Making a Raven Masquerade Costume

Yield: 1 outfit

Source: I made this up on my own with no resources. :)

Supplies:

• 1 thin black boa
• scissors
• hot glue gun with glue
• long black gloves
• needle
• black thread
• 200 natural black feathers (goose and rooster are good options)
• 2 yards black fabric
• cheap black bird mask

Steps:

1. Fold the boa in half to find the center then cut in half. Dab hot glue to the cut ends so the cord doesn't unravel.

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2. Hook the loop end of your boa around the pinky finger of the glove and sew into place.

3. Sew the boa all the way up the bottom seam of the glove. Leave the excess hanging off the end of the glove. You will use it later.

4. Lay out your feathers in piles by size. I also made a pile of wispy feathers and irregular feathers, all useful.

5. Take a medium feather and fit it into the loop around the pinky. When you like how it's sitting, add a dab of hot glue on the base of the feather on top and glue it up under the boa loop.

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6. Add another medium feather next to it and glue into place.

7. Work your way across the boa, gluing the feathers under it. You will only need a tiny dab of glue. I started using short feathers when I got near the end of the glove to give it a tapered look.

8. When you're done with the first row, add glue to a longer feather from the base a couple inches up. Gently attach it between two feathers at the start of row one. It will cling on like a magnet.

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9. Keep working your way across, angling and panning the longer feathers out.

10. Take the longest feathers for your third row and make sure you fill in any gaps.

11. To give a beautiful fanned out look, glue some long feathers onto the outside of the pinky and ring finger on the glove. If some areas seem a bit heavy, go to the seam of where the boa meets the feathers and sew them into place.

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12. Turn the wing over so you can see what they look like from the back. If you see any bits of quill popping out, you can trim them. I covered some areas up with loose bits from the boa, but overall the wings looked near perfect.

13. The tail part will be tucked into your whatever you're wearing on the bottom. Cut out a piece of black fabric so it's a little wider than your backside, from your waist to just above your knees. Leaving an inch or two free at the top, glue medium length feathers onto each side, pointing diagonally downwards.

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14. Add a second layer of longer ones onto the first row.

15. Do a mirror check. Tuck it into your whatever you're wearing on the bottom and check if you can see the feathers fanning out from behind you. If not, add a third row. Trim the bottom wherever you'd like your tail to end, then continue adding feathers to the outside.

16. For the neck and shoulders shawl, you'll need two 1" strips about 2 yards long. Glue the more wispy feathers (rooster feathers are great here) onto one strip on both sides of the edges. Sew the second long strip of fabric on top.

17. My cheap bird mask was super rugged so it needed some help. Trim off any loose strings and materials.

18. Add tiny dabs of hot glue to short feathers and apply to the mask above the eyes, fanning them out.

19. Here are all the pieces you made! Now, here's how to put it all on! First, put on your main bits of clothing: bottoms, shoes, top. Tuck the raven tail into the back of whatever you're wearing on the bottom. I tucked mine into my skirt, then put my corset on to keep it locked in.

20. To put the shawl on, find the very middle and make sure that's the point that meets the back of your neck. Wrap forward over your shoulders, then tie behind you above your waist. Put the mask on your head. The wings go on last. Gather the inside of the glove where there are no feathers attached and stick your fingers in, being extra careful with the pinky and ring finger as they have feathers attached. Pull the gloves up. Tie the excess boa pieces behind you or tuck into your top. It gives it a much fuller look than just cutting the ends off.