Location: Anime Milwaukee 2026 | South Hall Room 201C - Workshop Room

Class Length: 2 hours

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Learn a fast, beginner-friendly approach to patterning cosplay armor using sealing plastic wrap. Students will cover the fundamentals of armor patterning, including proper sizing, making adjustments, layering pieces, and adding design details for a clean fit. By the end of class, you’ll walk away with chest, arm, and leg armor patterns transferred onto sturdy paper, ready to use as a foundation for future foam or thermoplastic builds. This workshop is ideal for cosplayers who want an accessible, repeatable method for creating custom-fit armor.

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In this workshop you'll learn:

• How to use sealing plastic wrap to quickly pattern armor directly on the body or a dress form
• The basics of sizing and fit adjustments for armor pieces

• How to break armor down into manageable sections for chest, arms, and legs
• Layering techniques to create depth and structure in armor designs
• How to transfer temporary patterns onto sturdy paper for long-term use
• How to reuse and adapt these base patterns for future foam or thermoplastic armor builds

Prerequisite Skills:

This is a newbie level course, meaning students should:

• Have a basic understanding of EVA foam and its uses
• Have completed at least one finished EVA foam prop project prior to this course

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About the Instructor:

Turtle Smithy has been cosplaying for over 20 years. He has competed and won awards at many different conventions, not the least of which being the first C2E2 Crown Champion. He has also judged many competitions at shows over the years, and currently makes cosplay accessories full time for his Etsy shop. He has a wide range of expertise, including costume patterning, sewing, armor, props, leather, painting, mold making and casting. Turtle Smithy is excited to share his knowledge in this hands on workshop.

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The Nitty Gritty:

• To participate in this workshop, a liability waiver must be completed for all participants
• Anyone under 16 years of age MUST be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian
• Space is limited and all tickets are first come first serve
• Purchasing a ticket reserves one (1) seat at this class. For multiple tickets, please add more than one ticket to your cart
• All tickets are final sale. In the event of a no-show, no refunds will be available
• Tickets will be delivered digitally to the email address provided at checkout. This digital ticket will be needed to enter the event.
• All classes start promptly at the time they're scheduled for. In the event of tardiness, you may miss certain aspects of the class and may not be able to complete the scheduled project in full.

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Our Sponsors for the 2026 Anime Milwaukee Cosplay Studio: