How to Make a Big Bird Costume

Children around the world have loved Big Bird since Sesame Street began in 1969. There is just something about an 8 ½ foot tall yellow bird with childlike faith and innocence that brings a smile to everyone's face. It would be difficult to duplicate the Muppet's Big Bird costume with over 4,000 yellow dyed turkey feathers, but a similar look can be achieved with a little material, feather boas and some hot glue.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Several yellow feather boas
• Yellow material large enough to make a "body" for Big Bird
• Yellow hooded, long sleeve sweatshirt
• Orange sweat pants or tights
• Orange socks
• Orange construction paper
• Orange fuzzy house shoes (optional)
• Velcro or double sided tape
• Hot glue
• Hot glue gun

1. Fold yellow material in half. Cut an oval shape large enough to cover the body from the neck to the knees to make your Big Bird costume.

2. Hot glue or sew the wrong sides of the material together, leaving openings for the neck, arms and leave the bottom section open so the suit can slip down over your head. Hot glue or sew double sided tape or Velcro across the bottom of the suit, leaving room for leg holes.

3. Turn the material right side out and hot glue yellow feather boas across the material to cover the whole "body" of the Big Bird Costume.

4. Get a long sleeved, hooded yellow sweatshirt and hot glue yellow feather boas down each arm to look like big yellow wings. Hot glue boas to the hood of the sweatshirt to look like Big Bird's head.

5. Paint your face yellow and make a beak by rolling orange construction paper into a cone shape and glue or staple it together. Staple yellow elastic or string to each side of the orange beak and place the beak over your nose, tie the string or elastic behind your head.

6. Wear orange tights or sweatpants and orange socks to simulate Big Bird's legs and if you can find bright orange fuzzy house shoes, they make great Big Bird feet.

7. Put on the sweat shirt with the hood up, orange socks and orange sweatpants or tights before putting on Big Bird's "body".

8. Get a friend to help you pull the Big Bird body over your sweat suit and close it with double sided tape or velcro. This will give you easier access to the rest of your clothing if you require a restroom break!

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful not to tear the arm or leg opening when you put on the Big Bird body part of your costume.