DIY children's dragon costume: patterns, ideas and description. how to make a full scale chinese dragon costume how to make a large dragon costume

Elena Strizhakova

Christmas costumes for children, you can buy in specialized departments, or you can spend a couple of evenings and sew a magnificent outfit for your beloved child with your own hands.

2012 is the year of the black dragon. Therefore, surely to those who come to New Year's party in a dragon costume will receive maximum attention. The child will have a chance to win a prize for the best masquerade suit.

Before sketching dragon costume, consult with your little son, what character his hero will be endowed with. Try to come up with a fairy tale with your child. dragon, give it a name and start creating.

The Dragoncan be very different: cruel or kind, wise or completely naive, decisive or slightly cowardly.

Having come up with a story for him, decide what color he is. You can invite the child to draw a portrait of the character. And already on the basis of the simulated image, start doing dragon costume.

The easiest option dragon costume- just make a tail that is attached to the belt with Velcro.

A cape is a little more difficult to perform, but even a not very experienced needlewoman can sew it. Conduct an audit on the mezzanine, probably there there will be an unused piece of fabric, an old grandmother's plush green blanket will do.

First, cut out the cape. We sew a hood to it. We outline where the comb will be. Its pretty easy to make: cut out some triangles (can different size) in contrasting fabric (red, orange, raspberry color) . We grind the triangles with each other and stuff them with padding polyester for stability. Sew them on the hood and "ridge". It remains to build paws. We sew fabric claws on gloves and slippers. Dragon costume ready, you can safely go to New Year's party.

If with sewing machine you are friends, then sew to your dragon jumpsuit or costume.

Take pajamas as a basis, make a pattern of trousers and a shirt.

dragon costume

I wish you an unforgettable new year's matinee and certainly win a prize for the best carnival suit!

The dragon costume and the famous dragon dance have their roots in the Han Dynasty of ancient China. For centuries, the Chinese dragon has symbolized kindness, fertility, and vigilance. In addition, he is the motive for an absolutely fantastic costume to "ignite" any party, especially a party on the occasion of the advent of the year of the dragon.

Difficulty: moderately difficult.

You will need:
- a long flexible plastic pipe, 150-180 cm long, and 30 cm in diameter;
- several pieces of PVC pipe, 90-120 cm long (depending on the number of people);
- a large skein of canvas / tarpaulin;
- fine wire mesh;
- everything you need for papier-mâché (water, powder, suitable glue);
- paints or markers on fabric;
- glue for fabric;
- newspapers;
- sealing tape for pipelines.

1. Find a few images of the Chinese dragon costume on the Internet - they will become a visual cue and guide. Many variations of colors and styles are allowed here.

2. Decide how long you want your dragon to be. If there will be several people inside, allow for at least 90 cm of free space between them, starting with the person directly under the head. Calculate the final length and cut the plastic pipe according to it.
Alternatively, you can always use wooden hexagonal frames - one for each person in the dragon's torso - that can be attached to the shoulders and waist of the participants, and to which the canvas will be attached. These frames are somewhat more difficult to carry and take quite a long time to make, but the wood for them is easier to find on sale, and with the frames the dragon will turn out not so heavy, it will become more flexible and mobile.

3. Cut a long, narrow section of canvas just wide enough to wrap around the plastic pipe and cover the entire length. The canvas will represent the long, serpentine body of the dragon. Experiment with different body designs and concepts. Most Chinese dragons have large scales on the upper body, and scales different kind at the bottom.

4. Draw your dragon on the canvas using only a pen for now, then color it in with markers or fabric paints. The Chinese dragon is widely known for its bright contrasting colors and intricate designs. Choose colors that create a special dynamic and vibrant look.

5. Attach the completely dry and finished canvas to the plastic pipe, slightly overlapping the edges and using glue. Cut holes in the pipe and canvas from below, at the required intervals and of sufficient diameter - where people will stand. Insert pieces of PVC pipe into the holes.

6. Build the dragon's head using papier mache and wire. From fine wire mesh, form a head of any size and style. Make the mouth as big as possible. Prepare the papier-mâché mixture at the rate of 3 parts water to 1 part powder. Put strips of newspaper into the mixture and cover the wire mold with them. Completely cover the form with newspapers and let them dry thoroughly.

7. Decorate and color the dried papier mache head with markers/fabric paint. Draw large open eyes and create an intricate colorful muzzle design. Attach the head to the dragon's body (let the paint dry completely first) by securing the remaining wire at the bottom around the end of the pipe. Wrap a few layers of duct tape around the top to keep everything in place. Cover the top with canvas. It would be nice to stick the tape on the inside too, so that the person under the head does not get hurt on the wire.

Add-ons:

- The dragon costume can be used for a parade on a not particularly frosty day on the street, for a performance in a large hall at a holiday, for a children's matinee, etc .;

- A "beard" of any suitable material can be attached to the dragon's head - it is also characteristic of Chinese dragons; fringes can be cut from canvas and attached to the dragon's body to make it look more voluminous;

- When moving around in the dragon costume, ask people, holding it from the inside, to move from side to side, in opposite directions, so that the dragon seems to wriggle and slide.

Children for the holiday choose costumes of cartoon characters or animals. For them, this is an opportunity to reincarnate and try on new look. In this article we will look at the dragon costume. This mythical animal is found in fairy tales of all countries and acts as a good and evil hero.

Great choice

The dragon is always portrayed as powerful and brave, evil and kind at the same time. His unique ability to fly and breathe fire always attracts little kids. But not everyone dares to try on this image. Courage and courage are masculine qualities, so a dragon costume for a boy is better suited. This does not mean that girls may not even consider this version of the costume. On the contrary, such an idea would be very unusual; there are hardly any analogues of it.

What should a child's costume consist of?

Undoubtedly, each parent has his own vision of the mythical dragon, but there are obligatory details without which the image of the dragon will not be complete. Here is their list:

cape or cloak with spikes;

You can selectively use this list by creating a suitable kit. For example, a dragon costume may consist of the following parts:

masks and wings;

caps, wings and tail;

cape or cape with a hood.

It is worth paying attention to some details, such as shoes and clothes. The image looks harmonious when using green and red colors. Do not be too lazy to pick up clothes and shoes to match, and get best suit dragon. Children's holiday, for which the costume is being prepared, involves outdoor games, so make sure that the child is comfortable and comfortable to move.

Cape

This option is quite convenient and easy to manufacture. If you have an unnecessary one, you can redo it. To do this, it is enough to sew soft spikes on the head and along the spine. They can be cut out of an ordinary kitchen sponge and glued to double-sided tape. And you can sew from fabric, filling with cotton. Such soft spikes are a must when creating an image.

If you are ready to sew a New Year's dragon costume from a cape yourself, then be sure to complete it with a mask. Choose a fabric of the right color and cut out a semi-circle with scalloped edges. Sew on a ribbon or ribbon for tying around the neck - and the dragon costume is ready. The advantage of this option is that the edges of the raincoat can not be processed, but left in their original form.

Overalls

This option is suitable for those who have an old jumpsuit in their wardrobe, and if you can sew it yourself, then this will be a big plus. But we will consider the option with a ready-made jumpsuit.

All we need to do is decorate the finished item. Soft spikes, sequins, stripes, in general, everything you find at hand will be used. Be sure to sew wings and a tail on our dragon, and also choose shoes to match. And you can consider the dragon costume ready. Children's party which the child will wear this suit lasts quite a long time, so think about whether it will be hot in the overalls.

Headdress

You can choose a hat from several options: a cap and a hat, consider each of them.

Before sewing a hat, take measurements of the child's head so that the product fits. The material that is suitable for this should be dense, but at the same time not rigid. You can sew by hand, but if you have a machine, you can use it, this will speed up the process. A good option- felt, as shown in the figure below, the dragon hat is sewn in several steps.

If you do not want to bother and have chosen the option with a cap, then all you need is to decorate a headdress. To do this, you need felt, scissors and hot. Cut out eyes and spikes from felt, glue these parts with a glue gun. Do not forget that a cap or hat must be supplemented with a cape. You can see decor options in the following picture, or you can come up with something of your own.

Mask

The materials from which you can make a mask are very diverse. You can use cardboard colored paper, cloth, plastic plates. Effective will turn out carnival costume dragon, if you select fabric as the material for the mask. The mask can be sewn voluminous with details or flat.

For the second option, it is enough to cut the base out of the fabric, sew on an elastic band and add details. It is better to choose colored cardboard for the mask, this will simplify the manufacture. If you use white, then you can paint it with paints in a continuous layer with your child or draw scales.

If you choose a volumetric option, then be prepared to spend a little more time. It is better to use several shades of the same color, and choose cotton wool to fill the details. Be sure to wash the nose, eyebrows, horns and spikes. And then the mask will have a realistic look. Below you can see one of the options for a three-dimensional mask made of felt and a tail. Which, by the way, can be sewn according to the same principle, filled with cotton wool or padding polyester.

So, the dragon costume is made by hand, it remains to add a few touches so that your child is the most beautiful and happy.

For a greater effect of the holiday, you can decorate the child's face with paints. Draw scales, formidable eyebrows and outline the mouth. But this option will not work if you chose a mask.

Decorate your child's shoes with soft details. To do this, cut out triangles from felt or cardboard that will act as claws, and put them on glue.

Pay attention to the baby's hands, in order for the dragon costume to be completed, gloves will be needed. On them it is necessary to stick claws on the principle of shoes. It is better to use fabric for claws, it will hold on to gloves more firmly. It is necessary to glue with silicone glue on each finger. And remember to respect the color scheme.

It is possible to make fire as an addition to the costume. After all, as everyone knows, dragons breathe fire. To do this, you can cut a flame out of cardboard, decorate it with paints. And then stick it on a wooden stick using hot silicone. It is enough for a child to bring the flame to his face, and the effect of a fire-breathing dragon will already be created.

A dragon costume for a girl can be sewn from the same details, just choose more delicate colors. Suitable shades of red and pink. To sew a suit, choose natural fabrics. Pick up a matching skirt with tights, braid two bunches of hair - and the cute dragon is ready.

Well, here is the promised MK for making a dragon costume with your own hands.

As I said, I have no sewing experience, so the first thing I got on the Internet was to look for how it was done. I found a wonderful MK for tailoring a suit ... but nothing worked out for me. So I had to rip open my old pants. The sleeve also turned out not like in MK, but a puff, but this is even for the better. I cut patterns from unnecessary fabric, sewed, flogged, cut and sewed again ... in general, I didn’t take pictures of my torment with a jumpsuit. I think those who know how to sew can easily cope with this.

Then it was decided to make sinewy wings (what kind of dragon without wings?)

To do this, I drew a sketch of the future wing. screwed screws into an unnecessary board. On this blank I made a wire frame. I must say right away that I take the wire from 2-3 core wires (it is not expensive on the market) - you just need to clean off the insulation. The wire is thick enough, it keeps its shape, but at the same time it is quite plastic: that's it!!!

Now you need to solder the veins. in this case, a beloved spouse can help very well;)

We get a wing frame with veins. We are operating in the second wing. Don't forget to leave a place in the middle for fastening.

Now you need to wrap the attachment point with synthetic winterizer so that the back of the baby does not press or scratch anything. I wrapped it with padding polyester and fastened it with threads.

Now we need to think about how to fit our wings. because the costume was sewn for a child - the wings are not big. I have opted for nylon tights. If the wings are large, then you need to take any elastic fabric or mesh.

The view, frankly, is not very ...;)

Let's take paint. I have the usual acrylic "Ladoga". Painted with a foam sponge. For convenience, I took 3 pieces so as not to rinse them, but to work with three colors at the same time (yellow, orange and red). I didn’t wet the sponge, I didn’t dilute the paint.

It's gotten a lot cuter, hasn't it?

Now we sew elastic bands (be sure to try on the child so that they do not press). It is better to take an elastic band thicker. And we wrap it with any tape, solely for aesthetics :)

Now, to decorate the wings, I decided to add some glitter by drawing circles. At the same time, he hemmed the edges of the capron, which did not fit the frame. Not beautiful? don't worry, we'll cover it :)

Initially, I planned to sheathe them around the edge with small tinsel. But this was not found in the vicinity, so we bought 10 meters of sequins, although we originally planned to take 2-4 meters. Used up almost everything. Therefore, it is better to take with a margin. I glued it with hot glue from a gun. Holds up great. Do not forget to wrap the base of the wings (those parts that will be visible).

When the wings are ready, let's take care of the eyes. Sew-turn-stuff-paint. Everything seems to be clear here.

Eyelashes made of thin wire. The tip was dipped in glue and stuck into the seam connecting the front and back parts. But experience has shown that it is better to take fishing line or not to do it at all. They are practically invisible, and from the constant movement of the child (he does not sit still), they crumple and crooked eyelashes are obtained :)

Now let's start painting the head. Primed with acrylic primer. The head itself was made of foam rubber, then glued on top with toilet paper on PVA. The folds turned out, because. in the end, I took large pieces of paper, and it wrinkled from the abundance of moisture. At first I wanted to sand them with sandpaper, but did not. And it even worked out for me.

I actually took pictures somewhere, but I can't find them now. If I find it, I'll add it.

When the soil is dry, cover the entire head yellow paint(with the same sponge that you used to paint the wings)

Then we go through orange, slightly, barely touching, and finally red. This is where our folds show through (because the convex parts are painted). It turned out such a fiery texture, I really liked the effect.

We cut the abdomen. For beginners, like me, I pay attention: the fabric is placed face to face, and between them a synthetic winterizer. The first time I folded it wrong, I had to flog :(

It's just that the yellow tummy seemed boring to me, and I painted it using all the same 3 colors.

We attach Velcro to the belly. I have those that stick, but it's better to sew on, it will be more reliable.

I made triangles for the backbone of different sizes. Long and tedious sewing, turning, stuffing, sewing up the hole.

Then painting. all the same colors

Then I laid them out on the floor, starting with the smallest ones (those that will be on the tail) - to the largest (those that will be on the head)

It was possible to sew on, but I glued it with hot glue from a gun. Holds very tightly and glues much faster than sewing :)

Then, along the edge, glue the sequins that we have left after the wings.

I forgot to write that in the jumpsuit we make a slit on the back (for the wings) - I didn’t think of another way to attach them :(. We stab the incision on a pin, and on top it is covered with a Velcro triangle - you can see in 2 photos

I thought for a long time how to connect the head with the hood. I tried different variants. Already desperate to come up with something. Decided to do it on a whim. Therefore, there are no pictures of the process and I don’t even know how to describe it.

What you see in the photo was the first.

Then I tore off the fabric, made a new hood on it, taking into account how it sits on the head. She stitched the fabric, and then, putting the foam rubber head on the child (there inside, in the foam rubber, she cut a hole for the head with a knife) - she glued the fabric to the dragon's head. I glued gold tinsel behind the ears and eyes, imitating a forelock. It came out nicely on New Year's Eve.

That's it. It took 2 days to make the costume. The happiness of the child knew no bounds - he did not take it off. Isn't this the main indicator that the work done is not in vain? ;)

A few more details.

Everyone knows that for the New Year they prepare not only certain dishes and decorate the room in thematic colors. Very often everyone wants to come in costumes. Children especially love the various costumes, who will wear them not only on a holiday, but also on any other day, in order to imagine themselves as an evil fire-breathing dragon. The Land of the Soviets offers to sew for a child new year dragon costume.

Certainly, baby suit dragon sewing is easy enough. The main thing is to have a little patience and imagination. So, what is required to sew a New Year's dragon costume with your own hands?

You will need these materials:

main fabric (most often they use green fabric, but you can take any other color)
contrasting silk for breast, back and mane (we offer beige)
beige braid
stiff mesh for spikes, mane and hood
sheer fabric for wings
lining fabric
insulation for shaping the tail, spikes and additional volume of the abdomen
snake matching the color of the suit
two adhesive tapes
threads in the color of the suit

The basis of any costume is a jumpsuit.. Naturally, to make a jumpsuit, you will need a dragon costume pattern. For this purpose you can use your child's pajamas as a template. You can also use the patterns that are provided on our website.

Based on the height of your child, calculate the amount of fabric that will be required in order to sew a New Year's dragon costume. So, for a child with a height of 100 cm, 1.5 meters of the main fabric is enough. Use a lining so that the suit does not stick too much to the body and looks more voluminous.

Sew all four parts of the costume: front and back, sleeves. Insert a zipper at the front to fasten the suit. Behind leave a place to insert the tail and crest of the dragon.

The tail and comb are fairly easy to make. Only rigid mesh needs to be inserted into the comb so that it doesn't break. And here the tail is stuffed with thin insulation. To make the dragon costume believable, the comb is inserted not only along the line of the back, but also along the tail.

Of course, what kind of dragon is without a light belly? Use the oval as a pattern for the belly. Fold over the oval and iron a few ribs to mimic a real dragon's belly. In order for the belly on the suit to be voluminous, it will be enough for you to line it with the same thin insulation.

We insert wings made of transparent fabric into the bottom seam of the sleeves.. To imitate folds on the wings, you can use beige braid. Draw the braid with rays from one point from the armpit.

The hood needs to be sewn stiff enough so that it holds its shape well. Therefore, a rigid mesh is inserted into it. So that the mesh does not prick, it is advisable to make a lining in the hood of a fairly dense old fabric. Thus, the hood will consist of four layers: wrong side, thick lining, mesh, front part of the hood. By stitching all four parts, you can insert the fangs and nostrils of the dragon into the seam. Fangs can be made in the same way as spikes.

Now You just have to decorate the hood with spikes and a crest. Comb You already know how to sew. And spikes are very easy to make. It is enough to sew a cone from the mesh, which is stuffed with cotton. A cone of the same size is required to be sewn from beige fabric and put on top of the mesh. Now you just have to sew on the spikes.

If you cannot boast of good sewing skills, you can make a "lightweight" version of the New Year's dragon costume. It will consist of a cape with a hood. Wings and a crest are also sewn on it.

When you sew a New Year's dragon costume, your child can also take part in the carnival. After all, the dragon's carnival costume is no different from the New Year's! Besides, dragon costume can be complemented with matching mittens and soft slippers. Using dense fabric, claws can be sewn on them.