[Jas] Cosplay Costume Party: Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle

Sophie was the second dress I’ve ever sewn before in my life! Princess Peach being the first. So, I wasn’t completely confident in my dress sewing abilities…not to mention the only pattern I could find only came in kid’s sizes!!! Let me tell you….my height is not that of a small child. So, I had to get the biggest size and make everything longer! I also ended up forgetting the zipper >_> so I had to go back to buy that. Oops!

Anyways. Onwards!

Materials list:

*Thicker blue fabric (about 5 yards)

*White fabric (1.5 yards to be safe)

*3 brown buttons

*Zipper

*Thread (white and blue)

*Styrofoam ball

*Red/Orange/Yellow tissue paper

*Glue

*Craft foam

*Silver wig

The dress itself was relatively easy to sew. I made it in about a day, though I went back a few days later to re-hem it, after realizing that it fell to about her ankles and not all the way to the ground.  I just followed the pattern, though certain areas had to be fixed to fit better…I ended up giving myself too much slack and had to make things tighter XD oops! The dress was super comfy when it was finished though, I loved how it hung!

I used a petticoat I already had, and shoes that I already had since they were basically the same shoes she had in the movie! (LUCKY!)

As for the wig, it required almost no styling, aside from the fact I had to cut the bangs, which was rather easy and only took a few minutes. (I did that at the convention actually XD)

Calcifer was made in a day as well. I got the Styrofoam ball, glue, and tissue paper from my cousin’s house. I glue the paper on in little strips to make the flame like appearance. Then cut out eyes and a mouth with craft foam after it dried and attached them.

(I have to say I picked a fantastic face for him! XD heehee)

In hindsight, if I do this again, I may tighten it around the shoulders and wrists and make the sleeves tighter and the waist/chest a little bit snugger as well. (Is snugger a word? I seriously didn’t think it was a word, but spell check is telling me it is….okay?)

Goal: When I turn 60, I’m going to re-cosplay this. For serious.

Photo by Karina Antigua