Cosplay UK

Making a basic top

To start with measure the distance between your shoulder and where you want the top to come down to on your body. Double this amount, add some extra for hem allowance and measure out this distance along the length of your fabric. Then measure the distance from one side of your waist to the other. Add extra for hem allowance then mark out this distance on the width of your fabric. Once this is done cut out this piece of fabric from the main piece. Keep the rest of the fabric for sleeves.

Fold the piece of fabric in half lengthways then find the middle of the width of the fabric. Next work out how large a hole you would need to be able to put your head through. From the middle of the width mark out half of that measurement on either side.

Cut along the fold at the top of the fabric to create a hole you can put your head through.

Once you have done this measure the distance between your shoulder and your wrist, or from your shoulder to where you want the sleeves to finish if you're making a short sleeved top, then add some extra for hem allowance. Mark out this measurement on the length of your leftover fabric then mark out about forty centimetres width (if you want wider, more dangly sleeves then make this measurement larger). Cut this piece out and cut another identical piece like it.

With the fabric of the main body still folded, fold a side of the width of the sleeve in half and line up this fold with the one on the main body, placing the sleeve on the main body fabric. Pin along the edge of the main body fabric and the sleeves on one side of the fold, being careful not to pin the two sides of the main body fabric together. Pin the other side of the sleeve to the other side of the main body fabric. Do the same for the second sleeve and the sew the sleeve pieces on.

Next stitch along the length of the sleeve to close it up, ensuring you stitch it with the right side out so that the hem is on the inside of the sleeve and that the excess edges are not visible on the outside. Once this is done try the top on and pin the end of the sleeves so that they are the correct length, folding the excess fabric into the inside of the sleeve. Stitch along this hem to finish the sleeves.

Try the top on again and fold the bottom of the front piece of fabric over with the excess on the inside of the top so that it is the correct length. Pin along this fold. Once you've taken the top off fold it in half again along the neck line and pin the back of the fabric so that it's the same length, the excess fabric being folded into the inside of the top again. Sew along both of these folds.

Turn the top inside out and fold it in half along the neck line again. Stitch along both sides to close the top up. Once this is done fold the edges of the neck hole over, the excess fabric going into the inside of the top once again, and stitch along them to hem them. If the neck at the front needs to be V shaped cut away a bit of the excess fabric and then fold along the lines and sew.

If the front of the top needs to be open like a shirt instead of closed like a t-shirt then before stitching the edges of the neck hole mark along the halfway point (from one of the sides to the other, not from the top to the bottom) then cut along this line ONLY on the front of the top, not on the back. Once this is done fold the fabric in on either side, the excess fabric on the inside of the top, ensuring that both sides are equal once folded. Sew along these folds. Finally stitch the hems around the neck and trim any excess thread.

Tutorial Provided By: Lil' Samuu

Some basic sewing and cosplay tips

It's very important and helpful to find a good fabric shop. If a shop has a good, wide range of decent quality fabric you're more likely to find fabric that will suit your costume best. Check online or in telephone directories for your nearest fabric shops and/or ask other cosplayers for recommendations for good fabric shops.

If you're making your first costume and don't have much sewing experience it's best to try making a simple costume. Also, try not to use fabric that is difficult to work with. Fabric that slides around and won't stay in place is frustrating to work with.

Make sure you gather enough reference images so that you know how all the details on your costumes should look. Take these with you when you go shopping for costume parts and fabric to ensure you buy the correct colour and type of fabric.

Ensure that you buy enough fabric to make your costume with (you don't want to run out of fabric then find out you can't get more of that particular type). Make rough measurements before you go shopping.

When you buy the fabric for your costume remember to get correctly coloured thread at the same time. Alternatively you can buy a selection box of threads with a mixture of colours in them.

Make sure you invest in a good pair of scissors to cut fabric up neatly with.

It's very useful to have something to mark out lines where you want to cut your fabric that can be easily removed from the fabric once it has been cut. Chalk can be good for darker fabrics.

If you want something to have a specific fit or shape then patterns are useful.

Looking at how items of clothing are put together can help you work out how to make costume parts.

You do not need a sewing machine to make a good costume, it is possible to make an entire costume by hand sewing it. If you do so ensure that you use a sturdy stitch that will withstand being worn for a significant amount of time around a convention. It's a good idea to check your stitching is sturdy by wearing the costume before the convention you plan to wear it to first.

Even if you do have a sewing machine some parts of costumes are easier to hand sew. Small, fiddly details can sometimes be easier to add by hand sewing them.

If you are going to do a lot of sewing a sewing machine can be a good investment . Shop around for the best machine for you. If you're not going to use a lot of special functions there's no point paying extra for a machine with them.

Don't be afraid to ask other cosplayers for advice. If you do so, however, please make sure that you are polite. Explaining clearly what you need help with also helps.

If you study how a character moves, sits and how they use their body language this can help you imitate them better. This means you can get poses that look in-character for photos.

Remember that cosplay is fun: once you've finished the hard work of putting a costume together enjoy wearing it. :)

Tutorial Provided By: Lil' Samuu