The length of the wings depends on who will wear them. Make them long enough to stick out a few inches beyond the shoulders or make them longer and set them against the wearer’s back so they point downwards instead of out. You can fold the cardboard in half in order to cut both wings out at the same time, but if you do them one at a time, don’t worry if they’re not identical. You can trace the shapes of wings using a writing utensil before you cut, but the wings don’t have to be perfectly symmetrical. Your decorations later will cover the imperfections.
Less fragile string can be used and is especially good for children who will move a lot while wearing the wings. Use shoe laces or elastic cords.
You can paint the cardboard white before you add the fluff. This may help prevent brown spots from showing through, but often you can cover the entire back side of the wings with enough white decorations. Glue or tape the feathers at their bases as they point downwards to create an even, orderly appearance. Squeeze squares of toilet paper from their center so that they form a points, then glue them onto the cardboard. Try folding coffee filters in half and filling in the wings from the outside-in, keeping the folds of the first filters on the edges of the wings.
Posterboard is a good substitute material and can be cut into wing shapes, covered with felt, and decorated later.
Alternatively, stretch a knee-high stocking over the wire frame to make your wing.
Arm or thumb loops can be sewn onto felt-covered cardboard. Wrap the material around the wearer’s shoulder or thumb to measure the material needed. Hold the material in loops on the wings, then use pins or a sewing needle to bind them together and to the wings. [9] X Research source
Make sure the twists are secure with no sharp ends sticking out.
If you can, match the tights to the base color you want the wings to be. You can also spray paint the tights when the wings are finished to achieve flashier colors.
For non-sewn bat wings, cut out the upper and lower sections of an umbrella, then clip off the metal pieces using wire cutters. [13] X Research source
