DIY Toothless Costume | Dragon Costume Tutorial
Table of Contents
I have a DIY Toothless Costume for you today inspired by the movie How to Train Your Dragon! My 5-year-old is dragon (specifically Toothless the dragon) obsessed. As we started discussing potential Halloween costumes for this year, she immediately decided on Toothless and could not be budged. However, as I browsed dragon costumes, I wasn’t loving what I found. My daughter loves dragons and she also loves to twirl, and we wanted to bring both of those together in her costume. So we decided a homemade costume was the best thing!
DIY Toothless Costume | Make a Dragon Costume & Dress
As I planned her costume, I decided there were three essential elements: the wings, the dress, and the mask. I wanted it to be fun and pretty obvious who she was, but I also wanted it to be comfortable because preschoolers can be incredibly opinionated about that. We ended up with a not-so-traditional look, more like a Toothless-inspired look, that will be so much fun for her to wear for all of October’s Halloween events and for dress-up time whenever she wants!
Toothless Dragon Wings
Wings were perhaps the most important part of the whole DIY Toothless costume. Luckily Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop had the perfect pattern (the Wonderland Wings) to create just the wing shape I needed.
Dragon Wings Supplies
- Wonderland Wings pattern
- Non-stretch fabric – I used a sparkly black quilting cotton
- Heavyweight fusible interfacing
- Fusible fleece
- Black foldover elastic (or the pattern also has the option to do fabric-covered elastic straps)
How to Make the Dragon Wings
I followed the pattern as written to construct the wings. I had my moments of doubt when it came to turning those wings right-side out with the extra thick interfacing, but just trust the process – it works.
The final step of the pattern is optional and has you fold the almost finished wings in half and sew a seam 3/8″ from the fold. I almost skipped this step because I wasn’t sure my machine could handle going through all those layers, but I made it work and I love the result. It helps give the wings a little more flap, and they look so fun as my daughter runs around.
Sewing the Dragon Dress
Dresses are my favorite thing to sew, and twirly dresses are my daughter’s favorite thing to wear. I could just picture how much fun she’d have twirling around, with her dragon wings flapping behind her. I decided a circle skirt was what we needed to give a great twirl, and a hood was also essential to give her head even more of a dragon look.
Dragon Dress Supplies
- Dress pattern with a hood and circle skirt (I used the Everyday Dress for the bodice and hood and Avonlea for the skirt)
- Dragon-looing knit fabric – cosplay fabric is a great choice for this
- Stretch hem tape
- Sewing Supplies / Sewing Machine
The fabric I chose for the dress had limited stretch due to its metallic foil print, so I went up one size for the width to account for that. Other than, that I pretty much followed the Everyday Dress pattern instructions but swapped out the half-circle skirt for the Avonlea circle skirt.
I used my projector to speed up the cutting process, and I definitely recommend projecting onto the non-shiny (if you choose shiny fabric) – it was almost impossible to find the lines to cut with the projector light reflecting off the dragon-scale print. However, this means it will be a great reflective costume for nighttime trick-or-treating!
I also recommend using a stretchable hem tape like this for hemming the sleeves, though be sure to use a press cloth if your fabric melts! I chose to hem the sleeve before sewing up the seams since this fabric was a little difficult to work with and I didn’t want to deal with hemming it in the round.
Finally, I opted not to hem my circle skirt because my fabric edges didn’t curl or fray and the thought of hemming a full circle skirt of this fabric was positively terrifying – rather fitting for a dragon, I guess. If you need tips for hemming a circle skirt take a look at this article HERE.
Make the Dragon Mask
The mask was probably the most challenging part of the DIY toothless costume because I didn’t have a pattern to turn to. I didn’t trust my own drawing abilities to sketch out a proper Toothless face, so a little Google searching led me to this printable mask. I made a couple of adjustments to it to fit my daughter’s face a little better, but it was a great place to start.
Dragon Mask Supplies
- Dragon mask template, like the one above or create your own
- Black, gray, and green felt
- Craft glue, I used this kind and it worked like a charm
- 1/4″ black elastic
The first step for the mask was to cut out the dragon’s face in black. I originally planned on tracing the mask outline onto my black felt, but I could not find a writing utensil anywhere in my sewing room that showed up on it, so I improvised and glued the mask template to the felt with a regular washable glue stick, cut around it, and then removed the template. Luckily, it didn’t leave any sticky residue behind.
Next, I cut pieces of gray felt in the shape of dragon scales to add a little more detail to the face and some green felt pieces to go around the eyes, since Toothless has those trademark green eyes. It was not an exact science, and I ended up trimming my pieces until I liked how they looked.
The final step was to measure elastic to fit my daughter’s head and sew it to the mask. I reinforced the edges of the mask by gluing a little scrap of felt to the back of the sides where the elastic would be attached, and I stitched over the elastic a couple of times to make sure the stitches held firm.
And with that, our Toothless mask and costume were done!
Can I modify the design of the Toothless costume to fit my preferences?
Yes, you can definitely modify the design of the DIY Toothless costume to fit your preferences. DIY costumes are all about creativity and personalization, so feel free to add your own unique touches or make adjustments that suit your style. Let your imagination soar!
Other Dragon Costumes
We’d sure like to thank Shara for this fun DIY Toothless Costume. It really came together to make a fun dragon costume. While you’re here, we’d also point out that we have a few more options you can use to make a DIY Dragon Costume. Take a look at the tutorial below if you’re interested:
Creating your own DIY Toothless costume dress is a fun and rewarding DIY project for a beginner that allows you to bring your favorite character to life. Of course, you could customize the pattern pieces for a little boy by using pants instead of a dress. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can sew a unique and authentic costume that will impress. Whether you're dressing up for Halloween or attending a cosplay event, this Toothless costume will make you stand out from the crowd. So gather your materials, unleash your creativity, and get ready to soar into the world of Toothless with your one-of-a-kind costume. Let your imagination take flight! As always, be sure to come to share everything you make with us over at our Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop Facebook Group!
FAQs
DIY Toothless Costume
What sewing patterns do I need for a DIY Toothless costume?
You'll need two Peek-a-Boo patterns: Wonderland Wings (for the dragon wings) and Everyday Dress (for the bodice and hood). The tutorial also uses the Avonlea pattern's circle skirt for maximum twirl factor, though you could use the Everyday Dress's half-circle skirt instead if you prefer.
What fabric should I use for a Toothless costume?
For the dress, choose a dragon-scale print knit fabric - cosplay fabric or metallic foil knit works beautifully. Black with a sparkly or scale texture captures Toothless's look perfectly. For the wings, use non-stretch quilting cotton (sparkly black recommended). For the mask, you'll need black, gray, and green felt.
How do I make the dragon wings for a Toothless costume?
Follow the Wonderland Wings pattern exactly as written. You'll need heavyweight fusible interfacing and fusible fleece to give the wings structure. The key is trusting the process when turning them right-side out through all those thick layers - it works! The optional step of folding and sewing 3/8" from the fold gives the wings realistic flap as kids run around.
Can I make this costume for a boy instead of a dress version?
Absolutely! Simply swap the circle skirt dress for pants or a jumpsuit. Use the Classic Zipper PJs pattern or Ultimate Costume Creator pattern for the body, keeping the hood from the Everyday Dress pattern. Add the same wings and mask to complete the look.
How do I make the Toothless mask?
Start with a dragon mask template (search online for printable Toothless masks or create your own). Cut the face shape from black felt, then add gray felt "scales" for texture and green felt around the eyes for Toothless's trademark green eyes. Attach 1/4" black elastic to fit your child's head. Use craft glue (tacky glue works perfectly) for the felt pieces and reinforce the elastic attachment points with felt scraps.
What if my dragon-scale fabric has limited stretch?
Size up one width size to account for limited stretch, especially with metallic foil prints. The tutorial creator did exactly this and the costume turned out perfectly comfortable. Test your fabric's stretch before cutting - if it stretches less than 25%, definitely size up.
Do I need to hem the circle skirt?
Not necessarily! If your fabric doesn't curl or fray, you can leave the circle skirt unhemmed (the tutorial creator did this). If you do need to hem, use stretchable hem tape like HeatnBond SoftStretch, and be sure to use a press cloth if your fabric has metallic elements that could melt.
How long does it take to make a complete Toothless costume?
Plan for 8-12 hours total depending on your experience:
- Wings: 3-4 hours (including interfacing and turning)
- Dress: 4-6 hours (circle skirt takes time)
- Mask: 1-2 hours (mostly glue drying time)
You can spread this over several days, making one component at a time.
What skill level is required for this costume?
This is an intermediate project. You should be comfortable with:
- Following sewing patterns
- Working with knit fabrics
- Installing interfacing
- Sewing curves
- Basic hand-sewing
- Working with felt and craft glue (for mask)
The wings are the most challenging part due to the thick layers.
Can I use a sewing machine projector for this project?
Yes! A projector speeds up cutting significantly. Important tip: Project onto the non-shiny side of metallic or sparkly fabric - the projector light reflects off shiny surfaces making lines nearly impossible to see. This also means the costume will be nicely reflective for nighttime trick-or-treating!
Should I hem the sleeves before or after sewing the seams?
Hem the sleeves before sewing up the side seams if you're working with difficult fabric (metallic, slippery, or limited stretch). This makes the hemming process much easier than trying to hem in the round. Use stretchable hem tape for professional results.
How do I make the hood look more dragon-like?
The Everyday Dress pattern hood already provides great coverage. To enhance the dragon look:
- Use the same dragon-scale fabric as the dress
- Add gray felt "scales" to the hood top (like on the mask)
- Make sure the hood is sized to fit comfortably over your child's head
- The mask worn with the hood creates the complete dragon head effect
What type of elastic should I use for the wings?
The pattern calls for black foldover elastic (FOE) for comfortable arm straps. Alternatively, you can make fabric-covered elastic straps following the pattern instructions. FOE is easier and more comfortable for kids who'll be wearing the wings for extended periods.
Can my child wear this costume for dress-up play or just Halloween?
Definitely for both! This costume is designed to be comfortable for all-day wear, making it perfect for:
- Halloween trick-or-treating
- School Halloween parties
- Dress-up play at home
- Birthday parties
- Dragon-themed events
- Cosplay conventions
The twirly circle skirt makes it especially fun for everyday dress-up.
How do I keep the dragon wings from getting damaged during play?
The heavyweight interfacing and fusible fleece make these wings quite durable. To maximize longevity:
- Store wings flat when not in use
- Avoid sitting or stepping on them
- Keep away from rough surfaces that could snag the fabric
- Consider making the wings detachable (use snaps or Velcro) so they can be removed for sitting/eating
What if I can't find dragon-scale print fabric?
Alternative fabric options:
- Solid black metallic knit - add dimension with quilting or topstitching
- Black sparkle/glitter knit - captures Toothless's slight shimmer
- Black leather-look knit - gives a reptilian texture
- Black textured knit - any raised or embossed pattern works
- DIY option - Use fabric paint or stencils to add scales to black knit
