My Very First Cosplay Commission

There was a time when I had never even heard of Comic Con.

One day my children started talking excitedly about costumes. They explained that Comic Con was full of comic book characters, superheroes and, preferably, Japanese characters.

Well... I knew a little about manga by then. Those funny books that, to my surprise, you read from the back to the front.

But Comic Con?

And costumes?

"So... a kind of carnival?" I asked.

"Mum... of course not!" they laughed. "It's much bigger. And way cooler!"

Apparently, I had a lot to learn.

Not long afterwards came the question:

"Could you make me a costume?"

"Of course," I replied confidently.

In my mind I was already thinking about a pirate, a clown or perhaps something that looked a little like a carnival costume.

Instead, a picture appeared on my screen.

A finger pointed at it.

"This one."

Oh...

Where was the pattern?

Where could I find that fabric?

How was I supposed to work out the measurements?

Their answer was wonderfully simple.

"You know how to do that, Mum."

Well... apparently I did.

That first costume was not especially difficult, but everything about it felt new and unfamiliar. I spent evenings studying the picture, searching for fabrics, adapting patterns and trying to make every little detail look just right.

Years later, I still smile when I see the photographs.

The wig.

The mask.

The excitement.

And most of all, the enormous fun they had wearing it.

There is something magical about putting on a costume. For a little while, you become someone else. Hidden behind a mask or a favourite character, you can simply enjoy the moment.

Perhaps people have always loved doing that. Long before Comic Con existed, people dressed up for festivals, theatre, celebrations and masquerade balls. Maybe our love of costumes is much older than we realise.

Of course, having a mother who happily spends evening after evening trying to recreate a costume from a single picture certainly helps.

That very first commission was only the beginning.

Many more followed.

And somehow, every new costume seemed a little more complicated than the last.

Sometimes I wonder...

Do they do that on purpose?

Or is it because I almost never say, "No, that's impossible"?

Either way, I choose to take it as a compliment.

Today, I genuinely enjoy the challenge. Whether it is a historical gown, a theatre costume or a favourite game or anime character, every commission begins with exactly the same question:

"How can I bring this picture to life?"

That first Comic Con costume opened a door to a completely new world.

A world I never expected to enter...

...and one that has given me some of the most enjoyable sewing adventures I have ever had.

So, if you have a character in mind...

Bring it on.

I will turn it into a costume.