cosplaytipsandtricks

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i might elaborate later but fanfic replies literally develop writer’s metacognition and make them better writers

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Written by Emily Joice of Cosplay Advice, this tutorial teaches you several methods to create templates for cosplay props. You can check it out here!

The CovidSafeCosplay blog and its admin are unaffiliated with the tutorial author or Cosplay Advice, and are simply sharing the resource. Blog admin has not personally tested each method. Please thoroughly read the tutorial for full instructions.

Do you have a favorite free crafting resource? Share in the comments or via a reblog! Bonus points for those that are free, include image descriptions, or contain detailed tutorials for newbies to follow.

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fingers crossed I get accepted for volunteering for a couple upcoming conventions. I think I enjoy being behind the scenes more than on the actual con floor these days.

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RIP Joann, now what?

I wanted to make a post I could copy and paste and or link when I see folks asking where to buy fabrics when Joann is gone. I sew a lot, generally between 100-200 items a year and I don't do it on a big budget. Stores are not in a particular order.

Notions:

Wawak.com - start here, mostly stay here. Wawak is a supplier for professional sewing businesses and have the prices that show it. I will not pay for gutermann Mara 100 anywhere else. I buy buttons, tools, thread, and most elastic here.

Stitch Love Studio - this is where I buy lingerie supplies https://www.etsy.com/shop/StitchLoveStudio?ref=yr_purchases

Fabric:

Fabric Mart - this is one where you want to sign up for emails and never buy unless its on sale. They run different sales every day and they rotate. Mostly deadstock fabrics but I buy more from here than anywhere else. Fantastic customer service and if you watch you can get things like $6 wool suiting or $4 cotton jersey. https://fabricmartfabrics.com/

Fabrics-Store - again, buy the sales not the full price. Sign up for the emails but redirect them to a folder because it is TOO MANY. They stock linen or good but not amazing quality. https://www.fabrics-store.com/

Purple Seamstress - This is where I buy my solid cotton lycra jersey. They have other things, but the jersey is what I'm here for. Inexpensive and very good quality. If you ask she will mail you a swatch card for the solids. https://purpleseamstressfabric.com/

LA Finch - deadstock fabrics with a fantastic remnant selection https://lafinchfabrics.myshopify.com/

Califabrics - mix of deadstock and big brands, easy to navigate and always seem to have good denim in stock. https://califabrics.com/

Boho Fabrics - good variety, nice bundles. I have also gotten some really great trims from here. https://www.bohofabrics.com/

Firecracker Fabrics - garment and quilting fabrics, really nice selection and great sale section. I've bought $5 yard quilting cottons here several times. https://www.firecrackerfabrics.com/

Hancock's of Paducah - Quilting fabric and some limited garment fabric. AMAZING sale section. Do not sleep on the sale section. This is my first stop when buying quilting fabrics. Usually the last stop too. Not particularly speedy shipping. https://www.hancocks-paducah.com/

Itokri - This is something a little different. Itokri is an Indian business with incredible traditional fabrics. Shipping to the US is expensive, but the fabric is so inexpensive it evens out. I generally end up paying like $30 for shipping. Beautiful ikat and block prints. https://itokri.com/

Miss Matatabi - this is a little treat. This isn't where you go to save money, but there are so many beautiful things in this shop. Ships from Japan incredibly quickly. https://shop.missmatatabi.com/

Lucky Deluxe - Craft thrift store, always has an incredible selection and fantastic customer service. I need to close the tab fast because I never go to this website without finding something I need. https://www.luckydeluxefabrics.com/

Swanson's - the OG of online craft thrift stores, but I find their website harder to navigate. https://www.swansonsfabrics.com

Honorary Mentions: I haven't shopped at these places yet but I have had them recommended and likely will at some point.

A Thrifty Notion - https://athriftynotion.com/

Creative Closeouts - https://creativecloseoutsfabric.com/ being rebranded to sewsnip.com on March 1 - quilting deadstock

Hawthorne Supply Co. - I just got this rec and I think I need to not look too closely or I'm going to slip with my debit card. https://www.hawthornesupplyco.com/

This is not an exhaustive list of everywhere you can buy fabric, or even a full list of where I shop. There are SO many options out there in the world. You also need to think outside the fabric store box. I thrift men's shirt fabrics for quilts and sheets for backing fabric. I don't do a ton of in person thrifting and my local stores don't get a lot of craft materials but every thrift store is its own universe and reflects the community it is in. Go out and find something cool.

Oh and final note: Don't shop at Hobby Lobby.

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So with Joann going under and as a Fashion/Costume Designer and a cosplayer I need a place to get fabric and notions, and I know many others feel lost as well

So I made a short simple list of online fabric stores as well as notions .

Please share with anyone you would like. If you have recommendations of things to add please let me know.

There's only a few right now of ones I know and have used

I may add a few niche ones like Silk Baron but I am mainly adding ones with many options and maybe add a niche section later

More places with trims would be nice, or even patterns, historical, cosplay, or everyday.

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I hope everyone's having a good week. I've been staring at this dang power point for five minutes trying to figure out if there's anything else I need to add, while also keeping it as simple as possible.

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Genuinely it's the honor system and the trust that people around you will speak up. You think it's just the vendor that's busy, but there's sometimes another person at the booth. Or their booth neighbor is watching you.

The person beside you looking at the buttons is watching you. Staff is walking by, watching you.

Miku is watching you.

It's the real risk of getting caught. Sure, some people get away with it. But even more than that are called out immediately or caught before they can even get out of the vendor's room. And the fact there are more people around you than you think.

More expensive items are often kept at the back of the table, closer to the vendor. Or behind the table. Or zip tied. Buttons and charms are being tied down. Anything that could be grabbed from the corner is bulky and easily identifiable. There's lots of ways to prevent theft.

How do people have so much trust at anime conventions? I was at one earlier this year and I was looking at a couple stalls like “if I wanted to I could steal this” obviously I have morals so I paid for everything but it just looked so easy especially when the sellers were busy with other people: even in line if I had a small keychain I could just slip it in my bag pay for smth else then leave. Is it just that venders have trust in people at anime conventions? Which is kinda good that they can trust us. It’d make sense years ago when anime wasn’t popular but now it’s getting more and more popular you just kinda have to hope everyone’s morally correct. Or is there other safety precautions that I just couldn’t see? I’m not trying to give anyone ideas I’m genuinely just curious

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"backstage at a live event" is perhaps my favourite human collective emotion ive ever experienced. From running through the creepy empty school hallways before a theatre show, to the staff only breakroom at a convention or event where youre running a stall, to the bridal suite getting ready before your bestie walks down the isle.

Theres a little wall between the guys who are 'in on it' with you, whatever it is, and your audience or customers or guests or just all those people who are *not* in on it. Youve got a wallkie talkie, or a backstage pass, or an exhibitor badge, and youve never felt more alive

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HALT! Do you have sensory issues? Overwhelmed by sound in a messy environment? Desperately wanting to write that essay/fanfiction but your ADHD is getting on the way? In need of atmospheric sound for your tabletop game??

Please let me introduce you to MyNoise.net - a lifesaver on all aspects.

Mynoise provides an incredible index of noise machine generators with personalizing sliders to suit your every taste.

Missing the sound of a lively coffee shop during the pandemic? They have that. That specific, calming noise of a public park in a peaceful afternoon? they have that. Rain sounds? City sounds? Want to fuck around and listen to some uninterrupted Gregorian chants? They have that also!

According to the website:

"myNoise generators cover the whole audible frequency range, from 20Hz to 20kHz, over 10 color-coded sliders. Through a simple but accurate calibration process, all myNoise generators can be shaped to your personal hearing thresholds and compensate for your audio equipment and listening environment deficiencies, including the presence and nature of background noise. Calibration is unique to this website, and makes calibrated noise machines stand out from regular white noise machines. During the calibration process, we are able to measure your personal hearing levels, and adapt our noises accordingly. If you are suffering from age-related hearing, you'll be surprised to hear frequencies you thought were lost."

And that's not all. When I say 'incredible' I really mean it; I've found myself using the website on multiple occasions, for work, creative and stress-related issues, and the variety of machines provided cannot be overstated. You've got animal noises, nature soundscapes, street sounds, meditation aids, melody-based lullabies, magical soundscapes, medieval ambiance, situation specific sounds, white noise generators-- and a lot more!!! They even have noise to block out IRL sounds you don't want to hear.

Just take a brief look at what the index page provides:

There's something for EVERYONE. And it's all for free! It's been for free for years, and it is the creator's wish that it remains accessible to everyone who might need this kind of aid in life. I am using it to write this post right now. Though if you read some of the above index, you may have noticed that the support for the website has been very low lately.

Which brings me to the reason I'm making this post. Mynoise is curated and maintained by a single person:

Please check out the Mynoise Index for yourself, donate if you can, and tell your friends who might be interested ♡

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sarah spaceman did a video on it. i'm usually kind of eh on her content but she did have yaya han show up at the end and contextualize some of the things she said and the rumors that flew around her. honestly i feel so bad for the poor woman

Yeah the video graced my suggestions and is what brought back all the memories of the show with me. I remember my bff childofwatercos and I talking about it while it was airing, especially when it came through Planet Comicon near us.

I haven't gotten to Yaya's section of the video yet. I will admit for personal reasons I've never been a fan of her. But I do acknowledge her skill and I will say she didn't deserve any of the harassment she got.

-ZK

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My favourite way to deal with post con depression is to be obsessed with smth nerdy right after

Start an anime right after and finish it in one night, or rewatch one

Lean into cosplay, plan 50 new ones, or plan 70 new photoshootings with the ones you have, they already slap

Be angry at capitalism and the ever looming right wing dread from all sides

Relisten to your fav shows soundtrack so oftwn you know it by heart again

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Any of y'all remember scyfy's Cosplay Heroes?

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I love kids they’re all like.. “when i grow up i’m gonna be an astronaut and a chef and a doctor and an olympic swimmer” like that self confidence! That drive! That optimism! Where does it go

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allow yourself to be a beginner

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some lgbt tickets or stamps honestly both work! [ prints, stickers and things: redbubble | teepublic | threadless ]