Character: Meroko Yui
Series: Full Moon wo Sagashite
Version: Tanemura Cafe Maid
Debut: Anime Frontier 2022
Awards: Best Master AnimeFest 2024
Build Thread

I’ve had this Meroko costume on my to do list since 2019, but as we all know things got a little crazy so it took a little bit to get to making it. Full Moon wo Sagashite is one of my all time favorite series so I was excited to cosplay from it once again, and I managed to rope Sanctuary Memories into being Mitsuki with me!

For this costume I started with designing custom stripe fabric that was printed with spoonflower. I knew I wanted the skirt to be a circle skirt, but with the pinstripe pattern I couldn’t just use a traditional pinstripe fabric. I also wanted to make sure the pattern for Meroko and Mitsuki matched, so printing was the best option. I created 2 patterns. one was a regular pinstripe with the stripes vertical and the other was a stripe applied to a circle. This way the circle skirts had evenly spaced stripes. Once the fabric was in I went in and sewed iridescent white sequins to all the wide stripes.

While I’ve made plenty of circle skirts in the past this project presented a new first for me, I made my first fitted and structured bodice. I used this sew along thread from the Pattern Review forums as a guide and it was very helpful in creating a well fitting bodice.

All of the ruffles on the skirt and bodice were created from scratch using a wrinkle organza, doubling over strips and using the serger to gather them into ruffles. I made…a lot of ruffles but I really liked the sheer and textured element they added to the costume. I air brushed the fake rose accessories to add more depth and used black velvet for the custom patterned collar and wrist cuffs.

I experimented on the wing construction. I knew I wanted them to be lightweight and I wanted to try to keep some of Tanemura’s style in them. The way she draws wings is really lovely. I started by creating a template free hand and using that as my pattern. I decided to fuse white iridescent mystique fabric to super thick interfacing for the base layer and then to stiff felt for the additional layers. I top stitched all of this down to make sure it wouldn’t separate over time Before stacking and glueing the layers I used the airbrush to paint on some blue for shading. Once everything was painted I stacked and glued the layers onto a wire armature and then went back and added individual white feathers and rhinestones for texture. Because these are so lightweight I was able to just use the bodice to keep them in place. The slip into a pocket sewn into the back of the modesty panel and when the bodice is laced it it’s tight enough to keep them secure. Overall I’m pleased with how they turned out and they are definitely much lighter and easier to wear than full feather wings.

The wig required some 90s style anime bangs and perfect little curls. I teased and crimped the bangs to make sure they would hold volume, then smoothed a top layer of un-crimped hair over them. For the curls I used the tape and wire method, making a little tape armature and sewing it into the wig, then slowly gluing the wefts onto the tape. Once the whole thing was covered I rolled it up into the shape I wanted and left it to dry. They hold their shape really well, but I was super nervous the entire time I was working on them…

Photos from: Lemon Ikon Photography, BossCos Photos