At our quilt guild meeting on Tuesday, I saw a fun project that I am excited to try. The pattern is at the Moda website and is called Prairie Point Christmas.
It’s not too early to start your Christmas projects!
Cosplay, short for costume play, becomes a pop trend for entertainments nowadays. Just as its name implies, cosplay revolves around costumes. If you are just starting to break out into the cosplay world, here are a few steps to help you enjoy the fun with your costume!
First, find out if there are any upcoming cosplay conventions in your area and write them down on a calendar or in a journal. As a new one in cosplay groups, many things related should be known and a trick is to consult someone experienced in this field.
Choose a character that matches your personality as well as stature to cosplay and ensure a good plan ahead of time! However, be realistic. Don’t cosplay a gundam wing mecha when you only have two weeks before a convention starts.
If you plan to make a do-it-yourself cosplay costume, prepare the things you will need such as fabric, scissors, thread, sewing machine or needles, measuring tape, push pins and patterns.
Browse and collection reference photos.
Find many reference photos for your costume as possible as you can. Search online and print the higher quality pictures you find out. Also you can save the pictures in your PC and pick out what is helpful and pasting them onto a whole new page. As there are some parts harder to see than others, and then make sure you find different views and angles of your costume. However, if you are still not 100% sure about some part of the costume, guess!
Find patterns!
You can go to a fabric store and look through their patterns. As well, be sure to know your exact measurements (chest, waist, arm length, etc.) in advance and therefore you can buy the right size of pattern. However, chances are that you can’t find the exact pattern for a piece of your costume. If it is true, find something else close to it and then make adjustments later.
Hunt for suitable fabric & threads.
After you have the right pattern, look on the back to see how much fabric you’ll need. Then, shop for the fabric. A costume will be probably worn once or twin, so all you need to determine is color, texture/type, and cost. When it comes to the color, chances are, you’re not going to find the exact hue you are looking for as reference might also different shadows and highlights that make it near impossible to decide which color is the right color. Therefore, just choose a color and be happy with it! As to the texture or type, do not settle for something thin and cheap such as lining, quilter’s fabric, or costume fabric, when looking. Instead, check for the linens, bottom weights, muslin and knits. If you are on a budget, look for sales and specials at the fabric stores you go to.
Bear in mind, if you are not confident in sewing, buy an extra 1/2-2 yards of fabric. Whatever, it is better safe than sorry! While you have your fabric, it is always suggested to get an all-purpose thread. If you just can’t decide between two colors (one is slightly lighter and the other is slightly darker), rule of thumb is to go with the darker thread.
Washing & ironing the fabric before sewing
To avoid shrinkage and dyes, wash your fabrics before you sew them. As well, iron the fabrics after they are washed and dried to prevent unwanted wrinkles or creases that may obstruct the sewing process.
Cutting the patterns & fabrics
Depending on your size, take your pattern and start cutting your pieces. Read your pattern and follow the pattern steps closely to prevent any errors or unnecessary confusion. After done, lay them out on the fabric closely together, and pin the pieces to the fabric. Cut the pinned pieces out with a pair of sharp scissors.
Sew the fabric
Follow the pattern steps when sewing the pieces together. It is a good idea though to have someone help you out with fittings later in the sewing process.
When everything is sewn and fitted, try on your costume and make sure you can move well in it and there are not any areas that will rip, tear, or choke you. If there are, take some time to adjust those parts and it will help you a lot in the long run.
Warning: be careful when sewing. As well take care when handling sewing scissors as they are sharp.
Take a breath! It is not easy to make a costume for everyone, actually. Even more, it is really hard to mirror the original outfit and have a comfortable fit at the same time. But it is really a money-saving way to have a Do-it-yourself costume to cosplay. If the price is really your concern, feel free to check for some ready made cosplay costumes offered online. In fact, there are many online stores offering an amazingly rich collection quality anime cosplay costumes and other relevant accessories like cosplay wigs and other props. If you still have no idea about that, check for Miccostumes.com, which is a site specialized in cosplay costumes and cosplay wigs at very reasonable prices. Most cases are that one will find a real bargain out there.
My mom can be bossy once in a while. She found a pattern for a purse that she wanted me to make and said here, make this. LOL We picked out fabric and I made this tulip bag. It was really fun to make.
My laptop is at the repair center but I emailed these pictures to my desktop so that you can see the purses I have been making. I love this fabric called Maid of Honor. I made brick red ones and blue ones and they are filled with pockets!
I am in the process of listing them in my Etsy shop.
I have a friend, Vickie, who blogs at Vixens Den. She has entered the CSN Stores Big Bad Bedroom Breakup contest for a $10,000 bedroom makeover. She has made it to the top 86 finalists and needs our help to make her the winner.
Vickie and her family have had a rough couple of years yet she is always looking at the bright side. I would love to see her win this beautiful bedroom makeover.
Please go to #2-Vickie in Escondido, or click on the picture above, and click on the picture of her bedroom. On the next page, click the 5th star. If you don’t belong to Facebook, click #2-Vickie in Escondido to vote.
Thanks so much for your help.
This is the picture you will need to look for and click on.
Voting is open until September 10th, so tell everyone you know!
I am so excited! I sold two of my latest creations.
and
I got rid of the virus on my laptop but I think the browser is so old that it isn’t compatible to loading pictures. Sigh. I still can’t show you the pictures of my new bags. Hmmm, I think I will email them to myself and load them from here, my desktop. Oh the things we go through to accommodate our very persnickety computers. LOL
I am making bags with this Maywood Studio and Bonnie Sullivan fabric, Maid of Honor. I have three bags in the works in this blue. I want to sew!!! But, I have a virus on my laptop and have found instructions on how to remove it. It sounds very involved. If you don’t see me in a few days, please send help. I can’t post pictures of my bags until I get the laptop fixed. I just want to sew.
I have not seen my sister, Grace, online very much the past week and now I know why! Look at her grand-daughter modeling her new back pack.
I bought a measuring tape at the dollar store the same day as Grace. I better get busy! LOL
Let me know if you are interested in having Grace make a back pack for you.
While visiting our son and daughter in-law, we took a little road trip to a quaint town near St. Louis, Missouri. St. Charles is a nice place to visit with its brick streets and small shops. I even found a quilt shop!
Here I am waving at you from the steps of Patches Etc.
This store had buttons! I don’t think I have seen so many buttons in one shop.
