How to Sew a Barney Costume

Barney is a popular TV character loved by many children and the subject of many costumes.

Barney is a big purple dinosaur made popular by Public Broadcasting System children's programming. Since PBS began running the show Barney and Friends in 1992, the character has been a favorite dress-up costume for children. With a few simple supplies, you can sew a Barney costume without extensive sewing skills. If you can operate scissors, thread a needle and make a few straight stitches, you can also learn how to sew this costume.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• 1/4 to 1/2 yard green felt
• Purple hooded sweatshirt
• Green thread
• Pencil
• Purple foam visor
• 1 sheet white craft foam
• 1 sheet yellow craft foam
• 1 sheet black craft foam
• 2 to 4 squares purple felt
• Threading needle
• Purple thread
• Purple sweat pants
• 1/4 to 12 yard purple felt

Instructions

Start with the Torso

1. Cut a green oval to fit on the sweatshirt's chest and stomach area.

2. Put the green oval on the sweatshirt, referring to the above photo for placement help.

3. Thread the needle with an 18 inch length of green thread.

4. Stitch the green oval onto the sweatshirt. You may do this with a simple straight stitch that is 1/8 to 1/4 inch from the edge of the green oval, or with a blanket stitch.

Make the Face and Head

1. Remove the headband from the purple foam visor.

2. Trace the arc of the visor onto white craft foam.

3. Cut the arc out, but cut the opposite side to be straight from point to point of the arc. This white arc will be Barney's top teeth and will attach to the visor. If the teeth are too long, cut the straight side to make them shorter.

4. Thread the needle with purple thread and sew the white teeth to the underside of the visor's arc using a whip stitch. The stitch will catch the top of the teeth then the hood by inserting the needle from the back of the teeth, then up and over the hem. Repeat along the width of the teeth. The tapered teeth should resemble a smile.

5. Sew the visor onto the hem of the top of the sweatshirt's hood using the whip stitch. This forms Barney's mouth and snout.

6. Cut large eye shapes from white craft foam and large circles from black foam to be placed over them.

7. Refer to a photo of Barney to determine where to place the eyes on the purple hood. It will help to have the child wear the hood.

8. Cut purple half circles larger than the eyes from craft foam. These will be Barney's eye lids. Place the purple half circles on Barney's eyes.

9. Use purple thread to stitch Barney's lids and eyes in place. Sew through the lid and be sure to go all the way through the entire eye. The purple thread will secure the eye and lid in place. If you'd like a more finished look, use white thread to stitch down the lower portion of the white of the eye.

Complete the Barney Costume

1. Trace the child's hands onto paper and use it as a pattern to cut mittens out of purple felt. Cut two for each hand.

2. Use purple thread to sew the front to the back of each mitten.

3. Cut large ovals to use as feet over tennis shoes.Trim so that they will fit over the front of the shoes. Cut two slits in the top middle of the foot piece parallel to each other so shoe strings can be tied through them to keep the foot piece in place.

4. Cut six small yellow circles (about the size of quarters) from craft foam. Stitch three on each foot to represent toe nails.

5. Cut a wide tail shape from purple felt. It should narrows at the tip. The size of the tail will need to depend on the size of the person wearing the costume.

6. Use purple thread to stitch the tail onto the seat of the purple pants. Either stitch it straight down onto the pants or create lift by placing the tail up while sewing it in place then folding it over to hide the stitches.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a totally no-sew version by using fabric glue in place of all sewing.

• Cut the tail longer than you think you might need, then trim it to the desired size after sewing it in place.

• Always use caution when using sharp objects such as sewing needles and scissors.

• Customize the length and width of the tail to the size and age of the person wearing the costume. Tails that are too long can be tripping hazards for people of all ages.

References

• Kids Party Paradise: Dinosaur Costume Ideas
• PBS: Make Your Own Buddy Costume
• PBS: Barney and Friends