Cosplays and pet peeves.

Just a short blurb, well, ever since i started making costumes (May 2010) people have been asking me about my process and the steps i go through in making my costumes. I may or may not make them at a slightly faster pace than others, but that's only cause i cut corners like a kid who's phobic against corners.

It isn't a secret that i'm incredibly lazy, and that i don't like spending time making mock ups and the like unless i'm 100% sure i have no idea what i'm doing. Usually i'm just 50% sure i know what i'm doing kukukukuku.

So here are the things I do and don't do. Alot of them are actually bad habits that no one should ever follow. Infact, if you do all the things on the don't do list and avoid everything in the do list you'll be set for costume making.

I don't:

• Make mock ups
• Preplan the pattern on pattern paper
• Use prebought patterns
• Use a serger
• Don't iron my fabric unless its school girl uniforms or pleated skirts
• use pins properly
• don't use a dressform unless i'm putting the costume on to take photos..cause i don't do mockups ahahaha....

I Do:

• Draw out sketches on pieces of paper
• Use ruler and plan out the pattern on the fabric based on rectangles and triangles
• use the same colored thread
• use pins
• use an extra large seam allowance
• make sure the colors match together in person

Theres probably more i'm forgetting but thats generally the gist of it

I don't use patterns, but i go straight to penning and cutting out the fabric pieces from sketches like these:

For Ahri

This was for Sheryl

Is it a good method? Not at all. If i make any mistakes that warrant me re-cutting the fabric pieces, i end up wasting a lot of fabric and resources. Does this mean i can reuse the patterns? Nope. But usually if I've made it before the second time is a lot better. That and i haven't had to make similarly cut costumes before, so every time is a new experience.

However i'm far too lazy and so far, it hasn't been disastrous. I am slowly making the transition to planning things more carefully and doing research on the Internets but ...since its a seasonal hobby and not to be taken with utmost seriousness (though others would say differently) I'm going to let myself do whatever is fun and feels right. 8D

But i can only say that with a straight face as long as my costumes still look somewhat decent.

....

huehuehuehueheuhuehuehuee.

Pet Peeves

There no way i can explain why this bothers me without sounding like a total bitch, so this is all that's really to it...Its not cosplay to wear a chopper hat. You're wearing a hat that a character is wearing.

You are not chopper.

This is chopper

Google images provided a chopper for me. I'm sorry if you're the person in the photo, and had to read this. You can write me an email and i'll remove the image. Notice how this does not look like the animal above.

The hat in question

Oh and, children are an exception.

You aren't cosplaying just because you bought a wig and decided to do "street version" of that character. Usually its not as retardedly irritating when they have nice photos and then it becomes a nice fashion shoot. I don't care if you wear whatever just don't tell me you're totally cosplaying choppy because you bought the hat in vendors. Just get a costume to go with it.

I'm totally cosplaying sena/seeU/tsumugi/every blond character , (normal day version)

If you're going to spend the effort wearing the wig and cam whoring, at least try to make the costume. Its the same logic where if i'm wearing a Sheryl wig and i say i'm cosplaying sheryl but i'm not wearing any of the clothes she wore in any of her appearances that i'm just wearing a wig that happens to be the same as Sheryl's.

If you can't make the costume but still want to cosplay

There is no harm in asking your friends for help, or buying the parts of the costume and then modifying it to suit your needs. Choose a cosplay that's right for your skill level. Or if you don't want to bother learning to sew, try asking places for cosplay commissions. There are plenty of people willing to do it with ample amounts of portfolio work, if you're willing to pay the money. If you don't have money, well, all hobbies are expensive, and i don't know what to say about that.

We all do these costumes because we find redeeming qualities in these 2d fictional characters, generally speaking. Usually it starts off as that before we all go goo-gaa girly over looking as kawaii uguu vomit desu as char no.1 or char no.2. Cause tsunface is best face.

I'm probably going to hell for this if i wasn't already.