Pattern Making

Project: Fluttershy
Music: Utada Station on Pandora
Time: Less than 1 hour

Making patterns is a generally easy task, but it’s very helpful skill as a whole. Here’s how I go about doing it. In this tutorial, I was making a shirt, but it has some good guidelines regardless or whether you’re making a shirt or not. Also, keep in mind that I’m making the pattern compatible for stretchy fabric.

Things you’ll need:

• Pattern paper or cheap-o fabric (Is use cheap-o fabric, $1 rack stuff)
• Article of clothing to base the pattern off of 
• Marking tool 
• And, of course, PINS!!!

Step 1. Clean up, clean up

Naturally, the first step is to obviously clean up your work area! I know this sounds silly, but I always make sure to vacuum my room and make sure it’s clear of my dog before starting a project. And I think everyone else should take this precaution. You wouldn’t want Border Collie hair all over your project now, would you?

Step 2. Front and Back Piece

                Okay, so first you’re gonna wanna tuck the sleeves into the shirt, assuming the shirt you’re making the pattern of has sleeves, that is, then fold it in half, and line it up to the fold of your fabric or pattern paper. Then proceed to pin it down. After that, you it cut it out and voila! You have a pattern!

Step 3. SLEEVE

                Okay, so making the front and back piece was easy enough, now time for the sleeve. Now, get the sleeves out of your shirt and lay your flat. Now, take the top of your sleeve and line it up on the fold of your fabric/paper. First, pin along the arm hole. I do the arm hole first because….of reasons (I really don’t know why, I’m just OCD like that.)I pin down the rest and then grab my HANDY DANDY MARKING TOOL! and mark along the sleeve hole, not something that’s really necessary; once again, I’m just OCD like that.  Starting at the sleeve hole (of course, you then cut out your piece). And then you’re done!

It all seems really complicated when you start out, but it really isn’t. (Although this was a very easy example) Just remember to keep practicing and you’ll keep getting better!

Until next time!

Sana

Ps. Tell me how I did, I'm new to the whole tutorial making thing!

The Tale of San Japan 4TW

And hence another convention comes to a close all to soon. I'm probably going to spend to rest of the week tired and mopey as already miss the world of over priced merchandise and loud fangirls. And, yes, that's a good thing. Haha. Welp, I guess I'll be starting with Thursday since that's where our adventures begins.

Thursday
Well, I left the homestead around 11:00am Thursday and we picked Croweh up on the way. Her and I chattered as we headed up on what seemed like an endless ride to San Antonio. We arrived in the city around 2:30, so we spent the rest of the afternoon wandering about and making new friends. When our friend Aza got there we hung out with her and her friend and helped her work on last minute cosplay. Around 9:00 we went to get our badges, and then the day came to a definite close as we excitedly rested our heads and slept until the next day came.

Friday
I awoke early on Friday and threw Toph on. I've said it before, Toph gets so much love! I think it's cause Avatar cosplays are rare in general and Toph is the best. Croweh debuted her Axel cosplay. Anyways, we got up way before the convention started and helped an artist friend of ours set up. I then bought a couple things from her when the artist alley legally opened. We derped around until Aza found us as Finland and we hung out with her for the duration of the day. We went to the Cosplay Group panel, which was pretty funny really. We met some new friends. I got to give Malindachan and Ex-shadows yet another gift that I made for them.(causeI'mcreepylikethat) The day seemed to blur together until that night. We went to masquerade, it wasn't as nice as the one at AM, but I got to dance with someone who I had wanted to and it was lovely.(andawkwardwut?)

Saturday
On Saturday I wore Claire and Croweh wore Olette. We hung out with Cosplay in America until the Video Game Cosplay Contest opened. We signed up and went to the mall to get pictures for her. We went on down to Cosplay Chess to see Aza kick some ass as the Queen of Hearts. We met a really nice Rosette while hanging in the wings. After that we did a shoot of Aza and her minions. Which was then followed by ANOTHER shoot for me as we went down to the parking garage. When we came back up, we went to the in attempt to get more pictures for Aza, but almost got in trouble with mall security so I suggested just going back to the con, because I didn't want to get in any trouble. We went to the dealers room for some shopping and I bought a panda plushie that I had been eyeballing all day Friday. We went to the AMV contest and left early to eat hotel food. It was SO COLD in the AMV contest room, I was shaking when I got out. I was also starving at the time so....yeah. We waited around for lineup for the cosplay contest. The line was endless and tiring, but so worth it. Although by this point in the day I had a headache, so lots of things got on my nerves. Anyways, after the contest ended, so did Saturday. We went back up to the room, I took some advil, showered and went to bed with the song from the Nostalg*a Cosplay skit in my head.

Sunday
Mainly last minute spending and other things, no panels or cosplay. Found some of our new friends and said goodbyes before leaving. Every time a convention ends, I feel a whole in my heart that I can't fill up until the next convention.

ANYWAYS! It was great to see everyone and meet new friends and meet some of my subscribers!
Until next time!
~Sana-san

Summer To-do List

Yet another non-cosplay related blog. Sorry for posting so many of these! >_< Anyways, summer has finally begun for me down here. And every summer for the past three(I think) summers I've made a "to-do" list. It usually comprises of 20-ish items that I need/want/should do that summer. And my goal for the summer is to accomplish at least 50% percent of them. Thus far I've actually not been able to achieve that goal*headdesk*, but I'm hoping this summer will be different. As usual.
Anyways, onto to more pressing matters, zhe leest!

- Get a job
- Make Ryoko
- Make FF Cosplay
- Make Jenni's Hungary Cosplay (for money+her soul)
- Make Plushies for me
- Do Plushie Commissions
- Buy a new wig for Toph
- Buy fabric for Taiwan
- Go to Delta H Con
- Go to San Japan
- Loose more weight
- Buy wig for Yuni
- Buy wig for Selphie
- Get five more youtube subscribers
- Get five more bloggers followers (Hey, a girl can dream.)
- Participate in my first (real) Cosplay Contest
- Host another Cosplay Picnic
- Buy my first lolita dress
- Make some Cosplay Music Videos (Yes, I'm at that level of dorky)
- Make more friends within the Cosplay community. (Yeah, I know that one's kinda sad and embarrassing, but to be honest, I'm kind of socially awkward and don't have very many friends in Cosplay-land aside from the ones I knew before cosplay[Love you guys BTW! >-<])
- Ensure everyone that that last one was not a lame cry for attention
- Get more photoshoots done (Good or not, I need more pictures. Plus they're fun as heck.)
- Make sure to fun in all of this totally hard work. >3<

Yeah, it's got a random amount of silly things in there as it commonly does, but I personally think it's a good idea to set a good amount of goals for yourself, even when on vacation or break. Or.....maybe that's just my need to be semi-productive talking. If anyone else makes a summer to-do list, I would totally love to see it! I'm really excited about summer starting, and I hope it'll be better than ever!

Much love!
Sana ^_^