Work Log: Esdeath (Akame Ga Kill) #1

Before I started working on my cosplays for Otakon, I told myself that I would start making work log posts here, but of course as the procrastinator that I am I haven't done it daily like I should.  So... this is going to be a post to catch up, and I'll do it daily from now on :-)

I started with the dress as that is the largest item.  I modified a McCall's pattern #5847(pictured right). This was much easier to put together than my Kirigiri jacket; I was more successful getting the color on the first time.  Because of that, I may try to use more McCall's patterns in the future instead of other brands.
shirt dress pattern.  The directions were quite easy to follow and it was easy to modify. The first modification was to figure out how low the neckline would come and to add on 3.5" to make it a double breasted dress.  I also of course shortened the dress. Next, I figured out that the bottom of the dress has box pleats in a contrasting color, so before I assembled the dress, I added the black between the panels using this simple tutorial that I found on YouTube.

On the inside of the dress there are three small buttons keeping the inside panel from moving and shifting during wear.  Since, her dress has silver buttons on the lapels, I put in snaps to help keep the collar from moving.

Next, I'll be making the arm warmers.  Hopefully I'll have time to at least get that done tomorrow or Wednesday.

Happy Cosplaying!!

Nekocon 2014 Review / RoFCon 2015 Prep

So my DH has been hounding me about the fact that I didn't do a wrap-up after Nekocon in November, so I'm adding it as part of my pre-RoFCon post.

For Nekocon this year I did two new cosplays and I'm actually ashamed to say that I really sew anything for either of these cosplays, which is not my style, but it was good because I didn't have any cosplay inspiration until the last minute.

On Friday, I was Chiho Sasaki from Devil is a Part-Timer and my DH was Maou.

We ordered the shirt and visors from online, and I sewed on bias tape to make the stripes. The patches and the shirts and visors are iron transfers. I ordered the bow tie from Amazon, the skirt is from Old Navy and I already had the shoes. The wig is three pieces from EpicCosplay.com. It's the Chronos 14", and two 20" wavy/curly ponytail clipons, all in Cotton Candy Pink. I didn't have to do anything to the Chronos wig, I just cut the curly ponytails down to the length that I needed.
On Saturday, I was Touka Kirishima from Tokyo Ghoul.

I really love this character and wearing this costume was comfortable, but need to take in the jacket a little bit. I ordered the jacket and boots, the rest were in my closet. The wig is another Chronos 14" from EpicCosplay.com; the color is Fusion Purple/Black.

For Ring of Fire Con coming up next week, I'll be cosplaying Chiho again and my DH and I are going to be the 10th Doctor Who and Martha Jones.  She'll be another closet cosplay, for me since the only thing I had to buy was a jacket.

I'm also working on a onesie that I saw on YouTube. I'll make a post about that after I finish it that includes a link to where I found it. I'm excited about it, because I think it'll be SO CUTE!

Well that's it for this post have a great day everyone and . . .

Happy Cosplaying!

Finished Cosplay: Kyouko Kirigiri from Danganronpa

I finished this cosplay for Otakon 2014 in Baltimore, MD and am really proud of myself.  I did the anime/tv version because I had seen the show and loved Kirigiri, but I didn't even know it was a game until months after I started working on it, lol.  Ok so here's the breakdown, from top to bottom.

1. The wig is the Nyx 28" in Fusion Vanilla Purple from EpicCosplay.com.  If you've read any of my previous blogs you can tell I love this company and this color was perfect.  I just had to cut the bangs, and make the braid on the side.  I didn't need to add any hair :-)

2. The zipped blouse is actually a Michael Kors blouse that I found super cheap on Ebay.  When I decided that I was doing this cosplay, I immediately started looking for the shirt and got lucky.  I think that if I had needed to make one though I would have been able to, but I knew that the jacket would be difficult and wanted to devote my time to that.

3. I made the tie myself using a pattern/directions from Sweet Shop Sewing.  I found this just searching online and am so glad I did.  Not only are her directions easy and clear, but she includes pattern pieces!  I stumbled upon the fabric at Hancock and it was exactly the right rust color that I was looking for.  It's actually upholstery fabric, but that made the tie quite sturdy without the need for interfacing.

4. I made the skirt myself using the same pleated skirt pattern that I've now mastered.  Once you know how to do a pleated skirt, you can do them in your sleep.  Over time, I've read/watched a lot of different tutorials and combined techniques and ideas, so now I have a method that works for me.

5. The boots are from discountwomensdressshoes.com.  I've seen the site many times when searching for shoes for cosplay and always worried that it was a scam, especially after another site got me.  However, they are not a scam.  The boots arrived in great condition and within a week.  I'll definitely use them again.

6. My gloves were ordered from Amazon, they're just Isotoners and then the studs were bought from studsandspikes.com/.  They are silver pyramid studs.  My DH actually put them in for me because I was afraid that I wouldn't get them all in a straight line.  I think he did a great job.

7. I saved the blazer for last because it gave me such a hard time.  I ended up using the Simplicity 1421 pattern.  I was already afraid to make a blazer, so although there were other lined patterns that looked more like what I wanted, I figured simple would be better.  I just made the jacket without the bias tape trim, shortened the hem, and put the zippers into the sleeves.  Honestly it was the collar and the zipper sleeves that gave me the hardest time, but it turned out ok.  Because I'm such a perfectionist, I still think it needs a lot of work, but maybe my next blazer will be perfect, lol.



 All in all I actually loved this cosplay.  It was really comfortable to wear and I'm definitely going to make it one of my repeats.  If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments!!

Happy Cosplaying!!

Post AMA Update 2014 - Prepping for Otakon 2014

At the last minute, I decided to cosplay Pokemon X/Y trainer Serena at Anime Mid-Atlantic. 

When I first started playing Pokemon X, I thought her outfit was so cute, that I immediately added her to my list for this summer, and then I also promptly forgot.  On an episode of this season's Heroes of Cosplay (love that show btw), one of the cosplayers made a Serena and I thought "Oh yeah!" So I spent 7 frantic evenings working on it and finished with two days to spare. 

I made the skirt from scratch (I'll be sure to take detailed photos later), bought the socks from SockDreams.com and bought the hat from Ebay.  I bought the sleeveless top, but added the collar, the glasses are from Amazon, the wig is from Epic Cosplay.com and I already had the bag.  The shoes are black Converse and my BF used fabric paint, for the Pokeballs.  Overall I think it was a success. 




For Otakon 2014 this summer, I'm finally going to finish Kyoko Kirigiri from Dangan Ronpa, and I'm going to cosplay Ryuko Matoi from Kill la Kill.  I'm super excited about Ryuko.



First I'm going to tackle Kirigiri's jacket.  Today and bought McCall's pattern #M6172.  I'm going to make view A (the blue one if you just clicked the link above) and I think all I will have to do is shorten the lapel and of course add two more buttons.  I'm going to get started tomorrow, so wish me luck and. . .

Happy Cosplaying!!

Anime Mid-Atlantic 2014

This year for Anime Mid-Atlantic I think I will have managed to pull off a new cosplay.  Typically I don't because as teacher I don't get much construction done during the school year, but this winter I had the brilliant idea to cosplay as Serena, the female Pokemon trainer from Pokemon X and Y. 

Her outfit is super cute and super easy.  I've already found 90% of what I need to cosplay her; all I have left is to find a bracelet and make the skirt which I'll start tomorrow.  I'll take pics of all the pieces for your either after everything arrives or I'll let you know where everything came from after the con.

Happy cosplaying!!

Ring of Fire Con is Coming to Town

This year will be the first year for Ring of Fire Con or RoFCon in Virginia Beach, Va.  It's next weekend, February 28-March 2.  From what I've heard, it's run by the same group of people that run Nekocon in Hampton, VA and so if that's true then it should be a good time.  They are trying something sort of new and attempting to have literally 24 hours of programming, which should be interesting, because usually in the wee hours of the night, your only choices are either go to the dance or watch shows/movies.  I'm interested to see if they truly have really interesting and valuable programming 24 hours around.


My schedule is too tight this time of year to make new cosplays, so I'm just going to re-wear Hajime Ichinose from Gatchaman Crowds and Gogo Yubari from Kill Bill Vol. 1.  I'm super excited about Gogo because I absolutely love that character and got a lot of compliments on my weapon.  Since this is supposed to be not just an anime convention, but an all around "nerd" stuff convention, she'll be super appropriate.  I even bought a better jacket for her, than the last one.  I just need to replace the buttons and move the patch from the old jacket to the new one.

  

After this I won't have another convention until AMA in mid June, and if I motivate myself I think I can have my Kyouko Kirigiri from Dangan Ronpa cosplay finished.  I just have to make the tie and the jacket.  I think it's totally doable.

Post Nekocon 2013 Wrap-Up

For anyone that actually reads this blog, sorry this is SOOOO late.  Life kinda happened and I finally decided to just sit down and finish this, ha ha.

I only wore one new cosplay for this con.  I KNOW RIGHT!!  That's the first time in the year and a half that I've been cosplaying.  I was waiting for the wig I wanted Kyouko Kirigiri from Danganronpa to come back in stock, but it just came back in stock last week.  *sigh* so I'll be making her for the next convention.

So, for Neko 2013 I wore Stocking Anarchy again and debuted Hajime Ichinose from Gatchaman Crowds.  This was one of the easiest to make.  The skirt is a basic circle skirt, but I made the waistband 4 inches tall to match her high waistband. The straps are the same fabric as the skirt, about 1.5" wide and of course, crossed in the back. I found the blouse on Ebay.  It already came with the black collar, but originally had black buttons, so I switched them out for white ones. I bought the boots from Payless, the wig is the same wig I wear for Gogo Yubari and I made the yellow necktie flat, then tied it and it is attached to the shirt with snaps.  (I couldn't figure out how to sew one that I could tie around my neck and realized that it didn't actually need to be tied on)

My BF (well, fiance now), made my NOTE for me.  It started as a moleskin journal, that he covered with a piece of white cardstock.  He drew on the symbol and other decorations, then colored the silver portions with a Sharpie and covered the paper portions with clear contact paper.  The journal is still totally functional :-)


Not that I took a good picture of it, but I just made the bird barrette out of some leftover clay, painted a couple of coats of acrylic white paint on and glued it to a barrette.  Super easy!!

Although not many people recognized me, the ones that did were as excited about the show as I was, and were super happy that I had a NOTE.  I will definitely wear this cosplay again.

HAPPY COSPLAYING!!