truebluemeandyou: Halloween & Cosplay DIYs

Death and Graveyard Symbolism Infographic

For more Halloween infographics go here.

This infographic briefly covers symbols for:

Made a hood to wear at home because my head was cold. The hood is just a big square folded in half and sewn part way into the middle in a Y shape to make sort of a pair of little darts, and then the other two edges sewn together and the remaining hole in the back gathered in somewhat uneven cartridge pleats, with the extra fullness being pleated into the neck.

The cape part is the rest of the fabric (which was a 1.3 m piece of cotton flannel from the thrift store) with the larger leftover rectangle forming the back and the smaller rectangle being cut in half mostly diagonally and added to the front.

It was a very quick project done almost entirely on machine, which is unusual for me. There are a few things I'd do differently next time - I'd make the hood a bit shorter so the front edge doesn't block my view so much, and I'd put the button loop right on top of the neck seam instead of sandwiching it inside the front edge seam of the hood. I'd have to cover the ends of the loop with a patch, which would be a good use for the neck hole cutout.

I think this pattern would work on a wide variety of sizes of fabric cut, as long as you cut the hood out first. Then the remaining piece could be cut into the cape portion and it might be very small or very large, and the two angled front pieces could be made to fit the edges on either side of the neck hole by adjusting the angle at which you cut that second rectangle apart.

Updated Post on the DIY Bat Dress Pattern from EvaDress

EDIT: Links updated 2022

All photos in the main collage are by Cynthia DeGrand at cynthiadegrand.zenfolio.com. They can be found on EvaDress’ Blog here.

This is an advanced sewing project from EvaDress. The Bat Dress was inspired by the illustration Travestissement Chauve-Sourisin in La mode Illustrée, Journal de la Famille,1887 below.

About the EvaDress Patern

The $28 pattern by EvaDress can be bought at evadress.com here. You can also buy the Bat Dress Pattern on Etsy here.

The 21 piece pattern includes:

The dress comes in the following sizes:

You can find a post on making the Bat Dress Gloves here.

The Bat Dress Crinoline Progress is detailed on EvaDress Blog here. 

EvaDress’ daughter made the Bat Bust Ornamentation using paper and fabric mâché. 

Other Bat Dresses

Sewing to Distraction has an entire post dedicated to her experience sewing the EvaDress Bat Dress here.

For another interpretation of the Bat Dress, check out Darling and Dash’s post here. The Bat Headpiece was made from, “Black striped netting over the shoulder drape gathered and pinned to front with furry bat.”

Bat Dress Background

There is an excellent post on Victorian Bat Dresses on Cogpunk Steamscribe here, titled: The Victorian Batgirl: a Steampunk Feminist Perspective

Below is a Victorian German photograph of a “Bat Woman” costume found here.

Another Bat Costume photograph is from the Museum Victoria here.

Lastly, check out this Bat Fan from the 1900s that sold at auction.

 “Hand painted, exceptionally rare miniature bat fan. On thin shaved wood. One of the most unusual items we have seen. Wingspan 3.5 inches. Circa 1900.”

DIY Halloween Coffin Purse from Etsy

The $8.13 Pattern for this Coffin Purse from Etsy seller PerfectLittleParcel here.

What I like about this pattern is that it is all done with hand sewing.

3 Halloween Crochet Collars and Sleeves from Etsy

Top Image: Requiem Collar and Cuffs Crochet Pattern from OurWidow for $11.00 here.

Lower Left: Victorian Skull High Collar Crochet Collar from LunarStill for $3.91 here.

Lower Right: The Abramacabra Skull Crochet Collar Pattern from MadToymaker for $4.40 here.

I have posted so many Halloween Skull DIYs here.

Find the DIY Crochet Skull Shawl Free Pattern from kungen och majkis on Ravelry posted here on my blog.

DIY Nighmare Before Christmas Wrapping Paper Printables from DIY NBC Props 

Updated 2022

I’ve posted a lot of Halloween DIYs from DIY NBC Props - especially Nightmare Before Christmas tutorials. 

You can download the Nightmare Before Christmas Wrapping Papers from Tim Baker’s DeviantArt page here. As always, if you see a printable that you like, download it ASAP. It may be deleted at any time. I saved the papers in the WayBack Machine in case they get deleted.

Jonathan Harker’s journal, May 15:

Once more I have seen the Count go out in his lizard fashion.

Great Last Minute Mask Idea

slayerbuffy​:

Not so much a costume for Halloween and more an excuse to wear all the stuff I spent too much time handsewing faux leaves to— so I guess I’m the spirit of Samhain 🎃🍁🍂

DIY Elf Ear Cuff

Updated Links 2022

Make this CosplayWire Wrapped Elf Ear Cuff using 2 gauges of wire and beads.

For more DIY Cosplay Jewelry go here.

Find this DIY Elf Ear Cuff Tutorial by Instuctables’ User momoluv here. 

More Elvish Inspired DIYs

DIY Wire Mermaid/Elvish Ears from YouTube User NsomniaksDream here.

DIY Elvish Crown from Rachel Ann Poling here.

I posted this DIY M&J Medieval Headpiece here.

DIY Easy Elvish Crown from 102 Wicked Things to Do here.

DIY Glue Gun and Paint Elvish Crown and Ears from Sandra Holmbom here.

I’ve posted pages of ear cuff tutorials here: truebluemeandyou.tumblr.com/tagged/ear-cuff and you can see the roundup of DIY ear cuff tutorials I posted here.

DIY Wire Ear Cuffs from Basic to Advanced from Shealynn’s Faerie Shoppe here.

Mythical Creatures Infographic from Venere

Link Updated 2022

From Venere’s site:

Is there one you’d add to this list?

Ukranian Designer Bob Basset’s Killer Bags 

Updated 2022

 Also check out his Steampunk masks and other amazing creations at the link. 

Additional Creations:

Black Dragon Spine Belt with Tail $1500 here.

Dragon Wings $2500 here.

Dragon Backpack here.

Mask & Glasses Steampunk art leather Gas Mask here.