Ultimately how good your cosplay becomes wil depend not so much on the quality of your materials but your expertise and patience using them. You do not need to spend a lot of money to make some incredible builds. Do not worry if things don’t go as you expected the first seven times you try to use a material. It takes time to improve but you will eventually get there if you keep trying and practicing

List of cosplay materials

I tried to order this list of materials by types. You may use some of this things more than others or perhaps you won’t use them at all. It will all depend on the project you are working with at the time and your own preferences. This list will never be complete as you can use virtually anything to recreate a costume, from bottle caps to toothpicks, do not discard anything as it may be useful for the most unexpected project. However, I believe the materials below are maybe the most used.

Fabric

In my opinion the most basic material for cosplay is fabric. It is true that you can recycle clothes or may not need much for a full armour but most people will start with it. There are many different textile fibers you can choose for your fabric, each one with its own set of properties and they will be used for different projects and garments.

Do not forget to check the haberdashery section when you buy fabric for cosplay, as you will need all those buttons, elastics and closures to finish your garment and they will be useful for many other parts of your cosplay.

• Fabric
• Thread
• Velcro
• Buttons
• Automatic buttons
• Zippers
• Elastics
• Fiber filling
• Leather
• Ribbon
• Trims
• Bias tape

Cardboard and paper

Cardboard may not be very durable but it is a very cheap option. Personally I don’t use it for builds but it creates amazing props and stage scenography if you just want to use them in a skit for a few hours. Layering newspaper and glue may be time consuming but will get you some cheap and hard props as well if you don’t have money to get other more expensive materials.

Of course, you will also need to make lots of sketches and pattern your pieces. Make sure you have plenty of paper in several sizes and keep a notebook with any important details you may need to remember. Maybe a Cosplay Planner can help you finish all those projects in time.

• Cardboard
• Old newspapers
• A4 sheets
• A3 sheets
• Tracing paper
• Notebooks

Foam and styrene

Foam is a cosplayer favourite. You can find it in many shapes, thicknesses and densities. There are many different types of foam. The easiest to find are craft foam and foam floor mats but the best results are usually with high density foams. They work great for armour and little details for your cosplay. They are lightweight and easy to carve. Make sure to check my introduction to craft foam to check some of its amazing properties.

Appart from 2mm to 10mm sheets, you can find some shapes like dowels, spikes or spheres. Craft stores will usually have polyestyrene foam, which is very lightweight but also more difficult to work with as it melts and breaks very easily.

• Craft foam
• Foam floor mats
• High density foam
• Plastazote foam
• Foam dowels and spheres
• Polyestyrene sheets
• Polyestyrene spheres
• Upholstery foam
• Foam board

Worbla and thermoplastics

Thermoplastics are a kind of plastic that can be heated to achieve a different shape. They are great for making durable armour and other pieces that need to be resistant. The different types of worbla have different properties and you may want to use them in different parts. Once you work with the different types you will learn where to use your worbla most effectively.

There are some alternatives to Worbla like Wonderflex and Thermocraft. They are usually cheaper but also more difficult to find. Also, Kobracast works pretty much like a plaster cast and is good for reinforcing weak areas. Don’t forget that you can reheat the leftovers to create something similar to a clay and you also have the option of deco art and crystal art, which create very smooth small items.

• Classic worbla
• Black worbla
• Meshed worbla
• Transparent worbla
• Pearl worbla
• Worbla Deco art
• Worbla Crystal art
• Wonderflex
• Thermocraft
• Kobracast

Plastics

3D printing is becoming very popular with cosplayers. Most 3D printer filaments are made with plastic. One of the exceptions is maybe PLA which is corn-starch based. It is time consuming and requires some computer knowledge, although now a days many propmakers will do this for you for a price. Remember, you don’t need to make all your cosplay and props if you don’t want to.

Appart from the prints you can get useful plastic parts for your cosplay. A PVC pipe will make a great base for weapons. You can get all kinds of bits and pieces in the craft store: rods, beads, googly eyes, they are all easily added to your cosplay to add details.

• PVC pipes
• Acetate sheets
• 3D printer filaments
• Tubes
• Beads
• Googly eyes
• Glue dots
• Baubles

Wood

You can use many types of wood for a durable prop and maybe some small details. Keep in mind that big builds may become really heavy and wood is difficult to carve. MDF may be cheap but it is very heavy. Balsa wood is great if you are looking for a lightweight material whichn is easier to cut. However, it is also very brittle.

Don’t underestimate the use of skewers, rods and lolly sticks. They will proof useful for many a project, even if it is just for stirring things or reinforcing flimsier materials.

• MDF wood
• Plywood
• Balsa wood
• Rods
• Skewers
• Lolly sticks

Metal

Probably you won’t be able to create an armour with metal easily. However, there are many pieces that will add to your cosplay. Studs, eyelets, buckles or D-rings are great for creating armours.

Do not underestimate the use of findings, rings and all kinds of little bits used for jewellery making either as you will be needing some at some point. For example, I use blank brooch pins all the time, but safety pins work too.

• Studs
• Spikes
• Eyelets
• D-Rings
• Buckles
• Findings
• Chainmail

Clays and Resins

For a really durable item you may want to cast a resin piece. This is probably the most time consuming way of really impressive pieces. You will need to sculpt your piece, create a mould and cast it with whichever resin fulfills your purposes. It may take a while but the results will be amazing.

For smaller pieces you can always get away with some cheaper clay, maybe paper mache and another cosplayer favourite, the foam clay. The latter is very light weight, easy to mould and air dries.

• Foam clay
• Paper mache
• Clay
• Polymer clay
• Sulfur free plasticine
• Rubber sylicone
• Resin
• Clear resin
• Polyurethane

Glass

This material is perhaps more difficult to integrate in your cosplay, but do not forget that strass, beads and cabochons made of glass make amazing decoration and will get you the shiniest results for your cosplays. You can recreate gems and jewels for cosplay in a budget with these pieces but remember that you usually have a cheaper plastic option if needed.

• Strass
• Beads
• Cabochons

Other materials

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Potentially anything can become the piece you are missing for your cosplay, go to stationary shops, craft stores or just the disccount store around the corner. Check your garage for unused or unwanted unique things that can work for you. You never know what is going to be your best asset in your next cosplay.

Of course you will also need to bond all these materials together. Do not forget the many tipes of adhesive tapes and anything sticky that will create your collection of glues for cosplay. Most of your materials will need a layer of paint too, so make sure to have a good collection at home, acrylic is a favourite. A good wig, coloured contact lenses for cosplay and amazing make up will always help you make or break your cosplay and you should always take them into consideration.

And if you need some inspiration for your next cosplay make sure to check my cosplay pattern collection. You can also support me on Ko-Fi if you want me to keep writing tutorials and creating new cosplays. A nice comment also helps!

The post Short list of cosplay materials appeared first on Alice in Cosplayland.

Some fabrics are shiny and some aren’t, some costumes are shiny and some aren’t, so choose wisely, I know certain shiny fabrics are really cheap but there are also cheap matte fabrics if you ask. Consider the following, if you lived, let’s say, in the woods…would you wear shiny satin? .Also, keep in mind that there are many kinds of shines and effects (mirror shine, iridiscence,etc)

Brillante vs mate
Algunas telas son brillantes y otras no, algunos disfraces son brillantes y otros no, así que elegid bien. Se que algunas telas brillantes son muy baratas pero también las hay mates si preguntáis. Pensad lo siguiente, si vivierais por ejemplo en el bosque… os pondríais un traje de raso brillante? También hay que tener en cuenta que hay muchos tipos de brillo y efectos (brillo espejo, tela irisada, etc)

Draping

You may want to take into account the way the fabric folds when you hang it (or stretch it), usually stretch fabrics have this effect of loose folds (others too), these fabrics are usually slippery and sometimes difficult to sew.

Drapeado / Caida
Quizá queráis tener en cuenta la manera en que la tela se arruga cuando la dejáis colgando (o la estiráis) normalmente las telas elásticas tiene este efecto de arrugas amplias(otras telas también), estas telas son normalmete resbaladizas y a veces difíciles de coser.

Sometimes you want this effect, these fabrics are tricky to sew as well when they are thin. Consider the following, some fabrics like cotton (specially light ones) may be a bit seethrough, if that’s not what you want consider lining your fabric or adding interlining.

Transparencias
A veces necesitamos este efecto, estas telas suelen ser complicadas de coser cuando son muy finas. Considerad lo siguiente, algunas telas como las de algodón (especialmente las claras) pueden transparentarse, si no es lo que queréis ponedles un forro o una entretela.

Thickness
Did you consider where you are going? Maybe you are doing a really cool dress with lots of thick fabric and… oh my god! it’s summer! someone help me! Also, if your fabric is too thick it may be difficult to sew it and if its too thin it may be a bit see through (and tricky to sew as well). 

Grosor
Habéis pensado a donde vais? Quizá estáis haciendo un disfraz chulísimo con un montón de tela gruesa y… oh no! es verano! que alguien me ayude! Además, is vuestra tela es demasiado gruesa puede ser complicado coserla y si es demasiado fina puede transparentarse (y quizás también difícil de coser).

Deshilachado
All those loose threads…you usually don’t want them but most fabrics will frail and you will need to do a turn-up to avoid it.  Anyway, believe it or not some fabrics won’t frail and may be perfect for some particular costumes.

Frail
Todos esos hilos sueltos…normalmente no los quieres pero me temo que la mayoría de las telas se deshilachan y necesitaréis hacer un dobladillo para evitarlo. De todas maneras, os lo creáis o no algunas telas no se deshilachan y pueden ser perfectas para ciertos disfraces.

Other characteristics and tips

Other things to take into account are the weave, if they are soft or stiff, maybe you need fur (or velvet) or even leather and vinyls. If your fabric is patterned yo may want to try and find something similar or consider fabric paints. But the most important tip is TOUCH YOUR FABRIC to see if you like it.

Otras características y consejos Otras cosas a tener en cuenta son el hilado, la suavidad o rigidez, quizá necesitéis pelo (o terciopelo) o incluso cuero y vinilos. Si vuestra tela tiene dibujos podéis intentar encontrar algo similar o considerar la pintura para telas. Pero el consejo más importante es TOCA LA TELA para ver si te gusta.

The post Fabric characteristics appeared first on Alice in Cosplayland.

Types of adhesive tapes

You can find most of the tapes below virtually anywhere, although you may need to research a bit more for some of them. Remember that you will probably be able to find them in different widths that may suit your projects. Also, keep in mind that a good brand will usually have a much better adherence than a cheap unbranded tape.

Packaging tape

Also know as sellotape because of the brand. The tape everybody has at home. It may work in an emergency but it doesn’t stick well to things that aren’t paper. It is very stiff. Also, if you try to unstick it it will leave a residue, break the paper and with time it will become yellow. It is shiny and may unstick by itself with time. Also, its surface makes it difficult to use pens on top unless you are using a marker

Invisible tape

Similar to the adhesive tape but slightly better for some projects. I use this tape to assemble patterns as you can fold it easily and draw over it. Best used for paper. It is less sticky but it means you won’t rip nor stain the paper so easily if you mess up. It is translucent and non-shiny.

Double sided tape

I have used this tape for almost everything. It will stick pretty well to fabric but at the same time you can remove it from it if necessary without staining it. It also sticks to foam and of course to paper (very handy if you have no time to let your glue dry. It is not the strongest but very handy in a hurry (bring it to conventions to repair little things that may break in your cosplay). Also, it is virtually invisible when you use it. One version of the double sided tape comes padded which may prove useful if you want to leave a gap between two sections.

Insulating tape or electrician tape

This tape is very strong and flexible enough. Works for most of materials. It is very sticky which may be good or bad as it may leave glue residues when you unstick it or it may get excess glue at the corners of the tape itself. I sometimes use it as a reinforcement or in the handles of weapons. It has a rubbery look and comes in many colours, which can be handy for some projects.

Aluminum foil tape

This tape is also strong and I mainly use it to fake metal. It is perfect to cover daggers and swords althought the edges may show if you have to put several together. Try using matte and shiny finishes to get a contrast look in your swords. This tape is smooth and has a metallic look.

Duct tape

Duct tape is a very strong tape. It will resist a lot. This tape is used in soft combat weapons and also you can make a dummy of your body with it. It is a very strong reinforcement but not very flexible. It is usually grey, similar to a dull metal but its surface is rough. It will save your broken items more than once in a convention.

Masking tape

I never have enough masking tape at home. It is perfect to keep pieces together while they dry or just to see them assembled before you glue them. Also good for masking and making stencils. Low adherence that won’t leave a residue and easy to unstick. It is also good to make forms that will be covered with paper and glue or as a reinforcement layer before you add newspaper and glue to a prop. It has a slightly rough surface and you can write over it. It looks and feels like paper.

Hem tape

This tape is specific for fabric, foam will stick to it as well. It is good for hems you don’t want to sew or little fabric or foam details. You need an iron to settle it. Be careful with painted pieces because the heat of your iron can bulge the paint. It is very difficult to unstick but washable. Also, it is virtually invisible once applied.

No-iron hem tape

This is a mixture of hem tape and double-sided tape with similar uses to the above. It is stronger than double-sided tape when used on fabric. It is very diifficult to unstick and washable. Virtually invisible.

Fashion tape

This one is used to make sure your clothes stay in position no matter what. Stronger than double sided tape and apt to use on your skin. Makes a perfect solution for socks that don’t stay in place or very low necklines that may show too much by accidente. It is also virtually invisible when you apply it and leaves no residue.

Of course there are many other types of adhesive tapes, each one useful for a different project. Do not forget to experiment with them. Also, remember that tapes are more of a temporary measure and the best bonds will be created with glues. Make sure to check my short list of materials for cosplays and decide which of these tapes will be better for them.

The post The many types of adhesive tapes for cosplay appeared first on Alice in Cosplayland.