desperately to cast a spell on me, everyone was respectful.

I really do not see myself as a cosplayer, I generally go to Dragoncon and enjoy catching up with online friends. I feel I fall more into the category of a artist who occasionally wears things ;) however it has enabled me to not be so shy when I am in a 7ft walking tree ( Groot ) or in this case Thanos.

My word of advice is anyone looking to create something they are passionate about, be it a creature or favorite hero, should try it. Creating things is very rewarding, and you can push yourself to improve with each attempt. Try to ignore the naysayers and trolls, do not give them the mental real estate they crave. I’ve always said when someone says “ you can not do that” it just makes me more determine to do it.

—- HurleyFX

Photo : Samhain Contact Lenses

[lucy-corsetry]

SUCCESS!!

I happily introduce the Corset Dimensions Calculator on my website - just enter the size and style of the corset you’re interested in buying, and you can see their bust, underbust and hip circumference in plain numbers.

If you still like the tables so you can see ALL the measurements at a glance, don’t worry - they are still there. :) But they may be moved to a different location.

Right now the most popular (most frequently asked) corsets are in the calculator, but more will be added shortly! (I’m just so proud that I actually figured this out that I couldn’t wait to share!)

[yoko-tsuki]

Facebook | Instagram

We had a lot of fun, being Link & Zelda (Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) this past weekend!

[house-of-loki]

Sew You Wanna Make a Cosplay, But Can’t Find The Right Color

Let’s talk about dye!

I have people ask me about how I dyed this all the time. Interestingly enough, it’s a mix between batik and tie-dye. 

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