Introduce Yourself 😸

Howdy!

1) I go by Koholint online, a relic from when I had more time for video games than I do now :P (she/her, please)

2) I currently live in Texas but am originally from Central America.

3) I am recovering from burnout and some rough life situations, so 2024 wasn’t very productive for me. However, I did enjoy making a little silk bonnet for Halloween purposes!

4) In 2025… I think my only goal right now is to make more things than before as I recover from Life :) I’m trying to rediscover the joy of the process and learn to manage a slower pace.

Nice to meet you!

Hi, I'm Loren [he/they] from Southern California, USA!

My favorite thing I made in 2024 was my Jacaerys cosplay! It turned out pretty cool I think (modified a sewing pattern for a Critical Role cosplay to get that bodice), and this year I hope to make a slightly modified version of another one of his outfits (namely, the one from the season 1 finale/season 2 premiere)!

Hi! I'm Elder (she/they), from Virginia, USA. (Hey, that rhymes!)

My favorite thing I made in 2024 was probably my patchwork dress (... still unfinished but wearable). I'm hoping to be able to afford stuff again in 2025, so I can finally tackle the list of cosplay projects I've had since forever. I want to do an Agatha Harkness original design one of these days (she has a few period costumes as well as her supervillain look and they're amaaaazing).

Hi I'm Michele! (she/her) , I'm from the NYC metro area

I picked up sewing in 2024 and promised myself I wouldnt quit this time lmaoo

I feel like I have the hang of it now. My favorite thing I've made so far are some lingerie undies. What I hope to accomplish in 2025 is getting faster and cleaner at my work. I loved the podcast episode mentioning perfectionism. I can completely relate lol. Since I'm a beginner, I'm still working on foundations and hope to master them so I can start getting more creative.

So grateful for the podcast and this forum! It gave me the confidence that I'm "good enough" to continue this, at my age and as a beginner.

Hey Bianca! So happy to see you here. I want to see your whole portfolio! People always ask me about portfolios and I never know what to say because I don't have one.

You've done so much in the last year that I didn't even realize the Ever After costumes were 2024 😯Like when you were making these, could you ever have imagined you'd be a sought after costume technician in 12 months' time?? Very excited about your progress and happy to be living vicariously through you right now!

Hi! I'm Bianca (she/her) and I'm in the SF Bay Area in California. I'm a Costume Design MFA student right now and also working in local theater doing costume things.

I finished my couples Ever After costume for me and my husband in early 2024, so I guess I'm most proud of that, but I'm realizing I have been very bad at tracking my projects for school and should do better. I actually DID work very hard on a portfolio for my mid-point review so I'm just going to shamelessly use that to show off those costumes. (Portfolios are hard!).

In 2025 I hope I can just keep finding and centering joy in my own costumer journey as I transition from hobbyist to career. I am excited/terrified about designing my first show, but I'm excited to rekindle a lot of community costume feels here.

Hi im Aliya (she/her)

Im a little late to the club but i was trying to make an account. I live in Amsterdam in the netherlands and have been sewing for about 8 - 9 months now. Self taught if you can believe it. I actually came across your tiktoks on accident and got invested in all your knowledge of sewing and started it for myself. My very first project was kinda ambitious but i think i pulled it off alright. You really have pulled me out of the bed rotting and sort of indirectly gave me a bit of clarity and purpose (i know i sound crazy but bear with me). So i saw your alicent dress videos and got into a loop of your explanation vids. Then i finally decided for my very first sewing project im gonna make the alicent driftmark dress that you also made. You kinda inspired me to take on cosplay projects that not a lot of people do. So i made the dress (took me like 4 months). But i think it was worth it. And in 2025 i hope to make atleast Elizabeth Swanns Burgundy dress from Pirates of the Caribbean and Padme Amidala's yellow picnic dress. Other projects i wanted to do are Daenerys' dragonstone landing dress/coat and Live action 2019 Jasmine's teal outfit in Aladdin. Also Rhaenyra's red cape dress from the end of S2. So a very full list of things. I genuinely appreciate you making this online community so that its easier to meet more nerds like me.

Hey! I'm Jennifer (she/her), and I love in Seattle with my husband, 2 dogs (Leia & Fargo) and 2 cats (Ripley & Newt). I've been sewing since freshman year of high school, but sewing WELL since 2015(-ish). I like to mix nerdy stuff with historical fashions & modern runway, which is what I enter into cosplay competitions (from 2021). The things I'm most proud of from 2024 was definitely this look inspired by the FX/Netflix show "Lucifer". Not only did I embroider those giant wings by hand (3 month job), but it was my first time making a blazer. I also made a robe italienne inspired by "Our Flag Means Death" (Break up robe anglaise) using an HA pattern. In 2025, I'm want to make a late era bustle (inspired by Ashoka Tano or Spider Gwen) to try my hand at the late Victorian era. I am finishing a tea gown (inspired by Moulin Rouge & Star Wars Clone Wars) as my entry into the era.

Below is my "helper" Ripley, who insists on being with me while I sew

I really wish I had more time to do more sewing. Hopefully when I retire.

Has anyone ever gotten stuck on a piece and procrastinate? I would keep looking at it saying that I need to finish this but deep down know you're at a block and can't get past it. This Bilbo commission was just that. I finally figured out the jacket and tie and the rest came together. The tie I hand painted.

Thank you! So proud of it. I love this little community ❤️

Hello!

My name is Eloise (non-binary she/they) from the UK!

I started studying fashion history at about 15 and started making period costumes soon after.

I studied Costume Interpretation at university in London and I’ve also worked in running wardrobe in theatres.

I work a day job part time in a museum and I’ve also had experience working with extant period garments.

I specialise in period fashion and historically inspired fashion, mainly for women but I have also made period menswear.

Sadly due to ill-health and becoming disabled my productivity has been pretty low. However, I’m on the road to get back to doing what I love.

2024 was a difficult year in terms of productivity and health but it was the year I finally had to make the decision to no longer do unpaid work. Sadly where I live, paid work is hard to come by so I’ve decided that 2025 is the year I start making moves to begin my own online business.

I hope to begin with corsetry and bodices inspired by fashion history and then I hope to expand to bespoke services and later full fantasy and specialty gowns.

Outside of sewing, I enjoy gaming, Forumla 1, and chasing after my two tiny hurricanes/kittens, named Deadly Nightshade (Dede) and Evening Primrose (Evie)

Hello! I'm Kelly (any pronouns) from Indiana, United States.

I'm 28 and I've been making my cosplays since I was 13. I received a major promotion at my work early last year and things are finally settling in my new role. With that major change, I barely had any time to work on making my costumes last year. However now that things are settling I'm ready to start making costumes again.

I'm going to share a costume I made at the tail end of 2023 instead. I made a Harley Quinn Christmas cosplay for a photo shoot and a holiday cosplay themed event. I had some velvet in my fabric stash that I must have picked up from somewhere and white faux fur. I wanted to use the materials I had on hand because it was around the holidays.

This year, I have a couple of things on my cosplay list but really I want to commit to working on a Mollymauk Tealeaf from Critical Roll cosplay that I started a couple of years ago. I have almost all the materials and parts of it done or near complete but I'm hand beading the coat and it is a daunting task. I'm excited though because I can see improvement in my bead work as I keep going. I fairly certain by the time I'm done I'll end up taking out this first half I did because I'm going to feel like I could do better. Other than that, I'd like to update a couple of pieces on my old costumes to spruce them up.

Hi I'm Shelley hailing from Nova Scotia, Canada.

I'm 63 years young and have been sewing and creating since I was in my teens.

I have 4 cats. 2 sets of bonded sisters. Middy, Quinn, Daki and Yuji.

I fell in love with cosplay about 10 years ago attending my first local con in 2015.

The last few years I started doing commission work for con goers.

My favorite costume in 2024 was a World of Warcraft character I saw in a picture and said I am going to make that.

This year I really want to work on a House of the Dragon outfit for Rhaenys from Season 2. Damn those Targaryen darts lol. I did also make her Riding armour set.

Hi! I'm Ruby (she/her)!

I live in northwest Philadelphia, a region marked by remnants of a once-thriving textile manufacturing industry that has since mostly moved overseas.

I teach fashion and costume design at a local university, and have a small business where I focus on slow fashion education and freelance patternmaking and design.

My favorite thing I made in 2024 was probably the costumes for a Philadelphia Fringe Fest play from Agile Rascal Theater called Ghost Ride, which tracks the journey of a delivery cyclist into the afterlife after he is killed in traffic. This play was a wild feat of engineering: the actors AND the audience literally rode bicycles throughout the play, and it was timed so that the death scene took place at sunset, after which point headlamps from the audience illuminated reflective details on the costumes to indicate a soul fracturing and dissipating into the night. (Photo below)

In 2025, I am hoping to do more personal sewing for myself and my partner. Like many in this field, I got into sewing because I loved it, but sometimes I need to remind myself that I can enjoy it outside of a work context. :)

I'm also excited to connect with more costume nerds through this platform! Thank you Sumalee for bringing us all together!

Hello! My name is Rachel, she/her. Like several people here I am from central Florida (and currently live in Jacksonville with my wife and our dog Trent Crimm, The Indogpendent).

I have absolutely no stitching skills, but I love Sumalee and want to support her! Fun fact: we met in high school when we were 14, and at some point got on the topic of My Fair Lady. We found out we both had paused the on-screen ephemera in the special features to read casting notes on Eliza's potential singing vocals - the friendship was obviously destined to be.

My 2024 accomplishment and 2025 goals are intertwined: last year I finally took my first step into birthwork by starting my postpartum doula certification, and I plan on getting fully certified this year. I've loved every minute of it so far, and I'm excited to continue!

Hi, I’m Abigail. I’m from Connecticut. I currently live with my mother, two cats, and a dog.

In 2024 I just about finished a Tudor ish costume I started handstitching in college so I was pretty proud of that.

I also worked a lot on an original design Anakin and Padme that I’m trying to finish by May of this year.

My longer goal for this year is getting most of the way through making a full 18th century costume, but right now that’s on the back burner.

Hi everybody! My name is Rose, my pronouns are she/her, and I am from Southern California! I have two lovely horses, who have trained me well in the art of spending ridiculous amounts of money on my hobbies, hence my foray into sewing.

I am currently taking a beginner sewing class at my community college. I’m going to be transferring to a four year next fall where I plan to double major in history and fashion. I’m here because I would love to become a costumer!

I am currently working on my first ever project, which will be a tote bag. My goal for this year is to make a pair of jeans (very daunting for my poor sewing machine) and some basic historical undergarments, like a chemise, petticoats, and (fingers crossed) a corset.

I'm Rhonda, my pronouns are she/her, and I live in central Virginia USA with my husband (who I met working in community theatre) and 3 cats. We have 2 young adult children, one of whom still lives with us.

I'm a seasonal costumer at an amusement park (and work for a custom home builder for my main job). We are in the off-season right now so I'm building some new costumes for our summer season. My favorite costume make from last year was for the singer/leader of a burlesque show. It was a bit of a nightmare because the outer, inner, and lining layers all had completely different levels of stretch and recovery. I had to hem the lining layer of rayon at least 3 times because it kept growing as it was used. I can't get the picture of it in action to load, but here's one of it on the mannequin.

I'm much more of a stitcher than a designer. I'm happiest when someone else picks everything out and hands it to me to make. I wish I had design skills, but it just stresses me out too much. I would love to learn pattern making and draping, but for now I'm really good at following someone else's pattern.

For personal sewing I'm in more of a bag era right now, though I need to refresh my personal wardrobe with some new things, so I guess that is my goal for this year.

I'm Tay, TayTay, or Taylor, and use they/them pronouns. I am in Virginia, USA.

Not sure I have a favorite project of 2024. It was a ROUGH year- worked 6 days a week April-August, started homeschooling my kids for the first time. I started to reach myself how to knit, which has been a fun challenge as a person who has been crocheting for like 20+ years. Also started to learn Tunisian crochet. Started a lot of projects, didn't finish many 😵‍💫

2025 I have a lot of projects I want to finish. I have fabric cut out for late 18th century stays, I started a mock up for a Gabrielle from Xena cosplay. I also bout this men's XL, 100% coral/salmon colored linen shirt I bought for $3 at a thrift store Im altering. It was a short sleeve, collard button up, that I'm turning into a sleeveless shirt.

My family is moving by Jan 31, and I'll have a dedicated place to set up my sewing/craft stuff. I inherited a TON of stuff from my grandmother, so I really want to utilize it

Hi everyone, my name is Erin and I use she/her pronouns. I’m from western Canada, and my favourite thing I made in 2024 is absolutely my Alicent Hightower ‘We Light The Way’ dress. It was the first garment I tried to make to a higher standard and while there’s things I’d already to differently I do love it so much.

In 2025 I’m hoping to finally finish my Padme Picnic dress after litterally years of putting off the embroidery 😅. I’m also hoping to draft a Princess Venus dress entirely on my own (I might end up caving and getting a pattern, we’ll see lmao) to see if I can do it, make a Scarlet Witch costume. Also maybe film some of my builds as tutorials but that’ll really depend on my confidence levels 😅

Hi everyone,

I am Sabrina (she/her) and I am a Belgian living in Germany with my husband.

My favorite thing that I made in 2024 is actually that I managed to make and grade a slit skirt pattern. I had a lot of self doubt if it will be good enough because I am a self-learned seamstress/patterndesigner.

In 2025 I would love to publish some more patterns and I am currently sewing a wedding/evening dress but I also want to try creating a fantasy ball dress but I haven't planned it yet.

Looking forward to meet you all. 😊

Hey everyone,

My name’s Ole Martin, but my friends call me Ole, my pronouns are he/him and i’m from Norway.

Not a professional stitcher by any means though i’ve taken a few classes in the past and know my way around a sewing machine (though i feel a lot more comfortable hand stitching).

My favorite thing i made in 2024 was probably cat toys or something. I didn’t really have any large scale sewing projects going on so that’s probably my biggest project i made last year. Though i did mend a lot of clothes, so all in all i’m pretty happy with what little i did.

For 2025 i’m hoping to get better at actually starting large projects and sticking with them til the end (Suma can relate). And also improving my hand stitching a bit as it’s still a bit shoddy. I am hoping to at least start some sort of larger project this year and seeing where it leads, if not for fun then at least for the experience alone.

Can’t wait to see what we might get up to in here!

Hello!

My name is Gabs :o) and my pronouns are any!!!

I live in Central Florida with my partner Justin! We met working at a theater here and fell in love 💖 It's also the same place where I got to work with Sumalee for the first time! Forever grateful!

My favorite thing I made in 2024 was a repulica of Patsy Cline's iconic red cowgirl dress for a costume design contract I had. My favorite part of it was all the rhinestoning I had to do.

In 2025, I hope to sew more for myself and not just for work. My partner and I are moving into our first home and I want to use my skills to create pillows, curtains and more! I also freelance and want to strictly take on projects that I'm passionate about and not because it's a paycheck.

Can't wait to meet you all!

Hello!

I’m VioletStarlight! She/Her/They

From North America and have been sewing since 2018 but have been interested in costumes since I was a kid. Loved finding Sumalees TikToks on HoTD and her well of knowledge!

My favorite thing I made in 2024 was probably a Sea Nymph project I worked on for a ball I attended with friends.

In 2025 I hope to learn more of the fundamentals and use those skills more confidently! I also hope to make more unique cosplays this year!

Looking forward to the community here!

Welcome, friend! I'm excited about certain Victorian plans you may have alluded to 👀 How many pieces are in your Tudor wardrobe now??

Hey Ya’ll!! I’m so excited for this community and hope to see it flourish. 🥰🥰

My Name is Lindsey often lovingly referred to as Thistle (They/Them but I answer to everything and am generally unbothered.) Like Sumalee I am also from Central Florida.

My favorite make from 2024 was my Lucy Maclean wedding dress because it was made using a 100% self drafted pattern.

I’m still making plans for 2025 but I’m highly leaning Victorian and I will be suprised if the rest of the historical costuming community doesn’t head that direction after they watch Nosferatu.

Thanks for letting me share, Thistle ☺️

Hello All!!

My name is Antonio, my pronouns are He/Him and I’ve been sewing for about 8 Years.

Future educator with a passion for history I’m hoping to teach PreK-2 while still sewing along the way. My favorite time period is Tudor 100% but I’m going to hopefully explore more time periods this year!

Cant wait to see what everyone makes and shares!!