DIY Mouse Costume for a Kindergarten Holiday Party
Sewing a children's mouse costume: a hooded-vest pattern, ears, face, whiskers, and tail.
BeginnerFree
Translated
Things you will learn
Draft the pattern from measurements, or trace a loose T-shirt and lengthen it to just below the seat crease.
Use 1 cm seam allowances on every edge except the hem; leave 3–4 cm at the hem.
Stuff the tail with polyester fiberfill or polyester batting; based on the author's experience, wire for shaping is optional.
Finished Costume
A mouse costume made as a hooded vest.
Materials and tools
Materials
Beige fleece
Brown fleece
White and black fleece for the eyes
Fishing line for the whiskers, Black is preferable.
Heavy-gauge wire, To shape the tail; the author notes that you can do without it.
Polyester fiberfill or polyester batting, For stuffing the tail.
Thread
Cardboard or plastic, Optional: to help the ear hold its shape.
Tools
Scissors
Pattern template
Sewing machine
Mouse Costume
Step 1: Make the Costume
If your child is in kindergarten, preparations for the holiday party may already be in full swing. The children are rehearsing and learning poems, while the adults are sewing outfits. Let's make a simple, inexpensive mouse costume together.
Step 2: Gather the Supplies
Prepare:
Step 3: Fleece
beige and brown fleece;
Step 4: Fishing Line
fishing line for the whiskers;
Step 5: Tail-Shaping Wire
heavy-gauge wire to shape the tail;
Step 6: Tail Stuffing
polyester fiberfill;
Step 7: Eye Fleece
white and black fleece for the eyes;
Step 8: Thread
thread;
Step 9: Scissors
scissors;
Step 10: Pattern Template
a pattern template;
Step 11: Sewing Machine
a sewing machine.
Step 12: Choose What to Wear Underneath
This costume is versatile. Younger children can wear tights underneath, while older children can wear pants or jeans. Essentially, it is a hooded vest shaped like a mouse.
Instructions
Step 13: Draft the Vest Pattern
Draft a pattern from measurements and lengthen the vest slightly. If you do not want to draft a pattern, trace a loose ready-made T-shirt and extend it to just below the seat crease.
Step 14: Cut the Fleece
Transfer the pattern to fleece and cut the front and back pieces. Leave 1 cm seam allowances on all edges except the hem; leave 3–4 cm at the hem.
Step 15: Sew the Vest and Hood
Sew the back and front pieces together, then attach the hood piece.
Step 16: Make the Face
Start making the mouse face.
Step 17: Use the Ear Pattern
The ear pattern looks like this:
Step 18: Reinforce the Ear if Desired
You can alter it slightly if you wish. Based on personal experience, the author recommends sewing cardboard or plastic into the ear to help it hold its shape.
Step 19: Sew on the Ears
Sew the two ear pieces together, forming a pleat at the center, and attach the ear to the hood.
Step 20: Add the Facial Features
Sew on the eyes and pupils, then the nose.
Step 21: Add the Whiskers
Make the whiskers from fishing line, preferably black.
Step 22: Make the Tail
For the tail, cut a narrow pointed triangle from light fleece and sew it along the long edge. If desired, insert wire to shape it—the author did without it. The source does not explain how to isolate or secure wire inside a child's costume. Stuff the tail with polyester fiberfill or polyester batting, then sew it to the lower edge of the back with blind stitches, turning the open edge inward.
BeginnerFree
