Cosplay Woes: Actually Sewing

I should really be sewing right now. Like, seriously, I need to finish up a few things and then return the sewing machine to my parents' house so that my antisocial little sister can have the love of her life back and so that my mother will stop texting me incessantly telling me how terrible of a person I am for taking the machine for a few weeks. Not like this sewing machine was purchased for ME on MY birthday several years ago in order for ME to use it to create MY costumes. Oh no, now that my sister has shown a slight interest in "cosplay" (she exclusively cosplays Homestuck, which I personally don't think counts because t-shirts are not that elaborate or time consuming, but whatever) apperantly, MY sewing machine is no longer mine.

ANYWAY. Sewing. That thing I should be doing because I'm getting on a plane for LA tomorrow to go to Anime Expo and totally only have two out of my four costumes completed. Oops. I'm am such a pro at procrastination. I have done the dishes, cleaned several rooms of my house, and done three loads of laundry, but alas, have not done my last little bit of sewing.

This is probably because I keep getting stuck. For one of my costumes, I am very much in over my head. I know very little about the technicalities of sewing and am having a lot of trouble staying focused on a particularly difficult costume because I keep getting confused about structure and stitching and fitting pieces together, and I'm scared that if I continue, I will irreparably fuck something up.

This is why I should probably use patterns instead of just sketching a few things, taking measurements, and just going for it.  I mean, it's worked out pretty well so far, but I know that in future endeavors, i should probably start doing more prep work and less winging it.

The thing is, I sort of feel like a slightly drunk amateur pilot on their second solo flight. Like, I kind of know what I'm doing, but I probably should not be operating this machinery, let alone relying upon my own abilities right now. The other thing is, I am too poor and short on time for any sort of commissions to be done, so I'm a bit stuck doing things myself or just not doing them at all.

So far, my Little Sister (Bioshock) dress is just killing me. Sleeves are hard! I am terrible at making gathers and things, and I have been attempting cap sleeves for the past two hours to no avail. I'll get right back in that the second that I can regain enough patience and zen to sit back down at the sewing table. My Sasuke costume was fairly simple because it's all wide shapes and straight lines, but this cutesy little half-Victorian night gown thing is going to be the death of me. The best part is, once I complete this bitch of a dress, I'm going to shred bits and pieces of it and cover it in dirt and fake blood, because Little Sister needs that zombie swag.

I am so lost and overwhelmed. I know I have to work very quickly and efficiently in order to get everything done, and tonight will likely be a long night. I am great at planning and gathering materials, even make up and accessories. But the actual sewing, man.... I am terrible at this. It's a better in time sort of thing, so I suppose the only thing to do now is try to finish up and get everything looking mostly adequate for public wear, then continue to make at least one of my own costumes for each con I go to so that I can be a more self-sufficient cosplayer and I won't have to rely on commissioned work so much. I suppose it's time to go back to the coffee and sewing machine so that I can manage to get some semblance of sleep tonight.

See you at AX? I  think my personal con mission will be to touch one of Jessica Nigri's tits...


Julia