C.C. Main Uniform

FINALLY, the progress post you've been waiting for. I did most of this before I left but basically I never got around to sewing it all together. I thought it was kind of worthless posting a photo of all the patterning work I had done (i.e. a bunch of pieces of fabric), so I waited until after I was finished to post this. But anyway, I have now completed the main part of my C.C. uniform. Here are some mediocre pictures.

Construction Notes: 

I took the pattern I used for my Alois jack and modified it to create my C.C. Uniform pattern. The reason i chose this pattern in particular was because it has two pieces to each of it's four main sections (front right, front left, back right, back left). This way i could lengthen it easier and have the center of each section (the seam between the two pieces) be the point on the end of each of the four sections of the uniform. I completely patterned out my own overlay to make the top part of the uniform which took a lot of trial and error until i figured out the right look. I also bought a bunch of gold fabric in order to keep each of the gold parts accurate. Clearly some parts are just strips of gold fabric and other times the gold is piping (like around the collar area). Making my own piping from the gold fabric was interesting as I had up until this point never made piping before. It's always fun learning new stuff though, so it was tedious yet fulfilling. Because i got a bunch of gold fabric, hopefully I'll be able to use it for the boots i have to make as well. Other stuff to be posted soon. (And don't worry, I'm not taking another trip to some far away from my computer place.) MadDog out!


THE SUMMER OF COSPLAY!

• FINISHING MY FRACKING ALOIS TRANCY COSPLAY ONCE AND FOR ALL!
• Completing either my C.C. or Homura Akemi (both of which I have already begun).

For Homura:

1. Finish skirt.
2. Make boots.
3. Make blouse (undershirt?).
4. Make "outershirt." (yeah, not sure what to call it)
5. Make headband.
6. Make gem hand piece.
7. Buy wig.

Or for C.C.:

1. Make boots.
2. Make shorts.
3. Make crop top.
4. Make arm things.
5. Make main uniform.
6. Make belt.

• Making my Senior Dress-Up Day costume (which I thought was going to be Zelda but now that I've taken on Hajime she may be off the table. I dunno--we'll see).
• Starting both a 833 M17UN4 C4P70R (Bee Mituna Captor from Homestuck) and a Trickster Dirk Strider (also from Homestuck).
• Designing and making the shoes, legs, and bodice of my Hajime Ichinose. (Preferably the arms as well but saving the wig, head piece, and skirt for later.)

C.C. Wig Styling and Wig Tips!

Well, I apologize because my camera has been lost for the past few weeks. I found it the other day though and decided to get back on track with the whole cosplay and blogging thing, which brings me to this post. I got my C.C. wig a while back and have just now found some time to cut the bangs on it. (The wig itself is from Arda in the style of Le Tigre and in the color of Light Green.) It is not a wig that is meant to have bangs but with a little styling, I have transformed it.

(Do you like my shirt? I think it's so cute! Thanks, Emma-chan!)

First a sectioned off the fibers that I wanted to become bangs and then I cut upwardly to get the length and natural-look I necessary for them. (Thinning scissors also help with this process.) Because my wig is heat-resistant, I was able to use a normal curling iron to get the new bangs to curve nicely instead of just stick out straight like they were. Voila. Completed C.C. wig. And now for a few basic tips.

Tips for Cutting and Styling Wigs:

• Helpful safety tip: If you are a beginner cosplayer and/or have little to no experience cutting hair and styling wigs, start with a character that has a simple hair style and work into harder hair styles as you get better at wig cutting and styling.
• When brushing out a tangled wig, only use a wide-toothed comb so as not to tangle your wig further. Also start from the bottom of the wig and work your way up. (This is extremely important if you have a ridiculously long wig.)
• Invest in some cutting sheers and thinning scissors!
• If you have to do dramatic cutting and styling, invest in a wig head. Then, measure out where your own features are on the wig head for reference so that you don't cut anything the wrong length.
• Alligator clips/duckbill clips are your friend.
• Most styles don't have really straight "edges." To get a more natural look, cut up not straight-across. This way you get a more grown-out look then a freshly-cut look and it gives you a little more flexibility if you make a small mistake.
• Don't you dare use "normal" hair products on wigs! "Normal" products are meant to work on normal hair not plastic. Go out and get yourself got2b products. This is the classic cosplay wig brand because it will get you results. (Reason: Instead of reacting with the fibers in normal hair to create volume, it doesn't and therefor works on plastic. Yay!)
• Heat-resistant wigs are the way to go.

Also, if you don't even know where to buy a wig and this post was completely irrelevant to your problem, you should check out this post here. More cosplay to come--MadDog out!

What Time is It?!--New Cosplay Time!

Hellos! So I have officially decided on two more cosplays! Yay! I will now also be working on a C.C. from Code Geass and a Homura Akemi from Puella Magi Madoka Magica! I will be making C.C. for a solo cosplay and hopefully the Underwater Hemisphere will all be making making magical girls to go with my Homura. I've bought some materials (one 38'' long green wig, two pairs of shoes, and some stretchy black fabric) to get started on these already so hopefully I will have another post not too long from now. Here are some pictures and MadDog out!