Ninja Division Way of the Fighter Severina Cosplay Making Of – Part 1
As I mentioned it in my first post, Severina’s costume will be a different type of challenge for me because the main part of this costume is an ‘armor’ bra and a big prop. The fabric part is limited to the hood, sleeves, skirt and boots. For the bra, skull, bones and dragon staff, I intended to use my 3D printer and to try new Smooth-On casting resins instead of fiberglass. I hired someone to 3D model all the solid pieces and in the meantime, I started working on what would be the ‘easy’ part for me, the fabric.
I made a first hood prototype and the general shape was pretty simple. The hood had 4 seams on its lenght and I inserted metallic wires in each seam. I wanted to reproduce the movement in the hood on the original drawing. I also put a metallic wire around the opening of the hood so it would keep a perfect shape. This gave me an idea for a second prototype. I was curious, I just wanted to see how this other idea would look like.
In my second prototype, I removed the 4 seams in the lenght of the hood and replaced them by circular yokes. In each seam of each yoke, I inserted a metallic wire. The final look made me think of a diligence from the Little House on the Prairie… so all of a sudden, I wasn’t so sure about that look anymore. See, the diligence… :S
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE — Pilot Episode — Air Date 03/30/1974 — Pictured: (l-r) Michael Landon as Charles Philip Ingalls, Karen Grassle as Caroline Quiner Holbrook Ingalls — Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank
I decided to make a third prototype, coming back to my first idea: 4 seams in the lenght of the hood with a metallic wire in each seam. But this time, instead of trying to reproduce the movement from the drawing by bending the wires, I drafted the pattern with a shape already. To emphasis that funny snake shaped hood, I even stuffed it with plastic bags (good, cheap trick to stuff something when you don’t want to add too much weight.) I was very excited about that prototype until I tried it on and realized how big and ridiculous it looked on me. Sorry, snake shaped hood, you wouldn’t be the chosen one.
After a few more unsatisfying prototypes, my last version was finally very close to my first prototype. The simpler the better, that’s what they say, right? Well, it’s rarely the case in my costumes, but this time, it was. Severina’s hood would have 4 simple seams on its lenght without metallic wire. Instead of stuffing the hood like a plush toy, I padded it. Each pattern piece was lined with padded fabric to give the hood some structure. I decided to put only one metallic wire around the opening of the hood. That’s all. It took me way too long to develope this hood. I have to remember to keep things simple (sometimes.)
Next time in Part 2: the final hood in its real fabric and the sleeves!
Dang! Didn’t think that the hood would require this much work. But I guess you need to if you want that quality. Looking forward to the next part, I’m curious to see how the final hood looks in full colour :)
What happened to the long dress – abandoned idea, or there will be two versions?
that Little house on the praire…bwa ha ha lol
Yes, there are 2 versions of Severina’s costume. I will wear both at Gen Con. The long dress is the other version. :)