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The struggle is real. As I write this, at 4:30 AM, I realize that I am not going to be finished with a version of a cosplay for a character that I had all year, if not longer to work on–and it would only take a month’s time, with my current work schedule.

As of September 10th, 2018, Anime Weekend Atlanta is less than two weeks away, and I am working on two costumes. One is a secret cosplay, in which it looks like I will be able to finish it to be wearable at the con, in addition to closet pieces that will make do until I finish it completely, post-con. The second cosplay is of Ignis Scientia from Final Fantasy XV. I have cosplayed as Ignis before, beginning with the return of JAMPcon, and at Otakon in 2017, in his Casual Outfit.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTNJTBThhQg/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=17hffdc291vld

I also ordered the Kingsglaive outfit and wore it to the Final Fantasy photoshoot at AWA, also in 2017. This year, however, I decided to go with his default outfit.

However, I am adding a wig to complement his new “Unkempt Crownsguard” outfit from the most recent update. I found a pattern that’s just perfect for the shirt (Style C).

But, there is a problem… this pattern doesn’t have my dimensions. As a plus size cosplayer, there is a little more work to be done when you can’t find the perfect pattern that doesn’t fit your dimensions. Which is the problem I had, having to grade the pattern. At first, I graded it wrong, with my fuzzy memory due to lots of personal drawbacks from early this decade. When I remembered how I did it, and actually got to cut out the test fabric to test the graded pattern, I forgot to cut out a pattern for the style…

https://giphy.com/gifs/mRGsFJImjeXPW/html5

https://giphy.com/gifs/HVtGZ4aesUnZu/html5

Well, the good news is that the graded pattern matches up with the back pieces, but as it’s roughly a week and a half before the con, and that I need to cut the fabric needed for the costume, and paint the cheetah prints on the fabric; or I could just run to the fabric store and pray to find some that looks like what Ignis has on his shirt–as well as add the Skull and Bones on the back of his shirt. Unfortunately, this is not an option as I do not want to break the pre-con budget.

For me, it seems that I have some success when it comes to cosplay motivation when it’s less than a month before the con, but anytime after that it’s “oh, I’ll work on it in a few weeks = three weeks before the con = WHAT HAVE I DONE??!1” Fortunately, I have started working on finishing my secret cosplay, which I hope to have done by this weekend. *fingers crossed*

When do you start working on your cosplay? How long did it take you to finish it? Feel free to leave a comment below! If you like what you see, please subscribe to the blog for future content like this!

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