Sew Like You Roll

Doctors know the secrets of the cosmos but the secrets of making a cape? Not so much. If you didn’t attend Rowley Con this year, in addition to missing out on a profusion of sweat-infused gaming, you skipped something the universe may never see again: Doctors giving stitching lessons.

Jason and I modified our plunge TMNT costumes for Rowley Con. Green tabi boots added another reptilian-ninja element.
Jason and I modified our plunge TMNT costumes for Rowley Con. Green tabi boots added another reptilian-ninja element.
Milo was one of the few kids that actually tried to stitch on their own.
Milo was one of the few kids that actually tried to stitch on their own.

Our friend Jeremy puts on a nerd-saturated gathering every spring called Rowley Con. This congregation of the play minded encompasses an entire weekend. Board games, videogames, cosplay, and anime are all included. This year I volunteered to tap into my costuming passion (i.e. obsession) to level up the powers of this assemblage.

In one day, ten superheroes were created thanks to our tutelage. That's a better statistic than radioactive insects or toxic sludge can claim.
In one day, ten superheroes were created thanks to our tutelage. That’s a better statistic than radioactive insects or toxic sludge can claim.
Jason and I came to Rowley Con's second day as the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors, specifically the 50th anniversary versions of them.
Jason and I came to Rowley Con’s second day as the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors, specifically the 50th anniversary versions of them.
Men in tights will always have an unfair advantage in this world. Drew beat Jason in the male costume contest on tightness.
Men in tights will always have an unfair advantage in this world. Drew beat Jason in the male costume contest on tightness.

Jason and I helped ten students, mostly children, create their own logoed superhero capes in the first Rowley Con cosplay class ever. We taught this group while costumed ourselves as the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors. Our Padawans loved designing their insignias. Those emblems were comprised of everything from rainbowed unicorns to death ray robots. The rest of the procedure, unfortunately, didn’t hold their interest as much. It took about four hours in total for us to finish up all the capes, mostly because the kids’ usefulness waned drastically. It’s a good thing that sewing machines have moving parts and are susceptible to sonic suggestions.

Jacob commandeered Jason's newly-made cape and posed for a slew of ridiculous pictures.
Jacob commandeered Jason’s newly-made cape and posed for a slew of ridiculous pictures.
I didn't make these entire costumes but I did sew my waistcoat. Due to its fanciness, that piece took a lot longer to put together than expected.
I didn’t make these entire costumes but I did sew my waistcoat. Due to its fanciness, that piece took a lot longer to put together than expected.

Here’s my Oscar speech. Thanks Jason for spending many hours cutting out all of the fabric; I couldn’t have done it without you. And thanks Jeremy for hosting another fine meeting of the geeks. Without you, the unshowered masses would neither be all dressed up nor have anywhere to go. Now, instead, they can be mistaken for birds and planes in style.

2 comments

  1. I’m so impressed!! I remember the days before your costuming obsession even started! 🙂 I’m glad to see your skills have reached such a high level of mastery, especially in the world of geekiness. I love your Doctor get-ups!! (Though only a smidgeon disappointed that there is no fez….) Congrats on your great successes at the Con!

  2. Fantastic costumes! You’ve got some talent, kid. Always use your powers for good and never evil (i.e. Green Lantern stuff).

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