Shipping & Delivery
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A: Any customs or fees are the responsibility of the customer.
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A: If your selected shipping method includes tracking, we’ll email you your tracking number as soon as it’s available.
How to find your tracking number(s):
- Sign in to your "My Account" page.
- Go to "My Orders."
- Click on your order number. You'll find the tracking number(s) listed under the Item Description.
Depending on the shipping method, your tracking number may be entered at one of the following carriers:
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A: Yes, we do! We currently ship to many locations, including:
- Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.
- European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
- Australia
We hope to expand soon to Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland, and the UK! Don’t see your country listed? Send us an email at contact@firststopcosplay.com and let us know!
Please note that all fees imposed during or after shipping are the responsibility of the customer (tariffs, taxes, etc.).
Important: Once packages leave the United States, tracking availability depends on the shipping method. If your package hasn’t arrived within 3 weeks after the expected arrival date and tracking isn’t available, please check with your local courier or customs office for updates.
About the Instructional Content
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A: To access the instructional content for your sewing pattern, simply flip over the front page of the pattern packaging. There, you'll find a unique access code along with a QR code or URL to redeem it. Follow the instructions provided, and enter your information into our online fillable form.
You can expect to receive a link to access the pattern-specific instructional content within 2 business days after submitting the required information on our access code redemption page located here. We're currently working on enhancing our redemption process to make it even faster and more convenient for you!
If you haven't received a reply from us within 2 business days 48 hours or need any assistance, feel free to reach out to us at contact@firststopcosplay.com We're here to help and appreciate your patience as we continue to improve!
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A: Our instructional content is packed with valuable tips and insights designed to make your sewing experience as smooth and stress-free as possible. It includes a combination of written instructions, video tutorials, and access to a pattern-specific Discord channel, where you can connect with others and ask questions as you go.
We focus on providing straightforward, step-by-step guidance to help make your project a success. Whether you’re brand new to sewing or just need a little backup, the First Stop Cosplay team is here to help, every stitch of the way.
We’re proud to be your first stop on this creative journey, and we’ll be right beside you until the finish line!
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A: We’re committed to providing you with the best possible guidance, so we occasionally update our instructional content to ensure it’s as clear and helpful as possible. These updates might include improvements for consistency, clarity, or additional information based on your insights and feedback.
You can check the version updates box on each sewing pattern’s instructional content webpage to see the release date of the most recent version. This way, you’ll always have the latest and most accurate instructions at your fingertips!
Additionally, the look and layout of our instructions have evolved. From our very first pattern to our most recent ones, we’ve refined the design to be more user-friendly and visually cohesive. So, if the instructions look a bit different across patterns, it’s simply a sign of how far we’ve come in perfecting our style!
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A: Occasionally, we update our instructional content, including video tutorials, to provide you with the best possible guidance. When we make these updates, links to older video tutorials might no longer be active.
You can find a list of recently updated videos in the version history section at the bottom of a pattern’s instructional content webpage. If you’re accessing the latest version and encounter any broken links, we’d love to hear from you! Please email us at contact@firststopcosplay.com with the details, and we’ll help you get everything sorted.
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A: Currently, our instructions are only available in English and use imperial measurements (inches and yards), since we’re based in the United States and use tools made for the U.S. market. As a small business, we don’t have the resources to offer translated instructions or create metric-specific guides just yet.
However, we’re always listening! If there’s enough demand, we’d love to expand our offerings in the future. Let us know what you’d like to see by contacting us at contact@firststopcosplay.com!
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A: Due to the large amount of print and shipping materials that would be required to produce our highly detailed sets of instructions, physical copies are not available at this time. All sets of instructions are currently available in digital format only. If we find a way to provide physical copies of these instructions that is also environmentally friendly, that may become an option at a later time!
Other Common Questions
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A: Right now, we’re focused on providing high-quality, physical patterns to ensure everything is printed precisely to scale and in line with our standards. Going digital poses a few challenges – protecting our content, honoring our licensing agreements, and maintaining the accuracy needed to create perfectly sewn garments.
Our patterns are designed with meticulous care and printed on premium materials because we want you to receive something exceptional every time. We are, however, actively exploring ways to offer digital options in the future — stay tuned by following us on social media!
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A: Our sewing patterns are designed for personal use only. This means they’re intended for your personal projects and not for resale, reproduction, or any other means of financial gain. We’ve put a lot of care into creating these patterns, and it’s important to us that they’re used in a way that respects both our work and our licensors.
All intellectual property (i.e. logos, licensed and original characters, and any registered trademarks and copyrights) remains the property of their respective companies, and any commercial use without proper authorization will lead to legal action. We also reserve the right to take legal action if our patterns are used in ways that fall outside the scope of personal use as defined by First Stop Cosplay.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter!
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A: Excited to connect with fellow cosplayers? Join our Discord server for a broader cosplay community experience!
You can find the link to access a pattern-exclusive Discord channel on every instructional content page. These special spaces are designed to be a supportive and inspiring environment where you can get pattern-specific support, share tips, showcase your project, and give or receive encouragement from people on the same creative journey!
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A: We’re thrilled to continually expand our collection with fresh, exciting sewing patterns each year! We release new patterns every year, and each year’s product lineup is carefully planned well in advance.
From the initial design phase to final completion, our team dedicates months of work to ensure every pattern is perfected. This process includes multiple test runs and fittings across a range of sizes to ensure proper proportions and comfort. We strive to refine each technique for accuracy and ease of use, crafting clear and thorough instructions with visual guides at every step.
For our officially licensed character sewing patterns, we collaborate closely with our licensors to ensure we faithfully capture the essence of each design, focusing on key details that bring the characters to life.
Trust us, reaching that final “perfect” stage comes with its fair share of good-natured squabbling! We’ve debated everything from sewing techniques to word choices — all to ensure you have the best experience possible.
To stay updated on new releases, sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Instagram!
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A: Our patterns are made from premium tracing paper, a higher quality material than most other sewing patterns. This translucent material allows you to see designs on the fabric beneath, making it easier to align each sewing pattern. Additionally, it ensures durability and reusability, allowing you to use the same pattern multiple times without worry.
We’ve reimagined our sewing patterns to be accessible to beginners and user-friendly, tailored specifically for beginner cosplayers and sewists. Our patterns feature clear markings and essential information to make your sewing experience as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
Unlike traditional patterns, we eliminate the confusion of nested sizes by offering single-size prints, ensuring a hassle-free cutting and sewing process tailored to your chosen size from our inclusive range. Our goal is to make your cosplay projects easier and more enjoyable from start to finish!
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A: Our yardages are based on a specific fabric width, so if you use a wider fabric, you'll likely have some extra fabric. Additionally, we include a small margin of error in our yardage to ensure you have enough to complete your project comfortably. Plus, it helps to keep extra fabric scraps on hand for various sewing tests, such as checking tension, marking tools, and adjusting iron settings.
We want to make sure you have everything you need for a successful cosplay creation, and a bit of extra fabric gives you a little wiggle room for mistakes!
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A: Each of our sewing patterns comes with a comprehensive list of everything you’ll need — from fabric and notions to tools and machinery — right on the inside of the back packaging. We’ve put a lot of thought into these lists, only recommending what’s absolutely necessary and sticking to tools we think most customers already have. For specialized items, we try to suggest alternatives using items you’ll likely have at home. If we include something specific (like glass head pins or a clear plastic ruler), it’s because we truly believe it’ll enhance your project. You can even take the list with you when shopping, or use it as a handy checklist to stay organized before you start
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A: We’re here to support you every step of the way! If you need assistance with your sewing project, you have several great options:
- Join Our Discord Server: Connect with fellow cosplayers and sewists and tap into collective wisdom and encouragement in our dedicated Discord community.
- Explore the FSCO Sewing Academy: Access our free sewing education resource hub, where we consistently upload new blog posts and videos for all skill levels.
- Reach Out to Our Sewing Experts: Our knowledgeable team is available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 6 pm PST to assist you. If you need extra help, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Should you encounter any issues while sewing, sharing photos of the problem can help us provide faster and more accurate assistance. Just send us the details at contact@firststopcosplay.com or through our Discord server, and we’ll gladly guide you through it!
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A: Of course you can! We strongly encourage you to contribute ideas for new sewing patterns! Feel free to share your suggestions by emailing us at contact@firststopcosplay.com or dropping a message in the #questions-suggestions channel on our Discord.
We also love hearing from our social media communities, so don’t be shy about getting in touch on your preferred platform!
Your feedback helps us create patterns you'll love!
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A: You can find our size chart, measurement guide, and an explanation of why we use letter sizes instead of numbers in our blog post, “A Size for Every Shape”. This resource will help you understand our inclusive sizing system and guide you in taking accurate measurements to ensure the perfect fit for your cosplay.
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A: If you are encountering issues or have a question, please reach out to us at contact@firststopcosplay.com. Our knowledgeable team is available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 6 pm PST to assist you. You can also connect with us on Discord, where our team is present during business hours, and you might find team members hanging out there outside of those times!
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A: You can browse and purchase some of our favorite tools and notions directly from the First Stop Cosplay Tools Shop. While we don’t sell everything a sewist might need, we proudly offer essential tools for beginners. Check out our FSCO Starter Tools Set, which includes all the basics, or our FSCO Travel Starter Tools Set, a perfect gift for sewists on the go.
Our trusted fabric sources are JOANN Fabric and Crafts, Blue Moon Fabrics, and Fabric Wholesale Direct. We primarily purchase tools and notions from JOANN, WAWAK, and GoldStar Tool. Our go-to brands for sewing machines are SINGER and Brother. As for irons and steamers, BLACK+DECKER has never let us down!
If you’re struggling to find something, feel free to reach out via email or Discord, and we’ll do our best to assist you!
Please note that we only partner with brands we support, and we often recommend brands we aren’t affiliated with.
All trademarks, trade names, or logos mentioned or used are the property of their respective owners.
Returns & Refunds
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A: We’re happy to offer store credit for eligible returns! To qualify, please ensure your request meets the following conditions:
- Submit your return request* within 60 days of the original purchase date
- The item must be unopened and undamaged
- If the item has a unique access code, it must remain unused (no access to online materials or tutorials)
- Any tools, kits, or merchandise must be unused and returned in the same condition they were sent
For approved returns, the cost of the return shipping label will be deducted from your store credit unless stated otherwise. Please note that clearance and discounted sewing pattern sales are final and cannot be returned or refunded.
*To start your return, simply fill out our contact form located HERE. We’ll take it from there!
Note: While we take great care in packing your items, once the package is with the shipping carrier, it’s out of our control. If your product arrives damaged, please report it to your local post office or shipping carrier, and let us know as well so we can assist you further.
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A: Sewing patterns are no longer eligible for refunds if the pattern or packaging is damaged, the access code for online materials/tutorials/links has been redeemed, or the request isn’t made within 60 days of purchase.
Tools/kits/other merchandise follow similar rules and may be returned provided that they are in the same condition they were dispatched in.
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If we made a mistake with your order, please contact us at contact@firststopcosplay.com with your name, order number, the problem you’re experiencing, and any relevant photos or information. We’re here to help!
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A: Return shipping costs are the customer’s responsibility.