Unfortunately coletterie.com does not have a tumblr, but this image is so helpful I had to share. So often people ask us what fabric they should use for a certain cosplay, and two things you should always ask yourself are: 1) how much does it need to flow, and 2) how heavy does it need to be. Sheen and texture are obviously important as well, but picking a weight and stiffness is the first thing you should tackle.
From The Coletterie’s awesome blog post:
When you choose a fabric for your sewing project, ask yourself these questions to decide on an appropriate weight:
Should my fabric be sheer or opaque?
Will a light fabric be difficult to sew for this project?
Will the fabric be sturdy enough to tolerate stress on the seams?
Will the heaviness of the fabric cause bulky seams?
And to decide on an appropriate amount of drape:
Will the fabric have enough drape to flow the way I want?
Will the fabric have enough stiffness to have the structure and crispness I want?
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Selfie roundup from days 1, 2, and 3 of GenCon! This is the first time in a while that I've had a bunch of new cosplays for a con and it was a blast wearing these.
I cannot stress enough that all those things in sewing pattern instructions that seem pointless are actually very important
Yes, how you fold your fabric before putting down the pattern pieces and cutting matters, because it influences how the fabric drapes, and ignoring that can cause fit issues in ways you wouldn't expect
Yes, cutting an entire separate piece to sew to the edge to finish it is going to be better than turning the edge and stitching it on its own, because there are geometry issues in play that make it actually harder to just fold a curve to the inside.
Yes, cutting clips or notches into the seam allowance around curves should always be done, because those geometry issues will work on the seam allowances and keep the curve from laying flat (remember, clip when the curve goes in, notch when the curve goes out)
Yes, interfacing may seem completely superfluous and frustrating and an extra step to work with, but it adds rigidity and stability to areas that need it (especially under buttons)
Yes, using a fun quilting cotton print for lining looks nice, but the point of lining isn't to make the inside pretty as much as it is to make the inside slip smoothly over the layer under it, and quilting cotton is going to instead be prone to grabbing everything under it, so you really should use those annoyingly slippery lining fabrics
Yes, in general, you should use the kind of fabric the pattern tells you to use, because there have been centuries, if not millennia, of people throughout the entire world figuring out what fabric best suits what kind of garment, for reasons beyond aesthetics
I know that a lot of people new to sewing see these things and feel like they're things that just aren't necessary, because they skip them when they sew and the item ends up just fine. And if you don't mind the idea of your clothes looking homemade, then it is fine. But...if you're consistently skipping these things and end up unhappy with how homemade your items look, please consider that that result is at least partly because you're not following the entire directions
"Sewing" involves so much more than just the stitches
incredibly cursed that my brain works by trying to skip past all the boring parts of my current WIPs (hemming, finishing, making fiddly details) to begin planning my next WIP
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I'm very happy with how my Githyanki artifact came out for my Shadowheart cosplay!
3D print files are from the Dangerous Ladies; printing was done by @vengeris, sanding, painting, and assembly was me.
Process photos below the cut!
I've only worked with PLA once before, so I wanted to be very careful with priming. I hit it with 2-3 coats of primer, then painted it with acrylics.
Finishing details on the faces were done with a brush pen, since I wanted finer control than you get with a paintbrush.
I may add in the spikes on the corners later, since the Dangerous Ladies didn't have them built in. This version is probably a lot easier to carry and store though so we'll see.
Are you a cosplayer? Are you painfully stubborn and tired of every video and tutorial out there about painting shoes telling you not to paint the rubber soles? Me too! So I did it anyway.
Here's a full break down of how I did it complete with suggested materials and pictures!
Apologies to those that use screen readers, Tumblr is NOT letting me add alt text on desktop, so I would greatly appreciate anyone who wants to add an image description in a reblog. I'll try to write one up and add it to the end of this post later, but you are free to beat me to it!
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📸Want to do cosplay photoshoots but don't know how to find that perfect place to shoot? This tutorial covers how to brainstorm a location for your shoot, logistical and cost concerns with shoot locations, and how to actually find your dream location.
📸This tutorial can be applied to shoots of all types, including but not limited to self shoots, shoots with friends, and shoots with hired photographers. Self shooting or shooting with friends only requires a camera (a phone works!) and possibly a tripod.
Part 1: Location Types
Coming up with the general type of location you want requires some brainstorming about what you want from the shoot. Think about your specific goals and types of photos you want and how certain types of locations would work for your goal. Remember you can always do multiple shoots for the same costume with different concepts!
For example, if you want big, sweeping shots, you will need a location that allows for wider framing and still looks good, while if you are primarily after shots with closer framing, you can go with a location with only a small usable portion. If you are looking to primarily showcase the costume itself or your posing, a flatter and simpler background works better than a busy background, but if you want cinematic shots or shots where you are existing in the environment as the character, somewhere that can show off the location itself as well as how you exist in it would work better.
Types of Locations
There are three main types of locations for cosplay shoots in relation to the cosplay itself. Of course, you can combine these types and there is a lot of overlap, but thinking of these three location types will help you conceptualize your shoot.
The first type is locations that are similar to something in the series, or an exact location from the series. My cover image is an example of this, where I took photos at the location of the climactic battle of the manga. Most fictional locations don't exist in real life so exactly, however, so think of locations that look similar to where this character might be found. The example on this slide shows a cosplay at a nature preserve with grassy fields and oak trees, which is similar to the locations the character traverses several times throughout the game she is from. This category can also include locations with similar vibes, such as a studio made up to look like a fancy European castle for a character from a series about European royalty, or a shoji screen backdrop for a character who lives in a Japanese-style house.
The second location type is locations with symbolic meaning. These locations showcase something about the themes or character arcs present in the series, and this can be accomplished with anything from specific props and setpieces to the entire background. One shoot I'd love to do with this concept is of Lady Blackpearl staring into a mirror -- this would symbolize her dual personality nature -- or of Lady Oscar wrapped in thorns, with the rose thorns symbolizing her glorious but fragile life. I chose to represent this location type with Ultimecia, a sorceress who wants to compress time so she is the only one who can live in the combined past/present/future, set among ruins. The ruins aren't accurate to the game, but show her crumbling reign marked by the passage of time.
The third location type is locations chosen for pure aesthetics. Obviously all locations are chosen for aesthetics, but these are locations with no deeper meaning and may not represent anything from the series at all. These can range from a simple colored wall backdrop to a sweeping landscape that simply looks good with the colors of the costume. Some examples are the Yasuho Hirose ocean shoot on the slide, where it doesn't represent a particular scene or location in the series but simply looks good with the cut and colors of the costume and the sailor theming, or my Princess White Rose milk bath photoshoot, where again the character never takes a milk bath, but a bathtub full of milk and roses shows off the detail of her floral hat and showcases the opulent nature of a rose-themed princess.
Requirements of your Shoot
Once you have a general concept, think of what is required to fit that concept. This can be as general as specific backgrounds or types of backgrounds to as specific as particular items at the location or particular lighting setups. Some shoots might need specific props, such as furniture to sit or lounge on, and props that won't work in a public location, such as realistic weapons that may cause panic or worse. Also keep in mind any accessibility needs, whether it is an accessible location in general to accommodate a disability or a need that is caused by the costume itself. Check not just the specific area you want to shoot, but how to get there from the parking lot or transit stop. Finally, keep in mind that unsecured outdoor locations, such as a park or beach, are locations where you can't change things about the location and you may encounter other people. Discussion of how to be respectful of such locations is in part 5.
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Hey there, fashionistas! I’m excited to share a fantastic sewing tutorial on creating your own stunning balloon sleeves. If you’re looking to add a touch of drama and elegance to your outfits, this tutorial is perfect for you!
In my latest video, I guide you through the process of drafting and sewing balloon sleeves. Whether you prefer a lined or unlined version, I’ve got you covered. To make things even easier, I’ve included a free printable PDF pattern that you can download and use right away.
These balloon sleeves are incredibly versatile and can be added to a variety of garments, from tops to dresses. They instantly transform any piece into a fashion statement. Even if you’re new to sewing, fear not! This tutorial is beginner-friendly, with detailed step-by-step instructions and useful sewing tips to help you along the way.
Head over to my channel to watch the video now and embark on this exciting sewing journey. Don’t forget to give it a thumbs up if you find it helpful and consider subscribing to my channel for more inspiring sewing content.
I can’t wait to see your fabulous creations! Share your experience, ask questions, and connect with fellow sewing enthusiasts in the comments section. Let’s make fashion magic together!
I’m planning my Imogen Critical Role (level 9) cosplay and I’m currently in the process of deciding how much of a crazy person to be for making it.
Long, drawn-out thought process is going below the cut so I remember what the hell I was thinking later.
So this is The Design. The big question for me is, what’s going on with this part of her outfit:
Starting from the bottom layer up, whatever the base layer is makes me insane because of the seam placement. It looks kind of like it’s supposed to be some kind of corset or stays, on account of the seams being kind of like hip gores. I’d lean toward stays because there’s no center front busk (and because the top of it looks flat, which is more consistent with stays overall). However:
this not going to be terribly visible, since it will be under an entire other coat
technically they’re definitely not hip gores because the seam placement is super weird
There are some benefits to the unnecessarily complicated route, namely that stays would actually achieve the overall silhouette that Imogen was drawn with this time. She has a very flat bust, which is even more obvious because she has an hourglass waist + hips, which is best achieved by certain periods of stays/corsets.
The other benefit is that her weird little bolero is most similar to extant garments from the 1790s-ish. Particularly, this Redingote dress:
It’s definitely not EXACTLY the same, but it has a similar shape and, most importantly, you can find a ton of helpful pattern drafting information from LACM online. The jacket has a similar weird shawl drape collar… thing to what Imogen has going on, which is the key element.
So using stays might also help with the fit & silhouette of the bolero. I definitely don’t know enough about 1790s fashion to determine whether or not it would be essential, though 🤷♀️
On the other hand, I could just be a normal person and make the entire base layer out of stretch knits and just kind of wing the jacket, which is a more sane and probably lower-effort approach (unless the jacket-winging goes poorly).
