Photo by Kelly Dun @pleasesavemycat

About

Hemlock Needles consists of partnered cosplayers Fabrickind (@fabrickind) and Diana Soreil (@silencedrowns).

We are a queer cosplay and cosplay education duo based in Northern California who have been cosplaying and making costumes for more than 40 combined years.

Both members specialize in stretch fabrics, color and texture choices, and translating weird 2D designs into 3D. Fabrickind has also specialized in structured garments and self-shot photography, and Diana has specialized in naturalistic-looking extreme wig styling. We work within the confines of low budgets, small spaces, and chronic illness. 

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Accomplishments

• Staff for Cosplay Tutorial, the largest English-language cosplay help site on the net
• Judge for Cosplay Tutorial Challenge 2023
• Judge for Cosplay Chopped event at Fanimecon 2014
• Ran "Teen Cosplay with Fabrickind" event at Sunnyvale Public Library in 2022, a workshop aimed at beginner-level teens interested in cosplay
• Completed a Jolyne Kujo cosplay and wig for Kira Buckland, the English-language voice actress for Jolyne, worn at official Jojo's Bizarre Adventure events at Anime Expo 2022
• Master level cosplayer with three awards: Best Construction at Animation on Display 2017, Best Journeyman Construction at Anime Los Angeles 2020, and Best in Show at Angelic Con 2021
• Three times finalist at the juried Crunchyroll Expo Cosplay Cup event
• Appeared on live television on Live In The Bay program helping promote Crunchyroll Expo 2022
• ​Published in Cosplay Realm Magazine
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Portfolio

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Panels and Services

Services

• Cosplay Judging and Guesting

​Would you like my two decades of cosplay expertise at your con? I would love to help you! I am available for booking as a cosplay guest and/or a cosplay judge at your con. I can bring my panels and other cosplay help content to your con, and am able to create new, custom content, including new panels and cosplays, in order to fit a specific need.

• Cosplay Help and Advice

I provide cosplay help and advice online, and am available to give advice and repairs for free while working at a convention booth. I am also available for one-off workshops and lectures about cosplay, such as for private groups, public libraries, and makerspaces.

• Commissions and Sponsorships

I do commissions, and am available for sponsorships and working with companies to promote the use of their products and tutorials for working with them. My cosplays have been worn both by other hobbyists on a small scale and by people in the industry representing their character. 

• Panels

I give cosplay help panels both in-person and virtually, and have developed over a dozen panels, often on unique topics not covered by other cosplay educators. These panels cover subjects ranging across beginner, intermediate, and advanced skill levels. I am also available to sit on roundtable-type panels about my experiences in the cosplay community. You can view some of my panel slides here, and view my panel topics below:
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Panels

• All About that Lace
  • Types of lace and trimmings and how to choose them and sew with them
• Beginner's Guide to Skimpy Cosplay 
  •   Covers grooming, fit and proportion, psychological aspects, and revealing cosplay -specific construction
• Body Paint 101 
  • Discusses safe and effective methods of simple body painting and sealing
•  Bunnysuit Boot Camp 
  • Walks cosplayers through the steps of making bunnysuits and other corset-like but non-reducing garments, from pattern to garment
• Cosplay in Translation
  • Covers translating 2D designs into 3D garments, such as color theory, how to use textures, and how to proportion garments on a human body. Aimed at upper intermediate cosplayers looking to improve the overall finish and effect of their cosplays.
• Cosplay Makeup For Total n00bs
  • Covers types of products and the basics of how to use them for those unfamiliar with cosplay makeup or wear it infrequently
• Fabric Choice for Cosplay 
  • Done in both a 1 hour and 2 hour format; covers fabric types and how to translate a reference drawing into real-life textile choices
• Foundation Garments for Cosplay 
  • Discusses specialty undergarments to wear under costumes, including for changing gender presentation, comfort and temperature, and to hide private areas
• Hella Big Skirts
  • How to pattern, sew, support, and wear large, fluffy skirts
• How to Level Up Your Cosplay 
  • Aimed at skilled beginner to low-level intermediate cosplayers to improve their translation of costumes from 2D drawings to 3D finished products; covers planning, construction, and finishing
• Planning Your Cosplay 
  • How to take a costume from idea to finished product; covers costume choice, planning, and budgeting
• Self Shooting in the Wild
  • Taking your own cosplay photos on location. Covers location choice, equipment, framing and posing, and safety.
• Sewing With Knits  
  • Covers knit fabric choice and special considerations in patterning, sewing, and caring for knit materials
• Sewing With Structure, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Interfacing
  • Interfacing, boning, horsehair, etc.    
• Troubleshooting Your Cosplay 
  •   Discusses common construction pitfalls and how to avoid them