Cosplay materials!
Whether you’re planning to make your first costume or intending to start the next, making a cosplay can be very fun and rewarding! It’s one thing to buy a cosplay (and that’s totally fine). But it’s another thing when a cosplay is made from your own two hands!
In order to make your own cosplay though, you’ll want to have the necessary materials and tools ready to go. And that’s what we will be discussing in this post!
In this article, I will go over 5 essential cosplay materials you’ll need to make your own cosplay. With these tools, you’ll be able to dress up as almost any character you want.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
1. Fabric
Without a doubt, fabric is by far the most important cosplay material you absolutely need in order to start your cosplay project. For most characters, the fabric will be the biggest part of the costume. Fortunately though, fabric is relatively cheap compared to other materials and easy to buy in bulk.
There are so many different types of fabric and some are better than others; it all depends who you’re cosplaying as. For example, if you’re making a Genshin Impact cosplay, a silky fabric would work really well.
There are many stores around you that sell high-quality fabric such as Fabricland, JOANN and Michael’s. Click here to view my list of places to find cosplay supplies near you!
2. Thread and needle
If you’ve taken any sewing classes, you’ll know that the thread and [needle](http://needle.is) is the thing that holds everything together. Therefore, these two are pretty important when it comes to costume-making. You’ll want to buy a kit of different needles and different colored threads. Some needles work better on different types of fabric. And you’ll want to be using thread that’s the same color as the fabric so that blends in with the costume.
Not only do you want to have threads and needles at home, you’ll also want to carry a pair while cosplaying at a convention, in case a cosplay malfunction occurs. If you’re looking a list of things to pack with you for a cosplay convention, click here to see!
3. Scissors
Scissors are another important tool in order to make your costume. You’ll be doing a lot of cutting while cosplay-making, especially with the fabric. When you’re out shopping for scissors, be sure to buy a strong and sturdy pair. Not only will a good pair last you longer, it’ll be easier on your hands when you don’t need to push hard while cutting something! As you use your scissors over time, the blade will become duller. Either you can get them sharpened to extend their life, or you can simply buy a new pair.
You can also use other cutting materials such as a cutting board or a box cutter knife. These are optional but I consider a pair of scissors to definitely be essential.
4. Glue
Some parts of the costume like accessories, detailing and beads cannot usually be sewn on. This is where glue comes in! You’ll absolutely need glue to complete the process of detailing or need to stick something right onto the costume. There are many types of glue you can use to do this!
5. Sewing machine
Last but not least, we have the sewing machine. Having one will expedite the process of finishing a cosplay! Without a sewing machine, it would take a very long time to sew everything by hand. Having the machine not only saves you a lot of time, but you’ll also get some nice and precise sewing in. You don’t have to spend a fortune on a sewing machine; you can always buy one secondhand and get a good-quality machine for a lower price! You can check out thrift stores to see if anyone decided to sell or donate their old costumes. Sometimes I see sewing machines on sale in cosplay Facebook Buy/Sell/Trade groups, so you should look there as well!
List of optional cosplay materials that also useful
Here are some other materials that are quite useful. However, these are optional and not necessary like the ones I listed above. Here they are:
- Iron and ironing board
- Paint
- Measuring tape
- EVA foam
- Cosplay makeup (click here for a complete beginner’s guide to cosplay makeup)
- Heat gun
Summary
To summarize, here are the 5 cosplay materials you’ll need to start making your own costumes:
- Fabric
- Thread and needle
- Scissors
- Glue
- Sewing machine
And there you have it; the 5 cosplay materials that are essential for costume-making. I hope you found this post useful! Now it’s time to make some of your own cosplays. 🙂
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below.
My name is Roger Senpai. I’m a cosplayer that’s been in the community for well over a decade now. I’ve traveled all over the world to Anime and Comic conventions and hosted my own cosplay events. Now I’m writing articles for new and experienced cosplayers like you to help inspire, save you money and improve your cosplays!
