By Chinese calendar The mascot for 2012 is the dragon. We all hope that this symbol will bring each of us good luck, prosperity, and happiness in the new year.
The dragon is already influencing our lives today, becoming the main character of the upcoming holidays. Many children dream of celebrating the New Year in the image of this mysterious mythical creature. And parents, in turn, are looking for opportunities and ideas to make the wishes of their beloved children come true.
Dragon costumes will definitely appear on the shelves of many stores, but the idea of buying ready-made suit doesn't always suit us. Firstly, the size may not be suitable, secondly, it may hurt your pocket, and thirdly, where is the guarantee that there will not be several twin dragons at the New Year's party.
Therefore, many creative parents are ready to make a dragon costume themselves, using their knowledge, skills and imagination in this task.
This publication contains interesting ideas, photos and videos for those who want to make their own children's New Year's suit dragon.
Conventionally, dragon costumes can be divided into two parts - with a mask and without a mask.
- The basis of most dragon costumes is a jumpsuit with a hood, decorated with a crest, tail and wings.
You will find detailed instructions, patterns and tips for making such a suit in the article How to sew a children's New Year's Dragon costume - pattern and tips
- By experimenting with fabric color and details, you can sew absolutely original costume, in which your baby will feel like a real fairy-tale dragon.
- A costume with such a large mask is more difficult to make and not every child will want to wear a bulky mask on their head. But such a dragon will make an indelible impression on others. The mask is made of cardboard, rests on the child’s shoulders and is easily removed, and for greater authenticity and intimidation, “smoke pours out of the nostrils” (polyethylene bags, organza...), and real flames come from the mouth (the same materials, cut into thin strips and red colors, plus a small flashlight wrapped in them).
- This costume is also complicated and looks more like a theatrical costume or a life-size puppet.
- This model is made in a fairly economical way - from old things that can be found in any home.
The bright orange suit is in harmony with the same color comb on the hood, sewn from my mother’s shiny skirt. Scales are old jacket golden color of crinkled silk. The main detail of this costume - the wings - are made from an old umbrella, and therefore very similar to webbed dragon wings. The baby is comfortable in such a suit, and the mother is happy and... economical.
- Another “budget” model. Here the costume is based on an old sports suit green. He already had a hood, stripes were painted on his chest acrylic paint. The wings, sewn from an old sheet and stretched over a wire frame, were painted with the same paint. They are held on by elastic loops. The tail is attached to a belt and is also made of wire covered with fabric.
The child got into character and feels great in such a costume.
- This idea is suitable for the smallest dragons. Soft triangles made of green sponge are sewn onto a yellow suit with a cap. A few minutes and the costume is ready. Simple, cute and funny.
- And you will see many more interesting and varied ideas in the photographs and videos below. We hope that some of these materials will definitely help you create a unique, bright New Year's dragon costume for your baby.
Pay attention to details. The comb sewn along the suit and tail already gives us a resemblance to a dragon. Paw gloves, horns, and wings complete the impression. Experiment and let your imagination run wild.
May the Dragon bring you happiness, luck and prosperity in the New Year!
The pictures are clickable. Click to enlarge.
New Year's dragon costume. Photofilm
Cool video. 8 month old crawler in dragon costume
At the end of November, my son came home from school and said in a confident voice that this New Year he will be in dragon costume. And for this he will need my help in creating this fairy-tale character.
It was a shock for me! At first I said that you need to think more, perhaps over time you will become interested. After all, I have many other developments of drawings and patterns, easier (for me) options. But no, he stood his ground.
A little time passed and I learned that the coming year is the year of the black water Dragon. That’s when I had to come to terms with the idea that I needed to sew this particular suit. 
The sketch was drawn and agreed upon. Our New Year's dragon costume consists of black pants and a turtleneck, a hat with combs, a vest with long tail, beautiful ridge and wings. 
For my skinny 7 year old son I needed:
Red stretch velor 70cm for 38 UAH/m ——- 0.7x38=26.6
Red lining fabric (nylon) 50cm at 15 UAH/m—- 0.5x15= 7.5
Velcro 30cm for 4 UAH/m ——- 0.3x 4 = 1.2
Narrow ribbon for wires on the wings 3 m at 0.4 UAH/m ——– 3x 0.4 = 1.2
Satin bias tape 6m at 1.2 UAH/m ——- 6x 1.2 = 7.2
Sintepon (for combs) 20 cm at 22 UAH/m ——- 0.2x22=4.4
Threads 2.5 UAH/cat. ——- 2x 2.5 = 5.0
Total: 53 UAH.11 kop.
Prices for calculating costs were taken as of December 2011.
As a basis for the vest with a tail, I took a drawing of a vest, which I narrowed for a closer fit to the figure. The drawing of the hood was taken as the basis for the hat. 
The drawings show the dimensions for my seven year old son. There are options for changing the width and length, and then the pattern can be suitable for children from 4 to 10 years old.
Cutting from velor:
1. Fold the fabric in half. I laid out the patterns in one direction of the pile and, accordingly, along the warp thread.
2. Pinned, outlined with chalk, added allowances: 1.5 cm along the shoulders and side seams; 0.5-1cm – along the entire contour. Where there will be bias binding, you can not add allowances.
3. I cut out: the front part of the vest (2 pieces), the back part of the vest (2 pieces), the triangular wedge for the tail (1 piece), the main part of the hat (2 pieces), the wedge for the hat (1 piece), the strap for hats (1 piece). Everything that is 1 piece is cut into one layer of fabric!
This year I went to great lengths and sewed for the child. Why a feat? Yes, because this is my first hand-made New Year's costume. Before this, we made do with store-bought suits. Moreover, my child chose this costume himself, after looking through the huge pile of New Year’s costumes that I posted.
All photos can be enlarged by clicking. I’ll immediately show you the result of my efforts, here he is my little dragon:
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You first need to prepare the material. I purchased:
1. Green fabric (disco) - For a 4-year-old child, 1.5 m was enough.
2. beige silk - on the chest, spines and mane
3. beige ribbon - runs along the contour of the breast and wings
4. rigid mesh (so that some elements have a shape) - inserted into three spikes, mane and hood.
5. transparent fabric - for wings
6. fabric for lining (bought cotton) - for overalls
7. thin insulation (lining fabric) - inserted into the tail, spikes and belly to add volume.
8. green castle
9. two Velcro - for the belly
10. threads matching the fabric - beige and green.
Making a dragon costume - master class
1. The basis of this costume is a jumpsuit. You can draw it from your child’s pajamas in the house, or use my pattern, which consists of two parts. I post it in jpg and in corel-draw (graphics program). It is very convenient to work with lines. The pattern can be expanded or, on the contrary, made narrower. You can do more or less. By the way, this pattern can serve as the basis for many other costumes. I sewed for a 4 year old child. Height - 1 meter.
7. I made the hood triple. First, I combined green “disco” fabric with a rigid mesh and sewed a hood. Then I took a simple green fabric (I ripped open an old summer jacket) and sewed a hood from it too. Then I combined these two hoods into one, after inserting small nostrils into the seam. I made it triple so that the mesh would not prick the child’s delicate skin.
Elena Strizhakova
New Year's Dragon Costume
New Year's costumes for children you can buy in specialized departments, or you can spend a couple of evenings and sew a magnificent outfit for your beloved child with your own hands.
2012 – the year of black Dragon. Therefore, surely those who come to New Year's party in a dragon costume, maximum attention will be shown. Your child will have a chance to win a prize for the best masquerade costume.
Before you sketch dragon costume, consult with your son about what character his hero will be endowed with. Try to come up with a fairy tale with your child about dragon, give it a name and start creating.
Dragoncan be very different: cruel or kind, experienced or completely naive, decisive or slightly cowardly.
Having come up with a story for him, decide what color he is. You can invite your child to draw a portrait of a character. And based on the modeled image, start making dragon costume.
The simplest option dragon costume– just make a tail that is attached to the belt with Velcro.
The cape is a little more complicated to make, but even a not very experienced needlewoman can sew it. Carry out an inspection on the mezzanine, it's probably there there will be an unused piece of fabric; grandma's old green plush blanket will do.
First we cut out the cape. We sew a hood to it. We outline where the ridge will be. It's quite easy to do: cut out several triangles (Can different sizes) in contrasting fabric (red, orange, raspberry color) . We sew the triangles together and stuff them with padding poly for stability. Sew them onto the hood and "ridge". All that remains is to build the paws. We sew fabric claws onto gloves and slippers. The dragon costume is ready, you can safely go to New Year's party.
If with sewing machine you are friends, then sew yours overalls or suit for the dragon.
Take pajamas as a basis, make a pattern for trousers and a shirt.
Dragon costume
I wish you an unforgettable New Year's matinee and will certainly win a prize for the best carnival costume!
So, you decided to sew n New Year's dragon costume for a child.
We bring to your attention a version of one of these costumes that will not bore you with its production. Such baby dragon costume Can be made for both boys and girls. The main thing in it is a couple of details that you will put on ready-made clothes, specially selected for the costume - a dragon cap and a bib with dragon wings and a tail! This one looks kids dragon costume original and recognizable, while there is room for your imagination, for example, what patterns to decorate the suit with, or what materials to use for sewing, and you can also experiment with colors.
New 2012 It is recommended to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in golden and black clothes, and you can also use red and black color combinations in clothes, and a variety of shiny materials in suits will not be superfluous. Thus, if you want your child to celebrate the New Year at a party or family holiday in the corresponding year of the Dragon color scheme, then feel free to use combinations of yellow, red and black colors. But if the suit is of a different color, then dilute it with details or accessories of the recommended colors.
To sew a dragon costume, what do we need to buy at a fabric store?
Firstly: you need to decide on the main color dragon costume and coloring of parts. Here in the illustrations you can see dragon costume examples for girls and boys.
Now let's choose the fabric: I recommend using plush (faux fur), or knitted velvet or velor(can be velvet or velor on a silky base). You can use other shiny fabrics - with sequins, with metallic coating. But it is desirable that the fabric has a dense structure. For the hat, you still need to find knitwear, so as not to come up with additional details for ease of dressing. This will be the main fabric of the suit.
For the dragon's abdomen we will use smooth satin or satin with metallic coating in golden shades. For the teeth on the cap and back, as well as for the wings, you can use the same material as for the belly, but you can choose a different color. Also suitable for these details is shiny knitwear with sputtering - this fabric is usually inexpensive and it is ideally suited for various holiday costumes that are not intended for everyday wear (since the shiny sputtering can “wipe off” over time).
We also need lining fabric, And gasket for belly, scallop and wings in the form of padding polyester, fleece, or special jacket insulation (padding polyester stitched onto lining fabric).
With a fabric width of 140-150 cm, one meter of each of these materials should be enough.
Dragon costume for girl:
Will need to buy extra fabric for circle skirt(or half-sun) and golden lace with scallops. You can also buy golden colored veil for an underskirt - a two-layer skirt will look very voluminous and elegant. The fabric of the skirt is silk, satin, satin in the main color of the suit. You may also find fabric already decorated with golden embroidery or beautiful printed patterns - this will be a plus.
Don't forget to buy 5 buttons (if you don't want to use buttons, you can use ties as fasteners).
So, for making the actual dragon costume We bought everything.
Now we need to take care of what clothes we will wear with a hat and a bib with dragon wings on the child.
For a boy, you need to buy a turtleneck and tights in the color of the suit.
For girls - a turtleneck and tights or knee socks in the color of the suit or one of the additional colors used in the suit.
Maybe you won’t have to buy anything extra: review your child’s wardrobe and choose a color that matches dragon costume clothes - T-shirt, turtleneck, pants, socks.
Now let’s look at the diagram for making a dragon costume for a child:
Next, cut out the belly part from satin, lining fabric and padding polyester (take any item that fits your child as a basis), the back consists of 2 parts, the bottom of the back is made in the form of a triangular toe - this is the tail of a dragon. Between the two halves of the back you need to sew teeth. Upper part The seam in the middle of the back remains unstitched - for dressing over the head, there we will sew a button and loop. Pre-prepared dragon wings are sewn into the shoulder seams.On the abdomen mark with wrong side parallel lines, and quilt all layers of the belly along the lines. Edge the bottom and top edges with bias tape. Flaps for buttons and loops are sewn to the sides of the belly and back.
2. Sew the dragon wings through all layers along the marked lines, these are the so-called veins.
3. Hat. If the hat is for a girl, then in place of the darts you can make holes for ponytails or braids.
4. When all the parts are ready, you can start connecting. Connect the 2 halves of the back and the teeth between them, stitch. The dragon's tail can be slightly thickened by sewing lining fabric to the toe. Sew the side flaps to the back and belly on both sides. Connect the abdomen, back and wings between them along the shoulder seams. Edge the neckline with bias tape and make a buttonhole at the end. Cut and finish the loops on the sides, sew on the buttons.
In conclusion New Year's dragon costume definitely worth decorating New Year's decorations- tinsel, rain, snowflakes or stars.
