Ladybug
This adorable costume is very easy to put together and can be adapted to make a whole range of bugs. Sew black spots onto red fabric for the ladybug or add yellow stripes onto a black base to make a buzzy bee.

You will need

•  48x24in (120x60cm) red fabric and matching thread
•  Paper for patterns
•  28x24in (70x60cm) black felt and matching thread
•  44in (110cm) elastic 1⁄4in (5mm) wide
•  Safety pin
•  Small patch of Velcro
•  Two black pipe cleaners
•  Black hairband
•  Two wire coat hangers, wire cutters. and jewelry wire
•  Pair of sheer black pantyhose
•  27in (68cm) black elastic 1⁄4in (5mm) wide
•  28in (70cm) ribbon
•  Black top and black tights or leggings (to complete costume)

1 Measure and cut out two squares of red fabric, each 23x23in (58x58cm). Draw a 31⁄4in (8cm) circle on a piece of paper and cut out. Pin this to the black felt and cut out 12 circles (six for the front and six for the back).

2 Pin the felt circles to the right side of both red fabric squares, placing the top and bottom ones 3in (7.5cm) from the top and bottom edges, and the outer spots 4in (10cm) from the side edges. When you are happy with the arrangement, machine stitch in place.

3 Measure 2in (5cm) down from each top corner on both squares of fabric and cut a snip 3⁄4in (2cm) long. Measure 8in (20cm) down from each snip and make another of the same length. These indicate the armholes.

4 With right sides together, pin and stitch the two fabric squares

5 Turn under the 3⁄4in (2cm) seam allowances of the armholes. Pin and stitch in place parallel to each
armhole opening, and across the top and bottom of each armhole twice, in order to reinforce them. Press.

6 At the top and bottom edges, turn under 3⁄4in (2cm). Pin and stitch in place to create channels, leaving a
small opening for the elastic. Cut two pieces of elastic about 22in (55cm) long and thread through the top and
bottom channels using a safety pin attached to one end of the elastic. Remove the safety pin, sew the ends of
each piece of elastic together, and stitch the opening of each channel closed.

7 Using pattern piece 1, cut out a felt collar. It won’t be sewn on, so stitch the two pieces of a Velcro patch to the corners, to the underside of one and to the top of the other.

8 For antennae, cut four 3⁄4in (2cm) circles from felt; sew two over one end of each pipe cleaner; twist the other ends around the hairband. For wings, cut the hook from each coat hanger. Bend the hangers into wing shapes
using pattern 38 as a guide. Overlap the base and wrap wire around them to secure, with no sharp ends. Cut the legs from the pantyhose, stretch one leg over each wing, and knot the end. Tie the ends of the elastic together and tie around the center of the wings to form two loops. Tie the ribbon in a bow at the center of the wings.

Reindeer
This is a great last minute costume that can be made in no time at all. A pair of old gloves make instant antlers and, of course, don’t forget the red nose, made from a woolly pompom—Rudolph wouldn’t be the same without it!

You will need

• 8x61/4in (20x16cm) beige felt and matching embroidery floss
• 8x61/4in (20x16cm) batting (wadding)
• Brown hooded top
• Pair of brown gloves and matching embroidery floss
• Fiberfill (stuffing)
• Cardboard
• Red yarn
• 18in (45cm) elastic
• Brown leggings (to complete costume)

1 Using pattern piece 9, cut out a tummy piece from beige felt. Also cut out a piece of batting (wadding), making it 1⁄2in (1cm) smaller all the way around. Lay the batting on the right side of the front of the hooded top and pin the felt over it, pinning it to the front only. Hand sew the felt to the front around the edge using running stitch and beige embroidery floss. Start and finish with a knot in the floss on the wrong side of the front.

2 To make the antlers, stuff the gloves with small pieces of fiberfill (stuffing), making sure that there are
no lumps and bumps. When the gloves are full, hand sew them onto the hood of the top with running stitch,
sewing slightly in from the bottom edge of each glove, using brown embroidery floss. Start and finish with a
few small stitches to hold the floss in place, and before you have quite finished check that the antlers stand
upright. If they seem a little floppy, stuff the base of each antler with a little more fiberfill.

3 To make the pompom nose, cut out two 23⁄4in (7cm) circles of cardboard. From each, cut out a 3⁄4in (2cm) central hole. Place the two shapes on top of each other and wrap red yarn around them, pushing it through the central hole. Continue to wrap yarn around the cardboard until the central hole is full. Carefully snip
around the outside, slipping the blade of the scissors between the two layers of cardboard.

4 Thread the elastic through the middle of the pompom. Tie a 12in (30cm) length of yarn around the pompom between the two cardboard layers, pulling it firmly and tying a double knot. Cut the cardboard off and trim the pompom neatly. Adjust the fit on the child’s head, and tie the ends of the elastic in a knot. together at the sides above and below the top and bottom snips, using 3⁄4in (2cm) seams. Press the seams open. Turn right side out.

Flower Headdress
Little girls will adore this pretty headdress, which is perfect for spring parties. The design is really versatile, too—you can change the color of the felt to match your favorite flower or experiment with different shapes for the petals. Use thick felt so that the petals will stand up well.

You will need

• Paper for patterns
• 30x7in (75x18cm) dark pink thick felt for large petals
• 24x11in (61x26cm) light pink thick felt for smaller petals
• 2x22in (5x56cm) green felt and matching thread
• Two 16in (42cm) pieces of green ribbon, 1in (2.5cm) wide
• Two 2in (5cm) pieces of thin ribbon

1 Using pattern pieces 39a and 39b, cut out 11 large petals from the dark pink piece of felt and 11 small petals from the light pink piece of felt. Make a central snip 11⁄4in (3cm) long at the bottom of each small petal and a snip 11⁄2in (4cm) long in the same place on all the large petals.

2 On each petal, overlap the sides of each slit in the petals and machine stitch across it 1⁄4in (5mm) from the bottom edge to hold it in place.

3 Measure and cut a 11⁄4x211⁄4in (3x54cm) strip of green felt. Lay the large petals along the strip, overlapping it by 5⁄8in (1.5cm). Pin and baste the petals in place close to the edge.

4 Position the small petals over the large ones, lining up the straight edges, and pin and baste in place.

5 Pin the two lengths of green ribbon to the ends of the green felt. Machine stitch in place.

6 Fold the green felt over so it covers the basted edges of the petals. Pin and machine stitch all the way along.
Hand sew the thin ribbon ends to the wrong side of the headdress at each side of the back, forming loops that
can be used to hold the headdress in place with hairclips.

Cowboy and Horse
Giddyup and mosey on down to the WildWest because there’s a new sheriff in town. Hours of fun are to be had with this horse-and-cowboy combo.And why not make the Native American costume on page 90 so that friends can join in the fun?

You will need

• 38x17in (96x44cm) each of corduroy and lining for the vest (waistcoat), and matching thread
• Two 51⁄2x3in (14x7cm) pieces of fake suede or felt, for the fringe
• Brown and beige felt for the hat and belt
• Brown embroidery floss and needle
• Gold felt for the badge and buckle, and matching thread
• Five small buttons and safety pin
• Three cardboard boxes, approximately 24x13x10in (60x33x25cm) for the body,
• 7x7x81⁄2in (18x18x21.5cm) for the neck, and 12x7x5in (30x18x12.5cm) for head 
• Craft knife and metal ruler
• White glue and tape
• White and brown water-based paints and paintbrush
• Scraps of fabric
• Two buttons
• Two 34in (85cm) pieces of ribbon 11⁄2in (4cm) wide
• Jeans, neckerchief, and shirt (to complete costume)

1 Cut out the vest (waistcoat) using pattern pieces 72 and 73 and make it up following the directions on page 124. For the fringe, make 2in (5cm) snips all along both fake suede or felt pieces. Pin, then stitch the fringe onto the front of the vest.

2 For the hat, cut a 223⁄4x3in (57.5x7.5cm) strip of brown felt for the sides and a 223⁄4x11⁄4in (57.5x3cm) strip of beige felt for the band. Overlap the short edges of the brown strip by 3⁄8in (1cm), and use running stitch to sew them together.

3 Using pattern pieces 46 and 47, cut the hat brim and top from brown felt. Sew the brim to the bottom of the sides using overhand stitch and embroidery floss. Wrap the beige band around the sides, overlapping the ends by 3⁄8in (1cm) and holding it in place with a few small stitches.

4 Pin and sew the top of the hat to the sides using overhand stitch.

5 For the badge, cut out two stars from gold felt using pattern piece 48. Sew them together with running stitch, and sew a button onto each point. Sew a safety pin to the back of the badge.

6 To make the horse, cut the top off the largest box, and in the bottom (near one end) cut a hole large enough for the child to fit through. Turn it upside down so the hole is on top. On the medium box cut one side so it’s 2in (5cm) shorter than the opposite side, and cut a 2in (5cm) triangle off the top of each adjacent side; turn it upside down and glue and tape it to the large box. Glue the small box upside down on the medium box. Cut two ears from cardboard scraps and glue them to the top of the small box.

7 Paint the whole horse with white paint, and leave until the paint is dry.

8 Paint brown splodges on the horse to make the markings.

9 Tear 11⁄4x14in (3x35cm) strips of fabric for the mane, and 11⁄4x16in (3x40cm) strips for the tail. Cut a slit in the body and push the tail strips through it, taping them in place inside the horse. Cut four slits for the straps 2in (5cm) outside the hole in the top of the body. Thread the ends of the two ribbons through them, so one ribbon is at each side of the hole. Secure them in place with knots on the inside. Glue button eyes onto the top of the head. Glue the strips for the mane in place.

Alien
Make an alien costume that is out of this world. Kids will love this extra-terrestrial outfit complete with scary papier mâché head and webbed feet and hands. Stick or sew spots of brightly colored felt onto the body and add stripy tights or socks for a crazy costume that will guarantee a terrific trick-or-treating night.

You will need

• Large balloon
• Newspaper and white glue
• Craft knife and cardboard
• Green and white water-based paint and paintbrush
• Three polystyrene balls
• Three pipe cleaners
• Scrap of black felt
• Tape
• 30x46in (75x116cm) green fabric and matching thread
• Scraps of colored felt
• 44in (110cm) elastic 1⁄4in (5mm) wide
• Safety pin
• Scrap of red felt
• Pair of red gloves
• Long-sleeved top and striped tights (to complete costume)

1 Following steps 3–4 for the Astronaut’s helmet on pages 37–38, make a basic papier-mâché shape using the balloon. Cut a large mouth shape from the front of the head with a craft knife and paint the whole thing green. Apply a second coat of paint after the first has dried if the first is a little patchy. Leave it until the paint is completely dry.

2 Cut two rows of jagged teeth from cardboard and paint them with white paint. When they are dry, glue them inside the mouth, holding them in place until they are stuck.

3 Push a polystyrene ball onto the end of each pipe cleaner, using a small dab of glue to hold it in place. Glue a small black circle of felt onto each one to make it into an eyeball.

4 Cut three small slits in the top of the head and push the ends of the pipe cleaners through them. Tape the ends of the pipe cleaners to the inside of the head to hold them firmly in place.

5 Cut out two 30x23in (75x58cm) pieces of green fabric. Cut out ovals or circles of colored felt and pin and stitch them onto the right side of one of the pieces of fabric.

6 Right sides together, make the body as for steps 3–6 of the Ladybug (pages 11–12). This involves sewing the two pieces of green fabric together along the longer edges, creating armholes, and then at the top and bottom making casings through which you thread elastic.

7 Using pattern piece 59, cut out two shoe covers from red felt. Pin and stitch the back edges together with a 3⁄8in (1cm) seam. Turn right side out.

8 Cut ten 11/4in (3cm) circles of red felt. Glue one onto the top of each finger and thumb of the gloves. It may be easier to wear the glove as you do this!