Costume Ideas for Roman General or Soldier Uniform - Part 5

(This is the continuation from Part 4)

Roman Wrist Guards, Cuffs or Bands for the Roman Soldier Uniform

For me, nothing beats the "warrior look" other than with a pair of mean-looking wrist bands or wrist guards. Sometimes they're also called wrist cuffs. I've made these before for a Mercury or Hermes (the god of speed) costume.

This time around, I've made a pair of wrist guards with a different method for fastening. The fasteners are both functional and decorative. On hindsight, I think I could have made the wrist guards longer and made them more visible.

Here is the pair of wrist guards or wrist bands as worn by the portrayed character.

How to Make the Roman Wrist Guards or Cuffs

Materials

• Specialty paper with metallic color - You can buy these specialty papers from office stationery stores or crafts stores. I used the cover of an old wedding invitation that has a metallic blue color. Other alternatives could be shiny or glossy magazine covers, old calendars, planners, etc.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Decorative border or edge fabric - I bought an decorative edge fabric that had a black and gold color. I bought it at Php 15 per meter from a fabric and crafts store. It is the kind of fabric that is used for decorating garments.
  
  
• Paper brass fasteners - These are also called brads or split pin fasteners. Use those that have shorter pins at around 1/4 inch long.
  
  
• Thin insulated wire - Alternatively, you could use twist ties or twistees.
  
  

Shown below are the materials used, clockwise: invitation card, decorative border fabric, thin insulated wire and paper brass fasteners.

Tools

• Ruler
  
• Pencil
  
• Scissors
  
• Hot glue gun
  
• Cutter or razor blade
  

Procedure

1. Using a ruler and a pencil measure a piece from the specialty paper that is 17 cm. long and 5 cm. wide. Measurements would vary based on your wrist size and personal preference. Cut this piece with a pair of scissors. This piece will become one of the wrist guards.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Cut a 1/8-inch slit that is 1/2-inch away from one end of the wrist guard. Do the same for the opposite end. When using sharp tools, be sure to lay a cardboard or newspapers to protect your work surface.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Insert the pins of the paper brass fasteners in the two slits. Pull apart the pins at the bottom side of the wrist guard to secure the fasteners as shown below.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Cut two 17 cm. long pieces from the decorative border fabric.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Lay the wrist guard facing up and the the paper brass fastener heads showing. With a hot glue gun, liberally apply hot melted glue along one edge of the wrist guard. Be quick to do this as the melted glue may cool and harden.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Attach one piece of the decorative border fabric on the still melted glue. Press quickly, evenly and firmly.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Do the same for the other edge of the wrist guard.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Cut of piece of the thin insulated wire that is 10 cm. long. Hook and twist one end to the neck of one of the paper brass fasteners as shown below.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Straighten the rest of the thin insulated wire. This will be the fastening piece of the wrist guard.
   
   
   
   
   

(See Part 6 for the continuation of this article)