Cosplay Discussion and Help Thread

[PsychoXLeXCemu]

Ok, so I'm not aware of any topic here that it like this, so I'll start it! This will be my trove of cosply links for cosplayers. They will include eveything from screan printing to fiber glass to wings to wigs...I'll try my best to get what you're looking for!

(I'll always edit this first post with new links...so ya don't have to hunt for them in posts)

(Credit: JENOVA, chi, Nyu Nyu, and YURA_sama)

WIGS
Amphigory Wigs (http://www.amphigory.com/)
Cheap ebay Wigs (http://stores.ebay.com/edengardenhk_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQdptZ0QQftidZ2QQpZ8Q QtZkm)
Dr Locks (http://www.drlocks.net/)
Katie Bair (http://www.katiebair.com/home.html)
Sailor Moon Odango (http://www.geocities.com/odangoatamatsukino/)
Gravity Defying Wigs (http://costuming.org/jinx-tutorial.htm)
Cutting Bangs Into a Wig (www.amphigory.com/wig_how_to_cut_bangs.html)
Wig Care (http://www.wigwarehouse.com/main/00_wigcare.asp)


Tutorials
Fairy Wings 1 (http://laerry.rpgdarkside.com/wingtutorial.html)
Silk Screen Printing (http://www.reuels.com/reuels/page512.html#PEM)
Screen Printing (http://www.reuels.com/reuels/page512.html#PEM)
Fairy Wings 2 (http://www.angelfire.com/magic/rosemilk/wingsmain.html)
Boot Covers (http://www.sarcasm-hime.net/bootcovers-tutorial.html)
Horns (http://www.phobe.com/horns/)
Animatronic Jaw (http://www.wolftronix.com/mjaw/index.html)
Gelatin Ears (http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Article/Ears.htm)
Animatronic Tail ( http://www.wolftronix.com/tail/spine.htm)
Hakama (http://luxnova.home.mindspring.com/samuraigame/hakama.html)
Armor 1 (http://amethyst-angel.com/cosplay/tutorials.html)
Cheap Armor (http://entropyhouse.com/penwiper/costumes/helmsdeep.html)
Mouse Hat (http://www.littlecabbage.com/diy/hat.html)
Sleaves (http://vintagesewing.info/1940s/42-mpd/mpd-04.html#puffed) (This (http://vintagesewing.info/index.html) has MANY useful toturials for cosplayers...like this (http://vintagesewing.info/1940s/42-mpd/mpd-toc-long.html)...I HIGHLY recommend it! [but it is for a bit more experienced sewers])
Some general how to's on sewing (http://vintagesewing.info/19th/1892-sn/sn-toc-long.html) (even tho this is from the same site as above, they're the more basic stuff you should/want know)
Yukata (http://luxnova.home.mindspring.com/samuraigame/yukata.html)
Naruto Shoes (http://liz.spain.googlepages.com/narutosandaltutorial)
Feather Wings 1 (http://www.nekomitech.net/taters/)
Gargoyle Costumes (http://avmists.gargoyles-fans.org/803/costume.html)
FF costume/make up Index (http://www.ffonline.it/faq.php?id=204)
Maren Horns (http://www.nightsintodreams.com/NiD/black/cosplay/tuts/demonhorns.htm)
FMA uniforms (http://www.storms-end.com/cosplay/hagaren_uniforms/)
FF costumes (http://ffcosplay.free.fr/rec_costumi.htm)
Limit Break Cosplay Tips/Toturials (http://www.limitbreakcosplay.com/cosplay101.htm)
Armor 3 (http://amethyst-angel.com/armormaking.html)
Making Your Own Gloves (http://www.glove.org/)(Beware: THis is VERY much a pain in the butt...but can be done!)
Yuna Cosplay Bible (http://www.driftingheart.net/yuna/media/cosplay.html)
Grown Making (http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/makingem/Tips/Metal/Butterfly.htm)
Feather Wings 2 (http://www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/wings/wings.html)
Fiber Glass part 1 (http://www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/armor/fiberglass.html)
Fiber Glass part 2 (body hardner) (http://www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/armor/bondo.html)
Obi Tying (http://www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/obi/obi.html)
Bob's Beading Toturial (http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/9555/)
Sculpey Working (http://www.thenoodlebowl.com/jongleur/main.html)
FMA ED patterns (http://cosplayff.free.fr/costumes.htm)
Chi ears and other Persocon ears (http://aichan25.tripod.com/miwakosparadisekisscosplay/id11.html)
Wonder Flex FAQ (http://forums.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=60768)

Elegant Gothic Lolita
Make your own lace (http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/lace/)
Coffin Purse (http://www.geocities.com/diycat/badthings/accessories/coffingpurse/coffinpurse.html)
Bloomers (http://home.aol.com/ilove2lace/bloomer.html)
Corset (http://costume.dm.net/custompat/index.html)
Magnet-Holice Patterns (http://www.magnet-holic.net/crosses/miho.html)
Tie Pattern (http://www.users.bigpond.com/landman_m/TYKmake.htm)
Neck Corset (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/Lholy/scans/1-072.jpg)
Lolita Shoes (http://www.geocities.com/roriitapage/DIY_lolitashoes.html)
Beaded Crown (http://community.livejournal.com/egl_crafts/2429.html)
Muff (http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:jETjE4ACSZcJ:www.gbacg.org/Articles/muff.pdf+sew+muff&hl=en&ie=UTF-8)
Plushie (http://img254.echo.cx/img254/4228/notes0015rj.jpg)
Gothic Lolita Bible volume 1 (http://www.bunnysneezes.net/gl-scans-1.html)

General
Fabric Guide (http://www.iqrupdesigns.com/guide.html)
Introduction into Sewing (http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/sewingbook/sewbook.html)
Fabric Index (http://hobbyistsparadise.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2162)
Stitch Reference Guide (http://www.singerco.com/resources/stitch_ref.html)

This is currently a work in progress...I'll be adding more as I find them! Please feel free to add! (I'll post them up here too!)

~<3 Kalas_angel_of_darkness (Eva)
^_^

[Jacku]

That's incredibly nice of you.
But just so you know, "screen" and "tutorial" are spelled wrong.
:)

[PsychoXLeXCemu]

I have very bad spelling skils...I'll fix them! =P

[PsychoXLeXCemu]

UPDATE! 5/31/06

Added 3 new links along with fixing some typos!

~Kalas (Eva)

[Honey]

awesome!! thank you soooooooooooooo*gasp*oooooooo much!!

[Jacku]

I can finally make some Naruto sandals...
Thanks. :)

[PsychoXLeXCemu]

I added a stitch reference guide for all of you who know how to use your sewing mechines well...^.~

[Honey]

*ahem*

lets not forget the all mighty kitty hat tutorial. it isnt great, but its a good start. http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/25557574/

please give her lots of love for this!!

[MewIchigoChan]

i already pmed you but then i just found this...sorry...umm...though ive already asked...just incase there are any other tokyo mew mew fans out there...do you have any tourtoils (cant spell) for Tokyo mew mew costumes...preferably the cafe workers maid costume

[WrathfulNeko]

I wanted to know if you know how to make anime gowns... it's for prom. And how do you get anime avatars? I'm new at this.

[fairieslight]

sweet!! Naruto sandles!! <--- that was the first link i clicked on... too bad i can't sew :(

[CrazyCat]

Ooh, yay! I can learn to make clothes! *bounces*

[neko05]

very nice link list. thanks for making it.

you get a cookie.

^_^

[Honey]

i think you should add www.whatthecraft.com

they have a lot of very general tutorials that might be useful!

[Hokutochan]

Oh my WOW. Talk about comprehensive!! Thanks for all the info- my brain's overwhelmed right now but I so have to try making my own lace soon XD

[Honey]

I wanted to know if you know how to make anime gowns... it's for prom. And how do you get anime avatars? I'm new at this.

okay, first off, to make a gown, you will definatly need a pattern, and a lot of sewing pratice. check out this (http://www.simplicity.com/) pattern company.

secondly to upload an avatar, you have to download it onto your comp (find you you like, then right click and select either 'save as' or 'save target as') then go to edit avatar in your user controll pannel

[DancingRose]

I was wondering if you had any links on how to make really BIG wigs. Something like this...http://images.cosplay.com/showphoto.php?photo=746819 or would you use the same patterns in the feather wigs links 1 and 2? Thanks.

Dream as if you'll live forever.

[Honey]

i am making big wings now, but they are expensive, and heavy

you'll need about 10 feet of copper tubing, a roll of chicken wire, a bag (i used two) of craft batting, looooottttssss of feathers, and a ton of glue. just bend the copper tubing in a different way, and cut the chicken wire to fit, and duck-tape it on. i sadly would not reccomond (sp?) using feathers from a feather boa. they look like crap...spend the money to get good feathers...

also, with wings that big, you probably wouldnt be able to wear them around the con. you sould bend them so they sit behind your back, like folded angel wings...

EDIT: do NOT glue your batting onto the chicken wire. get chiken wire with smaller squares for something sturdier...but harder to cut. what i did, was i put the batting around the wings, and sewed it on.

i didnt tie a knot at the end of the string, but i held onto it, pushed the needle through, pulled it up, and tied the two ends together. it works better than wasting a ton of glue, and you only have to sew around the edges, and a little in the middle to keep the batting down

here is another crap tutorial from MS paint...http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/7443/craptutorial2qx6.th.png (http://img122.imageshack.us/my.php?image=craptutorial2qx6.png)

[DancingRose]

Honey, thanks!

I'll have to try making the wings that way. Thank you again!

Dream as if you'll live forever

[Honey]

Np :)

[JENOVA]

This is JENOVA. My link list isn't as short as that and I have more but I dun really wanna weed out all which one Kalas has posted or not so I will just post the whole damn thing e.e heh laziness consumes. Much Thanks to Kalas for directing me here tho Xo really cool site.
Here is the list: (Ya its on gaia lol)
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15494945

[*Sakurafairy*]

wow thanks :D

[*Sakurafairy*]

*off to make naruto shoes*

[Jacku]

^ Please don't double post.

I think this should be stickied.

[Honey]

i agree!!



h'okay, i am not a pro or anything, but i tried to make a simple tutorial on how to make a kimono (i know it might be wrong at parts, but it works for me) >.O

the links are here
part 1 (http://www.tokyopop.com/Honey/blog/16945.html)
part 2 (http://www.tokyopop.com/Honey/blog/17337.html)

[TaciturnSeraph]

*Eyes instantly attracted to the Make Your Own Lace Tutorial*

=D

Is it possible to do do all (or most) these things with a thread and needle? It may take longer, but I'm not allowed to use the sewing machine, I don't know how to use it, mom won't teach me how to use it (which is part of the reason why I'm not allowed to use it), and, above all, it makes really scarey noises. O_o

[wolfenstein]

if someone can help me find an envy costume from fullmetal alchemist that would be great!

[RKambereyes]

Does anyone know a good link on a 'Step by Step Misao costume?'

[RamaNoodle21]

if someone can help me find an envy costume from fullmetal alchemist that would be great!

just get black under amor and cut it and hem it then get a black skirt and like bike shorts:D it doesn't wound very good but yeah and if that doesn't work there's always e bay (I love e bay, so many goth loli dresses so little money)

[TenshiBu]

Ok, so I'm not aware of any topic here that it like this, so I'll start it! This will be my trove of cosply links for cosplayers. They will include eveything from screan printing to fiber glass to wings to wigs...I'll try my best to get what you're looking for!

(I'll always edit this first post with new links...so ya don't have to hunt for them in posts)

(Credit: JENOVA, chi, Nyu Nyu, and YURA_sama)

WIGS
Amphigory Wigs (http://www.amphigory.com/)
Cheap ebay Wigs (http://stores.ebay.com/edengardenhk_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQdptZ0QQftidZ2QQpZ8Q QtZkm)
Dr Locks (http://www.drlocks.net/)
Katie Bair (http://www.katiebair.com/home.html)
Sailor Moon Odango (http://www.geocities.com/odangoatamatsukino/)
Gravity Defying Wigs (http://costuming.org/jinx-tutorial.htm)
Cutting Bangs Into a Wig (www.amphigory.com/wig_how_to_cut_bangs.html)
Wig Care (http://www.wigwarehouse.com/main/00_wigcare.asp)


Tutorials
Fairy Wings 1 (http://laerry.rpgdarkside.com/wingtutorial.html)
Silk Screen Printing (http://www.reuels.com/reuels/page512.html#PEM)
Screen Printing (http://www.reuels.com/reuels/page512.html#PEM)
Fairy Wings 2 (http://www.angelfire.com/magic/rosemilk/wingsmain.html)
Boot Covers (http://www.sarcasm-hime.net/bootcovers-tutorial.html)
Horns (http://www.phobe.com/horns/)
Animatronic Jaw (http://www.wolftronix.com/mjaw/index.html)
Gelatin Ears (http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Article/Ears.htm)
Animatronic Tail ( http://www.wolftronix.com/tail/spine.htm)
Hakama (http://luxnova.home.mindspring.com/samuraigame/hakama.html)
Armor 1 (http://amethyst-angel.com/cosplay/tutorials.html)
Cheap Armor (http://entropyhouse.com/penwiper/costumes/helmsdeep.html)
Mouse Hat (http://www.littlecabbage.com/diy/hat.html)
Sleaves (http://vintagesewing.info/1940s/42-mpd/mpd-04.html#puffed) (This (http://vintagesewing.info/index.html) has MANY useful toturials for cosplayers...like this (http://vintagesewing.info/1940s/42-mpd/mpd-toc-long.html)...I HIGHLY recommend it! [but it is for a bit more experienced sewers])
Some general how to's on sewing (http://vintagesewing.info/19th/1892-sn/sn-toc-long.html) (even tho this is from the same site as above, they're the more basic stuff you should/want know)
Yukata (http://luxnova.home.mindspring.com/samuraigame/yukata.html)
Naruto Shoes (http://liz.spain.googlepages.com/narutosandaltutorial)
Feather Wings 1 (http://www.nekomitech.net/taters/)
Gargoyle Costumes (http://avmists.gargoyles-fans.org/803/costume.html)
FF costume/make up Index (http://www.ffonline.it/faq.php?id=204)
Maren Horns (http://www.nightsintodreams.com/NiD/black/cosplay/tuts/demonhorns.htm)
FMA uniforms (http://www.storms-end.com/cosplay/hagaren_uniforms/)
FF costumes (http://ffcosplay.free.fr/rec_costumi.htm)
Limit Break Cosplay Tips/Toturials (http://www.limitbreakcosplay.com/cosplay101.htm)
Armor 3 (http://amethyst-angel.com/armormaking.html)
Making Your Own Gloves (http://www.glove.org/)(Beware: THis is VERY much a pain in the butt...but can be done!)
Yuna Cosplay Bible (http://www.driftingheart.net/yuna/media/cosplay.html)
Grown Making (http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/makingem/Tips/Metal/Butterfly.htm)
Feather Wings 2 (http://www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/wings/wings.html)
Fiber Glass part 1 (http://www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/armor/fiberglass.html)
Fiber Glass part 2 (body hardner) (http://www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/armor/bondo.html)
Obi Tying (http://www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/obi/obi.html)
Bob's Beading Toturial (http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/9555/)
Sculpey Working (http://www.thenoodlebowl.com/jongleur/main.html)
FMA ED patterns (http://cosplayff.free.fr/costumes.htm)
Chi ears and other Persocon ears (http://aichan25.tripod.com/miwakosparadisekisscosplay/id11.html)
Wonder Flex FAQ (http://forums.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=60768)

Elegant Gothic Lolita
Make your own lace (http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/lace/)
Coffin Purse (http://www.geocities.com/diycat/badthings/accessories/coffingpurse/coffinpurse.html)
Bloomers (http://home.aol.com/ilove2lace/bloomer.html)
Corset (http://costume.dm.net/custompat/index.html)
Magnet-Holice Patterns (http://www.magnet-holic.net/crosses/miho.html)
Tie Pattern (http://www.users.bigpond.com/landman_m/TYKmake.htm)
Neck Corset (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/Lholy/scans/1-072.jpg)
Lolita Shoes (http://www.geocities.com/roriitapage/DIY_lolitashoes.html)
Beaded Crown (http://community.livejournal.com/egl_crafts/2429.html)
Muff (http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:jETjE4ACSZcJ:www.gbacg.org/Articles/muff.pdf+sew+muff&hl=en&ie=UTF-8)
Plushie (http://img254.echo.cx/img254/4228/notes0015rj.jpg)
Gothic Lolita Bible volume 1 (http://www.bunnysneezes.net/gl-scans-1.html)

General
Fabric Guide (http://www.iqrupdesigns.com/guide.html)
Introduction into Sewing (http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/sewingbook/sewbook.html)
Fabric Index (http://hobbyistsparadise.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2162)
Stitch Reference Guide (http://www.singerco.com/resources/stitch_ref.html)

This is currently a work in progress...I'll be adding more as I find them! Please feel free to add! (I'll post them up here too!)

~<3 Kalas_angel_of_darkness (Eva)
^_^
Thank you! :D

[janmurphy]

*poke* you dont have www.janchan.com I may be biased =) but I think its a pretty darn good resource.

[DancingRose]

Does anybody know how I can make Temari's fan or where I can buy one that's really cheap? I've tried e-bay, but so far no luck. If anyone could tell me, it would be a great help! Thank you!

[Kantami]

I think you can get pieces of wood arrange into a fan like shape and glue them all together and then stick over white fabric and cut the top into jaggedy bits to make it look more like a fan then paint on the purple moons!

Hope that made sense

[Honey]

Does anybody know how I can make Temari's fan or where I can buy one that's really cheap? I've tried e-bay, but so far no luck. If anyone could tell me, it would be a great help! Thank you!

Okay, I've made a fan larger than Temari's, so let me help. (Note: This was NOT a cosplay fan, it was for an english project. It's actually LARGER than Temari's fan, its about 8 and 1/2 feet when open, and about 4 feet tall [past my chest])

My photobucket (http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/Ouroboros_Chan/Non%20Anime%20Detour/)

You can see the photos there. I don't know how many "rods" (don't know what else to call them) her's has, but it will be close to the same.

I went to Home Depot and bought peices of 18 foot trim. Wider ones for the outside, and thinner ones for the inside. You can cut them in half right at the store, so get your dad's help if you want. When I got home, I sanded them down, and curved the edges. Then I painted each one black, waited for them to dry, and screwed them together so it'd open and close like a normal fan.

Now the tough part is material. You should lay your fan open, and measure it from end to end, and top to top. You have to make sure that your material will cover it. I used heavy weight canvas and bought 3 and 1/2 yards. Then I layed it out, drew on the shape of the fabric, took it off and cut it. I carefully glued the fabric on with fabric glue, making sure the "rods" were equal width apart, and when it dried, I set it up against my wall and painted it.

Sorry for the long post, but hope it helps. :D

[RKambereyes]

If anyone's done any leg wrappings for ninja characters, please help me out here?

How do you get the leg wrappings to STAY up. What material should I use?

I'm trying to do Misao Makimachi from Rurouni Kenshin.

[Honey]

Tape?

Anywho, I don't know if you have CosWiki (http://www.cosplaywiki.org/index.php/Main_Page) but its helpful. I have 3 tutorials up there, yush.

[flippyness]

What I learned about cosplaying. Do not make your costume the night before.

[Honey]

What I learned about cosplaying. Do not make your costume the night before.

And do not procrastinate untill the morning of >.<

[ParaKiss]

Need help with a cosplay? Can't find a good pic? Can't find the right material? Want to help someone else out?

Then post here! For things like help with materials, stitching, make up etc.

Please do not make anymore 'I need help with my cosplay' threads unless it would qualify for it's own thread. E.g. 'I need help with my huge Optimus Prime cosplay' would qualify. Something like 'I'm making a Naruto cosplay' won't.

Please PM me before making a cosplay thread if you're unsure.

EDIT: You may also discuss cosplays and the like here. Just don't spam. And stay on topic.

[miyapi]

This is a helpful thread
o(^ w ^ )o
I wonder who I should cosplay as this upcoming convention??

[ParaKiss]

I'm not doing any cosplays this year since I'll be participating in the maid cafe, and I'm a staff member so too much running around D:

[sweetkarichan]

There is an upcoming con... I have never done cosplay before, but I would like to try. It's three days long... Here is what I am thinking. I am going to dye my hair blue, so my theme is: blue haired people!

Day 1: Bleu from Blue Monday
For this (it's almost cheating), I dress almost like normal (mod skirt, band tee (probably adam ant), and wear my hair in a normal pig-tail style with fringe. I have to find cute shoes though...
Day 2: George from Paradise Kiss
My best friends, who are a couple, look just like Yukari and Hiroyuki so we are going as a group! I also know theeee best boutique to get George's stylish clothes. For the hair, I think I will get a cool hat like he is always wearing and hide the bulk of my hair under that, but have short bangs sticking out, and the edges of my hair... Any tips for crossdress cosplay??
Day 3: ?????????????????
That is the question. I can put the outfits together on my own, but I can't think of another character with short blue hair. Any ideas?

[Lagozzino]

Day 3: ?????????????????
That is the question. I can put the outfits together on my own, but I can't think of another character with short blue hair. Any ideas?

sailor mercury?

[midorihebi]

Any tips for crossdress cosplay??


Ace bandages are your friends. Kind of. Check out the crossplay subforum on Cosplay.com for more info on all of that stuff. ^.^

Also, Lago is right. Sailor Mercury from Sailor Moon has short blue hair. So does Rowen from Ronin Warriors, but that's another crossplay.

[Jacku]

I think the cosplay resource thread would be a big help. I'm surprised it has never been stickied.
http://messageboard.tokyopop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3118

[sweetkarichan]

i thought about doing sailor mercury... but i really don't want to wear a short skirt!! do you think it would be recognizable if i did her in street clothes or her school uniform (which has a longer skirt)?

[ParaKiss]

Yes. The skirt doesn't have to be short. Uniform and blue hair... Not hard to recognize. Unless you've never seen Sailor Moon of course...

[sweetkarichan]

well... it's not that i've never seen it, i'm just not a "fan" of it...

[Arcademan]

I think the cosplay resource thread would be a big help. I'm surprised it has never been stickied.
http://messageboard.tokyopop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3118
Good idea, so I merged that thread with this one and kept it a sticky. Thanks for pointing that out :)

[souen]

I need help with a costume for Anju from Chibi Vampire...I'm so totally lost...

[Jacku]

I need help with a costume for Anju from Chibi Vampire...I'm so totally lost...
No one can actually help you without a particular outfit so...

What kind of outfits does she wear?

I found this picture...
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9839/chara035qt.gif

...but is there anything else you have in mind?

[souen]

That's basically what I was thinking of...:o

[Arcademan]

This thread's stickiness has run its course since the last post was in October...that is until my bump with this notification ;)

[Vicious]

Feel free to post any cosplay pics people :3

[sandytaty]

I didn't cosplay, but i was around in the AX 09 in LA. Anyway, these were my tops cosplays ppl i saw during the convention:

http://z.about.com/d/manga/1/0/h/3/0/-/AX09_Vash_500.jpg
:o I hugged him.

I think they were twins...but I like Naruto sexy jutsu!
http://z.about.com/d/manga/1/0/S/4/0/-/AX09_Naruto_500.jpg

http://blog.funimation.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/img_0291-300x225.jpg
Of course, they sang the theme song before the movie was showed. I'm looking for a pic with asuka n rei together.