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3. What was your most technically difficult cosplay to make? Why?
That’s a really hard one. I’ve answered similar questions before… Most Expensive costume, the costume I put the most effort into… but ‘technically difficult’ is different. It’s especially hard because, as you get older and learn more, what’s ‘difficult’ changes. I think my most technically difficult costumes are a toss-up between my Mytho costume, and my Ciel costume.
For Mytho, I started with a couple of patterns, but they were only so barely what I needed, so I may as well have drafted the whole thing from scratch. The gold applique patterning on the front had to be so precise, scaled, and symmetrical, that I would say that took a great deal of technical skill. The sleeves alone are a project in and of themselves, made up of several layers all sewn together to achieved the slashed-sleeve-with-under-tunic look. And last but not least, the collar pattern I started with required a LOT of customization to get it lay correct, and then the entire thing had to be strategically covered in feathers. I also had to draft the cape in a very strange shape to get the right drape along the side.
Ciel required so much layered of elements, that I had to think about every 3 steps ahead, before I could assemble it. The diagonally-striped fabric did not exist, so I had to take a vertically-striped fabric, stabilize it, and then cut all those pieces on a diagonal. The jacket was modified heavily from a Napolean/French military costume, and then completely lined. I had to re-draft the front lapels to be closer to the illustration, and the Hat? Goodness… that thing was made out of crafts foam with detailing in hot glue to get the drippy look. This was also the first time I have ever really sewn piping into a costume, and I didn’t think to use a Zipper foot for it, which of course made my life more difficult. It all sounds fairly straight forward, but I think these were the two most challenging costumes I’ve attacked thus far, at least as concerns my Skill Level at the time they were made (Summer 2010 and January/February of 2011, respective).
FYI, my Ciel costume is available for purchase!
My first new photos of 2012! Something old, and something new. <3 I can’t wait to see the rest of the pictures that were taken this weekend by all of my photographer friends. Expect picture spam, as well as a Con Report in the coming weeks!
Many thanks to Lionel for these first shots!
✰ 2011 Year-in-Review + 2012 Plans ✰
Another year gone, and another entry spent looking back at the ups, downs, and general mayhem of cosplay antics from the last 12 months. I somehow managed to do a lot in 2011, and yet at the same time, not a lot at all.
This is going to be rather long, and heavy on the videos and photos, so I’ll save your dashboards:
It’s Official — I’ll be attending Anime Los Angeles for the first time this Januaray!
I booked my flights, and got the time off work… now it’s down to the crunch time! If everything goes off without a hitch, these are the costumes I’ll be bringing!
- Homura Akemi — School Form — Madoka Magica
- Homura Akemi — Magical Girl Form — Madoka Magica
- Maka Albarn — Soul Eater
- Mytho — School Form — Princess Tutu
School Homura and School Mytho are all finished, and Magical-Girl Homura has my top Priority. Maka is about 3/4 done, so she should be happening too! I jsut have to really bust my ass!
I’m really looking forward to attending a new convention, and getting a chance to spend more time with some of my CA friends, and those I only manage to see in passing at Fanime. I’ve heard good things about ALA, so I’m SUPER excited, even if the venue isn’t that great. It’ll be nice to kick off my con-year early!
