Spiritquest is a a 3 piece pattern for the men in our lives who cosplay. I like this pattern because the design is versatile and will work for cosplay ranging from manga and anime to comics and video games.
Here are the specs:
Skill level: Intermediate
Sizes: 38, 40, 42, 44
Pattern number: M2105
Spiritquest (sounds like a reality tv show) features a vest with two part eyelet and buckle closures, a detachable hood, and a tunic. McCall’s suggests synthetic suede/leather or linen/linen blends for this pattern. I’m not sure many cosplayers will be interested in the beading details suggested by the pattern maker, so I’m going to move on to the good stuff.
This pattern could be pretty cool as the base for historical or fantasy themed cosplays.
McCall’s labels this pattern as intermediate – I’ll agree only if you opt to follow all of the directions and go crazy with ribbons, beads, and other details. I suspect many will be purchasing this pattern to dissect so I will suggest that beginners will be able to tackle this pattern with patience and careful direction following. It might even be a good idea to make a draft with cheap fabric so you don’t blame me if in fact, this pattern was too intermediate for your level. The vest is 14 pattern pieces, the hood is 2, and the tunic is 5. So the most difficult piece to sew will be the vest. For beginners, this will be a good opportunity to get comfortable with interfacing because that is a big part of this pattern. Beginners may also have a few hiccups when following the directions for the sleeves, but I think if you just take breaks and think about each step when in doubt, this pattern can be sewn by anyone. In total the vest has 42 steps, assuming you want to include the straps, buckles, and other details. The hood has ten steps which are easy to follow and the tunic has 27 steps without any particular steps that would sound a panic alarm for beginners.
It’s always nice to see patterns for men in the cosplay line; however, I will note the smallest size seems to be 38. If you’re a smaller guy, you’ll need to hack at the seam allowance to get the fit you want.
As a woman, I don’t think this pattern is a necessity and I probably won’t have a reason to make it. If you’re a male cosplayer on the market for a tunic, you should check out this pattern so you also have a vest to work with.
*This item was provided for review.