How to Make a Penguin Jockey Costume

Wear a penguin jockey costume for Halloween.

Jockey costumes are a great costume idea for Halloween. Originally, the jockey costume was designed to look like a jockey riding on top of a horse, with the jockey's legs simply sewn onto a horse body worn as part of the costume. The costume consisted of a silk jockey shirt, pants that resembled a horse's legs and a horse head and body. The costume creates the impression that you are riding a horse. Due to the popularity of this costume, there are now jockey costumes for many different types of animals. Jockey costumes of animals that cannot be ridden, for example penguins, add an element of whimsy and can be made using a simple pattern.

Things You'll Need

• Costume pattern
• Fabric
• Straight pins
• Pen or chalk
• Stuffing
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Thread

Instructions

1. Purchase a penguin jockey costume pattern from a fabric store or by ordering it online. The pattern will tell you how much fabric to get and what type of fabric the costume requires. You will need stuffing to fill the penguin part of the costume. Many jockey costumes will include instructions to make a hat. If you want to save time, you can purchase a jockey hat from a costume store or a store specializing in equestrian equipment.

2. Cut the pieces out from your pattern. Clear a large space out on your floor. Place your fabric on the floor and straighten it out. Arrange your pattern pieces on the fabric in the way that your instructions specify. Attach the pattern pieces to the fabric using straight pins. This will make it easier to cut the pieces out. Carefully cut the pieces out.

3. Collect all of your pattern pieces and consult your directions. Once you have identified what pieces will be sewn together, put the wrong sides of the fabric together and use your sewing machine to sew them together. You can sew the pieces together by hand but it will take much longer. You will have to leave parts of the fabric unsewn so that you can pull the pieces inside out. If you are working on the penguin part of the costume, you will need to stuff it before you sew it completely shut, as you would if you were sewing a stuffed animal. Sew all of your pieces together in the order specified by your directions.

4. Try on your costume before you wear it out. Look in the mirror and see if you have to make any adjustments.

References

• Simplicity Patterns: Penguin Costumes