#intermediate techniques

Need round appliques for your cosplay? Having trouble making them actually round? Try this sewing hack with felt to make them nice and round! #cosplay #sewing #tutorial

Using appliques to make designs and details on a cosplay is great until you encounter the circle. You can double-layer a lot of designs but that doesn’t work with circles since you can’t flip them right-side out. However, there’s a trick you can use that should help you get a great circle every time. Two appliqued white circles on yellow fabric When I set out to make a Princess Daisy-inspired…

Want to add metal zippers to your cosplay but don't know where to start? Let's talk about how to modify the tape and the pull to fit any zipper length you need! Great for JoJo and anything designed by Nomura. #cosplay #zipper #tutorial

Metal zippers just look cool and come in some very striking metallic colors, usually gold and silver, but I’ve also seen metallic rainbow as well. Bruno Bucciarati was the first time I had encountered the metal zipper. His jacket featured several metallic gold zipper accents on the sleeves, collar, and shoulders, and metal zippers make the cosplay truly shine. Metal zippers inset in the jacket…

Are you looking to add some fuzzy suede to your next cosplay? Why not play with microsuede, a synthetic alternative to real suede. Here's how to work with microsuede and the things you can do with the material for your next cosplay. #cosplay #tutorial

Synthetic microsuede aka faux suede is a fun way to add texture and that natural suede look at a more affordable price. Given the fuzzy nature of faux suede, it may seem intimidating at first but let’s take a look at how to work with suede and what it can do. Link cosplay made with chocolate brown faux suede with painted monster spot details Skill level: intermediate Cost: moderate For the…

Want to transform a short dress into an equally short dress for an amazing magical girl transformation? Why not a breakaway shirt! Let's talk transformation magic: how to pattern, how to attach velcro, and even how to tuck it all up. #cosplay #tutorial

When I set out to make a transformation dress, I wanted it to not be obvious it was a transformation dress. There aren’t a lot of tutorials floating around, and none for making a short transformation dress that transforms into an equally short dress. Transformation dresses work by concealing the inside dress completely inside the outer dress (and sometimes cloaks!). The shirt is torn away either…

Need a wig detail that defies gravity but don't want the weight? Fake it with a felt pillow and teased wefts! Here's how I've made several pillow details including Kakyion's giant squiggle bang! #cosplay #tutorial #wig

Sometimes you just want to cosplay a character that has a highly stylized ponytail or giant accents that don’t physically make sense. Spiking it up may appear thin or floppy and adding more wefts can get heavy fast. I once made a large Chibi Moon pigtail wig with 3 packs of wefts and I thought my neck was going to break. Fortunately, stylized wigs don’t need to break your neck. You can fake it…

Looking to make a lightweight, easy to transport stage prop? or perhaps something easy to carry around the con. Why not make a kite? Here's how I transformed a delta kite into a sinister raven so you can too. #cosplay #tutorial #princessTutu

When I wanted to make a giant raven prop, I knew I needed something large, durable, and foldable. This thing had to travel but also be large enough to be seen on stage during a performance. Stage props are often made out of cardboard or disposable materials, but I also wanted something I could use offstage. So why not use kites? Finished kite The result is a Raven kite with a 5′ wingspan,…

Need some standing shoulders that don't look like armor? Don't have the space/resources for foam? Why not try fabric shoulders instead! Lightweight, easy to store, and able to withstand a whole con day and a contest performance! #cosplay #tutorial

Sometimes a design has standing shoulders or shoulder decorations, but they don’t look like armor. Perhaps you need something lightweight or something easy to store. Fortunately, fabric shoulders can help make that standing shoulder illusion without the extra bulk, weight, or storage space. Finished fabric shoulders for Raven Mytho These shoulders take only a few materials, and the fabric can…