Sewing | Jennifer Awesome v5.0

Archive for Sewing

Ditto Plush

August 28, 2015 Jen Ný Cosplay, Sewing No comments

I got bored and made a Ditto plush doll yesterday. He only took about an hour or so to make. I used a pink fleece material for the body, purple buttons for eyes (I didn’t have black), and a thin black rope for the mouth. He is stuffed with Poly-Fil stuffing.

I made the pattern by drawing the basic shape of Ditto onto regular computer paper (while looking at Ditto’s entry in the Pokedex 3D Pro app on 3DS). I also cut a vaguely oval-shaped piece of paper to make the base, then matched it up to the main pattern pieces and cut it down until it was the perfect size. I cut out two Ditto-shaped pieces of fleece and one oval piece for the base. I sewed the eyes and original mouth onto one body piece before sewing them all together.

I originally made the mouth out of pink ribbon, but didn’t like how it looked. I saw that I had some black rope that might look better as a mouth, so I took a seam-ripper and removed the ribbon, then sewed the rope onto the plushie by hand.

Splatoon Squid Plush

June 5, 2015 Jen Ný Cosplay, Sewing No comments

I took a break from playing Splatoon and wedding planning yesterday to make my own squid plush. (I told you in my last post that I love this game!)

I used picture of the squid from Splatoon that I found on image search to make the pattern by enlarging it in Photoshop and printing it out in multiple parts to tape together. I based the eyes on the eyes from the logo squid, though. I thought those eyes looked cuter than the original eyes.

Here’s a link to the original squid picture I used. It was made by an artist on DeviantArt, so I feel like I should give them credit. I made the pattern for the eyes using an image of an official Squid plushie I saw on image search.

I’m also getting a pink Splatoon hat from an Etsy shop to start a Splatoon Inkling cosplay (I don’t know why I bought one instead of just making it since I made a very similar plush anyway, but the hat just looked so cute in the listing!). I think I’ll take it to Midoricon. I’m not sure if I’ll do a regular Inkling outfit, or a Squid Girl crossover. Maybe both on different days?

Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist Plush

December 17, 2014 Jen Ný Sewing No comments

Instead of carving a pumpkin this year for Halloween, I made my own Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist plushies. I made these guys back in October, just before Halloween. I just wanted a Pumpkaboo doll, and thought it would be more fun (and cheaper, since I already had all the fabric I needed) to make my own than to buy the pre-made one they sell online.

I made Pumpkaboo, and then decided that he needed a Gourgeist friend, so I made his evolution too. It took one day to make Pumpkaboo, and I think two days for Gourgeist. I started Gourgeist right after I finished Pumpkaboo though.

I made them using fabric I had left over from various cosplay costumes. Their mouths are both hand-embroidered and they have buttons for eyes. Pumpkaboo’s lights are also giant buttons. I was originally going to use yellow fabric, but I thought the big buttons would be cuter.

I made the patterns myself as I went along, which is usually how sewing projects go for me. I’m not sure I’ve ever had a totally complete pattern ready to go before I’ve started to sew. Sometimes I think of a better way to make a later part while working on a different part. That’s probably not how people who actually know what they’re doing go about sewing…

Sylveon Cosplay

December 16, 2014 Jen Ný Cosplay, Sewing No comments

Wow, I’m behind on updating my blog. Anyway, I had so much fun doing the live action Pokemon events for Midoricon that I wanted to do another Pokemon cosplay of one of my favorite new Pokemon. I got this Sylveon cosplay finished just in time for NyanCon. I was going for a kind of lolita type of look for Sylveon. I even got an Eevee in the vendor room to complete my outfit!

I have a tail too, which you can’t see in the pictures. I put a wire inside it to keep it from drooping too much. Also, I realize that the head bow is on the wrong side here. Mirrors are confusing!

I wore this cosplay for NyanCon and for halloween at The Side Quest in Lakewood. I’m planing on wearing it for Shinbokucon too, if go.

Bellossom Cosplay

August 22, 2014 Jen Ný Cosplay, Sewing No comments

I haven’t had time to make a new cosplay in quite a while, but I just finished a Bellossom cosplay for Midoricon. They are doing Live Action Pokemon Snap this year, and I wanted to be a part of it. Bellossom was always one of my favorite Pokemon from Pokemon Gold and Silver. As lame as it might sound, Bellossom was one of the new Pokemon I was most excited about for that generation. I remember seeing a picture of it in a magazine before the games came out, and thinking it was super cute. I even made my own plush doll of Bellossom (it didn’t turn out too great – I was a kid! I’ll see if I can find it at my parents’ house sometime). Plus the hula-dancer inspired Bellossom seemed like the perfect Pokemon to cosplay as at a beach convention!

I the flowers are stuffed with Poly-Fil stuffing to make them poofier. I used a stiff red fabric I found in the remnants bin. I couldn’t think of a good way to make the yellow center part, until I was looking around JoAnn’s and saw the big yellow buttons. I thought they were just perfect! For the skirt, I made eight big leaf shapes – four green and four yellow, and sewed them together. There’s a little bit of elastic inside to keep it more secured. I just bought a green tank top because I’m lazy.

I also made an Oddish plushie to go with my costume. I actually made him before I started my cosplay to test out my new sewing machine. He’s made from left over fabric from two other costumes. I used a pattern for a round ball I found on image search, and just used the exact same pattern to make the leaves (as I said early, I’m lazy). I’m going to carry him around with me at Midoricon.

I just have one more thing to finish making for my costume: a leaf shaped bag to keep my phone, wallet, and 3DS in. I ordered a pair of green a yellow shorts to wear under my skirt specifically because they had pockets. It turns out, however, that like most clothing designed for women, the pockets are too small for even an iPhone. I think I’m about to start making all of my own clothes so that I can at least have decent pockets!

Anyway, if you see me walking around at Midoricon, please say “hi!” I’ll be there with my boyfriend, who’s going as Lucario. I hope to meet lots of other Pokemon there!

Dragon’s Crown Elf Cosplay and Midoricon 2013

September 17, 2013 Jen Ný Cosplay, Sewing No comments

Midoricon was a couple weeks ago, and my boyfriend and I decided to go in Dragon’s Crown cosplay. We just finished our costumes the day before the convention. I was the Elf and he was the Wizard.

I didn’t get any pictures of my costume before I got tired of my wig and took it off. It started getting messed up under my hood and it was too hot outside for wigs, so I stopped wearing it halfway through Saturday and just braided my actual hair. Plus, my elf ears didn’t really work with the hood up and the wig on, and I wanted to wear my elf ears at some point during the convention. I didn’t get any pictures of my boyfriend as the Wizard either, because he wants to improve some things on his costume as well (his wig ended up looking completely different from the picture on Amazon, so he stopped wearing his too).

Here’s some pictures of me as a brown-haired version of the Elf. We’re probably going to do these costumes again sometime if we can get better wigs.

Midoricon was pretty awesome overall. There was live-action Mario Kart (which unfortunately filled up before we could register to compete, but we still got to see it) with a crazy banana running around. There were also some outdoor panels, which we didn’t really check out. I did learn how to make chain-mail at a chain-mail panel that Link was presenting, which was pretty awesome! We only had time to make a small bit of chain-mail at the panel, but Link let everyone take home a cup of chain links to make more later.

This was Midoricon’s second year. Last year we just went for one day since we had just gotten back from Matsuricon. We chose Midoricon over Matsuricon this year, since last year Midoricon was better, even though Matsuricon is bigger. (In the con world, bigger isn’t always bigger, which we learned from Ohayocon this year, which was overcrowded to the point of not being enjoyable and I can’t even remember what panels or events were there. Even though it was the biggest con I’ve been to, it was also the least memorable.)

Anyway, aside from some immature idiots pulling the fire alarm repeatedly (I doubt this con will be invited back to Shawnee State Park Lodge next year), and several of the employees treating us like we’re a bunch of weirdos for wearing costumes, Midoricon was definitely one of the best cons I’ve been to.

The only things I’d like to see next year are more vendors and an actual gaming room. They only had tabletop gaming, which I’m not really into.

Anyway, I recommend Midoricon for anyone in the Ohio area who enjoys going to conventions, especially if you’re tired of the bigger, more crowded conventions. It’s more laid back than other cons, and even though it’s small, there is still plenty to do.

Skyrim Hide Armor pt. 2

August 31, 2012 Jen Ný Cosplay, Sewing No comments

Here’s the skirt I made for my Skyrim hide armor costume.

The skirt for the hide armor is made from several layers of fabric. I started by making the black under layer from a stretchy black fabric. It’s double layered with the same black fabric. I then made the fur layer and sewed it to the black under skirt around the top. The patchwork “hide” flaps are attached to the bottom of the fur layer. I put a zipper closure on the side of the skirt and made the belt completely separate from the skirt.

The belt is held on with Velcro under the skull medallion on the front, but I ended up using safety pins to better hold it together. The medallions are made from Foamies that I painted silver. Eventually, I’m planning on switching those medallions out with something better, possible real metal, if I can think of a better way to make them.

I didn’t have time to make the actual hide bracers, so I ended up just making generic bracers from the same fabric I used for the top of my hide armor.

Skyrim Hide Armor Progress

August 16, 2012 Jen Ný Cosplay, Sewing 2 comments

I have the top part of my Hide Armor for my Skyrim cosplay finished. It is made from a brown soft kind of leathery/velvety material.

The shirt is double layered, lined with the same material that I used for the outside. I MacGyvered the pattern by taping together several sheets of paper and tracing a tanktop, then simply altering the outline to match the outfit worn by my Skyrim character. I put a zipper on the side to make it easier to get on and off.

After I finished sewing together the top, I sewed little x’s around all of the edges to give it more . That took a lot longer that I thought it would, but I think it makes it look better than if I had just left the edges unfinished.

I then used leather lacing for the lacing on the front. The top of the lacing is sewn on, but the rest is just going through loops I made with thread to allow the lacing to be tightened as needed.

The pauldron or whatever it’s called (I like to call them “shoulder armor thingies”) is made from rubber foam with the same fabric I used for the top covering it. It is held on with a plus-sized belt I found at Goodwill.

I have the skirt about halfway done. I’m hoping to finish it tomorrow. My Iron Helmet and sword are both also about halfway finished. I haven’t even started on my Hide Bracers or Tavern Clothes yet, but I think I can get everything finished in time for the con (which is in 1 week!). If I still have any time left over, I may also make a Hide Helmet so I can take advantage of the Custom Fit and Matching Set perks! Eventually I may make a matching Hide Shield, for future cons, though I never use a shield in the game and don’t really feel like carrying one around in real life.