Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Potential Wizard World Philly 2016 Cosplay Line Up

Hey Everyone!!

Wizard World Philly is only a few months away (June, kind of far but not really)! So in preparation I have started a rough idea of my cosplay line up for 4 days at the convention!

Thursday: OUAT Evil Queen
 
I made this costume last year but I never really got to wear it due to being sick. So this year I intend on getting a full day of wear out of this cosplay that took FOREVER to make!

Friday: Honey Lemon and Tadashi

I have obviously already done this cosplay multiple times, but as of right now it is my easiest go-to cosplay. It is also a huge crowd pleaser!

Saturday/Sunday: Khaleesi and Rey

I know, I know. These two cosplays are/will be so over done. But that doesn't mean they are always done well! Not to toot my own horn but when I commit to a cosplay, I do it with insane detail and lots of effort. So by doing these two cosplays they would be with great detail, effort, and enthusiasm. Which would in turn hopefully not make them overdone.


This is the outfit I plan on doing for Khaleesi; I haven't seen it cosplayed yet, which gives me the opportunity to do it right. This cosplay, hypothetically shouldn't be TOO hard; hence why I plan on making two for this convention because Rey will be the harder of the two.


Rey was hands down the most badass character in the Force Awakens and easily the most badass female in the entire franchise. I love what she represents and her personality with her more gender neutral outfits. "Why are you holding my hand?!" Come on, she's a boss.

With this line up, I think I could really show my various talents as a cosplayer and push myself to use new techniques, especially with the Rey cosplay. Keep an eye out for more updates over the next few months and I will try to make as many tutorials as possible!

XO M



Monday, November 16, 2015

BUSY BUSY BUSY

Hello Humans!

This has been the busiest semester ever! If anyone every tries to tell you that being an English major is easy, feel free to give them a swift slap to the face. 

Fun Tid-bits of the last few months:
-NYCC in October was amazing as per usual! Unfortunately, two weeks before the convention, I had emergency surgery to remove my appendix and was unable to finish my Padme cosplay. So I went as Honey Lemon, which was super fun. It was heart breaking, but now I have more time to make it amazing for Wizard World Philly this summer!

-Being a senior in college is insane, I don't recommend it.

-I turned 24! I feel old and have 3 new grey hairs.

-I have my own apartment with my man! Woooo! Freedom and responsibilities!

I have lots of planning and sewing to do for Wizard World Philly, but I really want to push myself to create something new and difficult. Stay tuned for more updates starting in January!

Keep Calm and Don't Blink!

XO M

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Body Suit Week 2

OH HAY THERE!
 
This weeks has been crafting/sewing craziness! One of my coworkers asked me to make her wedding veil for her! How neat is that? So, this week I learned how to make a veil, and tonight will be diving into working with rhinestones! EEK!
I have also been getting back into painting, and have been making little nerdy paintings. I did a Baymax one and a Lego Movie one, of Benny ("spaceship!"). They have been a fun creative outlet, but it is time to get down to business!
 
 
Last night I FINALLY started on my Padme cosplay! Took long enough! I did end up buying some practice spandex, I would rather mess up on practice fabric then the expensive final material. I was able to get all of my pattern pieces cut, ironed, pinned, and cut out! The next step will be to start sewing and fitting! There are certain sewing needles and stitch widths to use when working with spandex, which I have never done, so practice is imperative!
There will be more updates with further details on how the spandex adventure is progressing soon!
 
XO M
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Bodysuit - Week1

I will be doing weekly updates to chronicle the steps I take to create the bodysuit that is the base of my Padme cosplay for NYCC.
This week I have cut all my pattern pieces, bought the fabric and correct needles, and I have started planning out my steps.
The first thing I need to do is modify the Yaya Han pattern a bit, my measurements fall in between two different sizes. I have a dramatically small waist compared to my bust and hips, so I will be reforming the patterns by combining the two sizes and redrawing the cut line. This will help to create a smooth transition between the two different sizes. At this point I (and you should too) will check my torso length, this can vary in patterns but this particular pattern doesn't specify so I will be making sure that I have the right length before there is any cutting of fabric.
After my patterns are all sorted, I will get started! I am thinking I may go back to the fabric store to find a cheaper spandex to practice on before using my expensive fabric. But at the same time, I don't have much time left to work on this cosplay before school and my internship starts. So my best bet may actually be just using my final fabric and going super slow and taking my time. (not an easy task for myself).
Reminder: MANAGE YOUR TIME!! lol.
 
Stay tuned guys.
XO M


Cape Draping

This weekend I spent some time looking into how I will be constructing various parts of my NYCC cosplay. Before I get too invested in a cosplay, I try to make sure that I have a game plan (or at least a rough idea) of how I will be going about making all aspects of the cosplay.
So, this weekend I looked into Padme's white boots and her white cape. After looking at dozens of YouTube tutorials for ways to construct a cape, I realized that they were all way too complex for what I need. Padme's cape is both complicated and simple; it is a cowl neck cape with a hood. All of the videos had 20 steps to make them.
Screw that. Instead, I took some extra fabric I had laying around, went to my dress form, and started draping out the cape's shape. And it came out wonderfully! I draped the fabric over the neck of the form, with some onto the chest, then wraped it around the shoulders so there is extra fabric to create the hood. With this fabric I roughly pinned it shut to get an idea of how the hood would lay. From there I went to the cowl neck, where I pinned small parts of the fabric to the base fabric. This creates folds to give the cowl a full and layered look.
From this point, I will do a light tacking stitch to hold those folds in, and then I will sew the hood shut to figure out how that will lay best.

I haven't figured out what fabric I will be using to make the final cape but for now this is working wonderfully to learn how to make it before hand. I've seen other cosplayers actually use a blanket because Padme's cape is so textured, so I am considering looking into that as well!

Stay tuned for more and more frequent updates as NYCC gets closer!

XO M


Sunday, July 19, 2015

Progress? Maybe?

In an attempt to post more frequently, I am posting the most random post on cosplay progress. If it can even be called 'progress'. This morning I ordered Yaya Han's Bodysuit pattern, made by McCall's.   Link: http://yayahan.bigcartel.com/product/yaya-han-s-ultimate-bodysuit-pattern
 I am going to attempt to use this pattern as the base for my Padme cosplay. Even though her outfit is technically two pieces; it may be difficult to keep the tightness with two pieces. So, I figure if I use a body suit, it will maintain shape better through wearing it all day. I don't plan on doing the sexy, ripped up version of the outfit either, so there is no true need to make it two pieces. 
Even the small steps are steps in the right direction in regards to cosplay. I plan on making August the month of trying to really push the cosplay as far as I can before college classes pick back up. 
Also, I'm considering buying a ukulele because why the hell not?!

XO M

Friday, July 10, 2015

Selecting Your Next Cosplay

One of the most difficult aspects of cosplaying, in my opinion, isn't actually making anything. But rather, DECIDING on what you want to create. Being a nerd, geek, trekie, or whatever you identify as; isn't an easy task! Especially when it comes to convention time. When planning for a convention there are many things to take into consideration, so sit back and relax as I describe my planning process and lessons I've learned.

Meg's planning process/Questions that she obsesses over:
-What time of year is the convention?
-How am I getting to the convention?
-Am I able to bring props?
-How much time do I have?
-What is this going to cost?
-Is there a theme to the convention? (ie. anime, horror, etc.)
-How relatable/understandable is this cosplay?
-Am I challenging myself with doing something new?

So this October in NYCC there are many of these questions to take into consideration. Last year I wore heals, worst choice ever. Hence why this year I plan on wearing shoes much more accomidating for walking. Also, when traveling to NYC's Javitis Center, we take the subway in from Queens, so large props are usually out of the question for obivious reasons.
Weather is something to consider as well for an October convention; outside it will be cool and inside the convention it is always a coin toss between freezing and hot. So cosplays with layers can be helpful for these types of situations.



Every time I create a new cosplay I try to make sure that I am challenging myself in some way. Whether it be working with a new type of fabric, making a new prop, or making a type of clothing I've never made before! I find that this is a good way to make sure that you don't get lazy and just keep recreating the same thing but with different characters.
 
Part of my love for cosplay is when someone is thrilled to see you walking towards them in a cosplay of a character that they love. It is an indescribable feeling. When I go to conventions I try to pick cosplays that will get that reaction and fit the type of convention that I am attending. For example, Philly Wizard World is so close to where I live that it easy to get there for multiple days. So I usually do one cosplay that is more for my own enjoyment than others. But for NYCC, it is such a production just to get there, that I want people to be beyond excited to see my cosplay and feel as though it was worth it for me to go.
 
NYCC is in October of this Fall, shortly after that the new Star Wars film will be released. This is a sign of the stars being perfectly aligned to do a Star Wars cosplay! Even though I LOVE the original trilogy, I must say I love Padme as a character. I find her very strong, independent, and always has the best outfits. Going with these cosplay 'questions', I have decided that I am going to do Padame's outfit from Attack of the Clones when she is in the pit with Obi and Annakin.



In this scene she is a total badass; she takes control of her own destiny, and kicks scary monster butt!!
I plan on constructing this as a singular body suit, with the cape detachable and accessories of course. All aspects of this cosplay should be VERY comfortable for a long day at the convention. It also can be worn different ways depending on how warm or cold it ends up being in October.

I hope these tips are helpful for the next time you are planning a cosplay and stay on the look out for updates on my cosplay progress!!

XO M

Monday, June 22, 2015

DIY Circle Skirt

I have now made two circle skirts in the past two months and people have been enthralled by them! Today I'm going to do a quick DIY post on how to make them, tips, and other sources that can be helpful in the making process!!

The first skirt I made was a Star Wars skirt for this past Wizard World Philly for one of my non-cosplay days! 

This is the finished product above, and wearing it to the convention below!


For this skirt I found the fabric at my local JoAnn's Fabric store, but other than fabric all you need is a zipper. (other than your normal sewing essentials).
To make this skirt I actually followed a YouTube tutorial, which was absolutely amazing and I now have referenced it many times!
You can chose to make a pattern, I did, using leftover wrapping paper. But the second time I made it, I didn't bother with a pattern but rather made my marks directly onto the fabric and went from there. So, you choose whatever is best for your skill level!

For the second skirt, I still used this basic pattern, but I added 3 layers of tulle to it! 
So following the same video as above, I added 3 layers of tulle. I cut the fabric in a similar way, by folding it into a square then triangle, and cutting out the tip. I was really nervous working with tulle for the first time but it is exactly like any other fabric, Just take your time! I sewed on the tulle first then used the waist band to hide the top edges of the tulle. I hemmed the cotton under layer but left the tulle a little longer and raw edged. 


The finished outfit! Worn to a friend's wedding. Excuse the not so fantastic picture. I remembered to grab a photo after I had been dancing for 2 hours! I also wore the shoes from my Alice cosplay!
Below is a progress shot!


Stay tuned for news and updates about New York Comic Con! I will be posting about my upcoming cosplays!

XO M


Monday, May 25, 2015

Wizard World Philadelphia 2015

A few weeks ago was my second time at a Wizard World convention, and I must say, it didn't disappoint. Wizard World is what I would call a 'medium' sized convention. It doesn't have the recognition of New York of San Diego; but they are still using the same formula: celebrities, panels, and artists. This formula works for them at their 'medium' scale in the way that it is truly perfect. It is fun without being too overwhelming, but it still holds a lot of power and value.

Here was my con schedule:
Thursday: Fun night of just getting to enjoy the convention.
Friday: Finish final touches on cosplays, photo shoot, and beauty sleep.
Saturday: Evil Queen cosplay.
Sunday: Honey Lemon cosplay.

Here is what actually happened:
Plans are nice, but unrealistic; and I truly learned that at this convention. Saturday was the only day that didn't really go as planned. I went to bed Friday night so excited, like it was Christmas Eve, and woke up on Saturday puking. It was infuriating to say the least. After many attempts at gathering my strength I gave up. By 4pm, I finally was able to muster the strength to get ready. Luckily my sister was home to do my hair for me and I had practiced the make up so that was quickly. The boyfriend and I then quickly rushed to Philly (one puke stop on the way) and were able to be at the convention for about an hour. I went home upset and defeated. I had spent months and hundreds of dollars working on this costume, and I could barely stand up. It was heart breaking. Yet, I was able to remember that I had created something, and that it wasn't going anywhere. I am the type of person where I make one costume for one specific convention, but I am hoping to move past that so I am able to wear again next year. Either way, I gained new skills and have another cosplay under my belt.

Luckily, Sunday went perfectly! Honey Lemon and Tadashi were a total success! We were easily recognizable and people loved seeing us! I love working on my cosplays, but seeing people excited about them, who are complete strangers, is absolutely thrilling. I truly hope that I can continue cosplaying for a long time, and maybe even one day get paid to do it! But for now I am just enjoying this creative outlet where I am able to express myself and fulfill my creative needs!

Now here are some pictures of me as Honey Lemon, enjoy!


Stay tuned for updates about new projects for NYCC 2015!

XO M



Saturday, April 11, 2015

Yellow Heels? Nah. Yellow Sneaks.

So if you have seen the movie, Big Hero 6 then you know that Honey Lemon wears these crazy high yellow stilettos. Which is totally awesome, except I can barely stand in heels let alone walk in them all day long at a convention. SO I decided to save myself the pain and do a spin off of her shoes in the form of yellow keds!
But I wasn't about to spend $50 on real yellow keds, so I made my own.
Now let me show you how!!

Step 1: GATHER MATERIALS!!
-white sneakers (target $17)
-yellow acrylic paint (I used the brand "Apple barrel")
(you can get a huge bottle for about $4)
-white acrylic paint (same brand, small bottle is $1)
-various sized paint brushes
-duct tape or painters tape

Also, patience. This takes time to do well and correctly.

Step 2: PREP!

Have a surface to work on. I have a big piece of cardboard that I keep around for such occasions. Also, remove the shoe laces, we don't want to get them icky.

Step 3: TAPE!
Now you will need to go ahead and tape around the edge of the shoe. Make sure that you tape over the lip of the edge where it meets the canvas but do not tape any of the canvas.
Make small pieces of tape, it will make it easier to get around the curves.
Tape like shown here!
Once this is done we are ready to paint!!

Step 4: PAINTING FUN!


When painting, I mixed together the yellow and white paints to make a softer yellow. The paint color is "bright yellow", and it is bright so I toned it down with the white. This is a completely optional step. If you do mix colors, try to remain consistent to avoid a patchy look.
When painting start in the middle and work your way to the edges. I left about 1/8th of an inch of the edge white and then went back and used a very small brush to do the edges to keep a clean look.
Check the seams for loose threads and cut them to avoid any rough edges/seams.

Around the eyelets, be sure to take your time and use a small brush. I've found that you do not need to get too close to them because they get covered by the laces anyway. But you do need to get closer than shown above.

Step 5: Enjoy!

After about an hour to two hours of drying time you can carefully remove your tape and touch up any needed spots.Then you are ready to enjoy your new shoes!!



Put your laces back in and then run around with excitement!
(I couldn't remember how to put them back in so I am going to have the boy do it later haha)



You now have the fanciest shoes on the block! 
These will be a thousand times more comfortable for Wizard World Philly and for being Honey Lemon. I know this is straying from the true characters look, but I also have to not hurt myself and be comfortable in how I look. 

There is so much more to show you guys!

So stay tuned for more updates this week!

XO M





Monday, April 6, 2015

One Month To Go

I am closing in on about one more month until the Wizard World Philly Comic Con!!
I am getting to be just so excited! I still have a lot of work to do, especially on Honey Lemon, but the time pressure will have things expedited for sure!

What I would love to do next is make some props for the Evil Queen! If you are a viewer of the show then you know that the Queen is a collector, a collector of hearts! I am hoping to devise a way to make this as a prop to carry around the day I cosplay her. How you may ask? I have no idea. BUT I am going to try to figure it out!

As for Honey Lemon, I have been able to get some very early stage work done. But I am afraid my choice in fabric may end up to be a little shear. It is a poly-cotton blend with what I think is just not enough cotton. So it may prove to need to be re-done or I possibly will need to wear a slip underneath.

I will have more frequent updates now that it is turning into crunch time. Keep an eye out for some fun things ahead!

xo M

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Big Hero 6

Yesterday the boyfriend and I went shopping for cardigans for our Big Hero 6 cosplays. We realized that if we didn't go get them now, towards the end of winter, we were going to have a really hard time finding them come spring. So I found one at Urban Outfitters that was pretty close to Honey Lemon's, so I snatched that up real quick and it was on sale! Then last night we watched Big Hero 6, recently purchased on blue ray, and I am noticing that Honey's sweater isn't as mustard as I thought it was, and the cardigan I got was super mustard-y. Well, I am quite the perfectionist, I went hunting online and found a sweater that looks almost exactly like hers on Amazon. Oh the power of Amazon.
So I will be hiking my butt back to the mall, returning the sweater then getting the one off Amazon. I should have never doubted the power of Amazon.

I did find the perfect pink heart buttons to add to the cardigan, because Honey's has hearts. 
I really strive to have it matching as close as possible to the character I am cosplaying. 
The cardigan, shoes, tights, and socks are things I will naturally have to buy. I don't think anyone who cosplays makes their own tights or socks. (If you do, rock on man). But other than that I will be making her dress, headband, and possibly her purse. 
I really can't wait to put this cosplay all together. For now, I am concentrating more on the Evil Queen. I did go looking for things to make her necklace. But I am having a hard time finding the right materials, but alas I shall find them. 

Keep an eye out for more updates on the Evil Queen soon. Accessories and final details are up next!

XO M

Sunday, February 22, 2015

ALMOST DONE!

I am so beyond pumped, because I am almost done my Evil Queen cosplay!! 
AHHHHH!
I can't get over it, I really can't.

I finally have the two sections sewn together, the sleeves done, cuffs done, and collar done!
All that is left is the closures, some buttons, the accessories and some other details. But the hardest parts are officially completed. I couldn't me more proud of myself for taking on my biggest project to date. 

Cosplay to me is more than just looking sexy, or just wearing a wig and posting pics on instagram. It's about doing good work. It's about pushing your limits of creativity. You can be sexy while still wearing clothes. You can go instagram crazy while still making true work. I want to do this right, and I want to do it well. I don't mean to seem judgemental of others choices, but I find it bothersome to see people getting so much credit for just looking slutty or buying costumes. I want to see people work hard at something and push themselves. And I am trying to promote this by doing it myself. We are all better than we think we are, and we have to be better to give cosplay a good name. 
Rant done.

After I complete this I will be starting the boyfriend's cosplay. For now I still intend on doing Captain Hook, but it is looking more and more complicated considering I have never done menswear. SO, as time goes on I may end up changing it or going in a different direction. 
I will also be starting our day two looks of Honey Lemon and Tadashi soon!! (I can't wait!)
But keep an eye out for more updates!

XO M

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

EVIL QUEEN

The Evil Queen finally has two sleeves! YAY!

This weekend I was finally able to give this cosplay some TLC. I did a lot of reworking of the mechanics of this top piece. I took apart the collar to properly attach a lining to help strengthen the bodice. I also got the second sleeve attached and cuff sewn, after accidentally sewing it on inside out first...oops. 

( I really wish you could see the design of the fabric better, but when it is all together I will be taking more professional pictures.)

The skirt that will be soon attached to the bodice, is beyond heavy. It is simply just a lot of fabric. So I am concerned that this weight could end up causing issues along the way. I am trying to problem solve that weight issue by different sewing techniques and possible adding some kind of almost suspender like system within it to help disperse some of that weight. 

This cosplay is soooo close to be complete, I really can't wait! After the sewing is all finished I have a few acessories to work on, which will be fun to make. From there I will be working on the boyfriend's Captain Hook jacket, and that will be a whole different ball game. 

Stay tuned next week for some more updates!

XO M

Finished Valentine's Day Dress!

This weekend I was finally able to finish my dress for a wedding I am attending on Valentine's day!! I am really happy with the final product, take a look!


I am super happy with this final look! It is quite form fitting, which wasn't my origional intention, but I went with how the fabric was working! It consits of 4 panels, 2 black side panels and 2 grey front and back panels. I love the classic look of this dress, which contributes to it being great for wearing mulitple times! (the best)

I used a Simplicity pattern for this, found at JoAnn Fabrics. If you are a beginner sewer, I 100% suggest starting with a similar project. A dress can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be, and you can easily modify it as you go.
So, if you are looking for a first project, or want to try something new, go for it!

XO M

Friday, January 30, 2015

Project Update

 I must apologize for not posting more recently than this! I have just started my spring semester of classes and I am just beyond busy. #englishmajorproblems
BUT!
I have started a new project, this isn't a cosplay project, rather it is just a regular sewing project. I am in the process of making myself a dress for a wedding that the boyfriend and I are going to on Valentine's day. This may seem like a lot of work of one event, and it is, but I did some dress shopping and just didn't find anything I liked or that fit me well. 
So, I am making my own dress! So fat it is about a third of the way done. I have completed sewing the major pieces together and now all that is left is getting it fit right, hemming, and cleaning up the edges. I am also thinking about doing an attached caplet. But for now I am just wanting to finish the dress at all! hahaha!

Cosplay process is at a standstill right now, I just haven't had the opportunity to work on any major aspects of it. I am working on lining the jacket in the hopes that it will help to support the weight of the skirt better since it is quite heavy. The instructions originally called for it to be lined but in my mind I was like "who needs a lining?! it will be fine with out it1 bullshit bullshit bullshit...", but in fact it looks as the directions were right, as always. Follow the directions people.

Here is what the dress for the wedding looks like so far:

I am doing some color blocking techniques with a jersey knit fabric, hopefully it will turn out well!

Keep an eye out for more updates :)

xo M


Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Honey Lemon

I must admit, I think I am going to change my second day cosplay... again.
Multiple times now I  have tried to put Han and Leia in my cosplay line up but I keep cutting them out for other cosoplays I am more excited about. So for now I am going to put them back on the dream list for another day.
 
I am thinking about switching my day two cosplay to Honey Lemon from Big Hero 6!
 
 
I absolutely love her character and her nerdy but styled look!
The boyfriend would be Tadashi, and that would be super simple and comfortable for him!
After I complete our super complex Once Upon a Time cosplays, I am not sure I will have the energy for two complete outfits from scratch.
Honey Lemon would just need a simple peter pan collared yellow dress that could easliy be made or altered from another dress, adorable cardigan, and fluffy socks!
 
I am really looking forward to a comfy cosplay for the day after or before my complex and awesome OUAT cosplay!
 
Speaking of the evil queen, she now has one sleeve and another one will come this weekend. Stay tuned for a new update!!
 
XO M

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Evil Queen and Crafting Fun

                      Over the past two weeks I have been working on a multitude of projects! Not only have I been working on my latest cosplay project, but I have also been working on a new cross stitching piece, and a calligraphy piece! 

Evil Queen:
The Evil Queen now has a skirt! This isn't a complete skirt, nor is it attached to the bodice, but it is a skirt non the less. The complication with the skirt is that it really needs a lining. The skirt is open in the front and very flowy so it needs the lining so you can't see the seems. The issue I'm having is that I used the same fabric for the collar has the lining, as in the same piece of fabric. So I don't have enough to make a full lining. I could go back to the fabric store and get some more (if they have it), but I am also lazy and don't want to! Also, I really want to finish the skirt today, so I may just not line the back panel. Or I will be a good little cosplayer and go to the store to get more fabric. Ughhh.



A full view of how it is coming along so far! I love how it already looks so fierce!


Cross Stitch:
I am really enjoying the sassy cross stitching projects I am seeing all over the Internet, and I have made my own before. (favorite being one that said "namaste bitches") But I am trying to make more, for friends and family and such. I am currently working a Louise Belcher piece, I am unsure of the quote I will be adding to it yet, but I just started it this week so it is still in the early stages, but I'm looking forward to completing it, sass and all!


And Finally Calligraphy:
This piece is actually already done, and I'm not going to lie, it is a complete pinterest copy, BUT it was a gift for a good friend's engagement.  (so that is my excuse). I really try to make as many personal gifts as I can and especially for occasions like this. Engagement parties are always filled with the same types of gifts and I really wanted to give this couple something more personal! So, I taught myself how to do a little calligraphy and made them this....

It turned out adorable! The heart is a map cut out of Charlotte where they will be getting married, below is their names and wedding date!!

Keep an eye out for more cosplay updates soon!!
xo M

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Pop that collar!!

I have been able to get so much done today!
Firstly, as I was finishing the bodice, I realized I sewed a piece backwards. Quite annoying. This fabric that I am working with has a very faint pattern and if you aren't paying attention it is easy to mistake the back for the front.

The edge where the straight top part is, should have been the side that was attached to the piece on the right. SO by doing it incorrectly it gave me a square neckline in the back basically. Once, I realized this I had to take almost the entire thing apart. Super frustrating. But once corrected, I was really able to move along quite quickly.



The fit of the bodice was has been the worst part of this project so far, I'm not sure if I just suck, or measured incorrectly, but to correct it I just made a larger seam allowance and this really helped with the fit!


The back, the correct way!


Next was the collar. After doing the Alice in Wonderland project, this collar was a breeze. The patterned called for it to be sewn directly to the right side of the bodice, which would have left a raw edge (icky), so I made the collar the same way I did the Alice one. By puting it on the wrong side, folding, and ironing it over to create a clean edge.


(wrong side of collar and bodice)


The pretty finished product!!! The collar turned out so damn fierce!! I am so in love with it! 
Next will be the sleeves, which is my least favorite thing in the planet to do, but once they are done I will be a solid third of the way done this project!!

Keep watching for a new update!!
Thanks guys!


Sunday, December 7, 2014

Evil Queen Update

This weekend I was able to finally get some work done on my Evil Queen cosplay!
Now, maybe it won't seem like work to you guys, but it really is!

On Friday, I was able to make a muslin of the bodice part of this cosplay. Before I start using the final fabric for any cosplay, I always look through all aspects of the pattern to see if there are any parts that seem super difficult. And this type of bodice was one I have never done before! So before using the 80$ fabric, I used the 4$ a yard muslin, that way if it turns out horribly I can just try again! With no hours of tears because I ruined the final fabric!

 
(Front goodness. Kind of hard to see, but there's a deep v-neck, that will have a very dramatic collar attached to it.)

(Back goodness, that isn't as fun. To problem solve some of the fit issues, I may add some side or back darts!)

I am really glad actually that I did the muslin first, because the fit came out really weirdly. At first, I thought maybe I had mis-measured and cut the wrong size out. But after remeasuring I saw I didn't. SO I'm just freaking out as to why this isn't working. Then I realized that I made my seam allowance way too small! (easy fix) so I went back and fixed it! Whew!! 
It is still a little to loose at the waste, which is odd because the patter is designed to be tight fighting, so I will have to fiddle around with it more to make it more fitting.

BUT SEE! This is why we do a muslin first!!


This week I am getting my wisdom teeth removed :( So I am not sure when my next update will be, I am shooting for next Sunday. But stay tuned and may the odds be ever in your favor!