How to Make a Wrestlers Mask

Complete your wrestling costume with a homemade mask.

Many novelty wrestlers, especially those involved in lucha libre, wear masks to complement their costumes and hide their identities. Re-create the icon of the masked wrestler by making your own wrestling mask for Halloween or a costume party. Making your own mask can save you money and allow you to design your own outfit. Use household items to make your mask and impress your friends with a great, creative costume.

Things You'll Need

• ½ yard of fabric
• Scissors
• Fabric marker
• Needle
• Thread
• Fabric scraps
• Fabric glue

Instructions

1. Choose a color and texture of fabric that complements your wrestler persona. Spandex is ideal since it is stretchy, glossy and comes in jewel tones to complement colorful tights or capes. However, a stretchy cotton or polyester blend can also be used for making a wrestler's mask.

2. Cut a piece of fabric that measures 6 inches by 14 inches. Tie the strip around your face and mark the location of your eyes using a fabric marker. Remove the mask and cut out holes for the eyes.

3. Fold the edges of the mask back by a ½-inch and sew the strips in place to create a hem. Repeat on all sides.

4. Decorate the mask using scraps of fabric in contrasting colors. Cut out circles to place around the eyes and add designs to the rest of the mask as desired. Use fabric glue to attach these decorations and allow them to dry.

5. Pull the mask tight across your face and cut off the loose ends of fabric at the back. Cut two strips of Velcro 4 inches long and 1 inch wide. Use fabric glue to attach one strip of Velcro to each end of the mask so that it connects at the back of the head.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a favorite wrestler to emulate when making your mask. Create designs with fabric scraps that resemble the ones on her mask and use colors that mimic her outfit.

References

• Capcom-Unity; How to Make a Lucha Libre Mask Out of a Tee Shirt; August 2008
• eLucha: Wrestling Masks

Resources

• "The Encyclopedia of Professional Wrestling"; Kristian Pope and Ray, Jr. Whebbe; 2003
• Maska Lucha: History of Lucha Libre
• Wrestling News Media: History of Professional Wrestling