Debuted: SacAnime Summer 2018

Notes:
I've always loved Raven's design and was intrigued by her character from the very beginning but when she finally got more screen time, I found myself not liking her quite as much. That didn't stop me from cosplaying her though! The design was just too cool not to give it a go at crafting.

I had originally planned to make this to wear at a convention in the summer with one of my friends as Yang. That didn't happen but it will at some point! 

I enjoyed crafting this cosplay--I love all the details that this design has. The only thing I'm disappointed with is the sword. I made the blade out of EVA foam and didn't think about placing a sturdier rod (out of wood or thick wire) in the middle until after I painted it, so the blade ended up being floppier and more fragile than I wanted. Other than that, I'm happy with the overall outcome.

What was made?
Shirt. Sword. Skirt-Altered. Mask. Arm & hand armor. Bow. Stockings. Belts. Red skirt pieces. Necklaces-altered.Wig-feathers added.

What was bought?
Gloves.

Related Links!

• Raven Mask Template
• Raven Sword Template
• Raven Bracers Template
• Raven's Bracers Tutorial
• Raven Mask Tutorial
• Raven Sword Tutorial

Photographer: Arlena Fae, Jash Cruz, Drew Kaizen

Reference:

Material & Cost Breakdown

Red Fabric

Material: Red Thick Stretch Cotton
Cost: $14 yard
Purchased: 1 yard
​Where: Joann's Fabric

Black Skirt

Material: Black Pleated Chiffon Skirt
Cost: $7
Purchased: 1
Where: Amazon

Black Fabric

Material: Black Thick Stretch Cotton
Cost: ​$14 yard
Purchased: 3/4 yard
Where: Fabric Outlet

EVA Foam

 Material: 6mm and 2mm EVA foam
Cost: $10 per 6mm roll, $5 per 2mm pack
Purchased: 1 roll, 1 pack
Where: Harbor Freight, Walmart

Pattern

Material: Simplicity 8318
Cost: $3 
Purchased: 1
Where: Joann's Fabric 

Acrylic Paint

 Material: Black, Red, White
Cost: $0.89 per bottle
Purchased: 3 bottles
Where: Walmart

Spray Paint

Material: Grey, Red, Clear
Cost: $5 per can
Purchased: 3 
Where: Home Depot, Walmart

Lace

Material: White Lace
Cost: $1
Purchased: 1 roll
Where: eBay

Fabric Paint

Material: Red, White
Cost: $1 per bottle
Purchased: 2 bottles
Where: Joann's Fabric

Necklaces

Materials: Plastic Beaded Necklaces
Cost: $5 pack
Purchased: 1 pack
Where: Walmart

Bias Tape

Materials: Black Bias Tape
Cost: $3 per pack
Purchased: 3 packs
Where: Joann's Fabric

Feathers

Material: Feather Shawl
Cost: $10
Purchased: 1
Where: eBay

Wig

Material: Black Long Wig
Cost: $12
Purchased: 1
Where: eBay

Oil Paint

Material: Black Oil Paint
Cost: $3
Purchased: 1
Where: Walmart

Total Estimated Cost: $110

WIP Photos

Build Time

Shopping: About a day + one or two hours of searching online
Pattern Making: 1 day
Sewing: 1-3 days
Foam Work: 1 1/2 weeks
Painting: 3-5 days

**Days are not a full 24 hours. They're more like "work" days. Meaning for each day, I worked on the cosplay for anywhere from 4-10 hours per day--it's all a rough estimate.

Fun Facts!

Love to dislike?

• I loved the design for Raven since the beginning but as I watched the show I started liking the character less and less. She's not an awful character by any means! Just frustrating! And to be fair, she's totally not meant to be a likable character. Obviously, I'm still happy to have cosplayed her because her design is still one of my favorites from RWBY. So whether I liked her character or not, she was always gonna be on my "to cosplay" list.

Backyard photo shoot!

• The photos I took myself were taken in my backyard! I wanted an area that could mimic the appearance of Raven's campsite or something similar, and I happened to have a more "run down" corner of my backyard that I felt could get away with doing just that. It's not perfect but I figured the fence boards and nature-y vibes of the area was close enough, especially with my limited options at the time.