It's
not uncommon for a
beginner to feel overwhelmed. Though you
want to experience the fun and magic of creating and becoming a CATS character, you feel
nervous about taking the plunge. No problem! This website--and
many others--are dedicated to helping new costumers make their first
CATS costume using the best tools and methods available.
Below is basic introduction and frequently asked questions about making a CATS costume. If you have a question that is not answered on this website, please let me know and I will be happy to help you out if I can.
Below is basic introduction and frequently asked questions about making a CATS costume. If you have a question that is not answered on this website, please let me know and I will be happy to help you out if I can.
~Where
on earth do I start?
There's a wonderful thrill to painting a nose and whiskers on your face, slipping into your costume, and fluffing up your wig to transform into a cat. Whether your intention is to display your work, attend a musical performance, or just lounge around the house, owning a CATS costume is very rewarding. Authentic costumes-- even pieces of them--are hard to come by and are often very expensive; thus most CATS fans venture into the world of costuming themselves.
The first thing to do is determine which character you would like to be. If you aren't sure, pop the CATS video into your DVD player and watch it through. Right before the credits roll, each character is shown briefly with his or her name. See if any one cat stands out! Maybe you would like to make up your own character. Once you have decided, it's up to you determine if you would like to make the costume yourself, or commission (pay) someone to make it for you.
There's a wonderful thrill to painting a nose and whiskers on your face, slipping into your costume, and fluffing up your wig to transform into a cat. Whether your intention is to display your work, attend a musical performance, or just lounge around the house, owning a CATS costume is very rewarding. Authentic costumes-- even pieces of them--are hard to come by and are often very expensive; thus most CATS fans venture into the world of costuming themselves.
The first thing to do is determine which character you would like to be. If you aren't sure, pop the CATS video into your DVD player and watch it through. Right before the credits roll, each character is shown briefly with his or her name. See if any one cat stands out! Maybe you would like to make up your own character. Once you have decided, it's up to you determine if you would like to make the costume yourself, or commission (pay) someone to make it for you.
- Making Your Own: making your own costume from scratch is a unique and rewarding experience. Before you buy your materials (maybe you aren't sure what to buy) browse through some costuming websites. Different costumers will recommend different things, but all will agree that the best way to create CATS costume is to make the following: a unitard, a wig, a collar, a tail, arm and leg warmers (or gloves), and shoes. When you understand what these things are, use the tutorials here or on other websites as a guide to make your very own costume!
- Commissioning A Costumer: you might feel as though you simply don't have the time or resources to create your own costume. In this case, it is a good idea to shop around, ask questions, and request references before you take the first costumer up on his or her offer. A commission is a binding commitment, and most costumers require half or all of the payment up front.
~Do you take commissions?
The "How To Commission" link on the Navigation bar will take to you a list of costumers who are accepting commissions. My information is listed there among the others.
~How much is making a costume going to cost me?
The cost of making a CATS costume depends on which character you make, how many resources you have (do you have good local art stores? are you comfortable ordering online?), and how authentic you want to make your costume. The average cost of making a CATS costume is $100-200. Commissions for full costumes run from $100 to $700 depending on the costumer and the materials used.
The "How To Commission" link on the Navigation bar will take to you a list of costumers who are accepting commissions. My information is listed there among the others.
~How much is making a costume going to cost me?
The cost of making a CATS costume depends on which character you make, how many resources you have (do you have good local art stores? are you comfortable ordering online?), and how authentic you want to make your costume. The average cost of making a CATS costume is $100-200. Commissions for full costumes run from $100 to $700 depending on the costumer and the materials used.
~How
much time does a costume take to make?
CATS costumes take quite a bit of planning and effort. Ideally you should leave minimum of 3 - 4 weeks for planning and gathering materials, and anywhere from 1 - 4 months for the actual costume, depending on what methods you wish to use and how much free time you have.
~I'm brand new to costuming. How can I keep everything straight?
Don't try to learn or do everything in one day. Quality costumes take quality time and quality effort. If you feel completely overwhelmed, I recommend printing out the below checklist. As you read through the different sections of this website, check the box next to the option that sounds good to you. Take it one step at a time, and don't feel badly asking for help if you need it. The CATS Costume Discussion Board is an excellent resource for beginners and advanced costumers.
CATS costumes take quite a bit of planning and effort. Ideally you should leave minimum of 3 - 4 weeks for planning and gathering materials, and anywhere from 1 - 4 months for the actual costume, depending on what methods you wish to use and how much free time you have.
~I'm brand new to costuming. How can I keep everything straight?
Don't try to learn or do everything in one day. Quality costumes take quality time and quality effort. If you feel completely overwhelmed, I recommend printing out the below checklist. As you read through the different sections of this website, check the box next to the option that sounds good to you. Take it one step at a time, and don't feel badly asking for help if you need it. The CATS Costume Discussion Board is an excellent resource for beginners and advanced costumers.
The next thing to do is to use templates (below) to
sketch
out the colors and design of the costume you would like to make.
This really helps your
mind
to organize the colors and patterns, and it
makes the actual work easier if you have a design to work from!
Even if you are an experienced artist, sketching out
a simple template does wonders for getting
everything mapped out in your mind!
