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Armor costumes have grown in popularity
exponentially over the past few years.
Much of this has been attributed to the
growing availability of higher quality
thermal plastics and foams for armor
and prop construction. As more people
take interest in this creative hobby, the
need for instruction has grown as well.
So how does one begin making armor?
Unlike regular clothing, fantasy armors
have very different structures, and
require their own unique guidelines to
create them. Today we will delve into
the process of patterning out armor for
costumes.
Patterning is the foundation for any outfit, whether it be cloth,
plastic, leather, metal, or otherwise. To create a pattern based on
an existing design, look for as many reference pictures as
possible. It could be concept art, fanart, screenshots, etc. If
someone else has already tackled the costume, you might draw
inspiration from them as well. Full body shots for the front, sides,
and back are excellent, but it’s also a good idea to obtain
references for unique angles and fine details. Be aware of any
inconsistencies that may occur between different types of
references. For example, a concept sketch for a video game
armor may have different details or proportions than the 3D
render finalized in the game. This tends to be a blessing rather
than a curse, as it offers more freedom to choose what you like
and don’t like between your references. Take note of these
inconsistencies so they don’t potentially throw you off course later.
As you work on the project, you can figure out which references
are most helpful to hold onto if things get overwhelming. But it’s
safer to start with more than you might need.
• Glad Press’n Seal, or a plastic wrap of some kind:
This is to wrap around parts of your body to create
an initial patterning shape.
• Paper: I prefer large pieces; Home Depot carries
large rolls of brown builder’s paper.
• Pencils and erasers: You will probably be making
adjustments to your pattern sketches, so pencils
with erasers are ideal.
• Rulers and straight edges: I recommend investing
in a larger ruler and/or T-square from Home Depot
to help with longer lines. Curved and shaped rulers
can also be beneficial if you aren’t as skilled with
organic lines.
• Scissors: Cheap scissors are fine, though more
industrial scissors will be easier to use for thicker
materials. Designate these scissors as exclusive to
your crafting materials. Do not use them for cutting
fabric or wigs.
• Masking tape: Use to connect pattern pieces
together as you test them out.
• Camera: This is optional, but documenting your
work as you go will help retrace your steps in later
projects. Sharing your progress on social media is
also an opportunity to gain support and energy from
your friends and fellow costumers.
• You will also need a decent table or floor space
to work on. This may seem like common sense, but
finding the right space for a project can sometimes
be difficult. Give yourself enough room to spread
out and get potentially messy.
TEXT BY KYLE MATHIS
ARMOR
PATTERNING
with Arda Wigs
TO MAKE A PATTERN, YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING:
COSPLAYCULTURE
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