How to Train a Dragon Costume: A Comprehensive Guide

Creating a dragon costume can be a fun and rewarding project, whether it's for Halloween, a cosplay event, or just for fun. This guide will walk you through the steps to create a stunning dragon costume, incorporating ideas from various sources, including Primary, Instructables, and Velcro. Additionally, we'll highlight some ready-made options from CrazeCosplay.com for those who prefer to purchase their costumes. Let's dive in!

Materials Needed

Before we start, gather the following materials:
  • Fabric: Green, yellow, and purple felt (1.5 yards green, ½ yard yellow)
  • Cardboard: For wings and headpiece
  • Elastic bands: For securing wings
  • Ribbon: Green for detailing
  • Stuffing: Polyester for the tail and other parts
  • Hot glue gun and sticks
  • Scissors
  • Double-sided fabric tape
  • Sewing machine (optional for some parts)
  • Velcro® Brand Sew On Tape
  • Polyethylene foam: For wing frame
  • Sheer fabric: For wing covering
  • Thermoplastic (Wonderflex or Worbla): For headpiece
  • Styrofoam: For horns
  • Acrylic paints: For painting the headpiece
  • Body suit: Plain white to be dyed and painted
  • Jacquard Dye-na-flow dye: For dyeing the body suit
  • Jacquard Lumiere paints: For painting scales

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Creating the Dragon Wings

Materials: Cardboard, green and yellow felt, green ribbon, elastic bands, hot glue gun, scissors
  1. Cut the Wing Shapes: Cut out two matching wing shapes from cardboard. These will serve as the base for your wings.
  2. Attach Felt: Hot glue green felt to the back side of each wing and yellow felt to the front side. Trim off any excess felt.
  3. Detailing: Cut strips of green ribbon and glue them onto the yellow side of the wings to create wing line details.
  4. Connecting the Wings: Cut two strips of felt and glue the wings together in the center to connect them.
  5. Adding Elastic Bands: Cut and glue two elastic bands to the center of the wings so they can be worn over the shoulders like a backpack.

2. Making the Tail and Scales

Materials: Green felt, yellow felt, stuffing, hot glue gun, scissors
  1. Cut the Tail Pieces: Cut two long matching pieces of green felt with pointed triangle scales along the outside edge. The shape should be thinner at the top and curve to a thicker tail at the bottom.
  2. Add Dimension: Cut a long strip of green felt to fit over the inner edge of the tail. This will give the tail more dimension when stuffed.
  3. Assemble the Tail: Hot glue these pieces together and stuff with polyester stuffing as you glue.
  4. Detail the Scales: Cut yellow triangle felt pieces and glue them to the tips of each scale.
  5. Attach to Costume: Attach the tail to the back of the hoodie or body suit using safety pins or fabric tape.

3. Crafting the Belly

Materials: Green and yellow felt, double-sided fabric tape, scissors
  1. Cut the Belly Shape: Cut an oval shape from green felt that fits over the belly area.
  2. Create Scale Effect: Cut strips of green and yellow felt with one zig-zag edge. Layer and glue them slightly over each other, starting from the bottom and working your way up.
  3. Attach to Costume: Use double-sided fabric tape to attach the belly piece to the front of the hoodie or body suit.

4. Building the Headpiece

Materials: Thermoplastic (Wonderflex or Worbla), styrofoam, polyfill, paper mache, acrylic paints
  1. Create the Helmet: Form a helmet shape using Wonderflex or Worbla. Cut out and glue styrofoam horns onto the helmet.
  2. Add Texture: Stuff polyfill into the nooks and crannies, then cover it with paper mache. Use paper towel pieces and white school glue for this part.
  3. Finish with Thermoplastic: Cover the styrofoam with Worbla thermoplastic. Prime the Worbla with a plastic primer.
  4. Paint: Paint the headpiece with acrylic paints to match the rest of the costume.

5. Dyeing and Painting the Body Suit

Materials: Plain white body suit, Jacquard Dye-na-flow dye, Jacquard Lumiere paints, craft foam
  1. Dye the Body Suit: Use Jacquard Dye-na-flow dye to color the body suit. Follow the dye instructions for best results.
  2. Paint Scales: Use Jacquard Lumiere paints to add scale details to the body suit.
  3. Create Scale Plates: Cut scale "plates" for the back and tail out of craft foam and attach them to the body suit.

Ready-Made Options from CrazeCosplay.com

For those who prefer to purchase a ready-made dragon costume, CrazeCosplay.com offers a variety of high-quality options. Here are a few recommendations:
  • Dragon Ball God Of Destruction Beerus Cosplay Costume: A detailed and impressive costume perfect for fans of Dragon Ball.
  • Dragon Ball Z Vegeta Outfit Cosplay Costume: Another excellent choice for Dragon Ball enthusiasts.
  • Dragon Ball Super Trunks Cosplay Costume: Ideal for those who want to embody the character Trunks from Dragon Ball Super.
These costumes come in various sizes and are made from high-quality materials, ensuring a comfortable and authentic look.

Additional Tips and Tricks

  • Customization: Feel free to customize your dragon costume with additional details like LED lights for the eyes or glitter for extra sparkle.
  • Comfort: Ensure that all parts of the costume are comfortable to wear, especially if it will be worn for extended periods.
  • Safety: Use non-toxic materials and ensure that any sharp edges are covered or smoothed out.

Conclusion

Creating a dragon costume can be a fun and creative project that allows you to unleash your inner dragon. Whether you choose to make your costume from scratch using the detailed instructions provided or opt for a ready-made option from CrazeCosplay.com, you'll be sure to impress. Remember to take your time, enjoy the process, and let your imagination soar!
For more inspiration and detailed tutorials, you can visit Primary, Instructables, and Velcro. Happy crafting!
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