geek or chic. both.

ADDED: picture from SLCC Sept. 2014.

nightingale armor how to. woof.
supplies:
3 yards of black pleather
3 yards of black lining (I used basic cotton) prewash
2 yards of black peach-skin
1 yard of black decorative.
1-3 yards of practice fabric (use for fitting, and how things lay together)
4 spools of heavy duty thread
measuring sewing tape
tissue paper (to make patterns)
pins
fabric and paper scissors
4 small buttons
2 large buttons
22" black detachable zipper
large cutting board [optional]
acrylic quilting ruler (saved so much time)
rotary cutter [optional]

8 finished pieces = bodice armor, mask, cloak, 2 shoulder armor, 2 wrist gauntlets, & belt.

products ready made:
black turtleneck, long-sleeve shirt
black pleather/knit leggings
black boots
black 2" stretchy headband

first thing made was the tube like bodice.  I basically took my largest measurement and make a straight tube & sewed on the zipper. starting at the bottom of the zipper and it ended up being 15 inches up on the zipper. do not cut off the rest, leave it zippable.

The front panels next started with tissue paper for measurement & fit then cut one of the pleather & one of the liner.

right sides together, sew the two pieces together.

top piece sewn to the top of the bodice with the top folded over the bodice to make a clean look.

the next three panels are to be sewn on under the previous with the sewn line hidden by the one above it.

made 4 panels for the front.

side panels wrap from the end of the front panels to the zipper, measure accordingly.

cut two of each side panel, but make sure they mirror each other, for one each side.

place & sew top side panel to the bodice, do the same with the front top panel.

fold over & sew a clean seam.

next for the middle side panel.
start of with a piece of tissue paper & design the panel to however one likes.

sketches [poor sketches] of what I want the side panels to look like.

measured the length & height of the panel while wearing the bodice.

drawing out the panel pattern on tissue paper.

 placement of lower side panel.

rough draft but it is the general look that I was going for.

 cut two, mirror image for opposite sides.

placing the cotton under the middle side panel to see layering.

 traced the lining fabric on to the pleather, making mirror images again with the pleather.

so very important, I cannot stress it enough.

saved me during the long hours that I spent pulling all-nighters. I kinda started this project two weeks before I needed it.

I already have plans for the september comic-con, I am not procrastinating this one.

cotton on top help me know that I am sewing through both layers.

 straight

2.5 stitch length, but it is up for variation.

clip the corners for sharp corners, don't clip the seam though.

I used a 1/4" seam allowance.

 remember: don't sew all four sides, still have to flip right side out. & the top will not be seen, it's under the panels above it.

just be careful not to punch through the seam. pushing them out makes for a nice sharp corner.

for the edge to give it a crisp clean look. line up the fabric with the inside edge of the foot.

roughly 2mm seam from the edge.

while sewing the border the cotton can slip out to the edge causing it to show at the edge.

pull the cotton slightly so that the pleather is completely on top.

once all the panels are sewn on for the bodice its time to cut, sew, & place the panels onto a belt.

the front placement.

 for the top of the bodice which will be the collar & shoulders

measure the back for the same amount of what is left of the zipper.

lining for the bodice.

I copied and measured the pleather part.

cut to dimensions & sew onto the back, retracing the same seam line of the top of the bodice and along the zipper.

even no one sees it, the lining makes for a nicer cosplay.

moving on to the top.
made pieces:
6 straps
top panel
2 collar pieces

figure how it fits when worn.

sewn on under the collar/neckline piece.

placement looks good.

 cut two pieces of the mask, again mirroring each other to make the two sides.

cut lining and pleather.

 front part of the mask.

top is for the nose.

hood, hood, & hood.

this is the basic shape I used.

fabric: peach-skin & decorative.

same basic idea as the panels, just different material.

didn't sew the bottom for flipping right side out.

made a leather hood design to place on top of the hood to create the pleather decoration.





















pleather decoration is sewn along the pinned line & across the front.






















buttons sewn onto the bodice collar & button holes made on the hood to make it stay on.

the shoulder pieces & the wrist gauntlets are made with the same panelling technique as the bodice panelling & secured with elastic.

shoulders got three panels and the wrists got two, going the opposite direction as the shoulder.

small buttons were sewn by the elastic on the pleather as a decoration to give the illusion that they were buttoned on.

velcro at the top of the shoulder armor & the shoulder seam on the turtle neck to help hold the shoulder armor up in place.

put on all the armor, hair in a bun (if long) & put the mask on, then use the head band to hold fly away hairs out of the way.

position hood then button on with the large buttons & I think you are set.


I also would like to give credit to Beebicu for an awesome cosplay that got me hooked on the character. I was excited to do it myself and test my own skills and creativity.

APRIL 17 - 19 Salt Lake City FanX Comic-Con @ The Salt Palace

hoping to get more [action] photos soon, but heres the comic-con ones.


UPDATE: I finally made the bow and added gloves (I don't know why I didn't have them before)

found a fellow nightingale armored chick. gotta give her props, her cosplay is wicked.

oh this is just the talented, adorable dredd. yes he made his costume too.