Cosplay crafting can be a tough hobby to crack into. The cost of living isn’t getting any better, and we don’t all have hundreds of dollars to drop on tools that are staples of the trade. Even those looking to up their cosplay game might have to think seriously and budget hard to be able to afford pieces like 3D printers, embroidery machines and the like. Maker Spaces are an incredible way of making tools and resources like this available to our community, in an affordable and accessible way.
So what are Makerspaces?
Maker Spaces are pretty much what they say on the tin: a space or area with tools and equipment to help facilitate craft and creation.
Depending on the location, a community makerspace may offer:
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Sewing machines and overlockers
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3D printers (perfect for armour builds and props)
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Laser cutters and engravers
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Screen printing equipment
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Smart cutting machines like Cricut
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Computers with design software
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Podcasting or content creation setups
If you’re looking for a space to dip your toes into cosplay craft but don’t want to commit to the tools, if you don’t have the space at home for a bajillion items, or just want an area to work away, read on!
How do you find a local Makerspace?
Makerspaces come from a wide variety of places, from some that are privately owned and offer attendance on a membership basis, some are publicly available through community spaces like libraries, or if you are a student, some tertiary education providers may have their own maker spaces for students. While we can’t list all the amazing spaces across Australia and New Zealand, our best advice to find your local space is to do a quick Google for maker spaces in your area, paying attention to websites from your local council, city, or community groups.
Now, most maker spaces won’t just let you rock up and start using things. Once you have found a place, you need to check what their induction requirements and rules are. The people who run the space have a responsibility to ensure that you know how to keep yourself safe, and the machines running properly. Usually, the maker space will make it easy to find and book an induction, where they take you through all the safety procedures, and how to use their resources. Some may require you to be above a certain age (like 16+) to use their space, and some may have multiple inductions over multiple machines. Be sure to read up and check what your local space’s rules are and get on it; otherwise, you will not be able to use it.
What actually happens when you come to a space?
If you have something you are working on (such as sewing), you would bring that along and work away! Some maker spaces may not charge for certain consumables, such as 3D printer filament, but they may have restrictions on when the tools can be used. For example, at our local library maker space, you can book a session on their 3D printer, but you can only print during your session time and during the library’s opening hours, so it may be worth planning ahead and making sure you have enough time to complete your craft, or that it is possible to do it over multiple sessions. Some spaces may offer group workshops or focus days that cover a specific craft (such as knitting or craft evenings), where you can come along and connect with others doing the same thing as you, and get some good advice, so look out for your local space’s calendar for any events that may be up your alley.
Depending on the location, you may or may not be able to ask staff members for help. In community spaces such as a library, there may be some staff members with experience in the tools, but depending on scheduling, there may not always be an expert there 24/7, so it's important to do your research and be able to work independently. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, as many spaces will have experts who may love to have a chat about your crafts, give advice and help you out. Try attending a few times and getting a vibe for your local space, as they will differ from location to location.
Maker spaces are a really great resource for us, cosplay crafters. Whether you’re a beginner looking to try out sewing for the first time or a seasoned crafter looking to try something new and experimental, maker spaces are a great way to access these resources without breaking the bank, and maybe even find some nice community events while you’re at it. If you’ve ever wanted to try out something new, maybe take a look at your local makerspace. We’re sure you won’t regret it!
Written by Madi Laffan
