ksanz
New Member
Alright, here goes nothing.
Backstory
Freshman year in college my friend was giving people nicknames based on Pokemon and because my last name is Sanchez, he dubbed me Sancharmander. He gave them out to everyone, but after about a day, most were forgotten and never used again. For some reason mine stuck around and since Charmander was my first pokemon back in the days of Red/Blue, I loved it and embraced it. Some time went by and junior year started, we noted that I had been a charmander for quite some time without evolving, so they decided it was time, and I became Sancharmeleon. This stuck around for a few years and upon graduation... I finally became Sancharizard. The name has followed me for the last 5 years and since I live with two of those guys from college currently, it still gets thrown around quite a bit. Fast forward to this halloween where I was trying to figure out what costume I should do. At first I thought about doing a Charizard inspired costume but as things took shape it became a lot more.
Skills
I've been doing fairly detailed costumes for a few years now. Through that, I taught myself how to use a sewing machine. This project was my first time ever working with upholstery foam, covering something with fabric, or making any sort of head covering/mask. I used a guide by Canine Hybrid who made a similar suit for herself a few years back as a guide on how to get started. I also learned the "henson-stitch" which was created by Jim Henson and used to create his Muppets and puppets so that the seams don't show as much. Unfortunately, this is a lot slower than machine sewing and extended the time invested in it by a lot.
Progress/Build
First, I bought a warm water scuba head covering off Amazon. This would act as the sleeve for my head that everything would attach to. I used this because unlike a balaclava, it breathes a lot nicer (made to allow heat to escape in warm water instead of insulate you) and was more of a snug fit than the ones I could find online. Also the high spandex content would come in handy with the jaw. (picture from amazon)
Once I had the head,, I began cutting upholstery foam to shape out my eyes and brow ridge. I glued 3 pieces together and shaped out my snout as well in the same fashion. I used one piece for the bottom jaw as it was thinner than the snout. These pieces were all hot glued to the hood. The bottom jaw was seperate and glued to where my chin was so that as I moved my jaw, it would do the same.
Then I added the horns in the back of his head (But forgot to take a picture.
Next, I covered the entire head with masking tape and drew with permanent markers where I wanted the seams to be. Using a utility knife, I cut along the lines making sure not to cut through the lycra hood. I unfolded the masking take pieces on my orange fleece. In some cases they weren't totally flat, but a little cut on the side fixed that, and I just needed to sew the two pieces together later. I placed the pieces on the foam and began sewing them together using the henson stitch. I cannot stress how awesome that technique was and made joining two pieces together end to end fairly easy. When I reached an end, for example, the eye holes, I would stretch the fabric to the inside and hot glue it in place. Here it is, with the top covered.
and a bonus video of the jaw motion and hookah smoke for added effect.
[video]https://youtu.be/d8acMYb9lzU[/video]
I finished covering the back of the head and the bottom jaw.
I made the eyes by cutting the shape out of white felt and the pupils out of burlap and painting them blue/black. I can see through the burlap and it gives me enough vision to walk around. I glued the tops of the eyes in so I can still lift them up like flaps for more vision. I cut the shape of the top and bottom jaw onto black felt and hot glued it in place. The tongue was cut from pink felt and also hot glued.
The shoes I made in a similar fashion as the head (upholstery foam covered in tape and then the tape used to create patterns for the fleece) and everything was hot glued to an old pair of gym shoes. I forgot to take progress pictures of them, but will upload completed shoe close ups later. The gloves were simply cut from fleece tracing my fingers in the vulcan salute to give me only 3 fingers. They were machine sewn to save time and white felt claws were added as I sewed. Close ups of those will come later too.
I made a tail out of orange and yellow fleece and stuffed animal fluff with a felt flame shape cut at the bottom for a flame. I sewed a belt loop in the back to allow a belt to be threaded through.
For the body, I bought a bright orange suit from the website Shinesty.com called the General Lee Party Suit. I did this because I wanted to wear it out to parties/bars and not have to worry about a whole body suit. I also liked the look of a suit with the extremities of Charizard and thought it was a neat new twist on the costume.
I present (rather poor quality, but that will be rectified soon) pictures of the final product. I'm extremely pleased with how it turned out and look forward to Halloween!
I also love some of the names that people have dubbed this so far. The best in my opinion are:
I will post verification photos and better quality photos of the entire costume later in the week, probably Friday, since I am out of town currently, and the costume is at home.
I'd be happy to answer any questions about the construction or materials. Thanks for taking the time to read this!
Backstory
Freshman year in college my friend was giving people nicknames based on Pokemon and because my last name is Sanchez, he dubbed me Sancharmander. He gave them out to everyone, but after about a day, most were forgotten and never used again. For some reason mine stuck around and since Charmander was my first pokemon back in the days of Red/Blue, I loved it and embraced it. Some time went by and junior year started, we noted that I had been a charmander for quite some time without evolving, so they decided it was time, and I became Sancharmeleon. This stuck around for a few years and upon graduation... I finally became Sancharizard. The name has followed me for the last 5 years and since I live with two of those guys from college currently, it still gets thrown around quite a bit. Fast forward to this halloween where I was trying to figure out what costume I should do. At first I thought about doing a Charizard inspired costume but as things took shape it became a lot more.
Skills
I've been doing fairly detailed costumes for a few years now. Through that, I taught myself how to use a sewing machine. This project was my first time ever working with upholstery foam, covering something with fabric, or making any sort of head covering/mask. I used a guide by Canine Hybrid who made a similar suit for herself a few years back as a guide on how to get started. I also learned the "henson-stitch" which was created by Jim Henson and used to create his Muppets and puppets so that the seams don't show as much. Unfortunately, this is a lot slower than machine sewing and extended the time invested in it by a lot.
Progress/Build
First, I bought a warm water scuba head covering off Amazon. This would act as the sleeve for my head that everything would attach to. I used this because unlike a balaclava, it breathes a lot nicer (made to allow heat to escape in warm water instead of insulate you) and was more of a snug fit than the ones I could find online. Also the high spandex content would come in handy with the jaw. (picture from amazon)
Once I had the head,, I began cutting upholstery foam to shape out my eyes and brow ridge. I glued 3 pieces together and shaped out my snout as well in the same fashion. I used one piece for the bottom jaw as it was thinner than the snout. These pieces were all hot glued to the hood. The bottom jaw was seperate and glued to where my chin was so that as I moved my jaw, it would do the same.
Then I added the horns in the back of his head (But forgot to take a picture.
Next, I covered the entire head with masking tape and drew with permanent markers where I wanted the seams to be. Using a utility knife, I cut along the lines making sure not to cut through the lycra hood. I unfolded the masking take pieces on my orange fleece. In some cases they weren't totally flat, but a little cut on the side fixed that, and I just needed to sew the two pieces together later. I placed the pieces on the foam and began sewing them together using the henson stitch. I cannot stress how awesome that technique was and made joining two pieces together end to end fairly easy. When I reached an end, for example, the eye holes, I would stretch the fabric to the inside and hot glue it in place. Here it is, with the top covered.
and a bonus video of the jaw motion and hookah smoke for added effect. [video]https://youtu.be/d8acMYb9lzU[/video]
I finished covering the back of the head and the bottom jaw.
I made the eyes by cutting the shape out of white felt and the pupils out of burlap and painting them blue/black. I can see through the burlap and it gives me enough vision to walk around. I glued the tops of the eyes in so I can still lift them up like flaps for more vision. I cut the shape of the top and bottom jaw onto black felt and hot glued it in place. The tongue was cut from pink felt and also hot glued.
The shoes I made in a similar fashion as the head (upholstery foam covered in tape and then the tape used to create patterns for the fleece) and everything was hot glued to an old pair of gym shoes. I forgot to take progress pictures of them, but will upload completed shoe close ups later. The gloves were simply cut from fleece tracing my fingers in the vulcan salute to give me only 3 fingers. They were machine sewn to save time and white felt claws were added as I sewed. Close ups of those will come later too.
I made a tail out of orange and yellow fleece and stuffed animal fluff with a felt flame shape cut at the bottom for a flame. I sewed a belt loop in the back to allow a belt to be threaded through.
For the body, I bought a bright orange suit from the website Shinesty.com called the General Lee Party Suit. I did this because I wanted to wear it out to parties/bars and not have to worry about a whole body suit. I also liked the look of a suit with the extremities of Charizard and thought it was a neat new twist on the costume.
I present (rather poor quality, but that will be rectified soon) pictures of the final product. I'm extremely pleased with how it turned out and look forward to Halloween!
I also love some of the names that people have dubbed this so far. The best in my opinion are:
- Charming-zard
- Char-is-rad
- Charizard in toon world from YuGiOh
- Car/Vacuum/Door-to-Door Salesman Charizard
- Stand-up-comic Charizard
- Host of "Who's that Pokemon" - The Gameshow
I will post verification photos and better quality photos of the entire costume later in the week, probably Friday, since I am out of town currently, and the costume is at home.
I'd be happy to answer any questions about the construction or materials. Thanks for taking the time to read this!
