Posts

How to Take Your Measurements

When you are planning your cosplay project, whether you will be buying or making the various components, it is important to make sure they will fit properly. Most retail sizes you will encounter will not be indicative of how big the item is (i.e., a Medium will often be different actual sizes depending on the store), and many cosplay pieces require fitting that retail sizes simply don't cover. Therefore, it is handy to take your own measurements, either to compare them to the sizing charts that e-tailers and pattern makers offer, or to ensure the best fit for custom-created items. This process can be tricky on your own, so I recommend wearing close-fitting clothing and having a friend available. You will need: Flexible tape measure A mirror A friend Base Measurements These are the standard measurements that apply to most clothing and will be found on typical size charts. Height: In your bare feet or socks, measure from the top of your head to the floor Weight:  Weigh yourself wear...

What is Cosplay?

Cosplay, from the portmanteau for  costume play  (Japanese  kosupure ) refers to the activity of making, wearing, and performing in costumes designed to represent a character from any number of media or even historical sources. At least, that's the official definition, but it feels like it falls a bit short based on my own cosplay experiences. I have been to events where costumes range from a T-shirt reading simply "This Is My Costume" to a fully articulated Iron Man suit with glowing arc reactors and a motorized visor. So, with this broad of a spectrum on display, it seems nearly impossible to nail down specific parameters to define cosplay. During my research (my favorite form of procrastination), I discovered that the earliest fan costuming actually occurred at the first Worldcon in 1939(!), when franchises like Star Trek were barely a twinkle in anyone's eyes. In fact, by the time Star Trek and other fandoms got together in science fiction conventions, many info...

Welcome!

 My name is Elizabeth, and while I've been making costumes for most of my life, my hobby really kicked into high gear in 2020. This blog will document my cosplaying projects, along with any new techniques and skills I learn along the way. I will provide links to my sources whenever I can, and post photos of my projects so I can show off my work. I look forward to attending cosplay events in the future, but in the meantime I'll make sure I have plenty of garb to show off there!