Top 10 Sustainable Cosplay Tips: 7) Multi-tools and mutli-uses

7.) Multi-use is not just for Multi Tools!

Here is my favorite costume set: my All Weather Martha Stewart set. It's a long skirt, a front bustle, and a back bustle. It's 100% recycled. The bustles are from fitted sheets and pillow cases, and the wide stripes are from the flat sheet from a flannel Martha Stewart sheet set I used all through college. It didn't fit my new bed but I loved the color and a lot of events have been outside. I knew I wanted something that I could wear in warm and cold so....I made it so the bottom skirt can be adjusted from long to short in about a minute using clips. The bustles are different pieces so I can wear all three together or in any combination. The belt for the top bustle is actually a ratty old belt I got for 25 cents that was totally unwearable...but the buckle still worked! Even the buttons on the back were salvaged from an old button jar that was going to be tossed at a church bizarre years back. Plan ahead, how can I use this item for multiple things, and how can I MAKE this item adjustable.

• Got time and the skill? Why not make an item reversible! Reversible skirts aren't all that hard, same for vests. If you're buying, you can get reversible corsets
• Pull a renfaire/kitsuke trick: make your collars or sleeves changeable for a costume. This works great for Kitsuke and kimono when you can make your juban have changeable sleeves or whip stitch different collars to it.  My long cotton juban will have changeable sleeves; just haven't been able to find the fasteners yet.
• Make it adjustable! Theater products do this all the time! Know your weight changes? Make it a little bigger and adjust with belting or larger seams. I have a couple skirts where I make two sizes too big and then carefully hand sew two pleats in the back so I can let it out when I get chunky again OR If I'm putting a shit ton of stuff under it

As for tools, the multiest of multi-tools is THE DREMEL! However there are a few other tools that mix and match

• DREMEL: it's a sander, it's a router, it's a drill, it's a saw, it's a polisher, it's a cutter, it's AMAZING!
• HOT KNIFE: it cuts foam, it etches EVA, it cuts synthetic lightweight fabrics and sears the edges for petals and quick hems on cupcake dresses
• HEAT GUN: form foam, quick dry paint, straighten wigs, wet a garment and power steam it while on the manequin

Can YOU think of any multiuse tools or costume things? Share in the comments below!