Sewing and Shit
← Back to Blog

Xal’atath 1.0: Shit that Happened (Damage Report)

• 9 min read • #cosplay#xalatath#builds

Damage Done

This post serves as a space for me to jot down where I took damage to various pieces of the costume, opportunities for upgrades, and to give credit for quality craftsmanship. The following documentation lists out each piece with numerical ratings and descriptions highlighting the positives, notifying what changes must be made, and opportunities to make this even better.

Rating System

Accuracy

3 points - Xal’atath would be pleased at my work

2 points - Clearly reads as the character, but some minor changes could improve it

1 point - Either only partially accurate or would need major changes to match the design better

Comfort

3 points - Comfortable to wear; easy to put on and move in

2 points - Wearable, but somewhat bothersome or restrictive

1 point - Required assistance to put on and/or was annoying or difficult to wear

Repair

5 points - Perfect as is

4 points - Wearable today, but could use improvements or reinforcement

3 points - Needs minor fixes before next wear

2 ponts - Major repairs required before it can be worn again

1 point - Missing or damaged beyond repair; must be remade

MY OBSERVATIONS (from Head to Toe)

Wig

Accuracy: 2
Comfort: 3
Repair: 4

What went well

  • Color is good.
  • The wig works well with my upgraded wig cap and stays on in wind and movement.
  • It’s attractive and the side part covering more of the left side works.

Changes I MUST make

  • None (maybe just wash it before the next event).

Ideas for improvements

  • Remove some wefts so the wig isn’t so full.
  • Trim it to remove the messy ends and make it shorter for accuracy.

Ears

Accuracy: 2
Comfort: 1
Repair: 2

What went well

  • Size is accurate.
  • Earrings worked.
  • The colors match the face makeup.

Changes I MUST make

  • Find a way to make them securely stay on my head.
  • Figure out how to seal it so the makeup doesn’t peel off.

Ideas for improvements

  • Make new ears that slide over the tops of my own ears.
  • Mix the makeup with medium in hopes that it won’t peel off.

Eyebrows

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 2
Repair: 4

What went well

  • Using two coats of pros aide helped them stay on.
  • Didn’t fall apart after severl days of use.
  • Length and thickness seemed to work.

Changes I MUST make

  • None.

Ideas for improvements

  • Make a new pair as a backup.
  • See if there’s a better way to make them stay up. I’m currently taping them to the hair so they don’t droop. It works, but then I need to pull the tape out of the wig at the end of the day, and that’s not good for the wig.

Contacts

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 2
Repair: 5

What went well

  • The purple everyday contacts were comfortable and looked good.
  • The SFX (special effects) lenses look amazing.

Changes I MUST make

  • None.

Ideas for improvements

  • Practice getting the SFX lenses in while wearing makeup.
  • See how long I can tolerate wearing the SFX lenses.

Makeup

Accuracy: 2
Comfort: 2
Repair: 4

What went well

  • The lavender base works well.
  • Overall longevity is sufficient.

Changes I MUST make

  • Reorder more purple.

Ideas for improvements

  • Look into airbrush makeup.
  • Practice contouring.
  • Do arms and legs, not just face.

Tattoos

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 2
Repair: 5

What went well

  • They held up, especially with the eyelash glue used to adhere edges that were peeling off.
  • Accurate and were the correcct size.
  • Easy enough to put on and remove (except for tediously needing to paint makeup with a tiny brush around everything).

Changes I MUST make

  • Do arm tattoos

Ideas for improvements

  • Look into making stencils and airbrushing

Foam / Armor Parts

Collar

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 3
Repair: 4

What went well

  • The size is good.
  • It stayed attached to the shirt and wasn’t too stiff or too flexible.
  • Maneuverability was fine.

Changes I MUST make

  • Replace peel and stick velcro with sew on.

Ideas for improvements

  • Fill in the gaps.
  • Seal the foam with varnish.
  • Reattach the bottom piece after shaping so it sits better.

Pauldrons

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 3
Repair: 3

What went well

  • Sick paint job.
  • This is honestly the piece I am the most proud of.

Changes I MUST make

  • Needs to be varnished.
  • Upper pauldrons need a better attachment than velcro.
  • Better attachment method to the shirt or harness.

Ideas for improvements

  • Magnets for attaching top to bottom.
  • Research ways to attach to self.
  • Paint over bare areas where I initially had velcro.

Armband

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 2
Repair: 4

What went well

  • Looks good.
  • Straps held up (surprisingly).

Changes I MUST make

  • Figure out a better way to attach the straps

Ideas for improvements

  • Reglue the pieces so that it is shorter
  • Attach the straps in a location that is more comfortable

Corset

Accuracy: 2
Comfort: 2
Repair: 2

What went well

  • The front decorative piece looks good.
  • Overall, the complete piece with the fabric and chains and everything works.

Changes I MUST make

  • Remake it so that it has curves.
  • Ensure the chains are securely glued to the foam.

Ideas for improvements

  • Paint it with the same attention to detail as I did for the pauldrons.
  • Use a zipper that isn’t so cheap.
  • Paint the chains so they aren’t so shiny.

Bracer

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 3
Repair: 5

What went well

  • Looks good.
  • Straps are sturdy.

Changes I MUST make

  • Make the purple fabric that sits under the bracer.

Ideas for improvements

  • None.

Fabric Parts

Cape

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 2
Repair: 3

What went well

  • Looks accurate.
  • Held up even with wind.

Changes I MUST make

  • Fill in cracks in the foam.
  • Ensure all detail pieces are glued down.

Ideas for improvements

  • Paint the chain so that it is less shiny.
  • Attach cape to an undergarment instead of directly to the dress.

Dress

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 2
Repair: 2

What went well

  • The pattern used worked out fine and was easy to make.

Changes I MUST make

  • Lengthen the dress.
  • Ensure velcro is sewn down for collar and pauldrons.
  • Figure out attachment points through shoulders for pauldrons and cape.
  • Add sleeve facing.
  • Fill in gaps and reglue the detail pieces.

Ideas for improvements

  • Remake the dress with sturdier fabric.
  • Glue backside detail pieces.
  • Side instead of back zipper (to allow for backside details).

Side flaps

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 2
Repair: 4

What went well

  • Details look good.
  • Easy to put on.
  • Large pockets.

Changes I MUST make

  • Shift the pockets for easier access.
  • Fill in gaps and reglue the detail pieces where needed.

Ideas for improvements

  • Compartmentalize the pockets and add interfacing.
  • Make the belt/waistband wider and attach with velcro instead of a buckle.

Front + back flaps

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 3
Repair: 4

What went well

  • Fit well.
  • Snap closure was satisfying and strong.

Changes I MUST make

  • Fill in gaps and reglue the detail pieces where needed.

Ideas for improvements

  • Add a pocket behind the front flap.

Purple front flap

Accuracy: 2
Comfort: 3
Repair: 4

What went well

  • Looks good.
  • Pocket fits a phone well.

Changes I MUST make

  • Needs to be better attached to the corset.
  • Shorten it for better accuracy.

Ideas for improvements

  • Make the flap removable from the corset.
  • The pocket will need to be repositioned if the flap is shortened.

Purple belt

Accuracy: 2
Comfort: 3 Repair: 4

What went well

  • A nice accent piece on the corset.

Changes I MUST make

  • Glue on the detail pieces (these were left out on v1.0).

Ideas for improvements

  • Cut it in half so I don’t have to rethread it through the chains every time I put on the corset.

Props and Accessories

Dark Heart

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 3
Repair: 4

What went well

  • The look and feel of it is perfect.
  • Clearly looks like the object.

Changes I MUST make

  • Tidy up the wires inside so that it can be easily opened and closed.

Ideas for improvements

  • Animated image.
  • Different modes that are controlled by a magnet.

Shoes

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 1
Repair: 3

What went well

  • Right height.
  • The squishy fabric bottoms, unlike other shoes, were nice.

Changes I MUST make

  • Figure out how to prevent blisters.
  • Replace the padding that sits between the heel and the floor (it fell off).

Ideas for improvements

  • None.

Bracelet

Accuracy: 3
Comfort: 2
Repair: 4

What went well

  • Lightweight.
  • Looks like the object.

Changes I MUST make

  • Clean any paint off the magnets so they hold better.
  • Varnish to seal it.

Ideas for improvements

  • None.

Future Additions (Shit I didn’t have time for)

  • Void orbs
  • Leg armor
  • Hand jewelry
  • Feet jewelry
  • Leg wraps

This was meant to be simple raw data, nothing more, so I have a starting point on how to use the next ~5 months until BlizzCon wisely. I will share more details as I make improvements. Stay tuned!