I have given many talks and workshops about cosplay in many conventions. One of the things people wonder about is how to make those crazy patterns for your cosplay and where to start. The other question is where to find the fabric to make them but I have already explained that in another post. Here you have a few ideas to get patterns for your cosplay. From the easiest methods to the most difficult

Don’t make patterns

Let’s start with the easiest method. Do you really need a pattern for your cosplay? Or can you get away with something that resembles your cosplay and is close enough. You have some options here.

Buy clothes that already resemble your cosplay. Sometimes you can buy garments that already look like the ones your characters are wearing. Potentially, this option is very cheap but probably you won’t get an exact match. The only problem is that this option is very limited and you can spend a lot of time looking for the perfect thing. It may not work with all your characters and very often you will have to modify the garment.

Pattern over your body or mannequin. This technique is also called moulage. It consists of placing fabric over a body or mannequin and adjust it. You can use pins or loose stitches. However, it can be tricky and potentially you can get it wrong and waste a lot of fabric. Remember that it is easier to make a piece smaller than bigger.

Copy patterns from clothes

Maybe you have the perfect piece for your cosplay but it is just the wrong colour or the wrong material. Consider copying it.

Use the pieces of old clothes. You can disassemble an old shirt or coat and trace the pieces on paper. From there you can make other garments and modify the pattern as much as you want. You will know that it fits beforehand. Unfortunately, you won’t always have the right garments and you will have to destroy your original piece of clothing if you use this method.

Copy your clothes on trace paper. This can be done using pins to trace your patterns over a paper, you just need to follow the marks you made. Again, you may not have the right garment and you will need to modify your patterns. It can be tricky and it is easy to get it wrong but you get to keep your original garment.

Buy premade patterns

Yes, there is actually companies out there that sell patterns. Lots of them, you just need to go to the right place to find them.

Get patterns from magazines. There are lots of magazines like Burda Style, Simply Sewing or Patrones in Spain that specialise on patterns. They come with several patterns and instructions on how to make them. Unfortunately, they may not have the pattern you are looking for and you may still need to modify it. Plus, multipattern sheets are tricky, those lines are a mess!

Buy professional patterns. There are some companies like McCall or Simplicity that have specific patterns for sale. Their rang is huge. Unfortunately, they are usually expensive and sometimes they can be a bit difficult to understand. Also, you will need to go to specialised shops to get them or buy them online, which takes time.

Download indie patterns. Some people will upload patterns to their pages, if you are lucky you may even get some free ones. Etsy is a good place to get a few resources at reasonable prices. Actually, I do make cosplay patterns that I upload to my Etsy store. The advantage is that very often you will get to download the patterns instantly. You can modify them easily as you will always have the original file. Also, you are helping a fellow crafter as opposed to a big company.

Draft your own patterns

As they say, if you want something done right, do it yourself. For those who want perfection. This may be the best option.

Join fashion school. Actually, some places will have beginner lessons, you don’t need to study a career. They will give you patterns and teach you how to make them from scratch. Also, your teacher can solve any doubts and correct your mistakes. It is the fastest way to learn but it can be expensive.

Teach yourself. You can actually learn how to draft patterns from scratch following tutorials. I wrote an entry on how to make a female base pattern as well as other sewing tutorials but you can use magazines and books to help you. It may take a bit of time and lots of practice but all the information is out there. The sky is the limit.

There are many ways to get patterns for your cosplay. It doesn’t matter how you get these patterns. I have used every method above and they all worked for different projects. When I first started in cosplay, I used old t-shirts and rags. For a long time I used the pieces of an old jacket as a pattern to make my clothes. I have bought patterns, books and magazines and now I make my own designs. It takes time to make it look perfect but you will get there. Just keep trying.

Which pattern would you like to make? What is the craziest project you have ever seen and wondered how it was done? Let me know in the comments!

The post How to get patterns for your cosplay appeared first on Alice in Cosplayland.

There isn’t much mistery in making a bustle skirt. If you feel brave you can wing it, but if you want to avoid all the Maths and taking all those body measurements just download my burlesque bustle skirt pattern. It comes with all the instructions and printable patterns.

Cutting the pattern

I began cutting the pieces of my pattern. I cut the pattern to make 3 short tiers, but you have the option to cut more tiers. Instead of pinning the pattern, I used sewing weights to mark it. That way I wouldn’t leave holes on the fabric. I had a perfect piece of satin with a bit of texture that had been sitting on my desk for months. As I only had one meter I decided to cut each piece in two parts (this is only possible if you are using the 3 tier pattern). In order to keep my pattern in one piece I didn’t cut the paper completely. It is much easier to use for next time. The ruffles and the waistband looked like the picture below.

Adding the ruffles and trim

I started my skirt attaching lace to the bottom part of my pieces. This step is optional but I think it made the skirt cuter. I first sew the trim right faces together with my overlocker and then I overstitched to make sure it sat in place. Of course you can ruffle the trim to add extra volume and flufiness.

The next step consisted on making ruffle. There are many ways of making ruffles and you don’t need any fancy tools to make them. I decided to use my ruffler foot as I believe it is one of the quickest and neatest ways to gather fabric.

Assembling the pieces

Bustle skirts usually have many layers. If you were to put all your ruffles together they would be too bulky at the top. However, you can use another piece of fabric and attach the ruffles to it in layers. You could choose a different material for this part as it will only be seen on the inside.

Attaching the waistband

The last part of the ruffle skirt was the waistband. First I ironed some interfacing on the waistband. Then I folded it in half. Later I attached the waistband right sides together to my skirt. Finally, I folded the piece and hand sew the it in place. You can overstitch it instead but I kind of enjoy hiding the stitches and a bit of handsewing. Once all was in place it looked much better after I ironed it. Once you add ribbons to the side it is done.

As you see, it is very easy to build. I hope you liked the tutorial. And remember, if you want to make this bustle skirt with no fuss get the pattern and forget about the Maths.

If you liked my burlesque bustle skirt tutorial why don’t you try other styles like the pleated skirt or the circle skirt? There is so much more you can do. Also, make sure you check all my patterns for more inspiration!

The post Burlesque bustle skirt tutorial appeared first on Alice in Cosplayland.

Types of capes and cloaks

Although there are many options and possibilities, I chose to show you the easiest patterns to make cloaks. These are my favourite picks and they are all beginner friendly.

1. Rectangle: This is the easiest cloak to make but the least expectacular. It may work for some superheroes, specially if you slightly gather the fabric at the back. In general it may look a bit poor and will have very little flare but works great for kids and it is very inexpensive.
2. Quarter of a circle: This shape is good for an amateur superhero, not too small nor too big. The cloak will stay behind your back and you will get a little bit of flare on it. You will save some money on fabric.
3. Half a circle: Versatile and easy, this pattern is the one you will use the most. It can be either a cape or almost a cloak. It tends to slide to your back but it will cover your shoulders and yourself easily. 
4. Half a circle fitted: Similar shape as before but built in three pieces to accomodate your shoulders, it makes sure the cloak will cover your front as much as your back. It looks good without using a lot of fabric but it probably won’t hide you completely.
5. Full circle: This is a trully royal cloak fit for a king. It will cover you completely, there is a lot of fabric in here and it is going to be heavy, but it will be totally worth it.

More possibilities

Of course there are many other things to take into account, for example, the cloak of my Lady Sif is padded in order to give it extra volume and keep it open. Wonder Woman above has openings on the sides. You can add a hood or a capelet to it. You have endless possibilities.

The one secret about capes and cloaks I will give you is this: more curves equals more flare. If you want something big add more circles. And remember, it  will take about 3 meters of fabric to make a half circle cloak. On average, the full circle cloak could take more than 5 meters of fabric! Make sure you get it right and choose the best cloak for your costume.

Finally, make sure the fabric you choose drapes well and falls with style, avoid crispy fabrics and go for heavy looking ones. Just hold the fabric on your hands and see how it falls. That is usually the best way to know.

Is making your owntoo much trouble? Don’t worry, I have you covered. You can directly download my fitted cloak or my circle cloak. I already did all the Maths for you. They come with patterns and detailed instructions on how to make them and you can print them as many times as you need. My multilenght cloak comes in different lengths as well! And you can choose between two different hoods. They print on A4/Letter Size and are printer friendly and you can get them here.

And what about you? Have you made many cosplay characters who wear capes and cloaks? What is your favourite costume with a cape you have ever made?

I hope you found this tutorial useful. Feel free to support me on Ko-fi, there are no subscriptions and you will help me create more cosplays and more tutorials to share with you! Also, if you are looking for patterns and cosplay related downloadables make sure to check my collection!

Photos by: Mike, Chris Baugh, Javier Sandoval, Stephen Johnson and Ian Moore.

The post Different types of capes and cloaks appeared first on Alice in Cosplayland.

The circle skirt is one of the basic skirts you can learn to make, the idea behind this skirt is that it fits your waist perfectly but gets a lot of volume on the hem. You can roughly draw a circle and gather the extra fabric with an elastic to make your skit. But, if you want a perfect skirt that fits your waist you are going to need to do some maths.

Different patterns for your skirt

When you make circle skirts, be ready to do some Maths. Or maybe skip all this talk and just buy my bundle of circle skirts, you can download in the time it tales you to read this article. Anyway, this is how you make a circle skirt.

To make one of these skirts you will need to know two measurements, the desired length of your skirt and the radius of your circle to fit your waist. To calculate the radius for your pattern you can use these simple rules. They are different depending on the fullness of your skirt.

• 1/2 Circle Radius = (Waist in cm – 4) ÷ 3
• 3/4 Circle Radius = (Waist in cm – 4) ÷ 4.5
• Full circle Radius = (Waist in cm – 4) ÷ 6

To make it easy I made a graphic with the different types of skirts and how they look. You only need to make the little maths to work out the circumference of your waist. The length would be as desired, usually around 45 to 55 cm. Remember that you can also make a double circle skirt and gather it to make it look bigger and fuller.

And after your skirt is done, don’t forget to add your finishing touches. Are you going to make a rolled hem? Or maybe you prefer to add some bias tape to it? Don’t forget to sew your waist band correctly. With these short formulas and some extra details you can make your skirt unique!

How to sew a circle skirt

Do you need some extra help? This is how you sew your skirt. I made a videotutorial explaining all the steps you need to follow. It should be fairly easy to follow.

Making a circle skirt from scratch is great, however, you may want someone to do all the Maths for you. Don’t worry, you can download the circle skirt bundle from my shop and get a 10% discount using the code ALICECOS. Quick, easy, and no Maths to deal with. No fighting with huge papers on the floor either!

I hope you found this tutorial useful. Remember you can support me on Ko-fi, there are no subscriptions and you will help me create more cosplays and more tutorials to share with you! Also, if you are looking for patterns and cosplay related downloadables make sure to check my collection!

The post How to make a circle skirt appeared first on Alice in Cosplayland.

Bueno, se que los otros pantalones eran un poco aburridos así que pensé que os gustaría algo un poco más a la moda

The post How to make jeans pattern appeared first on Alice in Cosplayland.

How to make it

There are different kinds of pleats but the rule in all of them is to fold your fabric, iron it and sew it in place. On average, you will need a rectangle twice the length of your hips to do the skirt or twice your waist if it is a high skirt. You should divide this length between the number of pleats or the approximate length you want them to be. Don’t forget to add a couple of centimeters for the seam allowance. You can also decide to finish the edge with bias tape instead for a different look.

Before you start make sure to mark your pleats with tailor’s chalk so all of your pleats are even. For a 12-14 pleats skirt I usually make each fold about 6 cm apart, but this will depend on your skirt. For my example, each fold is half the width of the pleat. If you decide to make wider folds you will need to add more fabric accordingly.

A good trick is to fold your fabric with the help of a long ruler. This makes sure your folds are straight. I also recommend you to bast them in place once they are done. That way, you will get a perfect finish when you iron it with vapour one last time. And they will stay crisp until you need to wear it.

Once all your pleats are in place, don’t forget to add a waist band to your skirt. You can do this by folding a strip of fabric to the top of the skirt and hiding the excess on the inside of the garment. You will need a strip of interlining if you want to sew a perfect waistband. Then you can finish your skirt sewing a zipper and or adding closures to it.

There are many types of pleats depending on the way you fold your fabric. The most common are the side pleats and the box pleat. The effect will also vary depending on the width of your pleats. Also, a skirt that starts on the real waist may need further adjustments such us slightly diagonal pleats in order to allow for the difference between your waist and your hips. Try overstitching the top section of your pleated skirt for a different tighter version. Some examples of pleated skirts are my Sailor V cosplay or my Emilia cosplay.

I hope you found this tutorial useful. If you feel like it, remember you can support me on Ko-fi, there are no subscriptions and you will help me create more cosplays and more tutorials to share with you! Also, if you are looking for patterns and cosplay related downloadables make sure to check my collection!

The post How to make a pleated skirt appeared first on Alice in Cosplayland.

There are more accurate ways to do this, and there is also a way of making non-stretch gloves, but I will be showing you this another time. For now, this is my easy stretch fabric gloves tutorial.

Steps to make easy stretch fabric gloves

1. Trace the contour of your hand (with your fingers stretched wide) in a paper.
2. Make the pattern a bit wider, specially around the wrist. If you make your pattern too narrow, your hand won’t go through.
3. Trace  your pattern in your fabric folded in half and right sides together.
4. Sew following the lines. For more accuracy, you can use adhesive paper to stabilise stretch fabric but I used masking tape instead.
5. Cut the excess of fabric. Clip the tops and the fabric between the fingers (don’t cut the thread).
6. . Turn your fabric and poke those fingers out and you are done.

Further Notes

As I said, using masking tape is a good trick to stabilise stretch fabric. However, it will potentially make your needle sticky and you will need to clean it very well with alcohol or acetone to prevent it from staining other projects.

Remember to use a zigzag stitch when you are working with stretch fabric. Furthermore, it is always a good idea to use the correct needle for stretch fabric. This will prevent your machine from skipping stitches.

The post Easy stretch fabric gloves tutorial appeared first on Alice in Cosplayland.