♫♫ Cosplay 101 ♫♫

So you want to cosplay and you aren't sure who or which character? Maybe your stuck on how to sew a part of your cosplay? You're no good at props/wigs/costume so where can you buy it? How about what kind of pattern could help you create that piece? Of course, there are always the "Where/What kind of make-up?" "Looking for this or that wig, where can I get it?" "Contact lenses and what do you think?" 

Worry no more because I found some interesting sites that would help you make the costume of your dreams. Just a little warning though, this is a long list of sites. Thanks to these guys they're really a life saver. Enjoy!

Note: Some of the links we're already dead so I'll try to revive them and get a review from them as much as I can :)

General Sites:
So You Want to Cosplay...
Cosplay Crimes (and how to avoid committing them)
Cosplay.com
Studio Creation's Tips & Guides
Limit Break's Beginner Guide
The Costume Page
Cosplay Tutorial

Sewing Tutorials:
http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/US/3367.htm

Pattern Tutorials:
http://www.patternschool.com/?page_id=164
http://m-sewing.com/
http://www.costumes.org/advice/1pages/pattern_links.htm

Leena's pattern drafting and sewing tutorials:
http://www.leenas.com/English/draw_patterns.html
http://www.leenas.com/English/sew_general.html

Making Your Own Patterns From Existing Clothing
http://community.livejournal.com/t_s...y/2149466.html
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=21533

Free Burda patterns:
http://www.burdamode.com/index,1333669,enEN.html
http://www.burdastyle.com/

Free simplicity pattern download:
http://www.sewingpatterns.com/
click on the pop up window when the page is loaded

Tutorials to make a pleated skirt:
http://community.livejournal.com/hp_...ng/957634.html
http://www.thimble.ca/?p=168
http://www.koshka-the-cat.com/pleated_pattern.html

Sailor Fuku uniform (japanese):
(patterns) http://yousai.net/nui/eri/s/index.htm
(construction) http://yousai.net/nui/eri/nui/index.htm

Free kimono pattern + other patterns (japanese):
http://www.kokka.co.jp/so-ing/sewing/index.html

Free hakama, kimono and karinigu construction (japanese) :
http://yousai.net/nui/hakama/hakama.htm
http://yousai.net/nui/index.htm
(child size)http://www.gofuku-sugano.co.jp/kimono/nuiage.html

Excellent japanese sites with lots of tutorials:
http://fete.cside.com/ferio/
http://cosplaykobo.sakura.ne.jp/

Lots of sewing patterns: yukata, tops, skirt, pants etc(japanese)
http://www.otsukaya.co.jp/Tedukuri1410.htm
http://www.otsukaya.co.jp/Tedukuri1504.htm
http://www.otsukaya.co.jp/Tedukuri1510.htm
http://www.otsukaya.co.jp/Tedukuri1604.htm
http://www.otsukaya.co.jp/Tedukuri1610.htm
http://www.otsukaya.co.jp/Tedukuri1704.htm
http://www.otsukaya.co.jp/Tedukuri1710.htm


Anne Liese's Fibers and stuff japanese clothing:
http://fibers.destinyslobster.com/Ja...es/japmake.htm

Karinigu and Hakama (for dolls will need some adjustements):
(patterns) http://kakur.eek.jp/sy_img/index.html
(construction)http://kakur.eek.jp/sy_img/tips.html

How to wear a karinigu:
http://www.yusoku.com/self.html

Hats and accessories (japanese):
http://www.fjx.co.jp/sewingcom/sewing/index.html
http://www.clover.co.jp/hand/

Blog of a japanese cosplayer with tutorials.
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/

Wa-Loli Tutorials:
http://kanazumimiyoshi.livejournal.com/2645.html#cutid1
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=28415

Wa loli pattern(japanese):
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200606210000/

Wa loli sleeve construction(japanese):
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/6001
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/6002
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/6003

Here's another one, join the jinbei pattern with a circular skirt:
(jinbei pattern)http://yousai.net/nui/jinbei/a.htm
(jinbei construction)http://yousai.net/nui/jinbei/jinbei.htm
(skirt) http://yousai.net/nui/seizu/furea/index.htm


Petticoat tutorial(japanese):
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200511040000/

Petticoat tutorial(english):
http://home.scarlet.be/fenicia/tutor...petticoate.htm
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=53082.0
http://community.livejournal.com/sew_loli/116820.html
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/6045490.html
http://sugardale.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-make-petticoat.html

Apron tutorial(japanese):
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200510300000/

Circular skirt(japanese):
(direction)http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/6004
(pattern)http://layer.sblo.jp/category/89247-1.html

Miko style pleated skirt(japanese):
(direction)http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/6005
(pattern)http://layer.sblo.jp/article/1778793.html

Cute animal ears tutorial(japanese):
(direction)http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/6006
(pattern)http://layer.sblo.jp/category/90701-1.html

Tabi socks(japanese):
(direction)http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/6007
(pattern)http://layer.sblo.jp/category/32480-1.html

PITA TEN blouse pattern(japanese):
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200605280000

Final Fantasy 12 Ashelia:
(direction)http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/2005 http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200612200000/
(pattern)http://layer.sblo.jp/category/158951-1.html

Trinity Blood costume pattern(japanese):
http://layer.sblo.jp/category/81196-1.html

ARIA dress(japanese):
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200705290000/

unidentified costume(japanese):
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200704280000/

Crimson－Shell costume(japanese):
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200703060000/
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200702250000/
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200703050000/
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200703090000/

Bias tape tutorial(japanese):
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/9001

Coat pattern(japanese):
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200701160000/
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200701100000/

Lord of the ring cloak pattern and construction(japanese):
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200603010000/
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200604090000/
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200604160000/
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200604240001/
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200604150002/
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/otacomi/diary/200605020000/

Wings tutorial
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=60297

Naruto cosplay tutorials by Chibi-kun
http://www.freewebs.com/tsukuyomi/tutorials.html

Cosplay tips:
http://www.costumewardrobe.com/


Bloomers tutorials:
http://home.aol.com/ilove2lace/bloomer.html
http://www.shasta.com/suesgoodco/new...werproject.htm
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/4904975.html
http://www.geocities.com/hansensmtn/...mple_pants.htm

goth loli skirt tutorial:
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/7929257.html

Empire style dress construction:
http://www.sensibility.com/pattern/r...atternhelp.htm
http://www.sensibility.com/pattern/petticoat.htm

Edwardian jacket instruction:
http://www.sensibility.com/pattern/jacket.htm


1940's padded Dress construction:
http://www.sensibility.com/pattern/swinghelp.htm

Victorian dress construction:
http://www.sensibility.com/pattern/r...cdresshelp.htm

Easy dress pattern(French):
http://netmadame.free.fr/couture/pat...plications.htm

http://cosplaykobo.sakura.ne.jp/code_geass/index.html (Code Geass)

Bonnet Pattern:
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/9161897.html
http://www.kannikskorner.com/infobonnets.htm

Himegyaru hair tutorial:
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/9355855.html

Cutsew blouse:
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/9222512.html
http://community.livejournal.com/t_s...y/4066549.html

Super Easy Skirt Tutorial:
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/8977850.html

How to make a Tiered Skirt:
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/4823813.html
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/7532234.html

Garter Belt Tutorial:
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/6522878.html

Wa loli dress
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/4223045.html

Sailor collar pattern:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...l/EGL/Collars/
http://www.lynleigh.com/cosplay/

Kimono and hakama pattern:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v1...Blue/patterns/
http://chiideki.com (also has some General Bleach Costume)
http://lastwear.deviantart.com/gallery/#patterns
http://home.scarlet.be/fenicia/tutorals.htm
http://fibers.destinyslobster.com/Japanese/Clothes/japmake.htm
http://www.craftster.org/

Free pants patterns:
http://www.mediatinker.com/blog/archives/008262.html
http://community.livejournal.com/t_s...y/3597625.html

Prop Weapons
Anime Weapons
Avatrix's Guide To Making The Kubikiri Houcho

Armor
The Armor Archive
Armor for the Fiberglass-Phobic
Fiberglass 101 & 102
Organic Armor

Cosplay Business Directory
a list of cosplay-oriented business sites in Japan

Books/Magazines
Dengeki Layers: http://layers.jp/

Cafes/Entertainment
Animesong Cafe (Osaka) - http://animesong-cafe.com/
CCocha (Osaka) - http://ccocha.com/top1.html
Cosbar (Osaka) - http://cosbar.jp/
E-Maid (Osaka) - http://e-maid.net/
Mai-relax (Osaka) ~ maid foot massage - http://mai-relax.com/
Moebar (Osaka) - http://moebar.com/
Nekosuta (Osaka) - http://www.nekosta.jp/
Parlante (Osaka) ~ maid ear-cleaning and personal care ^^; - http://parlante09.net/

Contacts
ColorPara: http://www.007s.jp/
Jail: http://www.layered.me/shop/37.html
Otamap: http://www.otamap.net

Costumes
A-COS: http://www.animate-costume.jp/
Athaise: http://athaise.com/
Cosden: http://www.cosden.jp/
Cosmate: http://cos-akiba.com/ (focus is on "adult" costumes, but stocks sizes for men's crossplay)
Cosmint: http://www.cosmint.co.jp/
Cosmode: http://cosmode.jp/
Cospatio: http://cospatio.com/
Costume Garden: http://costume-garden.com/
Iena Clothing: http://iena-clothing.net/
Lashinbang: http://lashinbang.com/cont/lori/mil.html
Otamap: http://www.otamap.net
Webkiss: http://www.webkiss.jp/
Zephyr: http://www.rakuten.co.jp/zephyr1/806995/

Events
JCF: http://takama.ne.jp/jcf/
http://geibunsha.co.jp/mook/ita/ (auto-shows)

Namecards
metallic-sable: http://id18.fm-p.jp/24/miley/

Promotion/Networking
Cosplayer's Archive: http://cosp.jp/
Curecos: http://ja.curecos.com/

Shoes
Shorty: http://www.rakuten.co.jp/shorty/

Studios
Layered ~ Qualia: http://layered.jp/qualia/
Studio Another Place: http://cosplay.ym-shot.jp/area/
Studio "H": http://www.stu-h.com/
Whip Cream: http://www.hp-cream.net/index.html
Zephyr Studio: http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/zephyr1/studio/main.html

Wigs
007 Wigs: http://www.007s.jp/
A-COS: http://www.animate-costume.jp/feature/wig/index.shtml
airily: http://airily.jp/
Alice Forest: http://www.aliceforest.jp/
Assistwig: http://www.assist-wig.com/
Cospatio: http://cospatio.com/
Gataket: https://gataketshop.jp/shop/index.cgi
Girlish: http://www.girlish.ws/
ii-shop: http://www.ii-shop.com/
Jail: http://www.layered.me/shop/
Layered: http://layered.me/shop/
Otamap: http://www.otamap.net
Maple Wig: http://www.maple-wig.com/
Prichara: http://www.prichara.com/site/index.html
Shorty: http://www.rakuten.co.jp/shorty/
Swallowtail: http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/cos-wig-mkt/
Zephyr: http://www.rakuten.co.jp/zephyr1/700046/945735/