This Is How I Make My Cosplay Swords! If There Are Any Questions, Or If Anything Isnt Clear, Feel Free

This is how I make my cosplay swords! If there are any questions, or if anything isn’t clear, feel free to ask me anything. The template I mentioned: sta.sh/21u4m1riua1s ((By the way, I’m going to Megacon next week!! I’ll be cosplaying as Alice Angel, Bendy, Vio Link, and Shadow Link!))

Here’s a “life-hack” for you. Apparently concentrated Kool-Aid can be used as a pretty effective leather dye. I was making a drink while cutting the snaps off some new straps for my pauldrons and I got curious, so I tried it, thinking, “ok even if this works, it will just wash out.” Nope. It took the “dye” (undiluted) in about 3 seconds. After drying for about an hour and a half, it would not wash off in the hottest tap-water. It would not wash out after soaking for 30 minutes. It did not wash out until I BOILED it, and even then, only by a tiny bit and it gave it a weathered look that was kind of cool. Add some waterproofing and I’d wager it would survive even that. That rich red is only one application too. Plus it smells great, lol. So there you go, cheap, fruity smelling leather dye in all the colors Kool-Aid has to offer.

How I transfer from drape to parttern! (( this is not the only way or necessarily best way))

🔸1. Before you take the piece off the form LABEL EVERYTHING: what the piece is, lines to match everything up, all seam lines. 🔸2. Trim all the excess fabric to the seam lines. 🔸3. Pin to muslin and add seam allowance. Cut out. 🔸4. Use the muslin pieces to make a mockup. Try it on (and twirl ✨) 🔸5. Mark adjustments, remember to count in seam allowance. 🔸6. Seam rip and iron, add any additional allowances for linings/facings. Pin to fashion fabric and cut 🔸(optional: pin and trace the final mock up pattern piece to butcher paper for a paper pattern. (At this point I typically don’t do this because of time))

Cosplay (and general sewing) life hack- easy pleats with a fork! For all those school girl uniform cosplays and more :) 

It has begun...

Cosplay Scaling and You

Hey guys, so I’m gonna delve a little bit into my process of planning a cosplay. Something that I think is pretty important and can be often overlooked is scaling your cosplay or prop to fit you. There are lot’s of methods on how to do this, but I’ll be sharing mine. 

*For this example, I’m going to show you how I scaled my Holy Blade (from Sailor Moon) for my Serenity cosplay.

Things you’ll need:

measuring tape

a ruler or yardstick

calculator (optional)

paper and pen/pencil

reference images

Step 1:

First, you’re of course going to want reference images of what you want to scale to fit your size. Obviously in the case of your prop you want as many close up shots for detail as possible. However, I’m going to stress that you look for an image with either your character holding the prop, or if you can somehow manage, a side by side image of your character and their prop. 

(Images like these are incredibly helpful)

Step 2: 

Next, you’re going to want to measure the distance from the top of your head to your chin. For this example, I’m going to be saying the measurement came out to 10”. Keep your measurement written down somewhere so you don’t forget it later.

Now, using your measuring tape again, measure your characters head. Let’s say Sailor Venus’ head was 1” from her chin to the top of her head.

This means, that our conversion rate is 10” to every 1” we measure in our reference image.

Let’s say the Holy Blade measures roughly 4 1/2”, that means our sword should be 45”.

However, in my case those extra 10” would have made this ridiculous to carry around the convention floor. So in some cases you might find an accurate sized prop might be too large to work with. That’s fine, just fudge a little! 

You can apply this method to scale out things other then props too. Things like wings, dress trains, tails, and other cosplay parts can be broken down with this method.I hope this was helpful, and good luck cosplaying!