How to Make a Woodpecker Suit

Turn yourself into a woodpecker with a custom woodpecker suit.

Woodpeckers are small birds that survive by eating the insects that live on and inside trees and other wooden things. They continuously peck and nibble at the trees, making a characteristic knocking sound, giving them their name. While these birds provide inspiration for the bird watcher, they also provide inspiration to the costumer. A woodpecker costume is ideal for parties and is simple to make on your own. A few basic sewing items and some hours labor provide you with your own woodpecker-inspired costume.

Things You'll Need

• 6 sheets dark blue felt
• 6 sheets medium blue felt
• 6 sheets light blue felt
• Scissors
• 1 yard light blue jersey material
• Measuring tape
• Needle and thread
• 6 to 8 sheets red felt
• Spray adhesive
• 1 sheet yellow felt
• Elastic
• White tee shirt
• Yellow shoes, socks or tights

Instructions

1. Cut feather shapes from each rectangle of blue felt. Each piece of felt should provide between five and eight feathers.

2. Measure the distance from your hip to your wrist, when your arm is elevated three-quarters the way up. Cut two triangles from the blue fabric, with the base of the triangle matching the measurement you just took. The other sides of the triangles should measure equal to the length from the armpit to the wrist, and armpit to the hip.

3. Sew one fabric triangle under each arm of the sweatshirt, attaching the triangle to the arm and down the side of the shirt.

4. Sew the feathers onto the fabric triangles, attaching a row or two of dark blue feathers to the outer-most end, a row or two of medium blue feathers after those, a row or two of light blue feathers after the medium ones. Each row of feathers should be layered over the one before, so you can still see the row beneath, but only just the ends of the feathers.

5. Cut feathers from the red felt in the same way you cut feathers from the blue felt.

6. Spray the hood of the sweatshirt with adhesive and stick the red feathers onto it, starting at the neck of the hood and working your way up.

7. Sew the bottom of three of the red feathers together, making a fan of feathers. Attach this fan to the top of the hood, so the feathers stick up on the head of the costume.

8. Create a cone by connecting two ends of a rectangle of yellow felt, wrapping one around the other until you have a pointed cone. Stitch into the connection to hold the cone shape. Sew a piece of elastic from one side of the cone to the other, keeping the elastic long enough to reach around the head of the costume wearer.

9. Wear the costume by placing a white T-shirt on, then the blue hoodie and sweatpants. Unzip the blue hoodie enough to see the white tee beneath. Put on yellow tights and tennis shoes or house shoes. Put the yellow felt beak on, then the hood of the shirt.

Tips & Warnings

• This costume is made in a Woody Woodpecker style. For a different type of woodpecker, simply change the color of the feathers and sweats used for the suit to match the colors of that woodpecker. Some different types of woodpeckers are pictured under Resources 1.

References

• Coolest Homemade Costumes: Coolest Homemade Blue Bird Halloween Costume 7
• Mom Endeavors; Homemade Parrot Costume; October 22, 2010