Introduction: Easy Dragon Costume for Your Beardie!

By may-burnett.com

Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons ... and your Bearded Dragon! In this tutorial, I will show you how to make some simple felt wings for your Bearded Dragon and a harness you can attach the wings to.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

For the wings:

  • 2 pieces of 9x12 felt
  • 1 piece of contrasting 9x12 felt
  • 1 thin wire or floral wire
  • Scissors
  • Hot glue

For the harness:

  • 1 length of 550 paracord
  • 3 pony beads
  • Scissors
  • Lighter

And one willing Bearded Dragon. (Daenerys of the House Targaryen optional)

For our tutorial, we will be using Leslow the Bearded Dragon!

Step 2: Design Your Wings

On a piece of paper, draw out your dragon wings. This is where you can get pretty creative! Just make sure that your drawing isn't bigger than your felt and that you have left about an inch of space between the wings so that you have a place to attach the harness.

Leslow the Bearded Dragon likes the dragons on Game of Thrones, so we will be making a set of wings with a more traditional look.

If you are having trouble getting one side of your wings to look like the other side, a simple trick is to just draw one wing then fold the paper in half. You can then hold the paper up to a window and trace the half you drew onto the opposite side of your drawing.

Once you have your drawing the way you like it, cut the wings out. This is now your template. Trace your template onto the piece of felt you would like for the wing membrane. Next, take your template and cut out your wing's forearm and fingers. Trace this new template onto two pieces of felt.

Good work! You are ready to assemble!

Step 3: Assemble Your Wings

Cut your wings out of the felt. Take the forearm piece that will be on the top of the wings and cut two small holes in the middle. Layer this on top of the membrane piece and mark the holes. Cut the holes out of the membrane piece. Repeat this process for the second forearm piece.

Next, take a single floral wire and bend it around the upper edge of the membrane layer. When you have it just right, glue the wire in place. Carefully hot glue the matching forearm felt over the floral wire. Make sure to tack down all the "fingers". Flip the wings over and hot glue the second forearm felt on.

Now you can trim off any excess felt along the edges just to neaten things up.

Congratulations! Your dragon wings a half way done! Now, on to the harness!

Step 4: Assemble Your Harness

Prep Your Cord

You will only need about 5 or 6 feet of cord, so begin by cutting your cord to the length you need. Inside are 7 strings. Pull out all of the strings, but make sure to save one string and set it to the side. Now cut the open end of the paracord at an angle and seal it with a lighter. Your cord is now prepped! Time to make it into a harness!

Making the Harness

Measure about 10 inches down the cord and fold the cord over. Thread the string you set aside through the fold in the cord. Slide one of the pony beads down the string and use the string to now pull the cord through the bead. Slide the bead down the cord until it is about an inch from the end you sealed.

Now you can grab the wings! Push the folded end of the cord through the left hole. Grab that handy string again and use it to pull the paracord through two more beads. Space the two beads out from each other and then push the folded end of the paracord through the right hand hole in the wings. Pull the loose end of the cord through the folded loop end and tighten by sliding your first bead down snugly.

Congratulations! Your harness is finished and your dragon costume is ready to go! But will your Bearded Dragon like it?

Step 5: Putting the Wings on Your Dragon

This part can be tricky, especially if your Dragon is wiggly. Just take your time and be gentle.

Step 1: Make sure your loops are nice and loose

Step 2: Slip both loops over your Bearded Dragon's head

Step 3: Gently place your Beardie's front legs between the loops, one leg at a time

Step 4: Slide the loop beads down until the loops fit snugly (not tightly)

Step 5: Finally, slide the last bead down until the whole harness fits snugly (not tightly)

And you are done! Now your Bearded Dragon is a REAL dragon! You are bound to get TONS of candy when you take your little Beardie trick or treating in their new costume!