How to Make an Elmo Costume

Making an Elmo costume for your toddler or preschooler is a simple project you can do at home. Finding supplies to make the costume is easy, even if you have to pick up a few things at the store. Follow these steps to reproduce the look of this popular "Sesame Street" character.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 large orange fabric ball
• Red knit hat
• Needle and thread
• 2 large white fabric balls
• Glue (optional)
• 2 black fabric circles
• Red sweatpants
• Red sweatshirt
• Red face paint

1. Make the nose. Elmo has a super-cute face that you can duplicate using a few large fabric balls, some thread and a needle. To make Elmo's nose, sew an orange fabric ball onto the bridge of the red hat right where the child's forehead would go.

2. Create the eyes. Sew on two white fabric balls above and on each side of the orange ball. To finish the eyes, glue or sew on the black circles, made of black fabric or black felt, in the center of each of the white balls.

3. Put together the body. Elmo's body is extremely simple because no sewing or assembly is involved. Simply put the red sweatpants, socks, sweatshirt and hat on the child and adjust for a good fit.

4. Paint the face. Paint the child's face red, preferably matching the red of the face paint to the red of the sweatshirt. Make sure you use non-toxic face paints and tell your child not to touch her face once the paint is on. You may want to add some black face paint around the mouth area to emphasize your child's smile.

Tips & Warnings

• To make your little Elmo look a little plumper, layer some more clothing underneath the sweatpants and sweatshirt. This added clothing will also help keep your child warm in colder weather.