Tutorial: How to modify patterns for Cosplay by Malindachan

Tutorial: How to modify patterns for Cosplay by Malindachan

There are so many different things you can do with pre-existing patterns to get what you want in a costume. This tutorial just lists a few examples, but hopefully it's something that can get you started if you've never tried this before!

Some experience with patterns might be required to understand this to the fullest.

Also, please excuse my typos. XD I made this late at night haha.

Attack on Titan/Shingeki no Kyojin is (c) Hajime Isayama

Extremedeath Featured By Owner Apr 13, 2017

So, would I have to do the same thing for something such as a Leather Jacket for instance? I'm planning a cosplay of Travis Touchdown from No More Heroes soon and I was just curious what I would need to do if the coat is already the right color and everything, and all that's missing are just the key details. (Kinda going off of the coat from the second game)

rolland69 Featured By Owner Sep 30, 2014 Hobbyist Artist

excellent

Yuki-Mitsuoki Featured By Owner Mar 6, 2014 Hobbyist General Artist

Thanks for making this tutorial :D (Big Grin)

DaffodilLion Featured By Owner Jan 7, 2014 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

This was really helpful, thank you so much! I'm making a Ryo Marufuji school coat, and having a little trouble with the neckband, but this cleared things up for me! Thanks again!

MythNeko Featured By Owner Nov 12, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

Thank you so much for making this! I didn't know how I was going to manage to get/make a jacket, but this should help!

Paradox-i Featured By Owner Oct 10, 2013 Student General Artist

Hello! I'm making an Attack on Titan cosplay myself and was wondering if you could help me clear up a few things about the coat. I'm cosplaying Armin (or Hanji), and using the survey corps for the patches. The point is though: how do I make the patches and the symbols to go on the arms? I've been looking at iron-ons but I don't think they will work seeing as the jacket I altered (I' can't fully sew a jacket to save my life) is made from a suede material. Any help?

Malindachan Featured By Owner Jan 6, 2014 Hobbyist General Artist

Some people sell them online through ebay and whatnot. You don't have to iron them on though; you can still sew them on. Iron-ons can be made using heat-n-bond, but I suppose it depends on the kind of suede you have (I've ironed over a faux home decor suede material just fine before). If you want to make them yourself there are a couple different methods. Having an embroidery machine can make some really good looking patches, but you have to know how to make the vector and get the machine to do what you want. you can also get printable fabric (often found with printable iron-on transfers) to print the design on. You could also fabric-paint it or do applique, though that can be especially hard for the smaller patches. I personally made a vector and sent it to a company that makes patches, and I ordered a large quantity of them for a group of people. For the back patch I did an applique though because they are more costly to make.

Paradox-i Featured By Owner Jan 18, 2014 Student General Artist

Thank you thank you thank you so much!! This is a HUGE help!

katcatlinkattack Featured By Owner Oct 7, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

I love your tutorials! they are so useful!

nycken Featured By Owner Oct 2, 2013

Hoaaa Thank you~ *A*

Kinlyu Featured By Owner Sep 25, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Haha, I've done the same thing~ I think this might be handy though, more people should attempt to make this stuff themselves ^^

KerinnX3 Featured By Owner Sep 17, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

It's possible if you can show how does the jacket look inside out ? It would be very helpful (at least to me)

saphsoul Featured By Owner Sep 15, 2013

thank you!

I was always muddling my way through alterations and second guessing myself. I would always think it over and be like "Don't forget to add the seam allowance"! but then I'd second guess myself about "Did I forget a measurement? did I cut wrong? do the pieces fit?" I'm glad to see it all written out by a pro so I won't have to doubt myself anymore.

mrpiddles Featured By Owner Sep 14, 2013

Awesome, thank you!

Fluffifullness Featured By Owner Sep 12, 2013

I've never sewed before in my life, but I'm planning to work hard on a homemade SnK cosplay - complete with 3dmg - so that I can wear it at Otakon next year. It's seeming really unrealistic right now (obviously) but tutorials like this are hugely helpful! I actually did buy a pattern already at JoAnn's - someone working there helped me figure out a good one to buy - so modifying that has sort of been my plan.

So thank you so much! (And, well, if I have any outrageous difficulties, could I maybe ask for help?

)

flamedragontamer Featured By Owner Sep 12, 2013

This could be very useful, can't wait to see your Eren cosplay.

peacheschan Featured By Owner Sep 11, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

What is the patterns numbers you used for this tutorial.

thanksforthetea Featured By Owner Sep 11, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

Perfect! Just started getting into sewing and needed more tutorials to help mod patterns! Thank you!!

kjkoopa123 Featured By Owner Sep 11, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

OH MY GOD I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND I FOUND THIS I LOVE YOU

ManishaChan Featured By Owner Sep 11, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

ill keep this for future reference!

_{_{because right now i can't even sew a simple t-shirt together}}

dogganothlit Featured By Owner Sep 11, 2013 Student Digital Artist

This is super useful! I hope you make more in the future! Just wonderful and very easy to understand!

KerinnX3 Featured By Owner Sep 11, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

It would have been better if you gave a rough pattern

Malindachan Featured By Owner Sep 11, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

The point of the tutorial was to provide info on how to modify store-bought patterns in general rather than just how to make an AoT jacket. People are also different shapes and sizes, so a rough pattern might only help a small range of people.

KerinnX3 Featured By Owner Sep 16, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

I also have difficulty with measurements for the sleeve (the width and the curve part for attachment) I am trying to sew from scrtch with no pattern :C

Malindachan Featured By Owner Sep 19, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

The width should be enough that it can go comfortably around your arm with some extra room for movement. Maybe measure around the sleeve of a jacket you already own that has a width close to what you want? As for the curve you might just eyeball it based on the shape. If you use some scrap fabric first to test it with, then you can use that as your pattern on the real fabric if it works out. Alternatively if you don't have a pattern, if you're in an area that has a JoAnn's store, you can get those patterns for as little as a dollar (you just have to keep track of which brands go on sale, which is usually every other weekend). Or, you can go to a Salvation Army or Goodwill and get a cheap jacket that fits you, and then take it apart to use as a pattern.

KerinnX3 Featured By Owner Sep 16, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

The collar and the front piece (with pocket) are double layered right ?

Malindachan Featured By Owner Sep 19, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

Yes

aia-san Featured By Owner Sep 11, 2013 General Artist

This is exsactly what I did for my strawberry panic cosplay! Thank you for making this tuturoial. Im sure it'll help alot of people starting to cosplay. :3

PhoenixHunt Featured By Owner Sep 11, 2013 Hobbyist Writer

I love you, this is exactly what I've been looking for! Thank you so much!!

nanaIchiigo Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013

great tips, thank you

Kakee-Chan Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

thank you

saywhatproductions Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Student General Artist

This is great!!

I can also use the information here to alter skirt patterns for my 4-h projects as well as my cosplays

zaishida Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

thanks¡¡

KristmasKiller Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Student General Artist

you just made my costume so much easier

EpicMickeyX Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Hobbyist Artist

Awesome!

winged--icarus Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

I made my uniform jacket using my old high-school uniform jacket. All I had to do was to undo the stitches and modify the shape of the front pieces

Also, I used fake leather since I thought it gives it a little of that authentic look, but now I feel like making it again using twill cotton.

MissSonicFan Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013

Omg, thank you! I've always wanted to cosplay SnK characters but never knew what to do for the jacket, as I don't want to buy a pre-made costume either. This'll be great for future reference!

midgarangel Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

Great tutorial!

Is the fabric you used for your jacket the bottom weight twill from JoAnns?

Malindachan Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

Yup! In the Tobacco color.

midgarangel Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

Nice!

That's what a few of my friends and I chose for ours too. Seems to be the color to get!

Shugi-tanPocky Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013

I can't tell you how helpful this is....

karina-sensei Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Student Digital Artist

*o* Who are you cosplaying as?

Malindachan Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

Eren :3

karina-sensei Featured By Owner Sep 11, 2013 Student Digital Artist

AAAAAHHHH!! XD yay!

Malindafan2 Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

woah cool!

TangolaDude Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Hobbyist Digital Artist

This helps!

Hinata-teh-Lefty Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Student Photographer

So the facing is to make it look like it's the same material inside, so you don't see the lining on the other sides of it?

Also, your very last part is a little at what's puzzling me. I'm trying to make a Deerling hat where the green curvy part will be sewn to the white hat itself, but to make those seams, I can't get them to look correct when I turn it out or iron the seams flat. Can you give me a little more clarity on how to sew more complex shapes together, when they don't have matching sides? I may just have to handsew/glue the complex shapes on, and I'd like to avoid that if I can...

Malindachan Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

That is correct on the facing question.

Curves can be tricky, but it helps to snip notches along the seam allowance so that it'll be easier to press the seam open. (kinda like in this picture: 4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q5bnwoYIyaQ… )

If you can illustrate what you're trying to do exactly I might be able to assist better. Another solution would be just making the curved shaped to place on top of the first piece, and then do a satin-stitch along the edge of it to make it look more finished (it's like a very close together zig-zag that sorta looks like embroidery. The edges around this flower applique is a good example on what it looks like 0.tqn.com/d/sewing/1/5/B/1/2/s… ). Depending on the material used, the top shape can be ironed on with something like heat n bond or wonder under.

Hinata-teh-Lefty Featured By Owner Sep 10, 2013 Student Photographer

I'm using fleece. I know exactly what you're saying about snipping, but that works when the sides match together.

Oh! I completely forgot I put it in my scraps; I got frustrated when I could add a damural drawing. hinata-teh-lefty.deviantart.co…
I don't think my machine has something close to an embroidery or satin stitch. I could take a picture of the ones it has for you to see.