Just Call me Cap

One of the many reasons for radio silence for most of June was because I was hard at work on a new cosplay.  I only started cosplaying officially a year ago - though I've always loved any chance to wear a costume.  While some people do anything to get out of wearing one it's pretty easy to convince me to do something if it involves a costume.

My initial concept sketch

Since I would be attending the event at which I first cosplayed I wanted to do something special.  I was back and forth on who exactly - I know that St. Trinian's girl was a strong contender at one time.  But the truth is Captain America has been a dream of mine for awhile.  I'd been making all these notes and looking at tons of reference photos.  I had all these elaborate plans and had intimidated myself into believing I lacked the skills to even begin to put together the cosplay I imagined.  But then I realized I was being silly.  It didn't have to be my dream version and if I didn't love it the first time - I could change it.


So I set out to put together the cosplay with a few definite guidelines:

1. It had to be '40s style with the heater shaped shield. (BTW I just learned what a heater shape was while putting this cosplay together - cosplay: you learn all the time.) because that's part of why I love Cap.

2. It had to be comfortable - this a rule for all my cosplays because I wear them all day and I don't want to be in agony.

3.  It had to be something that it looked like I could fight evil in it - partially because I hate it when female superheroes wear things that are impractical for fighting in and partially because I wanted to BE Cap and not Cap's girl or biggest fan or something like that. Of course I wouldn't be offended if someone mistook me for American Dream.

Here's the breakdown -

Things I made:

Suitable for non-cosplay occasions as well

The sweater I didn't have a pattern.  I looked on Ravelry for inspiration - here's a great one.  I knew I wanted something that was almost identical to the top of the uniform. I pretty much made it up as I went so I did a lot of ripping.  In fact, the day before we left town I tried the whole thing on and realized I hated the sleeves.  So I removed them and put some red ribbing instead - making it more of a vest. The colorwork on the star isn't perfect but it is way better than my last go at colorwork - so I'm happy about that. Ravelry Link

The Skirt I've made this skirt five times.  Three of those times for cosplays.  I initially didn't know if I would have time to make it so I bought a navy blue pencil skirt.  I did have time to make it so I did - then I couldn't decide if I should wear the pencil skirt or it.  Eventually I fell on the side of the one I made.  The pattern is Simplicity 4044.  The only adaption I made was to make it straight across instead of putting the little dip thing at the waist.

The Wings I initially planned on making a big white felt star to put in my hair.  Then I was thinking of doing the "A".  Finally I settled on the little wings.  They are made with felt stuffed with fiber fill.  They were pretty easy and quick to make.

Arm Sock With out sleeves (and even with the ones I had before I ripped them off) I didn't have anything to protect my arm from the leather straps of my shield, so I used the extra yarn from my sweater to knit a little sock/elbow cover thing - it got loose during the course of the day but did it's job.  My arm was unscathed.

Thing I just painted:

Photographing a shield is hard

The Shield If you want a round Captain America shield it's super easy to buy something.  If not - well it's tough.  I almost bought a rather pricey replica because I was desperate.  I do have a friend whose father can make one but this was less than a month to go and I didn't want to rush it.  I needed something good for now.  Finally it hit me that LARPing shields would be a good idea.  I did several searches and found this one. It was covered with stretch canvas so I just pulled out my oil paints and had at it.  It worked quite well.

Things I bought:

Leggings from Kohls, gloves from Sock Dreams, shield necklace from SilverThink, and boots from Zappos.

No amount of photo editing could save this one of only three photos of me in the costume.  And this is the only one that shows the whole thing.

So, how was it?  I've never cosplayed as such a well known character so I was a little nervous but people were so nice and it was loads of fun.  I'm sure there are more photos of me on other people's cameras but I don't mind.  I had a blast being Cap and will be Cap again for certain and next time I will definitely make sure to get more photos.  I do want to make some changes but what I have here is a great start.  I do promise better photos when I premiere the second version.

 I think I need to plan a little less and do a little more. 

Also, who next?  Hmm . . .

Pictures of Yarn

I was going through my pictures in search of a stash photo and the most recent one was from 2011.  The good news is I had knit nearly all the yarn in the photo.  The bad news is, if I had knit all the yarn, what on earth was in those bins under the bed?  So I decided it was time to take a new stash photo.  Pretty sure "Flash your Stash" is in April ( far too lazy to look it up - I already pulled out all my yarn today) but I decided to post it anyway. 

It's not as bad as I had feared.  It didn't cover a full-sized bed and many yarns have plans for them.  Some are leftovers.  That pink cotton in the middle bottom is actually leftovers.  I knit a whole sweater out of it and I still have more yarn left than what went into the sweater.  The shoebox is also leftovers and really full.   I probably should sort through it and see what I am keeping for repairs and what I can use for tiny projects.

I like to take these photos because I am a very visual person and while I can pull out the bins or even get all fancy and keep track of my stash on Ravelry (I'm so behind on documenting my projects so if I have 'extra time' for Ravelry I will be doing that instead.) I like being able to see everything all at once.  It's a nice way of seeing everything I have and reminding myself of what I can knit next.  Also, it's fun to cross out yarns when they are gone.  And it's interesting to see how the stash changes over time.

This is the last stash photo:

I haven't crossed off everything I used up but very little of what is there is present in the 2014 photo.  Some things have lingered though.

Does anyone else use photos to keep organized?  How?

Because I can't say it in person . . .

Today is the 70th anniversary of D-Day.  I'm not going to get into a history lesson here because if you don't know what I'm talking about then you can look it up and get much better background than I can probably give you.

Both my grandfathers and my great uncles on my mother's side fought in WWII.  My one great uncle lost his life in the Pacific: PFC Thomas F. Vasta.  I actually have his high school yearbooks and will someday do a post on them.

But back to D-Day.  My paternal grandfather was there and badly wounded.  As my dad said the other day - "The most important thing to me about D-Day is my dad survived."   Because if he hadn't, my dad wouldn't have been born.  So I'm pretty grateful too.

I never got to know my grandfather.  He died before I was born.  Because the universe loves irony, the career army man who was declared KIA and MIA so many times my grandmother just ignored the telegrams after awhile, lost his life in a car accident.

I know.

So to one 21 year old man who would someday have son who would grow up to be my father: Thank You.  I wish I'd known you from more than stories.  I don't smoke but I will have a beer in your honor today.

As opposed to yesterday when I just had a beer because I wanted one.

I'm definitely your granddaughter.

Summer Reads

The calendar claims it's still spring but school is out here and it's already too hot to think by midday so I'm ready for some summer reading.  Here's a sampling of what I'm reading now:

I Capture the Castle 
My favorite book ever.  I've read it so much I have passages memorized.  I have forced myself to only reread it once a year.  I always end up reading it now as it's the time when my brain is worn out and I need a vacation.  Apparently my ideal vacation spot is a ruined castle in 1930s England. 

Bust
I used to have a subscription but now I just pick up an issue based on who is on the cover.  This issue it's Dolly Parton, so I had to get it.  I'm not so much a fan of her music as her.  She's a savvy businesswoman and probably a total hoot to hang out with.  Hopefully the article doesn't destroy my beliefs.  Also there's an article on a silent film star, too.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces
I studied Joseph Campbell and archetypes and the hero's journey in both high school and college and along the way I fell in love.  I started this way back in 2009.  I am making notes as I go but it's really silly I've been reading it so long- I need to finish this one before the summer is out.  After all, I can always read it again. 

The Windsor Factor
An alternate timeline novel.  This one focuses on how events would have panned out if Wallis Simpson died before Edward VIII abdicated.  I'm not very far so I am not ready to judge if it's any good.

Dawn Powell : A Biography
In theory I like biographies, in practice they are often hard slogs.  I usually only read about writers or people I love (Myrna Loy, Nina Simone) and Dawn Powell is both.  Like many writers, it's pretty sad.

Free Comic Book day Comics
Yes, I know it was nearly a month ago and it doesn't take that long to read a comic book.  Let's just say I was saving them for summer.  I have a Rocket Raccoon, a steampunk Star Wars, and a fairytale one.

What are you reading right now?

What They're Saying #2

Me ages ago pretending to be Nancy Drew.  Remove the gloves and hat and this is pretty much my favorite work outfit: Skirt, blouse, and cardigan

I work with kids.  While I do tend to "tone it down" for work I don't exactly wear khakis and polo shirts.  Kids notice.  Kids comment.

 I tend to get a lot of comparisons with cartoon characters.   I've gotten Velma from Scooby Doo, Minnie Mouse, and Betty Boop.  I've also been told I look "like a doll."  None of these comparisons or remarks have bothered me.  The boy who said that I looked like Velma was worried I might be hurt by the remark but he did mean nicely and I assured him I was fine.

This skirt is a big hit with students and teachers.

One that cracks me up comes up when I'm dressed '40s.  "You like wearing old school things miss,  like from the '80s right?"  I actually got that once from a waitress.  To be fair, she was probably born long after the 1980s.  Most of the time I just laugh and smile.  Though sometimes I say that what I am wearing is more '40s than '80s but I understand the confusion as '40s styles came back in the '80s.

Sometimes it's intentionally rude, trying to get a rise out of me.  "Why do you always wear those ugly old style shoes?"  My general response to those comments are "Because I'm awesome like that."

Ugly old style shoes

My rolls get "How do you do that with your hair?"  a lot.  From adults and kids.  My favorite was when a kid was asking me about them and what they are called.  I told her they were "Victory rolls" and she said she was going to call them "Cinnamon Rolls."  After that she would tell me my "Cinnamon Rolls" look good today and I would tell her she was making me hungry.

Crappy bathroom selfie from this week.  It was tropical day at work.

My pants also get a lot of comment.  Not so much the style but the placement of the zipper.  On the pants where the zipper is hidden in the pocket I get asked where the zipper is.  On pants with the zip up the back I get asked why I have a zipper on the back of my pants.  "Why to get them off and on, of course."

Probably the most popular things are not the vintage but the nerdy - items like my raygun and Pow! earring, my Captain America shield necklace, and my Doctor Who belt.  Because it's not strange or different - its something they know and get.  Just this week I showed a picture of myself in the TARDIS to a boy a work with.  His face lit up.  I love that. 

And let me tell you, bleach out a streak in your hair and adults and kids will say more than you could ever hope to record.  All good though.