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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2020 7:10 pm
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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:13 pm
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Times that making something may not be worth your money
One way to save money is looking for items that are not worth your time doing from scratch. I've compiled a list of items that you can easily buy instead of trying to fight and make. Keep in mind that there are some items that are too difficult to find. In that case you'll have to make it more likely that not.
1. Button Down Collared Shirts First they're a pain in the butt to make, second you just need a long sleeve collared shirt to make any collared shirt you want and short sleeves aren't that hard to find as well. If you can't find it in a color that you want then by a white one and dye it. You can deck it out with new buttons and features. Save your money and just buy it.
2. Pants While pants aren't hard to make per say. It's still hard to get that belt line right. Most pants are pretty basic anyways and it's not hard to alter or deck them out in any way you need to.
3. T-Shirts Again plentiful and cheap. You can go to a craft store and easily get them for 2 or 3 dollars on sale. On top that you can dye them or deck them out however you want if they are plan.
4. Ties Ties are super hard to make, but they could cost as much to make one as it is to go to Goodwill, or some other second hand store, and buy one. Unless the tie need some special fabric just take a basic color one and use fabric paint.
5. Socks Socks design is easy, however sewing it and not being used the the stretch fabric can be costly. This again is one that if you can buy it then you should.
6. Shoes Unless it some stylized shoe, don't bother making them. Instead look into boot covers and fabric paint. You can find some cheap ones at places like Ross, Burlington, a discount store, or a second hand shop.
7. Blazer Again unless it's stylized don't bother. See about buying one instead. I would look into Amazon or a secondhand shop. Blazers are difficult to make if you're not familiar with them and they can come out sloppy looking if you're not careful.
8. Swimwear I've never tried to make swimwear, because I know better. More experience cosplayers refuse to because of how difficult it is to the point that if they can't find it online, they aren't going to do it. The fabric is pricey and difficult to work with.
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 10:47 am
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Look for Savings at Craft Stores
This one is a waiting game. Save your money and wait till it's on sale is my best advice. Keep a record of coupons as well. I will be breaking down sales at the 3 major craft stores as well as tips for local haunts as well.
Joann Fabrics Joann Fabrics is a great place to save. If you wait for the right moment you can get items anywhere from 50% to 70% it's normal retail value. They also have coupons and an app to help you with coupons. Here is my advice for shopping at Joann. Joann is probably the cheapest of the stores to buy fabric.
1) Get the App The app does a lot of things. You can buy stuff online, look up project videos, find out if something is one sale, and it carries you coupons. The app has special coupons only available if you have the app and that means saving money.
2) Sign up for text messages The text message sign up can only be done in-store, but will be worth it. The texts are almost always additional coupons and usually gives you the best app coupon with a different code. This means if the best coupon is 60% then it doubles the amount to 2 60% coupons.
3) Find out items if items are on sale in advance If you go to a Joann and see an item you want, but not on sale. Take the item to an attendant and as what the current price is and if it'll be on sale soon. Watch for sales around the holidays like Thankgiving and Christmas. It's usually worth going to Black Friday. The only exception to this rule is if it's a book. If there is a sale or coupon for books then use it no matter what.
4) Plan your ideas in advance If you wait for something to go on sale the cycle can be six months to a year. These means knowing what you want to do a year in advance will allow you to save. If you wait you can get anything for 50% to 70% off normal pricing.
5) Just grab them items There are some items that you may not want to wait and they do rarely go on sale. Some of these items include the Character/Team fabrics and the Premium Cotton. If you can get these items for 40% it's still pretty good since they probably for 50% once or twice a year.
6) Check Clearance This one is a must. The clearance fabric is color coded and most are no less than 30-40% off and as high as 70%. This is a great way to get character fabrics for cheap as well as formal wear and costume fabrics such as Ya Ya Han. Don't forget to check there other item clearance area.
Michael's Another popular craft store, this place is great for ribbon, mask masking material, jewelry supplies, and painting crafts.
1) Get the App Like Joann's the getting the app is worth your time.
2) Watch those Jewelry Prices Micheal's frequently puts it's beads on sale the best ones are buy one get one for free and 50%, but if you're patient the holidays usually go up to 70%.
3) Check the Clearance Micheal's usually has some really cool items in clearance. Some items to look out for include jewelry, paints, glue, and fun trinkets. They also place their broken items on a discount in that area. If you see something broke and you feel you can fix or alter it, then it may be worth your time.
Hobby Lobby
1) Wait a month Hobby Lobby cycles through their sales after a month. So if it's going to be on sale. It'll be on sale within a month.
2) Remember there is a 40% coupon on line Use it only if it doesn't go on sale or the sales (like fabric) only go to 30%.
3) Check the Clearance Well most of Hobby Lobby clearance items are not worth it, however there are times that it is. If these items are on clearance grab them if you feel like you'd use them: Jewelry, ribbon, books, wedding supplies, and accessories.
Other Stores Wal-Mart: Great place for paint, try Folkart. Dollar Stores: Socks, hair accessories, 1" Ribbon, sewing kits, organizers, fake flowers. Ross: Check out their craft section if you're in. You can get some really great crafting tools, fabric paint, or organizers. Best to time to look is right after Christmas in January to February. Local Craft Stores: Most craft stores specialize in quilting and cotton fabrics, but they will have designs that the high ends wont.
Other Tips
Patterns When it comes to pattern sales these prices are what what you want to see in a sale. Simplicity, McCalls, and Butterick: $2 or less New Look and Kwick: Rarely on sale Vogue and Burda: $5 or less
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 9:07 am
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Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2020 10:27 am
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Always Have The Basics
Having the basics of every day clothing means having the basics for anime costumes too. This thread is talking about the what basic items that you have in your everyday life that could use in pieces in costumes without changing them or modifying them. My next post will be more about creating pieces that can be used over and over
White and/or Black Button Down Collared Shirt There are many characters who students, business men/OL, or even some type of agent.
Black Pants and/or Black Pencil Skirt Going again with this Office worker/agent idea. While black pants can also be used for some school boy outfits. Black pants are more diverse than that, but it'll give you an idea to start. Blue pants will also work for a lot of male cosplays.
Black Blazier Pretty much for the same reason as above. You need a matching set right?
Black Dress Shoes Dress shoes are fairly common in with many looks. This shoe could be pennyloafers, dress shoes, or heels.
Black and/or Red Tie Going along with that business/school look you'll need a tie. Black is the most common if your cosplaying a guy, but if you're going a girl then red.
Black and/or Brown Boots There are plenty of character, mostly sci-fi/fantasy, that wear boots and having a pair of black and/or brown boots covers a lot of them.
Black Ballet Flats Black ballet flats go with a lot of characters too. Girls as look as the shoes are seen then you use this flat.
Trench Coat This one you want in black or tan. Having a black one will give you a larger range, but there are still plenty of characters that use tan.
Lab Coat You could be doing a mad scientist or a doctor. What ever it is. This may be a good item to have on had.
Black Vest This one goes with many cosplays from steampunk, gothic, business, school and much more.
White Apron Think baker, servant, steampunk, medieval, and a whole lot more characters wear white aprons.
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Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 7:16 am
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Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 7:29 am
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2020 7:28 pm
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2020 10:50 pm
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 1:04 pm
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