DIY Cosplay Wig Made From Yarn

[@bpaulsen6701]

Good grief, you are waaaayyyy too hard on yourself. You did an amazing job! The patience, alone, is quite a feat. You have every reason to be proud of your wig. :)

[@marshmallowsandtrash]

your creativity knows no bounds. the yarn really gives it an ethereal anime vibe.

[@Atheeni]

Thanks! Ya I was really nervous about the texture so spent quite a while to find the right yarn to get the look I wanted.

[@squiddyflip3039]

WOAH UNDERRATED- Also hack for anyone making a short wig of yarn: tie or tape an end of the yarn to an office chair that spins and spin the chair! Lotsa fun and the process goes much quicker.

[@Atheeni]

Oh man that would be so much faster for sure!

[@Foxx_208]

1:13 One thing to check while buying yarn for this type of project is if it’s made from natural fibers or from synthetic materials. Synthetic yarn often melts under extreme heat (like from an iron) so make sure to check if the yarn has any care instructions or temperature restrictions!

[@alondrie4366]

THANK YOUUUUUU

[@tamakiamajiki-suneater5788]

Is there any natural fiber that works best? (If you know)

[@Foxx_208]

@@tamakiamajiki-suneater5788 I recommend cotton (that's the only natural fiber yarn I've used for now), but still be sure to check the care instructions before ironing since a cotton blend might have other fibers mixed in (including other natural fibers or possible synthetic ones too!). And if you're unsure if a natural fiber yarn might melt under heat, a quick Google search can give you some answers! Hope this helped (^^)

[@K1LL_V]

Actually, there's an easier and faster way to separate the yarn. Just hold a string or stick between something at your preferred height, tie the doble of the final size of the piece of yarn you want (folding it in half, hopefully it makes sense) then start separating from the bottom then straightening it. Once they're all seperated and straightened, you cut the top at the height you want and then put the chunks on the masking tape. Works for me ig.

[@arbitrarySalamander]

I’ve seen several doll channels use dog brushes to loosen the fibers of yarn and it looks so pretty

[@sockeranna]

It works great for doll wigs, the problem is the fiber length, because if you brush it out like that you risk losing a lot of length since you brush out the fibers not glued in with the weft.

[@Atheeni]

Yup, I actually did use a dog brush on this. The result really depends on the size of the fibre and the type of yarn though. Mine is a microfibre yarn that's extremely fine so it doesn't fluff out like large acrylic yarns do, also you do end up only being able to make short wefts with dog brushes because they usually break the fibre strands.

[@inlovewithJLT]

Cosplayers are wild.

[@m3tr0idgrl]

Its fun ✨️💛

[@Gay-Miku_-w-]

@@m3tr0idgrlit is

[@GeckoTech_Engineer]

Another level of dedication

[@Reeee4404]

Oh gosh the struggles of being a tall woman looking for long wig solutions! I'm gonna have to try this -- awesome video!

[@Atheeni]

Haha right? I just want long poofy braids damn it!

[@sockeranna]

I just started making my own yarn wig, much thanks to this video! But instead of gluing I'm crocheting the wefts together, and I'm steaming instead of flat ironing. Excited to see how it will turn out!

[@Atheeni]

Ooo brilliant! I think crocheting it would definitely be a great option since you can then sew through it much easier and it's not as stiff at the top as with glue.

[@con_artiste]

Do you have a tutorial on how to do that with crochet?

[@sockeranna]

@@con_artiste Not at this very moment, but hopefully some time in the future I might.

[@coolgirl9284]

Love how your wig turned out and I can't wait to try this method. I want to stop using hot glue and this is really smart. One piece of advice I can give is for the bangs use clear drying tacky glue. I've been using it for my recent yarn wigs.

[@Atheeni]

Ooo nice! That's the glue I used to glue the wefts down, I was worried about the colour change it caused on the yarn if I used it to style so that's why I opted for spiking glue. Maybe if I water down the tacky glue it won't change the yarn colour?

[@coolgirl9284]

@@Atheeni yeah if you water it down it still works . As long as you don't water it down too much.

[@omgizzyshere]

a wig from yarn?! how cool! love how this came out :)

[@ItsOver9000.]

Brushing the fibers with a slicker brush helps break the fibers up even more and makes it look even more like a real wig!

[@Zunvniix]

Aaa, I'm very glad I found this. The other video I watched was very overwhelming and his wig still looked like yarn (I'm sure he's great and it looked good for him, just doesn't really for what I'm going for), and this looks amazing ^^

[@cherylrosbak4092]

That's really clever, and those braids look fantastic!

[@Atheeni]

Thank you so much!

[@HusbanduCos]

This is amazing and I'm using this technique to make my Magical Mirai 2023 Miku Wig!

[@neronoid]

I wonder if you could use this method as a base for fantasy wigs, layering real/synthetic hair tracks on top for a more realistic look. Great work!~

[@SunXForLife]

I’m making a cosplay of Nezuko from demon slayer! Ive made some of it and it takes long but I’m just trusting the process!

[@Atheeni]

Ooo yes! This would work so well for her! Hang in there! It'll be worth it 💚

[@AmberSong]

I think I plan on using this method to make a wig for my mom's old baby doll.

[@Rose_Haw]

Oh nice! Last time i tried to look for something like this I couldn't find it!

[@coy_0]

Can I get a list of the items you used? Preferably how many yarn balls that you used just so I can get a feel on how much yarn I'll need and need to double

[@Atheeni]

I used 9 yarn balls and the yarn was size gauge 4. The yarn I used was Nako sateen 100% acrylic yarn.

[@SunnyE_Mechwarrior]

The brainds are amazing! yeah the front and side looks decent keep at it you will get it i am sure

[@TheForgotten-i7r]

Thank you for this video!!! I’m watching it at night, so I can’t listen to the audio, but I am definitely going to try this method for my Beelzebub cosplay since her hair is hard to find a wig for

[@910Ginger]

Looks so good! Great job!

[@audrina1313]

I love your tutorial and I’m using it to make a wig for my Jinx costume from Arcane and I’m wondering approximately how wide are your wefts and how many of them did you make? I feel like the weft making process is going to take months. I’ve been at it for 2 days and only have 9 wefts so far, not even glueing yet 😂 I just want to know if I’m aiming for like 30 or like 130?

[@Atheeni]

Ooo ya Jinx would be perfect for that! My wefts were about 25cm? I think? I just eyeballed them tbh. And I didn't make too many because the yarn is so poofy that you only need a little of it. I think maybe I made like 20 of the long 25cm wefts and then cut them into smaller chunks to glue. It was definitely a see as you go process so I just kept adding until I was done because I wasn't sure how much I needed.

[@lexp6099]

This is so cool! Had it been long enough, do you think you could've supplemented your first wig with yarn wefts, leaving the edges (nape of neck, bangs, part, etc) as they were? I feel like standard wig hair is easier to blend when cutting (and actual hair easier than wig hair :p) so it might produce more natural results. Either way, this turned out amazing!

[@Atheeni]

Oh ya for sure. This was mostly an experiment to see if I could challenge myself and actually make something that looked decent that wasn't the traditional synthetic wig hair.

[@primeEmu16]

going to try this on a Hex Maniac wig!

[@itssilverbirch]

Hi! This is the process I use to make my own wigs although instead of gluing wefts i sewed each individual strand into a wig cap. Your process would save SO much time omg. I was also wondering how you wash these wigs? I usually let it soak in lukewarm water and fabric softener, but it makes untangling them an absolute nightmare. Do you have any suggestions, as well as advice on styling? I'm scared that using hairspray like I do on my bought wigs will ruin them

[@Atheeni]

This will wash the same as a regular synthetic wig. Just some soapy water and soaking then ring it out and hang to dry. Also totally don't worry about using hairspray, or styling gel on wigs, it comes out with warm water.

[@char.yippee]

Teach me how to patience

[@gamingwithsiana8227]

Hi i really loved your video, im planning to make a cosplay wig for my self and this was really helpful. I wanted to ask if its okay to use a clothing iron instead of a hair iron?

[@Atheeni]

Yup you can absolutely use a clothing iron, it works just as well. Just be sure to set the dial to the appropriate level. So if you're using acrylic yarn, make sure your iron is set to the synthetic level so you don't accidentally melt the yarn.

[@gamingwithsiana8227]

@@Atheeni thank:)

[@WillowEpp]

That's really cool, I can't believe how anime that ends up looking! Question: If you talk to your yarn shop, is it possible to buy the skeins of the strands without them being wound together to save like a million hours of pulling it apart?

[@arthurzackaryabrin]

Unwinded yarn like this is not really sold: You'd have to buy the raw fibers called "roving" instead, but that only really exists for animal fibers like sheep or alpaca wool. Look up needle felting wool roving if ou want to find it. Acrylic yarns are not really sold that way since it involves a different processing method before it is spon into the yarn you can buy. (As far as I know) If you want to use acrylic yarn, which is the cheapest option, you sadly have to go throught the unwinding process yourself

[@Atheeni]

So there are suppliers that sell just unplied (un-twisted) yarn on cones and that would be the way to go for sure. I only recently found a local supplier that could sell this type of fibre so I'm going to try it out and see how it goes. The yarn shops might also have access to suppliers that sell unplied fibre but from what I understand it's a pretty niche product so most places won't be able to help order it.

[@alicefibers2227]

At my job, we fix the hair to the bonnet with zigzag stitch with a sewing machine

[@marisiavv4012]

is it also possible to use cotton yarn? I'm going to cosplay Amethyst from Steven universe

[@Atheeni]

Yup any yarn will work. Cotton yarn will weigh a bit more since it doesn't have the loft and fluffiness of synthetic fibers like acrylic. You'll also need a hotter setting on your hair iron to flatten it out since cotton is much more heat resistant.

[@marisiavv4012]

@@Atheeni thank you so much! Im gonna try it out

[@DeepFriedWynter]

hi! this video is gonna be so helpful :3 i’m going to try to make a cosplay of N Harmonia, and i’ve never styled a wig before, and i would be scared to spend a lot of money on a nice wig and then mess it up🥲

[@Sylvcookie]

Good luck!! I'm trying to make a wig myself and if it isn't such a hard feat! Reach out to the cosplay community if you ever need help, sure we're here for people like you!

[@UseYourManners123]

What is that white tape you used? I didn’t understand what you said mesh I think you said. I was thinking maybe cotton fabric might be better. To be cooler. Or linen.

[@chelsea-zl5pn]

planning to do it, but can i ask how long did you make this?

[@Atheeni]

The yarn pieces were 127cm (50") long. When you braid them they get a little shorter though.

[@asmudgeinthewindow8642]

it looks amazing!! what glue did you use?

[@Atheeni]

I used Tacky glue by Aleenes, it's a PVA glue that's nice and stretchy when it's dry so it works great for these types of projects: www.aleenes.com/original-tacky-glue

[@asmudgeinthewindow8642]

thank you so much!!@@Atheeni

[@Miss-Journey6488]

what if i don't have tacky glue?(i can't get it in my country) can i use superglue?

[@Atheeni]

Any PVA glue is fine. You want a glue that will be stretchy when dry

[@sasakiao21]

Is it okay to use hot glue instead of tacky glue?

[@Atheeni]

You can but you'll need to be careful to not leave the wig in a car on a hot summer day because the glue will melt again. I've had a few oopsies with hot glue and worbla like that. Hot glue will also be much thicker and more rigid so might be a bit uncomfortable to wear.

[@yoonseojung7226]

I am making my yae miko wig in xial version like this

[@gracieharder6612]

Do you know what temp you straitened at by chance?

[@__xiaochi]

Which type of yarn did u use

[@MyDogIsYoshi]

Nako. Saten.

[@vagabondart9999]

Approximately, how much gram of yarn did you use? I'm planning on making a much shorter wig myself, but just asking for the reference.

[@Atheeni]

Sadly I didn't weigh it out before using the skeins.

[@arthurzackaryabrin]

@@Atheeni you could still just weigh the actual wig!! :D of course there are now accessories and glue on there that add to it but if could give a rough amount for the yarn!!

[@prikxoxxo7778]

How much yarn balls required for making short n medium length wig

[@Atheeni]

That's completely up to the size of yarn you use and how thick you space your wefts. You'll need to test things out to see what works for you. There's no way to answer this.

[@prikxoxxo7778]

@@Atheeni at least u can tell about thick yarn

[@fredericapanon207]

​@@prikxoxxo7778 She used a size 4 yarn in acrylic microfibre.

[@fredericapanon207]

​​@@prikxoxxo7778 the Craft Yarn Council has a page on Wraps Per Inch compared to commercial yarn sizes such as size 4, medium, which varies from 9 to 12 wraps per inch (WPI) depending on the manufacturer and yarn line. So does Ravelry. I cannot provide direct links as YT will just delete my post.

[@A.D.E.Axxxxxx]

what would happen if you brush the yarn out?

[@Spring_sprang13]

You need a special kind of brush for that

[@dulcedejun9857]

I love this!! I want to make it for a project I’m working on, can I ask how long it took you to make?

[@Atheeni]

Just a couple of weeks on and off. There's a lot of time spent waiting on glue to dry lol. The actual weft making process was really quick.

[@VickyViolet]

My question is... How heavy is it while worn? 😅

[@Atheeni]

It's actually way lighter than an equivalent wig made from plastic hair because yarn has a lot of loft and poof so it takes a lot less material to make it big and fluffy. I've never actually weighed it though lol.

[@respectthefish4992]

i will be doinf sky cotl wig

[@FoxGameCZ]

I was thinking if naking Hatsune Miku tarn wig

[@Ashlxy_777]

I tried to test this and my yarn keeps on breaking into small sections 😭

[@keke5577]

some yarn is just made like that unfortunately

[@Atheeni]

It depends on the type of yarn you're using and how it's made. I used an acrylic yarn and the brand I showed had good strong fibres.

[@Ashlxy_777]

@@Atheeni oh, thank you so much! I'm gonna look for some acrylic yarn then!

[@YamilaChap]

❤❤❤🎉🎉😮😮😊😊

[@YamilaChap]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😮😮😮😊😊😊😊😊

[@P47WarHawk]

saw a yt short talking about keratin bond powder that has heat applied to flatten the hair. might be worth trying as an alternative to waiting for glue to dry? (Re-Bonding Keratin & Fusion Bond Hair Extensions @mirellamanelli)

[@Atheeni]

Oh neat! Thank you for sharing!