23rd October 2013: I am DONE. Its' not as neat as is could be, but I've run out of time. I might remake bits of it ready for next October to coincide with the release of the third game... but who knows? (':

22nd October 2013: NEARLY DOOOONE Just gotta scale the back of the corset - I decided to remake the headpiece last minute - I have sixty hours until I leave for London. DEAR GOD.

17th October 2013: Just the scaling to do now! It's taking a long time to cut out and snip at all these scales, and then sew them - I'm trying to work out how many I need. :3 A lot of its hidden under the armour so I'm going to be lazy and only do what I need. :')

20th September 2013: Leggings! So my leggings arrived - and with them it means I no longer have anything to buy for this costume! Just gotta finish making the armour, coat and scalemail vest! Woot!

18th September 2013: Wig, Trousers and Working on Armour Okay so today I applied resin to my chest armour and made all the templates for the shoulders. I also bought belts for the chest piece! I'm hoping to have the entire armour finished by friday! (:

I also went websurfing for the wig and brown trousers, both of which should know be here by Thursday. :)

14th September 2013: Breastplate progress! :D Okay, so how I do my armour is probably very long winded - but I cut out the main bits in thick eva, then add craft foam for the embellishments over the top - I heatform it all into shape and then seal it with pva. When the pva is dry, I add the extra embellishments like bolts/studs etc - then another layer of pva. Then I slap on a coat of plastic resin and then I spray paint it - depending on how much shine I want - sometimes I slap on an extra coat of resin and sand down the rough bits. (:

I'm just making the foam base and slapping on the first lot of pva now- ready for the embellishments!

12th September 2013: Armour Progress (: Finally got my ass in gear with the armour! I've finished the hip plates and finally got around to making the foam base for the breastplate - I've started off with the collar and will move onto the chest before adding the shoulders. (: Hopefully it will go well first time, but if not I have time to redo it!

20th August 2013: Sword! This talented man was able to make Meredith's lyrium sword for me and it's perfect! Just under the height restriction, thank god!
Now I just have to get my butt in gear with the scalemale undershirt, the armour, headpiece and if I have time... remaking the coat. (:

26th February 2013: Shoulder Armour I'm actually really scared to be starting this, haha! I have the EVA foam ready, and I've made some card template mock ups, but even so... I'm a bundle of nerves!

21st February 2013: Gauntlets done! :D So I got around to making the belting and straps for the gauntlets. I thought this would be the end of it but I think I might paint on some cracks! O:

19th February 2013: Shoes arrived! :3 They fit perfectly and look awesome! :D

18th February 2013: Finished the belt and bag~ This was the easiest part of the costume to make! I've had a bit of a disaster with some fabric paint on the coat - so I've attempted to wash it off and am just waiting for it to dry now. I'm sure I can salvage it! Ordered my boots and ordered my wig too! Yay!

16th February 2013: Scalemail! I think I'm going to use actual scalemail for the final October project, but for April, May and August I'm going to be making faux leather scalemail which I will paint with metalic spray paint instead. Having to cut out 800+ scales is taking its toll on my hands... :c

16th February 2013: Gauntlets! So I remade the gauntlets... O:

14th February 2013: Mock Gauntlets! Managed to get the first go of the gauntlets painted - will probably redo them at a later date, but I'm pretty pleased with how they've turned out so far. (8

13th February 2013: Foam Armour Decided to make a practise pair of gauntlets just to try the method out, before redoing them neater... I completely had no idea how long it takes glue to dry!

13th February 2013: Coat! :3 Finished sewing the coat together! Now I need to sew in all the details!:3

12th February 2013: Grey Undercoat I wanted to use suiting fabric for it, but it proved too expensive (maybe when I remake it for October)so I opted for a cheaper cotton blend, which will help keep me cool in the middle of summer, when I'm going to using it (both in London and in Glasgow).

I cut all the pieces out today - and then had a minor freak out because I thought I'd forgotten how to attach sleeves... hahaha! Its been months since I made any sort of top - I usually stick to scarves and shorts!

Anyway, have everything attached now - just need to neaten it up and add in all the hand stitched details tomorrow. :3

11th February 2013: Update :D Forgot to buy clasps for the bag, so I spent my evening cutting out and editing my sewing patterns instead ready for the grey layer of her undercoat. :)

11th February 2013: Sword Update! Just got confirmation off my friend (darkshines) for the commission and she thinks she will definitely have it done in time for August (which means Glasgow and October MCM!). :D Its a shame I won't have it for May, but she did say that if its done early then she will let me know - I have every faith that she and her boyfriend are going to make the most perfect sword ever. >3<

I just can't wait!

They're making it to stand four and a half foot tall, which is shorter than Meredith's actual sword, but will be easier for me to tote around at cons. (8

Ah this is going to be sooooo epic! :B

+SCALEMAILLE UPDATE+

I was originally going to buy aluminium scales and actually make it by hand, but I've decided to make fake scales with cut out faux leather (spray painted) and then sewn together one by one, first... then if I decide it would look better with the real thing, I can redo that after May. (8

10th February 2013: Distressing~ I just couldn't wait and so I started distressing the bag already~

9th February 2013: Pouch! Sewed the pouch together - need to add the fastenings and distress it - which I will do on Monday when I start working on the undercoat!

Still need to buy the buckles for all my belts...

But on the plus side, I managed to track down some almost like-for-like gloves on ebay which I am now bidding on - fingers crossed I win them! :3 Hoping to start on the gauntlets this week too! :3

8th February 2013: Belt-Pouch Thingy~ I couldn't get many good references of the little pouch she wears on her b elt so I took some liberties with the design and made sure it was big enough to hold my phone, some money and my hotel keycard (priorities, man!). I'm going to stencil either the Templar cross or the Kirkwall Insignia onto the front pocket at a later date.

I made the patter for it myself, but cut out the basic shapes to paint metalic detail onto them first. I will neaten the cuts tomorrow and sew them together with some red/gold stitching detail to match the sash. Then I'm taking a break over the weekend and started on her actual underclothes on Tuesday. (8

Oh, and I commissioned a friend to make the sword! Eeee~ <3

7th February 2013: Sash! I decided in the end to go for paint, rather than ribbon on the sash. I also made the bit that ties around my waist but the fabric is a little thicker than I would like (remember I'm using Curtain velvet) because I folded it over twice... I may redo it and make a clasp fasten so it looks accurate... but without me having to physically wrap it around myself.

7th February 2013: Waist Sash Thingy~ So I deciuded to do Meredith's fancy red sash in two halves to avoid it sitting funny when tied. Again, I used curtail velvet. I attached a cord so i could tie it around my waist and made a template for the pattern...

Now I have to decide between fiddling with fusable web and ribbon, or just painting the design on...

5th February 2013: Making the Hood~ So I went out and bought the fabric today (I used Curtain velvet and ribbon). I attached the ribbon using good ol' fusable webbing.

I was originally going to make a shirt to attach a standard hood too - but I decided that a cowl would look better/more accurate. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. :3

4th February 2013: Planning~ I've never made armour before, so this could prove to be fun! But I've found a few tutorials about craft-foam armour, so I'm going to give that a go. The underclothes/hood etc shouldn't be that hard...

I have until October. Lets do this!