Sisu the Dragon Costume

This took a little more creative juices to figure out how to transform my 6yo into a glowing dragon. I'm really happy with the overall look and having her wear it for a little while it seems to be holding up. The only thing I want to add is lights to the mane.

2 - bodysuits (one to use for tail piece)

1- yard light blue glitter mesh fabric

1-yard light purple glitter mesh fabric

1-brimless ball cap

1/4 yard of light blue fabric

6 yards - Ostrich Feather Boas

5 yards - Marabou feather boas

Turquoise Fabric Dye

Royal Blue Fabric Dye

2- strings of battery powered flexible rope light (blue)

10 2pks of gel super glue

Stuffing

2 Horns, 1 slightly larger than the other

Acrylic paint in light blue and slightly darker (I mixed my own from a light blue and white)

Large clear plastic Christmas ornament

1 strand of wine bottle fairy lights

Fine and chunky glitter in light blue, silver, and dark blue

1 bottle shiny Modge Podge

Tools:

Sewing Machine & Serger (Serger makes it easier to work with stretchy fabric but isn’t needed)

Needle and Thread

Hot Glue Gun

Dremel or hack saw

1. Cut one body suit from the seam below the arm to crotch and trim down the width to make it skinny. I was told by my daughter that the tail has to be skinny.
2. Make a template for the tail fins. The concept art for Sisu shows 5 fins at the tip of her tail, I cut 10 pieces (5 of each color glitter mesh making the purple slightly larger all around) to layer them to simulate the color change. Sisu also has the same color fins that run along her tail but in a wave shape, I used the same fabric for these and did the same, making purple slightly larger. I made it the length of the tail only because I didn’t want to mess with a zipper.

Next I had her put on the other body suit and marked where the tail will be attached and used a marker to draw where the lights would go. I stopped once the arms were drawn because I wasn’t sure how much (if any) of the EL rope would be left, but for the design I used and the size of my daughter one 15 ft length was enough to do half her body.

1. With the tail fabric cut and all the fins ready to go you will want to pin the tail right sides together (RST) and place the fins in-between them with the base of the fins sticking out. I’m not going to lie, this was tricky because it was a lot of thin fabric in a tight space so take your time sewing it and you will get through it. Sew (Serger if available) together the edges along the length and tip but leave the end open that will attach to the body.
2. Turn the tail right side outing check that all the fins are securely attached (if not sew it the spots that need it and remember RST for that). If the tail looks good go ahead and stuff it, I left it a little under stuffed but that’s a preference. Stuff it until you reach about an inch from the open
3. On the body suit cut the fabric where you marked the tail and then feed the open end of the tail into that opening. Pin the tail in place (RST) and sew (serger) the pieces together. I double checked that it was a good seam and correct any gaps if need be. I went back over the seam with the sewing machine to make sure it was a sturdy seam.
4. At this point I had her put it on and decided I wanted to be able to hook the tail to the upper body so it wouldn’t be dragging around. I marked on the body suit and tail where they should meet and once my daughter took it off hand sewed the hook and eye in place

I tried a few different ways before settling on using GEL super glue. Gel worked the best on this fabric and the plastic used in the lighting rope. Figure out where you want the battery packs to be and if you care if they are visible. I wanted them by her ankles and didn’t decide to hide them until after everything was done which caused a headache adding a pocket to disguise them, my advice if you want to do that, do it before adding the lights! I placed cardboard inside the bodysuit so I could pull the fabric tight as I glued. Using the gel super glue I worked in 2-3 inch increments putting the glue over my markings then putting the rope on top of the glue. It was tedious, time consuming, aggravating, and painful (I glued my fingers to themselves and the costume several times) TIP: use latex gloves to save your fingers! I worked my way up the left side of the body (leg to chest to arm to shoulder to back to tail). One 15 ft length was enough to do half my daughters body. Any markings that didn’t get covered by glue and light can be wiped off using rubbing alcohol.

First I dyed all the feathers using two shades of a blue. I left them in the dye baths from 30 seconds up to 1 1/2 minutes to give them some differences. I also wasn’t concerned with a perfect dye job since it would also add some depth. For instructions on how to dye feathers a youtube search will tell you all you need to know, it’s easier than I expected but scary when you pull them out of the dry and they are a twisted knotted mess.

I used a small piece of blue fabric (just big enough to cover the brimless cap) as the base for attaching the feathers BEFORE attaching to the cap. I played the feathers on the fabric with a line drawn down the center to mark it and where the horns would go and cut the pieces (I recommend doing this outside because I am still finding feathers all over the house) so they would be about shoulder length on her. I varied between marabou and ostrich and I left the center a little sparse due to horns going on later. Once things looked goodI pinned the feathers to the fabric and started the process of attaching them.

This was a pain and I wish I had a tip to make sewing feathers a little easier but take your time and keep the area where the needle is as free of feathers as possible! So using the sewing machine I sewed the feathers to the fabric from front to back. Once they were attached I hand stitched that piece to the cap. Once that was done I used a needle and thread to attach all the ends not on the fabric together loosely and placed the piece on my daughter and adjusted the spacing so it hangs where I want it then tied off the thread.

With the horns I was lucky enough to know someone that could 3d print a set to my specific needs, if you don’t have access to a 3D printer Etsy will do just fine. I painted them a light blue and then hot glued them together, so the smaller one cradled the larger one. and then in pencil drew the pattern on and went over it in a slightly darker blue. Once dried I covered the darker blue in modge podge and then poured the fine darker blue glitter over it. I then repeated this with the lighter blue glitter. Once dried I covered the whole thing with gloss modge podge and let dry before hot glueing the horn set to the cap and filling in any bare areas with feathers. I also hot glued some of the fabric used for the fins around the mane to add some sparkle. I may add some lights to the mane as of writing this I haven’t decided.

The easiest part was making the magic orb the holds the magic. I grabbed a large clear Christmas ornament from Dollar Tree and cut off the piece that sticks out from the ball using a Dremel but a hacksaw would work too. I poured modge podge into it and coated the entire inside. I mixed in a small bowl a few shades of blue and silver glitter (both fine and chunky) and poured it into the ornament making sure it was completely covered and then turned it upside down so the excess glue and glitter would drain out. Once that was dry I put in a string of wine bottle fairy lights and hot glued its base to the ornament making sure the switch was outside of it.