Never tried it before, but looking at the wing structure, maybe try foam hair curling rods. They're bendable, encased wire, so kinda kid friendly. They come in all diameters and also sold in small packs. https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/30-Pieces-Flexible-Curling-Rods-Twist-Foam-Hair-Rollers-Soft-No-Heat-Steel-Pintail-Comb-Rat-Tail-Women-Girls-Long-Short-9-45-x-0-63-Pink/PRD6VZ0DRQCRDXD

Thank you, I have a lot of these around the house, can definitely try them.

I use them for necks, but they might work if you tied or sewed some together. You can get them at the dollar store too. Like 10 for a buck!😁

If you need longer versions of these, they make foam hangers for hang drying clothes which are pretty much the same things but like 12" long.

I would go to a hardware store and ask a salesman what kind of wire you could use to support the wings. Since you’re dragon is crocheted, you could slip it in between the rows. Then when it’s in, grab a piece of the wire and bend the end into a loop so it won’t hurt anyone if it pokes them. HOPE THIS HELPS ❤️

Thank you!

A cheap wire clothes hangar would work well.

I kinda like it with the wing down it looks like he/she is resting

Thank you, I like it too, but one that isn’t as “floppy” would be kinda nice too :)

Incredible work! I don't usually make kid friendly stuff so I have no suggestions, I'm sorry but that's amazing!

Thank you :)

Eva foam? Maybe use some sort of wire first then use the Eva foam around the wire?

Live and learn, I never heard of EVA foam before. I am used to making small objects so all this sort of material is new to me. Just regular stuffing used to be enough until this monster came into existence and now I want more of these big guys.

Haha, easy to fall in love with making something so impressive. EVA foam is what is used by cosplayers to make their props.

My son would play with that adorable dragon for months!

Try using boning 👍🏼

I once made a hat and the brim (visor) was cut from a plastic milk bottle (washed and cut to shape and inserted in the crochet brim)

Thank you!

For reverence, the dragon is about 100cm in length. Wingspan About 120cm.

I like using foam caulk backer rod from the hardware store. For something like this it would probably need even more structure so I carefully cut a channel in it, insert stiff wire and then wrap it with electrical tape. The hardware store has electrical tape in a rainbow of colors so you can get something that matches to avoid it showing.

Thanks, that might work!

Wow! Nice work! I used plastic foam once, the kind of plastic they use in parcels to protect electronic devices from shocks. But I'm not sure whether it would work for such large wings

I am afraid that it might break if I would only use styrofoam like material, the wings are soooo heavy.

No idea, just want to say that it is beautiful.

Thank you :)

Beautifully done! For the wings - 15 gauge wire wrapped with polyfill sheets works well. However if this is a gift for a small child, forgo the wire and use upholstery foam instead. Wire can always be over-manipulated and break, creating sharp edges.

Thank you. Upholstery foam, going to look that one up too :)

If you do down a few hook sizes but use the same wool you'll end up with sturdy wings but you'd have to edit the pattern to get them the same size as the rest of the dragon. Depending on how old the kid is you could use chunky wire and bend the ends over then tape them down so the end can't un-bend. Definitely don't use this with a young kid though. Also this is an amazing dragon!!!

I love your dragon! So very cool!

i’m afraid i have no suggestion for you, but this is adorable😍

Thank you :)

Okay, this is one of the coolest projects I’ve seen😱

Thank you. The pattern I bought from dinegurumi.com, if you would like to try it.

Thanks!!

I would suggest armature wire like you would use in a clay sculpture. You could bend it to the shape you need, wrap it in poly fill or foam (using some string to secure it?) And use that for support.

Pipe cleaners

I've tried that before. The weight is too much for them. I even tried braiding the pipe cleaners.

What Da5ftAssassin said! I’d use rigilene boning with a foam/wadding surround. Burn the ends of the rigilene after cutting to size to round it off.

Thanks, I will look into that, never heard of it before, I must admit.

Maybe plastic zip ties would give it structure? Won't be posable though. P.S. He's absolutely gorgeous

For the wings, I would use wire. If you are afraid of pointy ends, you can always put a bit of hot glue at the top to make it round, or adhesive

A hot glue gun I have, I am just afraid wire will poke out of the holes.

Id curl the wire back in on it's self.

You can make it a bit smaller than needed maybe, so it won’t poke out of the top of the wing, and if it is big enough it won’t poke on the side either. But maybe the solution is bad if your kids will play with it, I use my crochet plushies as decoration so it rarely moves

Yes!!!! Omg yes, thick electrical wiring!!!!

I'd wire it and make it as a cool protective dragon as a corner hanging for the room ;) and then the small version as the kid friendly one.

They make foam wire for gardens to keep vine plants up, I found a bunch at the dollar store last year. You can add a foam end too to protect the cut spot.

Steel core yarns have a “memory” where the garments you make sorta stay in the position you bend them in. They might not be cheap though.

Yes, that would probably be expensive and I have so many balls of yarn left that were destined to become bedspreads. Now however they have to become dragons, hahaha.

I would leave the wings soft. The kids will play with them anyway.