DIY Dragon Wings- Finger Controlled!

Hey there! I wanted to go as a Wyvern for halloween, but couldn't find wings that fit my vision. I took inspiration from the "classic" halloween dragon wings, the ones that have a loop around your wrist and that's it. I knew I wanted something similar, but with more of a wow factor, so I made these! They are a pair of wings you control with your fingers, and would work for wyvern and bat costumes. By the way, the picture above is from a slightly earlier version of the project, the improved version is described below. This is my first instructable, so any pointers in the comments are welcome!

Tools:

1. Pair of tweezers (Optional)
2. Hot glue gun
3. Piece of chalk
4. Pen/sharpie
5. Fabric scissors (really sharp normal scissors will also work)
6. A lighter
7. Pair of pliers

Supplies

1. 36" marshmallow sticks
2. Paint
3. Sheer fabric, NOT COTTON, use polyester Link (To get measurements, measure across yourself from fingertip to fingertip, then add 72 inches. Convert to yards and round up. I used 5 yards.)
4. 2 pairs of hook and loop fasteners
5. Thin (1/4 inch) elastic
6. Parchment paper
7. 2 safety pins
8. Large flat surface (Floor is preferable)
9. Fray stop fabric sealant (May not be necessary)

Other:

1. A friend or family member willing to help
2. Patience

Important: If your finger starts to feel hot at any time, touch the tip of it to an ice cube or cold water. As aluminum foil is a great conductor, this will cool your finger down significantly.

For this step, you will need about 10 hot glue sticks, a hot glue gun, and tinfoil.

First, wrap your finger in 2 layers of tinfoil, making sure to cover the whole thing. It can be helpful to start on your non-dominant hand for practice. Once wrapped, apply hot glue in a ring around your finger at 3 points: between the base of your finger and the knuckle, on the knuckle, and between the 2 knuckles. It can be really hot, so take it slow. Let that solidify.

Then, connect the circles with 4 lines of glue: one on the top of your finger, one on the bottom, and one on each side. Again, let it dry. Then, add more glue anywhere 2 lines meet to strengthen the bond. Proceed to the next step.

Important: If your finger starts to feel hot at any time, touch the tip of it to an ice cube or cold water. As aluminum foil is a great conductor, this will cool your finger down significantly.

In this step, you will need the hot glue contraption you made in the last step along with the 36" marshmallow sticks.

First, slide the hot glue back on if you took it off. Then, put quite a bit of hot glue on the top. Before it dries, place the dull end of the marshmallow stick atop the hot glue, holding it there until it dries. Next, add more glue on top of the stick to secure it. Let that dry, then proceed.

For this step, you might need a pair of tweezers.

Sliding the contraption off of your finger, crinkle the foil at both ends, then push it in with a blunt something in the gabs between the hot glue. Twisting the ends can also make removal easier. That's really all this step is, removing tinfoil. You can use a pair of tweezers to get the bits that are harder to reach or are smaller. Make sure you get most, if not all of it removed, or you risk the contraption feeling uncomfortable.

Repeat steps 1 through 3 for each finger excluding the thumb. Make sure to label each finger, as that will be helpful later. These sticks will form the bones of the wings.

For this step, you will need your wooden fingers, paint, and a sponge or sponge brush.

Dip the sponge in paint and run it up and down the stick, holding it by the hot glue and leaving that unpainted. Let that dry while you do the same to the others. Once they are all dry, paint the hot glue part by holding on to the wood.

Note: in the above illustration, chalk lines are marked in yellow and where you need to pin is marked with dotted white lines.

For this step, you will need your fabric, your 8 wing fingers, a piece of chalk, and lots of sewing pins.

First, lay out your fabric on the floor, folded in half "hamburger" style. Then, pin along the edges of the fabric to keep it in place while you lay on it. Yes, I said lay on it. Put on one set of the wing fingers and grab your chalk. Then, lay down with the shoulder that does not have the fingers on the fold of the fabric near the top. Stretch out your arm in the position shown.

Using the chalk, make a mark at your shoulder, your elbow, between your thumb and hand, at the end of each stick, and by your hips. Next, take off the wing fingers and connect the dots to create your pattern. Pin along the inside of the line to help with cutting, then move to the next step.

For this step, you need your fabric from the previous, somewhere to put the pins, and a nice, sharp pair of scissors.

To cut out the fabric, cut along the chalk line you made in the previous step, making sure to leave the pins in on the inside. Once you have it cut, take the pins out from the leftover fabric and return them to their container. Proceed to the next step.

For this step, you will need your cut fabric, your stick fingers, a hot glue gun, parchment paper, and a flat surface.

Sorry about the lack of picture.

To start, completely unfold your fabric. Lay it out on a hard floor, large table, or on a cutting mat if you have it. Then, put on one of your wooden fingers. To check that it's the right hand, lay your hand, palm up, on the fabric. If your fingers point outwards, toward the cut portion, it is the correct hand. If not, then put a finger on the other hand. Line up that finger with the upper edge of the fabric, with the end at the point of the fabric. Once it's lined up, slide a piece of parchment paper underneath it and add a dot of hot glue at the place where glue meets wood. Go down the length of the stick, putting glue on the stick, then pressing it down.

Put on another finger, then line it up with the next point. Then, put a dot of glue every few inches, making sure to keep the parchment paper directly underneath the glue. Repeat this for the other 2 fingers.

Once done with the first side, repeat for the other hand.

Important: Be ready to blow out or douse the fabric in case the flame spreads.

In this step, you will need the wings from step 8, a lighter, and a non flammable surface, such as a driveway or garage.

To begin, test your fabric by taking a (very small) scrap from cutting out the wings, set it on a fireproof surface, and try to set it on fire. If it burns easily, sorry. You did not buy a meltable fabric, and will have to use the alternate method in step 10. If it melts before burning, then proceed.

Take your wings and lay them out flat. Grab your lighter and run it along the edge until it melts, but not for more than a few seconds. Do this around the whole edge, making sure not to miss a spot.

For this step, you will need your wings and fabric sealant.

I had polyester, so no pictures here.

Apply the sealant according to the directions on the bottle along all edges.

In this step, you will use a needle and thread, 2 pairs of hook and eye fasteners, 2 safety pins, a piece of chalk, a helper, and your hemmed wings.

To start, put on one side of the wing. Have someone hold out the other side so the fabric is flat against your arm. Next, straighten your arm. Then, take your piece of chalk and make a mark on the wing fabric where your elbow is. Take it off, and do the same for the other side.

Grab one of the "loop" part of the hook and loop connecters. Then, sew it to the mark with the loop part right by the edge. To make sure the knot stays, don't pull the thread all the way through the first or second time, and pass the needle between the two strands. Pull it tight and finish sewing it on. Then, repeat for the other side.

Pass a piece of elastic through the loop. Put the wing back on and have your assistant tie it comfortably around your elbow. Repeat for the other side.

Now, you need safety pins, the "hook" parts of the fasteners, a needle and thread, pliers, chalk, an assistant, and the wings.

First, put on the wings with the loops. Then, have your assistant find that knob by your collarbone on your back, right above your shoulder blade. Ask them to pull the fabric up to that point and make a mark, then repeat on your other side. Once the mark is made, remove the wings.

Sew on the "hook" connecter pointing to the edge. Then, take on of the safety pins and slide the hook in to the circle at the bottom. Next, use the pliers to crimp down the hook to secure it. Repeat for the other side.

You're done! Do any final touch-ups and repairs, then wear them!

There are 2 ways to wear the wings, the first with more control, and the second with more flexibility.

For the first method, slide the elastic loops over your arms to your elbow. Then slide your fingers into their individual slots. Finally, safety pin it to your shirt.

For the second, slide on the loops, but don't put in your fingers. Then, grab onto the top finger, (the one your pointer finger would have gone in). Last, pin it to your shirt.

That's all there is to it!