Articulated dragon wings

What you'll need

• 2 sheets iridescent felt
• Thin floral wire (2 pieces, 15cm)
• Fabric glue
• Needle and matching thread
• Small pliers for bending wire

Fits

Any finger-sized dragon body, felt or crochet.

Steps

1. Cut two matching wing shapes from felt, slightly larger than the final size to allow for a seam.
2. Lay floral wire along the centre spine of one wing piece and glue lightly to hold in place.
3. Sandwich with the second wing piece and stitch around the edge, catching the wire inside.
4. Bend the wire gently to give the wing a curved, lifted pose.
5. Stitch the finished wing to the dragon's back, angled slightly outward.
6. Repeat for the second wing, checking both sides match before final stitching.

Common mistakes

• Using wire that's too thick — it won't bend cleanly and can poke through the felt seam.
• Gluing the wire directly to both felt layers before stitching, which stops it from flexing at all.
• Attaching both wings at exactly the same angle, which reads as stiff rather than mid-motion.

Variations to try

• Use two-tone felt so the underside of the wing shows a contrasting color when raised.
• Add tiny slits along the trailing edge and thread ribbon through for a stained-glass effect.
• Make a bat-style wing instead by extending the wire into three 'finger' spokes.