STAR TREK: Zaldan Cosplay Glove Tutorial
Since Destination Star Trek is coming up, I've been getting my cosplay in order, and that means making webbed hand props, so I can attend as my Zaldan OC, Lt Tyvas. And since I'm getting in the spirit, I've decided to share my tutorial, for anyone else who wants to cosplay as the Galaxy's most honest (read: abrasive) species.
XL Flesh tone opaque tights
Needle & flesh tone or transparent thread
Cardboard (An old cereal box will do)
Biro or felt tip pen (Don't use a marker or anything that won't wash off)
Fabric Scissors (Any scissors will do, but the sharper the better)
STEP ONE: Draw around your hand on some card, and then draw a curved line connecting each finger. Make sure there's a little bit of wrist, so you can hide your skin; this will make the effect look more realistic. Cut this out; it will be your template.
STEP TWO: Cut the leg off the tights at the groin, and then, cut again halfway down, until you have two pieces approximately the same size. These will form either side of the gloves. Then, cut the length of the tube, opening it out into a rectangle of fabric. Repeat with the second segment. Then, layer one across the template, and draw around it with the pen.
STEP THREE: Place the second piece of fabric behind the first, and pin them together around the drawn template. This way, you will only have to cut the template once.
STEP FOUR: Cut the template out, following outside of the lines; it's perfectly fine to leave extra room around the ink, because this will be the seam, and after stitching, you will cut away the excess.
STEP FIVE: Stitch the outline of the glove only; DO NOT STITCH THE FINGERS THE FULL WAY! This will come later. Just get the basic outline down, and don't see closed the wrist; the end result will be a mitten-like glove. Once you are done, cut away the excess seam, as this will get in the way when wearing the glove. Once you are done, turn the glove inside out.
STEP SIX: Now stitch neatly along the fingers of the gloves. You may wish to use drawing pins to mark the outline of the fingers. This will create the membrane as separate from each finger. Use small, subtle stitches, as otherwise these will be visible when you are wearing them.
FINALLY: When you have stitched each finger in place, you will have something that looks like this. An optional extra is adding false nails, using fabric glue (I recommend French manicure style, if you want to create a natural look). Washing the gloves by hand before adding the false nails should get rid of any ink left over from the template stage.
And that's a wrap. And now you have your own pair of Zaldan webbed finger gloves, to add to your cosplay collection. I hope you enjoy.
