How to Make Flapping Wings

Vary the color of the wings to suit different costumes.

With commercial costumes featuring articulated wings, full body suits, lights and sound, the handmade costume has a lot of competition. Luckily, most exhibitions and contests show support for amateur costumers by hosting separate events to highlight handmade costumes, where praise and points are given for creativity and ingenuity. One way to shine at these competitions is to adapt a single mechanical base to make several different costumes. For example; you can use a flapping wing base to make dragon wings, fairy wings or angel wings, which flap when you move your arms and shoulders.

Things You'll Need

• 4 hangers
• Wire cutters
• Pliers
• Electrical tape
• 4 knee-high stockings
• Needle
• Thread
• Hot glue
• 1/2-inch-wide elastic
• 1-inch-wide elastic
• Sewing machine
• Safety pins

Instructions

Wings

1. Select four wire hangers the same size.

2. Cut off the twisted neck and hook of each hanger. Use wire cutters to sever the wire 1-inch to the right and left of the twisted neck. Straighten the rest of the hanger.

3. Fold each piece of wire in half. Use pliers to shape the middle of the hangers.

4. Hold the cut ends of one wire together, one on top of the other, to form an X with 1 1/2 inches of wire extending past the intersection. Twist the wire ends around each other, rotating them 360 degrees to hold them in place.

5. Hold the sides of the hanger and pull them apart to round the sides of the hanger and form a pointed oval.

6. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to shape each of the remaining wire lengths. Measure each piece against the others so they are the same size within 1/2-inch.

Wing Assembly

1. Select two pointed ovals. Lie the ovals, one above the other, with the cut ends pointed to the right.

2. Overlap the lower pointed oval with the second hangar so the cut ends overlap in the middle. Three pointed ends and a middle end are formed by the right end of the lower wing and left end of the upper wing.

3. Wrap electrical tape around the intersection to hold the wire together and form a rigid bond.

4. Bend the ends of the wire over so they overlap the perimeter of the pointed ovals. Wrap electrical tape around the bent wires to holds them in place and hide the cut ends.

5. Pull a knee-high stocking over one of the pointed ovals. Pull the hose tight and cut off the material that extends past the right edge of the wing, where the bent wires are located. Pull the stockings taut so they are stretched across the wing and not wrinkled. Position the cut ends on the right side of the wing to encase the bent wires. Sew the ends of the hose together.

6. Smear hot glue over the seam to reinforce it.

7. Repeat Steps 1 through 6 to make a second wing, but begin so the cut ends of the pointed ovals point to the left instead of the right. This results in a wing that faces the opposite direction.

Left and Right Harnesses

1. Wrap a length of 1/2-inch elastic around your chest, just under your bust. Hold the elastic so it is stretched but not tight. Overlap the ends of the elastic 1 inch. Cut two lengths of elastic this length.

2. Apply hot glue to the end of each elastic and overlap the ends, as you did when you measured the length. This forms a loop. Repeat with the other elastic.

3. Stitch over the elastic in a zig-zag pattern where they overlap to reinforce the bond.

4. Put on one elastic and position it just under your bust.

5. Drape a length of 1-inch elastic over your shoulder to form a strap, and the ends of the elastic touch the bottom edge of the 1/2-inch band at the front and back; mark the points where the elastic touches the 1/2-inch band with a pencil. Mark the end of the elastic with your finger. Cut two straps 1/2 inch to 1 inch shorter than this measurement, so the harness is taut when worn.

6. Apply a drop of hot glue to the ends of the shoulder strap elastic and press it in place so it overlaps the pencil marks at the front and back of the 1/2-inch band. Sew over these overlaps.

7. Repeat Steps 4 through 6 to make a second harness for the other shoulder.

Attach Wings to Harness

1. Put on the left and right harnesses; two horizontal bands pass under your bust, and a strap goes over each shoulder.

2. Hold the wings in position over your back and pin them in place. You receive the most articulation my positioning the wing near the shoulder blade.

3. Remove the harness and hot glue the wings in place.

4. Stitch through the wing and elastic band, wrapping the stitches under and over the wire edge of the wings.

5. Put on the harness and move your shoulders or arms to make the wings move. Shrug one shoulder to make the wing on that side rise. Move shoulders down and back, as if rowing a boat to make the wings flap back and forth.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of pointed ovals, shape the wings to form circles or arches as appropriate for different costumes.

• The harness can be stitched to the inside of a skin suit or tight shirt. Cut a small section of the shirt to expose the harness and attach the wings as normal.

• Decorate the wings with glue, glitter, paint or appliques.

• To make the wings glow, insert LED lights or EL wire into the pointed ovals before covering them with the pantyhose.

References

• "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Elves and Fairies"; Sirona Knight; 2005
• "Fairy World Crafts"; Kathy Ross, et al; 2007
• "The Halloween Handbook"; Bridie Clark, et al; 2004