SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
- Simplicity 8729 View E as a Starting Pattern, Adding 1/2yd of Scale Fabric
- 1/2yd of Boning
- 6" of Thin Elastic for Finger Holds
- Ready-made Mask
- 1 Pkg. of Jewels
- 4" Heavy Iron on Fusible
- Hot Glue Gun/Glue Gun Sticks
- 3" Velcro for Neckline
- Kraft Paper, Pencil
- Thread
- Sewing Notions
DIRECTIONS:
NOTE: All seams are 3/8" unless stated.- Using the cape as a base pattern, tracing on to a large piece of Kraft paper.
- The third vein or center back will be 38" long. Make deep sharp curves between veins.
- The center back spine will go drastically down from the second vein.
- Cut out the cape out of sheer and scale fabric.
- Cut out hood out of scale fabric.
- Add a center back seam to the cape.
- Cut 16 pieces for spikes to go down the center back 6" long X 8".
- Shape to look like a spike, making sure there a sharp points, sew right sides together, stuff, and sew edges of spikes to attach to the center back.
- Add more or less spikes if needed Cut out 10 pieces smaller spikes, for around the neckline.
- Follow instruction for stuffing as larger spikes. Place spikes to center back and one at the bottom of spine. Sew boning to lower part of the spine to the center back seam.
- Place smaller spikes to the neckline before placing the hood.
- To make the spine visible, mark 2 1/2" on each side of the center back, place a 3" narrow strip down the center back on the inside of the cape.
- Sew each to the edge of the 3" strip to the 2 1/2" marking on the right side stuffing as you sew.
- Stitch both fabric together to create vein lines then trim excess scale fabric to show the sheer.
- Sew finger loops at the end of cape.
MASK:
- Trace over the mask with scale fabric to cover the mask.
- Glue in place. Cut enough small spikes to go around the bottom of mask.
- Ears: Cut four 7"x 4" out of scale and heavy fusible.
- Press fusible to all 4 pieces. Shape each ear with 3 spike points.
- Place wrong sides together.
- Sew veins going towards the spike points stuffing slightly after sewing each vein.
- Sew along the outer edges. Cut off excess fabric.
- Glue to edge of eye opening.
- Cut out of sheer fabric 4"x 5" for eyebrow.
- Gather to fit the top of eye opening, glue into place.
- Horns: Cut 4 cone shape 7" tall x 4" wide at the bottom narrowing at the top out of sheer fabric.
- Sew two pieces together with a 1/4" seam. Stuff horn, shaping to form the horn going towards the back.
- Glue to the inside of mask or behind the sheer eyebrow.
BEAK:
- Cut 2 scale fabric and two heavy fusible 4" long at the bottom x 2 1/4" wide at the top.
- Press fusible to fabric, place wrong sides together.
- Curve the shape of the beak. Sew around the edges to secure.
- Glue to cover nose detail in mask.
- Glue jewels to mask.
JOANN HACKS:
- Using a hot glue gun is easier to use when creating instant results when shaping for the mask.
- Do not press any blister fabric, stream fabric to a fusible otherwise the fabric will flatten.
Rated 1 out of
5
by
FabricCollector from
Notes I Took While Attempting This Costume
I saw all the reviews about how incomplete the instructions for this project were. I really liked the fabric they were trying to showcase with this project so I thought I would try to make it. I took notes while I was making it. I don't have a full weekend to work on a project so I do projects in sections when my schedule allows. This project allowed me to practice using different types of material I don't usually use.
My Notes:
You will need pattern Simplicity 8729. Note that Simplicity 8729 View E calls for 72" felt and the materials I used were not wide enough so a back center seam was needed.
Fabrics used: The Witching Hour All Over Embossed Pink Apparel Fabric (blue was sold out), and a sheer from the Glitterbug collection.
Fabric I bought for Size Small: about 3 1/3 yds Outer fabric (cape); 2 2/3 - 3 yd Sheer
Cape:
Trace Simplicity 8729 View E cape pattern onto Kraft paper.
On center back edge add seam allowance to the pattern.
(After you created your pattern you will have a better idea of how much fabric you will need after taking the patterns measurements.)
Simplicity 8729 is only for one layer of felt, so add seam allowance to front edge and bottom edge on your pattern.
Cut two of your cape pattern from the Outer Fabric.
With cape pieces Right Sides Together sew along center back. Set Outer cape aside.
Cute two of sheer fabric.
With sheer fabric Right Sides Together sew along center back.
With Right Sides Together sew Outer and Sheer together along all edges except the neck.
Turn cape Right Side out through neck.
Top stitch along all edges to give a nice finished look.
Set cape aside.
For the back spikes I used Simplicity 8729 View E Horn pattern piece. I used scraps after cutting the cape to make 12 spikes (slightly stuffed).
Collar:
Using Simplicity 8729 View E cape collar pattern, cut two of Outer Fabric.
With Right Sides Together sew collar along edge leaving neck open to run Right Side out.
I created my own pattern to make 5 spikes (slightly stuffed) to go along the edge of the collar.
Set collar aside.
Tail:
(I probably did this a more complicated way than it needed to be but it worked for me)
Cute two 38" x 2 1/2" strips.
Cut one 38" x 4" strip.
On one of the 38" x 2 1/2" pieces space spine spikes one inch from top and stopping about 4-4 1/2" from bottom. Used 1/4" seam allowance to secure spikes.
Take second 38" x 2 1/2" piece and pin Right Sides Together to the one with spikes. Used 3/8" seam allowance.
You will need to shape the last 4-4 1/2" section to be more pointed for the end of the tail. Copy that shape to one end of the 38" x 4" piece.
Place 38" x 4" piece on cape starting at the neck center seam. At the bottom of the cape mark where the end of the cape sits on the 38" x 4" piece. This will be how far from the end of the tail you will need to sew.
Place spine and 38" x 4" piece Right Sides Together starting at the end of the tail and pin up the marks you just made.
Sew 1/4" seam allowance around end of tail.
Turn Right Side out and stuff.
Pin 38" x 4" piece side along inside cape having end of cape meet sewn tail. Turn long edges of 38" x 4" side under 1/4" before top stitching. Leave neck edge open.
On outside pin spine by turning edges under 1/4" and placing on top of inner piece just sewn so that they match up.
Top stitch leaving neck edge open.
Wait to stuff rest of the spine until veins on cape are sewn.
Cape Continued:
Sew veins on cape and trim excess outer fabric to show sheer.
Slightly stuff spine.
Attach collar (with spikes).
Add hook and loop tape, snaps, or ribbon to front neck of cape.
My child does not like masks over their face so we took the hood pattern from Simplicity 8729 and added spikes along center back seam, dragon ears, and horns. They really like this costume.
Date published: 2021-10-31
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Dragonlover from
I made it!
Even though the "instructions" were very vague...
A friend wanted this for her daughter, in blue tones to represent a Water Dragon..I used a blue gradient cotton (found online) and blue Yaya Han scaly stuff for the trim..I found a similar cape pattern that illustrated the spine-tail assembly..the purchased plastic mask eyes had to be enlarged, but I just made up stuff to cover it
My ratings are for the lack of explanation in the How-to, not the idea
Date published: 2021-10-29
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Advanced sewer from
Truly awful directions
This is more like "look at this picture and see if you can copy it". Also, weekend project? With the instructions being so poorly written and having to make it up as I go, it has taken way longer than a weekend.
Date published: 2021-10-27
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Quita from
Horrible Project and instructions.
I have been making costumes for my grandchildren for 40 years. When my great grandson ask if I could make this for him I said yes. This is the worst example I have ever seen for a project. I went so far as to buy some expensive fabric to make this costume. No one can understand anything about this. No way can you make this in a weekend because you have have time for your nervous breakdown first. I feel for everyone who has tried to figure out these instructions. Never will I try another project from Joann's again.
Date published: 2021-10-21
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Kellie from
Waste of money and time!!!
From now on have someone from your company actually make a project you are promoting before you send it to us.
This was ridiculous! How do we add the seam allowance AFTER we are instructed to cut the fabric? These instructions do not make sense. I am not a seasoned seamstress, so I spent a lot of money on supplies only to throw them away.
I expected more from JoAnn Fabrics. SO DISAPPOINTED!
I may stop recommending JoAnn Fabrics all together.
Date published: 2021-10-15
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Elise from
Terrible directions
My mother (an expert costume maker) and I printed this pattern to make Wings of Fire dragons for my 8 and 4yo. The directions are just terrible. So many details are left out that it left us scratching our heads and my mom just made her own pattern.
Date published: 2021-10-12
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Dodi from
Beyond Misleading
I too like many other went to the store just to get this pattern to find it was incomplete, then got re-excited to see it advertised yet again on Pinterest. What a complete let down. Your instructions were crap. If you want people to keep sewing at least give em what you show.
Date published: 2021-10-12
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Jeanne from
Dragon Costume
I've been sewing professionally for many years and these directions really don't make any sense. I can't believe that JoAnn's would not have hired a qualified person to write patterns that they are featuring. Too much is left up to the maker! I will make it work, but I'm very disappointed in this project.
Date published: 2021-09-26