How to Make a Pet Costume

Halloween Prom Queen Toy Model

Dressing a family pet in clothing is a popular thing. You will find many sources for clothing at stores and online. It's harder to find things for big dogs and the littlest pets. Your cat, dog, hamster or bunny rabbit is in a size that the standard items at pet clothing sources have to be altered to even fit. Costumes for holidays, photos and pet parades are expensive and it can be frustrating to have to make it over just to get it to fit properly. You can make your own pet costume for any pet. You can use commercial pet or child clothing patterns or make your own specifically to your pet's measurements. Recycling infant, children's clothing and even socks will give a great foundation for a costume, saves you money and reduces waste. You can use gold satin to make a 'Cleo-petra' outfit. Make sure she has a bejewelled collar. How about a recycled lightweight sweater sleeve for a wolf in sheep's clothing costume. 'Sherlock Bones' in a caped coat. You can come up with many variations for costumes created upon a simple foundation of a child's shirt.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• lightweight cloth
• clothing to be recycled, children's shirts, t-shirts, flannel shirts, denim pant leg
• one piece body shirt for infants
• socks
• stick and loop tape
• scissors
• thread and needle
• sewing machine if desired

How to Make a Pet Costume

1. 

   Measure pet from base of neck to hindquarters. Measure girth of body just behind the front legs. Measure the diameter of the neck. Draw a rectangle to match these measurements. Use the rectangle to see if there is enough cloth in any shirt that you find.Choose a theme for the pet costume. Sketch out ideas for the costume and look through your supplies to decide what to use.

2. 

   Take an adult or child's recyclable t-shirt and cut the length down to fit the length of the larger dog. Cut up from the bottom of the shirt to the shoulder area leaving the neck area intact on the front of the shirt. Sew along both sides of the cut to keep cloth from fraying or ripping out at the neck.Cut up through the front of a one piece infant t-shirt for small pets. Cut the bottom off to match the pet's length. The little outfit can easily be put on over the head. Shirt sleeves can also be used for tiny pets.

3. 

   Put the shirt on over the pet's neck to make sure it will fit properly. Alter as needed.Sew or iron on stick and loop tape to allow the rectangular shaped costume cloth to be placed over the neck and fasten the belly area closed with the stick and loop. This will be the foundation for any costume.

4. Measure and layer cloth, lace and embellishments on to the foundation to design the pet costume.

5. Pin cloth pieces for shirts, pants, skirts, collars, waist bands and shirt cuffs on to the foundation piece. Adjust as needed. Sew to complete.

Costume Ideas

1. Sew colorful ruffles around the neck of a costume. Sew pom poms securely to the costume for a clown outfit.

2. 

   Sew ruffles around the bottom of a costume for a fancy ballet, bride or flamenco dancer costume. Secure safe embellishments to make her sparkle. Tie rick rack, fine lace or glittery yarn on one ear if safe to do for the particular pet.

3. Sew a pocket on to the pet costume to create a polo shirt. Sew a decorative dog patch on the pocket for your pets night out as The Dog Whisperer. Sew a tiny stuffed dog or bone for a cute prop to go with the costume.

4. Cut a small piece of cloth into a curved rectangular shape just like a Christmas tree skirt. Sew a poodle patch on the skirt.Attach this 'poodle' skirt by sewing it on at the pet's waist area on the body shirt with layers of lace underneath. Cut a lightweight scarf into strips and use one or two on the pet's ears for the 50's scarf for the ponytail look. Paint tiny socks with fabric paint to look like saddle shoes with bobby socks for pet 'shoes'.

5. Sew a badge patch on a blue shirt with contrasting blue collar for a police officer costume. Sew reflective tape on a black or yellow shirt for a firefighter costume.

Tips & Warnings

• Sew embellishments on securely for safety of pet.

• Cut up the back of a button down shirt and attach stick and loop tape to both sides of the foundation for a formal costume.

• Secure the buttons well.

• Do not restrict the hindquarters of any pet.

• Do not put weight on a pet's legs or neck.

• Do not put anything on a costume that a pet can bite off and choke on.

• Be careful that the embellishments on a costume can not be chewed off by a second pet.

• Do not leave costumed pet unattended.