The Tutorial Thread

[u3759]

This is a thread providing tutorials for cosplay related activities.

aka TTT!!!
(And also created for my own use of keeping-all-the-tutorials-dana-likes-in-one-place.)
Post any tutorial that's helpful, will link to first post if it's acceptable.

Rated with smileys on my opinion.
Good =
Great =
OMGAMAZINGYESPLZ =

Sewing:
    Character Specifics:
- Suzumiya Haruhi Skirt
- Roxas' Pants
    General:
- Circle Skirts
- HUGE Bows!
- Cheap, Fast, Easy Hoopskirt
- Turn Cotton into pleather?! (only used for accessories and boots, ect. DO NOT WASH!)

Props:
    Character Specifics:
- _{you rate me.}-Vocaloid Headphones
- Cardcaptor Sakura Staff
- Yuffie's Shuriken
- Lightning Sword
- Sakura Staff (Tsubasa Artbook)
- Kairi's Keyblade
- Fai's Staff
- Yuna's Staff (text tutorial in description)
- Pokeballs
- Harry Potter Wands

Wigs:
    Character Specifics:
- Lavi Wig
- Sora Wig (Jap only, sorry!)
- Wig Painting (for weird designs on hair?!)
- Sasuke Wig
    General:
- How to put on a Wig (part 2 and 3 in description)
- Cheater's Guide to Pigtails
- Sharpie Wig Dyeing Tutorial
- Sakura Peaks
- Clip-on Ponytail (works AMAZINGLY with characters like Hatsune Miku!)
- Spiked Wigs
- High, Wrapped Ponytail

Makeup:
    Character Specifics:
- Misa Makeup
- Sailor Moon Makeup
- Yuna Makeup
    General:
- Anime Eyes (Female Characters)
- Flawless Skin
- Temporary Eyebrow Coloring

Accessories:
    Character Specifics
- Hinamori Amu Belt Pouch
- Singer Rikku Boots
- Yuna's Obi Dangles (Part 2 in description)
- Mad Hatter Top Hat
- Organization XIII Pullstrings
    General:
- Cosplay Jewel-making
- Big Gems for Cosplay

Armor:
    Character Specifics:
- Lighting's Shoulder Armor
- Automail
    General:
- Craft Foam Armor

Other:
    General:
- Open Shirt Binding - I DO NOT recommend using duct tape for this. I know of cosplayers who have had to go into surgery for directly-on-skin duct-tape binding. I don't care if you've tried with duct tape and came out completely fine, it might not be the same for other people.
- Gradient Dyeing (text tutorial in description)
- Posing and Convention Etiquette

Will be updated regularly~~

[Hazuza]

Aw crap where'd I put that Layers thread. ._.

[ChibiGrace]

This is a a series of 3 tutorials on how to put on a wig. I swear, this thing has saved me before!
http://taeliac.deviantart.com/art/Tutorial-How-to-do-pincurls-45164922
http://taeliac.deviantart.com/art/Tutorial-How-to-put-on-wigcap-45629366
http://taeliac.deviantart.com/art/Tutorial-How-to-put-on-a-wig-48000503

And the ever important Automail Tutorial! (All important links are on this page.)
http://amethyst-angel.com/armormaking_automail.html

I'll give some more when I remember them!

Awesome idea, by the way~!

[Felix]

This isn't directly related to making costumes, but here is a posing and con etiquette tutorial. It has a lot of useful posing tips and the latter portion contains things everyone should be aware of as a photographer as well as a cosplayer to maximise the enjoyment of everyone at the con. C:

Great idea for a thread!

(Also someone else posted this website in another thread - it contains links to a lot of different tutorials.)

[~boogiepop~]

http://www.darkelements.ca/Tutorials/list.htm Site with over 200 tutorials, organized and everything.

Edit: Ooops looks like Felix caught me posting that in a different thread.

[meep]

faaaaaaah will look through that later. orz

JUST ADDED LIKE 304820382 TUTORIALS. SO TIRED.

Dana you need to get some sleep ; 3 ; ( Your post at like 1 in the morning)
-posts tutorial on getting alot of sleep-

[chelseahavoc]

EDIT: videos from making raven from teen titan

vid1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE1sNkaZ-6w (makeing of cloak and slight modification of hood pattern)
vid2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPHiib_pQrc&feature=watch_response (leotard and how to sew lycra)
vid3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyEV3REs6R4&feature=watch_response (lycra glovelets, quick bootcovers, "jewels" from plastic eggs)

how they are helpful!

[meep]

Pink Housing Foam (A Users Guide) http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=152632

Temporary Eyebrow color (LOVE THIS ONE) http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=152632

TOTALLY AWESOME VOCALOID HEADPHONES AND SLEEVES TUTORIAL (YES THERE BOTH LIGHT UP 8D)
http://pixiekitty.net/tutorialheadphones.htm
http://pixiekitty.net/tutoriallightup.htm
-more tutorials by the same gal- http://www.pixiekitty.net/tutorials.htm

[meep]

Temporary Eyebrow color (LOVE THIS ONE) http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=152632

i should try this one...

I like it it works GREAT : D

Oh and hey should I make an official boot making tutorial? : D

[ChibiGrace]

Spiking/L Wig Tutorial ^_^

http://twinfools.deviantart.com/art/Wig-Tutorial-L-and-Spiking-104966227

[meep]

Spiking/L Wig Tutorial ^_^

http://twinfools.deviantart.com/art/Wig-Tutorial-L-and-Spiking-104966227

Not sure about that one, honestly the wig looks very inaccurate :/

Too spiky for an L wig o3o

[ChibiGrace]

Yeah, that's why I also put spiking, because I thought it didn't look like L.

It still is good for a spiking tutorial though. Though the get the point of not using it.

To make up for it, here are two good tutorials!
Downward Spikes (a lot of good tips for downward spiking here) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYQ59GdgsWA

Sasuke Wig/Wig Styling (better than the other one...I promise) :
http://behindinfinity.deviantart.com/art/Wig-Styling-with-Ishida-Uryuu-70861455

[Felix]

Oh and hey should I make an official boot making tutorial? : D

Boots? That would be useful. c:

[meep]

Oh and hey should I make an official boot making tutorial? : D

Boots? That would be useful. c:

Okies Ill make one this week end :3

[ChibiGrace]

I got some old sewing tutorials!

Attaching Sleeves:
http://www.whatthecraft.com/tuts/easysleeves.html

Attaching a Hood:
http://www.whatthecraft.com/tuts/hoodpic.htm

Inserting a Zipper
http://www.whatthecraft.com/tuts/zip.htm

Armwarmers:
http://www.whatthecraft.com/tuts/arm.htm

[Ticra]

these are good. keep 'em coming!

[Hazuza]

Makin' Balls:
http://i48.tinypic.com/wltxzc.jpg

been wanting to make a photo touch up w/ photoshop tutorial but I'M SO LAZY.

Fffff I could do it if someone let me use one/some of their photos ono Just basic touchups and how to delete things from the background (since that always irks me and is so simple. <8[ )

[Felix]

I think it should have its own category. I would define a prop as something you carry (a weapon, for example), and an accessory as something small (like jewelry). There are many tutorials devoted solely to armour-making.

[Malaria]

Making a top hat:
http://chioky.deviantart.com/art/The-Tip-Top-Hat-Tutorial-103451650

[Trumby]

Making a top hat:
http://chioky.deviantart.com/art/The-Tip-Top-Hat-Tutorial-103451650

Ohoho, that will come in handy when I do Brook!

[meep]

^Bump

This thread need some loveeee! :3

[meep]

POST YOUR TUTORIALS GOGOGOGO

Q_Q I NEVER GOT AROUND TO MAKING ANY ahhhhhhh ;A;

[Seraph]

hoopskirt website is broke dana

[mellonemrys]

Tim Burton Hatter top hat and costume tutorial from Threadbangers -> http://www.threadbanger.com/tb-projects/episode/THR_20091009

I did my hat with this tutorial (ack my hair looks really bad!) Over all, I think it took us 5 or 6 hours (not including letting the paint dry) to make it, but it looks awesome, and I would totally like to make more!
http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/yy325/RegalBP18Promo/Alice%20in%20Wonderland/TheHatterateapot.jpg
http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/yy325/RegalBP18Promo/Alice%20in%20Wonderland/TheHatter-HatCloseup.jpg


Some notes from when my mom and I did mine...

- When choosing the main fabric that will be covering the hat, it is best to find something stretchy, since that will be easier to get nice and flat and not have wrinkles. Same if you do lace over that!
--- I also used scraps of brocade we had laying around under the lace to make it more interesting and colourful.

- Make sure you make your poster board tube has enough room for a wig, the fabric you're using and the massive amounts of glue you might need to make the fabric stay! Mine is a little tight b/c of too much glue! We had to add an elastic band that I then wrap around my pony tail so the hat will stay on. Its better to have too much room and add in an extra band of fabric, than to have a headache after wearing a hat that's too small for 8 hours!

- The lace we used was white, with purple stitching on some parts, so for an aged effect I spray painted the back side of it with gold before we put it on the hat, then I used black paint and splotched patches of it to down tone the gold in some places.

- Don't have hat pins, not a problem! We made ours out of wire, beads, and other trinkets laying around our craft area!

[PaperRoxas]

yuna obi dangles part 1 http://axelsgrl24.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2tn91r
yuna obi dangles part 2 http://axelsgrl24.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2tnp0h
roxas pants http://axelsgrl24.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2eu2ar

[camname21]

naruto sandals - http://sites.google.com/site/lizspain2/narutosandaltutorial

ANBU mask - http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=100544

Another type of mask tutorial - http://www.wsu.edu/~converse/theat461/masks.html

good stuff.

[PaperRoxas]

easy and cheap organization pullstring tutorial:
http://axelsgrl24.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2x7v46

[The_Geek]

Average hoodie tutorial:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=177602.0
Matt (Deathnote) pants:
http://tofualchemist.deviantart.com/art/MATTEHPANTSPLZ-A-Tutorial-87817892

[lychee-twist]

Here's a resin casting tutorial I made. Works pretty well.

Part 1: http://lychee-twist.deviantart.com/art/Resin-Casting-Tutorial-Part-1-164451084?q=gallery%3Alychee-twist%2F109275&qo=15
Part 2: http://lychee-twist.deviantart.com/art/Resin-Casting-Tutorial-Part-2-164451247?q=gallery%3Alychee-twist%2F109275&qo=14

My only suggestion is to put a thin layer of caulking down, tamp that softly into the crevices of your mold with a wet paper towel, and when that's dry, then put the larger mold layer over it.

[lychee-twist]

I noticed one thing with the resin jewel making tutorial that I highly advise against: The use of plastic cups.

I tried this on my first cast with resin, and it completely melted the cup. Thank god I thought ahead and wrapped foil around the bottom of it! What I now use is a pop can that's had it's top removed by can opener. It' works fantastically.

[nikkiolie]

Does anyone have a tutorial or a pattern for a hood?

[PaperRoxas]

yes...but i cant find it D: i've been grabbing hoods and using them as patterns for now

[sandrobotticelli]

I actually found this tutorial very helpful for concealing eyebrows and drawing on new ones. You could use this for a variety of different characters (I myself may be using it for an England cosplay.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTl3ePEmhi4

[camname21]

Found a nice wig tutorial for making some sort of "ball" or "bun?" that extends further down as well.  I read some people were unsure how to do something like this and kinda randomly found it, so I thought I would share.

http://community.livejournal.com/cosplay/2713908.html

[Chibachi Nero]

This is a good tutorial for an easy way to do high, wrapped ponytails with a wig. I'm using it for my Tsubaki cosplay and it works pretty well for her hairstyle.

http://yumipi.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2u7v8v

[Psych]

http://chioky.deviantart.com/art/The-Tip-Top-Hat-Tutorial-103451650

Here's a fine top hat tutorial that Kit Kit sent me before I finished my Professor Layton costume. I didn't end up using it because I couldn't find heavy enough card paper, but it seemed simple enough.

[TalaRedWolf33]

Well, for those of you that dont like to pay like 40 bucks for a pair of cat ears, or moogle ears in my situation, heres the tutorial I used to make my ears. http://sedatedartist.deviantart.com/art/How-to-Make-Cat-Ears-Revised-64515635 and here is the finished product of how I made them http://talaredwolf33.deviantart.com/gallery/27756580#/d2qq2vv

Im making a black pair for a Suppi cosplay, and a gold pair that are rounded more for a Kero cosplay for myself. If you want tips, or need help, ask me on dA or send me a message at kirbyness420@live.com

[Drauska]

These are great tutorials.  thanks for organizing this.

[PrinceBelphegor]

I was Mukuro Rokudo from Katekyo Hitman Reborn

[CLAP_attack]

Is there a good tutorial for facial hair? I want to do a better job spirit gumming my my manly beard for cross .. and make it nice

[TalaRedWolf33]

Is there a good tutorial for facial hair? I want to do a better job spirit gumming my my manly beard for cross .. and make it nice

Not really a tutorial, but she does tell you how she did her facial hair, and it looks amazing. Try noting her on dA and ask her for some pointers.
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=facial+hair+cosplay+tutorial#/d37qkhn

[hyperkineticenergy]

Spirit gum is the death of rainbows... but, it gets the job done. From my experience with the underworld's glue, don't use a lot of it. I've known people who just smear their face with it and it takes the skin right off. Other than that, put the gum on the hair and stick gently but firmly. We've always had pre-shaped stuff so we've never had to make our own beards or whatnot.
Jay

[lychee-twist]

Found a nice wig tutorial for making some sort of "ball" or "bun?" that extends further down as well.  I read some people were unsure how to do something like this and kinda randomly found it, so I thought I would share.

http://community.livejournal.com/cosplay/2713908.html

At the end of that post, there's a link to charmseed's Sailor Moon wig tutorial. I used that, which is the same process for the Chibi Moon wig for the most part, and it worked great. 

My only advice is that if you think you can straighten long wavy wefts for Sailor Moon's pigtails and NOT have it be a huge pain in the ass, you're wrong. So very, very wrong.

[Mew*Haruko]

Anyone got a tutorial for sewing a jacket? ^^"

[lychee-twist]

No, but Joann's usually has killer pattern sales regularly where you can get an $18 pattern for $3. You can try going to Goodwill or Value Village and see if they have a book on tailoring. That might help. I found one the other day at the Goodwill in Tigard and didn't buy it. It was old, but it had some good pointers.

[Mew*Haruko]

naruto sandals - http://sites.google.com/site/lizspain2/narutosandaltutorial

ANBU mask - http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=100544

Another type of mask tutorial - http://www.wsu.edu/~converse/theat461/masks.html

good stuff.

I will totally be using the Anbu mask tutorial for my Hei cosplay~

[chelseahavoc]

At the end of that post, there's a link to charmseed's Sailor Moon wig tutorial. I used that, which is the same process for the Chibi Moon wig for the most part, and it worked great. 

My only advice is that if you think you can straighten long wavy wefts for Sailor Moon's pigtails and NOT have it be a huge pain in the ass, you're wrong. So very, very wrong.

...oh how true i know this to be

also fyi DA peeps there is a pretty good tutorial group on there. when get a chance ill post a link t it

[lychee-twist]

Chelsea, you would know. At least your wig looked fabulous.

[lover-of-the-pepsi]

I found a fabulous site for making Maka's (from soul eater) scythe! Pure epic-ness i tell you, pure epic-ness!

http://mystiklsushi.deviantart.com/art/Soul-Eater-Scythe-Tutorial-130869931

[CLAP_attack]

hwyy , anyone have tutorials for girls cosplaying guys ? like the make up aspect?
..
also a good binding tutorial D; the one on there is no longerr