Cosplay Help

[zalmida]

So my boyfriend and I have finally decided on our last set of costumes for SDCC this year and it's a bit of an undertaking... but nothing too impossible. Somehow, I ended up decided that old school Rogue from X-Men would totally be a good idea. I have a pattern for a full bodysuit, but I've never used it before. I've also never really made anything

Comments

[mutive]

Part of me debates the wisdom of this...are you planning to work with spandex? It is an evil, evil, evil fabric

[zalmida]

I had a feeling that was going to be the way to go... So I'm sort of taking apart the pattern I have and turning it into more of a puzzle? Then reassembling later? So like... I have a pattern for the green pieces and a pattern for the yellow pieces? It's not like I'm adding the gold on top of a complete green body suit? This makes sense, but just seems a little daunting since I want it to be equal on both sides and there's no real way to hide my mistakes (I realize I just re-stated everything you've said in a much less eloquent way). :P

Are there any handy tricks for this method? Like folding over the pattern and tracing the same line on both sides to keep the gold portion even? This is already awesome info. I just like to ask a bazillion questions.

[mutive]

Yep, very much like a puzzle. Patterns are super nice for sizing (you go, ah, this is about how long a waist needs to be, this is how big hips should be to allow movement!), but you can sort of deconstruct them if you want to add different panels to them. You can just cut out the chunk separately that you want in a different color and reassemble it (leaving a bit of extra fabric as a seam allowance

[zalmida]

I agree, I think sew seams are the only way to go with this costume. Especially since it's going to be skin tight. Now that black "X" over the boob... I'm assuming fabric paint. Or will that just be gross? I've never used it before.

Thank you so, so much for all your advice. This seems so much less daunting now. I actually think that I can handle the body suit. The boots, however, look like they will kill me. Is it forgivable to pass up those heels for something way more... flat? I don't think I could make it a full day at Comic Con in heels. I'm also a huge failure when it comes to wearing those kind of shoes XD

[mutive]

I'd go for fabric paint. It's fairly easy to use (and you can use a stencil if you're sloppy, like I am) and tends to sit fairly flat against the costume. Again, experiment a bit first just to make sure. You could also make it out of cloth, but paint is probably the way to go...

I wear flats for anything I'm going to wear all day. If you're super ambitious, you can always make the boots for showing off, then change into something more comfortable. But unless you're planning to compete with it or absolutely *need* it to be perfect, I'd say that you might as well make a comfortable pair of shoes (or just buy one and paint...or just buy. Footwear can be really annoying to try to make, and when it turns out badly, can be painful, as I've learned during mis-haps...)

And you are most welcome! It's good to know that I'm semi-helpful, rather than rambling mindlessly!

[zalmida]

Also, I HAVE sewn with semi-stretchy things and I'm not too worried. As long as it's easier than upholstery vinyl, I can handle it. :D

[mutive]

Eh, you should be fine then. ;) I just figure that it's fair to warn someone who says that they haven't sewn a lot that spandex is an evil, evil material!

[zalmida]

Because of the slippery stretchy element of it? What's a good way to go about dominating spandex? (I'm going to keep picking your brain for as long as you'll let me because you're awesome.)

[mutive]

Use a zig-zag for the seams (otherwise they won't be able to stretch, which can look funky). Feed it gently into the machine (if you stretch it, the seams can end up not quite working). Go slowly. Try a test bit first to make sure that it is working properly before doing something serious. Spandex isn't impossible...just more annoying than cotton or linen. (I'd say it's up there with most types of silk. And I personally like it better than fur or velvet!)

[zalmida]

That was going to be my next question, but you beat me to it. I never seem to know which stitch to use on which fabrics.

[mutive]

;) Near as I can tell, in general, if it's a flat fabric, a basic running stitch is the right one. If it needs to stretch, then you need a zig-zag. Other than that, most are specialty stitches that you'll only use if you want a really specific effect (rolled hems, zig zags used when you don't have a serger to finish something, button holes, etc.) Then again, I'm lazy, so I've only learned a few.

[zalmida]

I know what you mean. I've used a straight stitch and... ummm... I have no idea what the other one is called. It's a zig-zag with straight lines on both sides. I just haven't had much of a need for anything too fancy.