This document provides instructions for making a leather headdress with horns. It includes a list of necessary materials like leather, plastic deer antlers, zippers and elastic. The instructions describe creating a muslin mockup and fitting it to the actor's head, joining leather pieces with a zipper, securing the headdress with elastic under the chin and ears, and attaching the horns using gorilla glue and a shoelace for stability. The finished headdress allows an actor to take on the role of a character with horns.

1. {{
The Man with the HornsThe Man with the Horns
Headdresses on Leather BasesHeaddresses on Leather Bases
Elisa Bierschenk, Troy UniversityElisa Bierschenk, Troy University

2. Oberon inOberon in A Midsummer Night’s DreamA Midsummer Night’s Dream

3. Making the pattern:Making the pattern: draped in muslin over a canvasdraped in muslin over a canvas
wig block, following existing seamswig block, following existing seams

4. Making the patternMaking the pattern

5.  Highly recommend leather
 Does not wilt in heat and humidity
 Rigid but moldable
 Easily stitched
 Leather Needle
 Heavy-duty scissors
 “Clackers”: fake plastic deer antlers
 X-acto knife
 Heavy-duty sport zipper: 9”
 Large hook and eye set
 ½” elastic- about 18” total
 Button thread
 Gorilla Glue
 Masking tape
MaterialsMaterials

6. MaterialsMaterials

7. Even if you start with a wig block that matchesEven if you start with a wig block that matches
the actor’s head circumference, there will still bethe actor’s head circumference, there will still be
discrepancies in the fit. Make a mockup out ofdiscrepancies in the fit. Make a mockup out of
muslin and fit directly on the head to insure themuslin and fit directly on the head to insure the
best fit possible. This is especially important forbest fit possible. This is especially important for
guaranteeing accurate placement of the “hairline”guaranteeing accurate placement of the “hairline”
and cutaways for the ears. No zipper necessaryand cutaways for the ears. No zipper necessary
for this step.for this step.
Do a mockup and fit to actor’s headDo a mockup and fit to actor’s head

8. Joining the piecesJoining the pieces

9. Zipper applicationZipper application
<<< Remove a ¼” strip
of leather from each
side of the zipper
opening to reduce bulk
and leave room for the
teeth and zipper head.
Masking tape in
lieu of pins tears
right out when
you’re done!
>>>

10. Zipper applicationZipper application

11. Securing to headSecuring to head
Skin-tone elastic is fitted
to go under the chin and
along either side of the
ear. This pulls the leather
cap in snug along the nape
and helps it hold fast at
the hairline.

12. Additional closuresAdditional closures

13. Additional closuresAdditional closures

14. Adding the hornsAdding the horns

15. Adding the hornsAdding the horns
Things that don’t work,
by the way:
•Buckram base
•Foam to still the
wobble
•Only stitching the
horns

16. Adding the hornsAdding the horns
At this point, the horns had been
to rehearsal, and we’d tied that
ugly shoe lace around the horns
to hold them steady.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
We left the shoe lace, and added
Gorilla Glue to fill in gaps
between the leather and the
horns. We chose this glue
because it expands as it cures and
does not become brittle.

17. Adding the hornsAdding the horns

18. Adding the hornsAdding the horns
Actual deer have a skull to
hold the antlers steady. The
Gorilla Glue and shoe lace
combo were an ugly but
effective substitute.
You can buy these taxidermy
pieces, but we would have
never been able to afford
such giant, even antlers,
assuming we could even
find them.

19. Securing to headSecuring to head