Amanda Haas, also known by her cosplay handle Jedimanda, is a seasoned seamstress with a wealth of cosplay experience and insights to share. Her book, Creative Cosplay, is currently available as a part of Humble Bundle's Return of the Cosplay Book Bundle. The bundle is available until July 22, and is full of references, guides, and patterns. Sewing, wigs, and costume creation are Haas' passion, as is empowering other cosplayers in their efforts to become their favorite characters.

Game Rant spoke with Haas about her book and received some insider info that can help fledgling cosplayers achieve better results, even when working on a budget. A graduate of Fine Arts from the university of Louisville who has been sewing professionally for nearly a decade, Haas has competed in and adjudicated a number of costume competitions. With a body of work spanning Marvel, Star Wars, and period piece costumes, her tips can be applied to almost any costume, regardless of its genre or source material.

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The number one tip Haas shared for cosplayers working on a budget is to prioritize a quality hair piece. Skimping on fabrics and accessories is ultimately a better way to cut costs than going with inexpensive (and unrealistic) wigs.

"I tend to spend more money on a great wig than purchasing super expensive fabric. You can make cheaper fabric work more for you than a cheaper wig, in my opinion."

This is a valuable insight, especially for first-time cosplayers, as trying to create a costume within a certain budget range can be a fun challenge, especially when cosplayers can experiment with materials of different types. A good wig is a must, though. While cheaper fabrics can get "the point" of a character across, even if the colors and textures are not screen-accurate, a bad wig will shatter immersion and potentially be uncomfortable.

Styling wigs can be challenging, but is well worth the effort, as they can have a transformative effect on cosplayers. By focusing on an accessory that is literally a natural extension of the character, everything else will look more cohesive and authentic as a result.

Holding accessories, armor plates, capes, and even weapons in place can be a major challenge - especially when cosplaying at a competitive level. While there are numerous ways for cosplayers to keep things where they should be, Haas has a simple but useful solution.

"Magnets! I wish I worked with magnets much sooner in my career. I place magnets within my undergarments to keep capes from falling off. I’ve even put magnets in my wigs to keep my crowns from falling off."

Eye hooks can be cumbersome, or require assistance to secure if they are placed in hard to reach areas. Pins often look amateurish, while zippers and buttons risk adding elements to a costume that will detract from its accuracy, according to Haas. Powerful magnets, on the other hand, can be worn under other levels of clothing, easily padded for comfort, and do a better job of holding even heavy accessories in place.

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It is important to take care when working with magnets however, as high grade, rare earth magnets can easily crush fingers or pinch skin if the cosplayer isn't careful when connecting them. Haas also mentioned that she has shattered magnets due to their surprisingly powerful pull. It is also important to keep the magnets clear of credit cards, cellphones, and other tech that could be damaged by magnetic fields.

A common challenge new cosplayers encounter is deciding what material to use for a costume - particularly if there isn't a complete pattern to work off of. There is no escaping homework in the pursuit of accuracy. According to Haas, the key to conquering challenging patterns is "lots of research." Looking at movie concept art, sculpted figures, and film quality costumes are good places to start. Not everybody has the same access to these resources, however.

If cosplayers get stuck on a challenging build, Haas recommends reaching out to fellow cosplayers. Even someone with her experience benefits from collaborating with peers, and she will often ask her audience on Discord or Instagram for advice on what materials to use, or how to approach specific problems. Perhaps more importantly, Haas finds that collaboration is a good motivator. Knowing other people care about her builds, and the sense of support that comes from community interactions help her see challenging projects through.

Creative Cosplay is available now in the Humble Bundle's Return of the Cosplay Book bundle, which will be available until July 22.

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Source: Humble Bundle