The Costume Making Guide: Creating Armor & Props for Cosplay

by Svetlana Quindt

You want to get into Cosplay but don’t know where to start? Allow me to guide you! In this beginner’s guide you’ll get the perfect introduction into this wonderful creative world. Learn what Cosplay is all about and make your first big steps into armor and prop creation. No previous knowledge required!

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Crafts, Sewing

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 2, 2016

Reviews

[Monique Brownrigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've watched quite a few of Svetlanas videos and shorts but this book went a bit more in depth with tips and tricks. Notably, the painting techniques were helpful and the differential between black and brown worbla.

[Taddow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since my childhood, I have always been into dressing up and celebrating Halloween. When I was a kid in the 80's I couldn't find (or couldn't afford) the non-generic costumes that I wanted to dress up in, so I made several myself. I mostly used paper, poster board and cardboard since they were cheap and easy to obtain. Some of my outfits turned out better than others and I really didn't wow the other kids because homemade stuff wasn't as cool or prestigious as buying something.

Through the years I still enjoyed dressing up and Halloween is a big event with my family. I started custom ordering costumes and, being a long-time miniature wargamer with some pretty decent painting skills, I was able to paint purchased 3D printed pieces and toy props to look like their more realistic counterparts.

Last Halloween, I took this a step further and actually made the Halloween costumes for my kids- one was Huggy Wuggy and the other was a Minecraft Evoker (I made the Huggy Wuggy mask with a cardboard base and the Minecraft Evoker was hand-painted foam board). They both turned out to awesome, and many parents and kids were thrilled and asked me where I bought them. With that success, I think I'm ready to try upping my game and want to start using EVA foam and Worbla, hence why I got this book after watching several of the author's YouTube videos.

This book provides a great basic understanding of working with these materials and has several step-by-step example projects to illustrate the crafting processes of several costume pieces- starting with pattern-making and ending with painting and sealing. It talks about different tools that needed and has a lot of great photos to show the steps.

I put in an order for some EVA foam and I'm looking forward to seeing what I can come up with for this Halloween.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Svetlana is an AMAZING cosplay artist. This book really helps the basic beginner learn how to use different materials, and start creating their cosplay costumes.

[Nancy Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some folk know I have various hobbies. One of them is sewing. I had donned low budget costumes for parties a few times, so money constraints never got me into serious cosplay... somewhat until now.

After having so much fun tinkering with materials and making stuff from scratch, seeing serious cosplayers donning epic armor has enticed me to want to learn how they did it. So, this is the reason why I bought this book. And it serves its purpose as a newbie friendly intro to the fandom.

At only around 100 pages, I do feel the book was a bit overpriced. Some reviews mention the book only shows 1 costume example per body part. And they are exclusively of female bodies. So, people needing books tailored to male bodies might feel left out in this book. I also feel bad we don't get at least a chapter devoted on how to make an EVA foam hat fit on your head. Are they hollow inside? Do you wrap bubblewrap around your skull and do the Eva foam pizza slice tent trick?

The book pretty much exclusively focuses on how to make a wrist bracer, chestplate and pauldrons. So, you won't get tips on hats, whether to tailor EVA foam on the size of the boots to be worn with the costume, and tips on hooking a cape to pauldrons.

Another thing I felt sorely missing is how in the dratted universe can you wear a heavy wig without having it slide off your skull every 5 minutes. While indeed the focus on the book is on EVA foam armor making, innermost secrets of solving the most frustrating common cosplay mishaps would be great considering the book's cost.

I do not blame some reviewers grimacing about how most information in this book can be found on youtube.

However! The information the book offers is immensely valuable to me. One of the coolest materials mentioned in the book is not sold in my country, but I will make an effort to get some for a project I wish to work on. Despite being a short tutorial, I appreciate how the author explains seemingly complex things in an easy and enjoyable manner.

The book has proven to be a useful starting point for me.

[Tabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first introduction to my future cosplay

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some incredible costume projects in here. Looking forward to having the time to make some of these.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is very new to cosplay I found this guide very easy to follow. It also made things that are big projects to me seem not as intimidating since I was able to read through the steps to achieve what I want to make. This book makes me want to pick up some worbla and foam and start crafting as soon as I can.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent step-by-step instructions and detail. Love the photographs, too.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A conversational introduction to a few different materials to get you started in cosplay.

[Yvette · Rating 4 out of 5]

As we expect from the undeniable Worbla Queen this book is conversational, encouraging and beautifully done. There’s a brief intro to the history and background of cosplay and cosplay competitions and a nonentry on choosing costumes (just do whatever you want, while encouraging can also set up newbies for failure by trying to tackle something too ambitious). The section on tools and materials is well laid out and shows just about everything a beginner will need and the full page on safety also is great. The instructions are project based like many books but all build upon simple items that are common within cosplay and how to build things up in layers. It’s a great resource if you want to use foam or worbla, with clear instructions and crisp photos. The only complaint I have is mostly with her insistence on the worbla sandwich which uses up a lot of very expensive material both on the back of the bracer and to cover the sword.

9/10: It’s a beautiful, light book for those getting into cosplay crafting from a household name. It is rather light and encourages the wasting of materials in certain ways which is why I have docked a point from it. Another great addition to any library’s core cosplay collection either way though.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey it’s Kamui! Her feed is always chock full of amazing cosplay builds and this book is a great print version of the same goodness. Makes you want to run out and start working on your own Master Sword today!

[Jbussen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wondered how they make those costumes. I had some thoughts but now I can see clearly. Very short book. Easy to read and understand. If I lived someplace where I could go to conventions, and had space to work, I'd try my artistic ability.

[Mishqueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cosplay instructional that includes materials lists and tutorials for specific armor pieces. Each is made with different materials and instructs how to use each without diving deep into materials characteristics.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a helpful guide for a beginning cosplayer! She also has many helpful youtube videos that helped me create a great cosplay.

[Thudark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful and fun to read, learned a lot. It's filled with handy tutorials to learn new techniques and many pictures

[Celeste Henkelmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skimmed it - has really detailed how to of certain costume components like armor. Useful when I am ready to actually make something

[Raygun ∆ Gothic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty helpful, actually, but not for projects which just use Eva foam. Worbla is used for everything in here. But there's some great instruction for painting and Dremeling weapons.

[Tyia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kamui Cosplay!

No one else can walk you through the world of cosplay from beginning to end as easily as Svetlana can. Yes there are tons of amazing collateral out there. But she takes the time to explain how she made the costume and how it was out together, what material she used etc. For a person that is just learning to sew and has an interest in prop and armor making I find this book to be a gem for any displayed who wants to start from the beginning or learn a new part of the craft. All I can say is enjoy.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

If you've watched TV shows such as Face Off or Heroes of Cosplay, you'd probably think that creating a costume requires a whole entire workshop of strange materials and obscure tools (vac form machine anyone?). Or you have to be some kind of creative genius McGuyver who can take lint and grass and turn it into a crazy alien. The good news is that finally there is a book that lays it all out visually for those who want to get started making their own costumes. With the Costume Making Guide, Author Svetlana Quindt walks you through the basics of crafting - without breaking the budget on materials or equipment.

The book has an introduction on the history of costplay ('costume play'), why people enjoy it so much, finding reference materials/inspiration for your next project, what you need to get started with the projects in the book, tools and materials, and of course safety.

Svetlana is careful to note that she isn't a seamstress - so there are no sewing guides/tips in here for the fabric/outfits. Instead, the projects involve mostly armor and weapons. For each item, she shows the finished complete costume and how the piece fits in with it:

- a bracer (metal arm armor from Diablo 3 wizard)
- a breastplate (DC Comics Wonder Woman)
- a pauldron (shoulder armor - for Overwatch Symmetra)
- an axe (Diablo 3 Barbarian)
- a sword (Xena Warrior Princess)

She also talks about the complete costume from start to finish including assembling the pieces, designing the details, having the costume sewn, wig, and even how to create a prop so it can be stuffed into a suitcase for travel to events/cons.

What I like about the book is that she lays it all out cleanly and easily with large type, photographs for every step, and the steps are short and not all clumped together. The finished pieces are quite spectacular and most only require items like a bit of warbla plastic, a heat gun, and some glue.

Of note, you'll have to be a bit creative/artsy and also be prepared to spend some time assembling the pieces and creating the costume. It's not an overnight project unless you are only doing one piece. The book also covers what to do after the con with the costume - finding photographers, etc. Even what to wear under all the costumes is covered. Finally, there is a costume gallery for inspiration.

Of note, since Quindt is from Germany, she gives a nice list of places to get the materials in the EU - obviously North Americans can get their supplies from Amazon or EBay.

In all, highly impressed with how easy and friendly this costume making book really is - and how easy it is to make a really cool sword or amor. I hope to see future books with less flat weapons such as guns (e.g. Overwatch's Symmetra gun in the book) and of course be aware that there is nothing really in the book about creating the fabric parts/outifts of the costume. But this is definitely a book worth every penny for a budding cosplayer. Yes, you can find a lot of these on youtube - but not put together so nicely, easily, and all in one place. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.