Epic Cosplay Costumes is set to be released in stores September 1st of this year, and you can get it on Amazon now! Go here to check it out: https://www.amazon.com/Epic-Cosplay-Costumes-Step-Step/dp/1440245770
A Beginner’s Guide
& Veteran Handbook
This week marks the official release of Epic Cosplay
Costumes. I hope that you’ve all enjoyed a sort of preview of all the
interesting things I’ve included in the book (asides from the many tutorials)!
I wanted this book to not only be a tutorial guide on how
to make some basic types of costume pieces, but to also be a welcoming guide to
cosplay itself. I’ve found there are a lot of people out there who are curious
about cosplay, and want to start, but get intimidated or don’t think it’s “for
them”. I wanted to show them that it’s okay, and it’s not as complicated as one
might think.
At the same time, I wanted to make a book that would be
useful for the more ‘veteran’ cosplayers out there. Those of us who’ve put together
our own costumes, but looking for more information, or a guide to help out. I
designed all the tutorials with an easy-to-follow customizable sizing layout,
but at the end of each project I added tips on how to alter these items. In
fact, I STRONGLY encourage it! Mess with the patterns, experiment and alter
them to make the costumes of your dreams!
All the Things to
Learn & Grow
I would like to leave you all with some food-for-thought,
though really it’s me kind of getting a little mushy about the whole thing.
Cosplay is an amazing hobby. You learn all sorts of wonderful new skills (all
the time, don’t worry you’ll ALWAYS find something new to figure out), meet
cool people, and it even can help you boost your own confidence!
The TL;DR list of neat things you learn (just in case you
get any naysayers ;) )
Puzzle
Solving/Problem Solving
AKA “how do I make THAT”
Research
Techniques
Finding your reference images, looking up styles of
clothing, how things are made, trying to find that tutorial that’ll help you
make that one odd thing
Following
Directions
Making stuff with patterns and following the instructions
provided. Following tutorials.
Sewing
You’re putting fabric together! This includes all sorts
of stuff from plain seams, to ironing, buttons, spacial awareness, and so much
more.
Instructional Writing
A lot of us write up about how we made our costumes – for
other cosplayers to find and use our tutorials!
Event
Planning/Scheduling
How to coordinate a group project, travel planning (going
to conventions), event coordinating (signing up for things like Masquerades)
TIME MANAGEMENT
AHAHAHAHAH sure. Yes. We totally learn this.
Budgeting
You learn how to save up monies for that fabric you
really want, or that show you want to visit, you learn to clip coupons and wait
for pattern sales.
Social Skills
One of the best parts of cosplay is how it can change
your outlook on social interactions. It helps create great conversation
starters, and helps you find fellow fans. It’s been known to boost social
self-esteem, and I know I feel a lot more confident in a costume than in
regular clothes when I’m at a convention.
You Can Do It!
The long story short here, is that cosplay can be a very
fun, rewarding hobby, and if you’ve ever wanted to try it out – now’s the time
to start! There are all sorts of information sources out there, and handy
guides like Epic Cosplay Costumes to help you along the way.
Get out there and DO THE THING!
I believe in you! See you at the convention! ;)
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