Bat Wings Costume

Bat Wings

Bat WingsA great inspiration for Book Week this year is one of my favourite Australian books (and movie!) from my childhood, ‘Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest’, by Diana Young. A young fairy teams up with a human and a crazy bat to save the Australian Rainforest from destruction. Full of Australian Flora and Fauna with a touch of magic, it’s the perfect children’s story. Batty Koda was always a favourite character with his off beat humour.

From the movie:

Batty Koda: Nobody cares about me. 
Zak: I do you, bat-man. 
Batty Koda: You sure? 
Zak: I’m positive. 
Batty Koda: Only fools are positive. 
Zak: Are you sure? 
Batty Koda: I’m positive… 

This wing style is made from fabric and is attached to the arms and legs, using hoops of elastic allowing ease for stretching the arms outward.

Instructions for creating the wing pattern is flexible, so you can adjust the spacing between the scallops along the outer edges of the wings to
determine the best placement of elastic loops.

The amount of fabric and ribbon needed for the wings depends on the
size of the costume. It may be helpful to make the pattern
before selecting the fabric.

Bat Wings Diagram 1

Shopping List

  • Fabric, contrasting fabric may be used for the wing back
  • Elastic, 1/4″ to 1/2″ (6mm to 1.3cm) wide.
  • Paper and Pen
  • coordinating threads
  • Round template – such as a plate

How to Draw the Pattern for Bat Wings:

  1. Draw line (a) on paper, with length equal to measurement from underarm to ankle. At the ankle end, draw 1 ¼” (3.2cm) line (b) perpendicular to line (a). At underarm end, draw line (c) perpendicular to line (a). At underarm end, draw line (c) perpendicular to line (a), with length equal to measurement from underarm to the wrist.
  2. Draw line (d) from the underarm, at 45° angle from line (c), with the same length as line (c). Draw lines connecting endpoints of lines (b),(c), and (d), for outer edge of the wing pattern.
  3. Mark the point on line (b) 5/8” (1.5cm) from line (a). Mark another point on upper section of the outer edge 5/8” (1.5cm) from line (d).
  4. Determine desired scallop spacing of lower section of outer edge, planning scallop widths of 6” to 8” (15 to 20.5cm), with lowest scallop slightly smaller than others. Draw scallops in lower section, drawing lowest scallop to marked point on line (b).
  5. Draw one or two scallops along the line for upper section of the outer edge, from marked point to corner; for small size, draw one scallop; for larger size, divide section into two scallops. Disregard unnecessary lines along outer edge.
Bat Wings Diagram 2
  1. Add ½” (1.3cm) seam allowance to all edges of the pattern. Cut out the Pattern.

How to Sew Bat Wings from Fabric:

  1. Determine placement of elastic hoops for securing wings to arms and legs. Cut elastic to fit comfortably around arms and legs at desired points plus 1” (2.5cm), fold elastic lengths in half, and pin to the right side of one wing piece at desired points plus 1” (2.5cm). Fold elastic lengths in half, and pin to right side of one wing piece at desired locations. Stitch elastic to seam allowances a scant ½” (1.3cm) from raw edges.
Bat Wings Diagram 3
  1. Pin wing pieces right sides together, pinning elastic loops out of the way of seam allowances, if stitch ½” (1.3cm) from raw edges, leaving about 6” (15cm) opening on underarm-to-ankle side of wing for turning. Trim seam allowances. Trim points, and clip curves.
Bat Wings Diagram 4
  1. Turn wing right side out; press. Stitch opening closed. Mark lines on one side of the wings. From underarm to points on the outer edge. Pin layers together along the marked lines.
  2. Stitch on marked lines through both layers. Fold wing front sides together on stitched line; press fold. Stitch close to the fold, making pintuck. Repeat for all stitched lines.
Bat Wings - Diagram 5