The bottom of the Zonai banner for my eldest’s Zelda Cosplay outfit was a challenge. In the images it looks like triangles hanging from the bottom of the panel. My jewelry cable method wouldn’t work because I would need to crisscross the wires, or bend them. I needed a way to attach them as if they were a whole fabric. Hm. Netting to the rescue. I cut the triangles from EVA foam sheet, painted them with pearlescent acrylic paint, then used the same paint to adhere the triangles to gold nylon netting.
Photo description: back of the triangles with the gold netting on top painted to the shapesPhoto description: gold netting trimmed and sewn to the bottom of the silk panel, back view
Tomorrow I will share pictures of the completed panel!
The next part of the Zonai banner was a graphic on the silk panel. The silk was recycled from my grandmother’s swing jacket. It has a beautiful blue/green shimmer, but the jacket doesn’t fit anyone in the family anymore. I used a section for this cosplay banner, and I plan on parting out the rest of the silk for other long-term projects.
For the graphic, I replicated the design in Adobe Illustrator, then cut a card stock stencil using my laser cutter.
Photo description: graphic stencil cut into card stock
I did a test of the stencil before applying it to the silk, then “bounced” the acrylic paint onto the surface of the fabric.
Photo description: painted stencil
The method did not work as well as I hoped, and left a rough edge that I didn’t care for.
Photo description: stencil painted banner with rough edges and uneven application of paint
I went over the stenciled image with a paint brush and more acrylic paint to clean up the edges.
Photo description: brush painted graphic on silk
I was able to fix the graphic, and I would still use a stencil if doing a similar project, but would make sure I was using a stiff stencil brush and I would thin the paint before pouncing it on.
I’m still working in the Zonai panel that Zelda wears in Tears of the Kingdom. Once I cut out shapes in the EVA foam sheet and gave them an initial coat of paint, I flipped them over on some wax paper to work on connecting all the pieces into a coherent whole. I used gold-colored, 49-strand cable beading wire inserted into a slit on the back of the pieces that I cut with a ruler and thin knife blade. It helped to use a small screw driver to tuck the wire into the slots. Once the wires were in place, I lifted the whole assembly to make sure everything hung evenly. To anchor the ends, I crimped on metal beads, then ran super glue down all the seams and ends.
Photo description: EVA foam pieces connected with cable beading wire inserted into slits
Once the wire was secure, I painted the back of the pieces, let it dry, then did the finishing coat of paint on the front.
Photo description: final coat of paint on the Zonai beaded panel using metallic copper acrylic paint and simulated green patina using metallic green base coat and light green wash
I absolutely love how this turned out. For cosplay, EVA foam is fantastic stuff. It is light, easily cut and carved, and paintable.
My eldest had a fantastic idea for a cosplay costume and I volunteered to help. (Ok, I may have begged, and “I’ll be in charge of this part” may have passed my lips. I’m definitely a Zelda fan, especially Tears of the Kingdom.) One of the parts I claimed was an elaborate panel that hangs on the front of Zelda’s Zonai dress. The panel has two layers, a silk banner and a copper beaded piece. To make the copper pieces light, I wanted to use EVA foam sheet and paint them. I cut shapes from paper first and laid them out on a banner of green/blue recycled silk.
Photo description: blue/green silk banner with white paper pieces laid out on top of a table with an iPad for reference and scraps of paper on the side
To transfer the paper pattern to the foam, my Mom suggested dusting the pieces. I laid them out on paper on the EVA foam, and used tapioca flour and a cotton ball to dust the surface.
Photo description: black EVA foam sheet with paper pieces covered in a thin layer of flour, bowl of tapioca flour and cotton ball to the side
The flour settled where the pieces weren’t, leaving a dark outline that was more precise than tracing. When I do this next I’ll use a foundation brush or something other than a cotton ball, because the cotton caught on the edges of the paper and did not lay down an even coat of flour.
Photo description: black EVA foam sheet without the paper
I was able to cut out most of the pieces using the flour shadows, and only on a few needed to use the original paper piece.
I’m going to break this project into several blog posts. My apologies to those who are not Zelda fans, I’ll be geeking out for a while. I hope there will be some techniques you will find interesting or useful.
I’ve found I rather like a beaded ring as a fidget, especially one made of stone with an elastic cord. the smooth beads have a nice feel and the elastic allows me to switch it from finger to finger. I fiddle with the ring rather than worrying at my cuticles.
Photo description: clear quartz beaded ring, with elastic, knot cover, and bowl of beads
I make them with 4mm quartz crystal round beads, 0.8 mm clear elastic beading cord, and a 4mm silver plated brass knot cover. When making a knot in the elastic, use a surgeon’s knot and pull it slowly tight until the elastic is stretched thin in the knot. Trim the ends then cover the knot with the split metal bead and clamp it shut gently with needle nose pliers. I don’t glue my knots because hard glue makes the elastic brittle.
Critters and Craft 