In this tutorial, I am going to show you how to make this cute little chipmunk costume. It is super easy and super fun. You could use this same idea to create squirrel or skunk simply by changing the colors, the stripe and the tail. It is a fun, cute little costume perfect for that junior high age.
I am using a brown velvet halter biketard for the body. However, you could also use a biketard with a regular neck or you could even use a unitard, a skirt, a dress or whatever works for you to build something like this. Check out the cute little back tail. This is one of my favorite costumes. So if you want a cute little Chip n’ Dale costume this tutorial is the one for you.
Supplies:
1. Brown Velvet Biketard or Unitard
2. Stretchy Cream Velvet
3. Black Thread
4. White Thread
5. Pins
6. Scissors
7. Sewing Machine
Directions:
1. Choosing Your Materials
For the body of the squirrel, I have chosen to use a brown velvet halter top biketard. Velvet works better for cold weather. If it will be worn in cooler weather, you may want to use a regular biketard because it covers the back and has long sleeves.
For the breast piece, the stripe and the tail, I am using cream stretch velvet and black velvet for the stripe down the back and the tail. I like the stretch velvet because I like the feel, the fact it has a kind of light furry look and it stretches. I am using a four-way stretch material that is available on our website or you could get it at almost any fabric store. However, you do not have to use velvet for the biketard or the fabric pieces. You could use type of fabric you prefer as long as it stretches.
2. Cutting the Velvet
One thing to keep in mind is the size of the wearer. My costume was an extra small adult. For a child or larger adult, the width of the stripes, the tail and the breast piece will vary accordingly.
For the stripe down the back, I cut two six inch wide strips of the cream velvet. Once I have sewn them together, the cream stripe will end up about five inches wide. I also cut a two inch wide strip in black velvet that will go down the center of the cream stripe. I want the stripe to go all the way from the neck down to the about the buttocks or where you want the tail to be.
For the tail, I cut two pieces of cream velvet that are almost a triangle but with rounded corners. The sides of the triangle should be cut the equal the width of the stripe down the back. Next, I cut another two inch black strip of black velvet that will be centered on the cream tail.
For the breast piece, it is best to fold the cream velvet in half and then cut a half oval by cutting away from the fold and then cut into the sides away from the fold at the top. That way it is even. If you are not comfortable doing it this way, create a pattern by drawing the breast piece on a piece of paper so that you can see how it looks. Then fold the paper pattern in half and place it on the folded fabric and cut the fabric around the paper pattern. I cut two breast pieces because when they are sewn together, it gives it a nice firm look and two layers keep the brown from showing through.
3. Sewing the Pieces Together
There are two ways that you can create this costume – with or without the skirt. I used a tulle skirt. If you wish to make a tulle skirt, you can check out our video How to Make a Skirt with Tulle.
To sew the stripe, sew the black strip down the center of the cream strip using a zigzag stitch. Then place the second cream strip face down on the strip that has the black stripe and sew the strips together using a zigzag stitch around three sides leaving it open on one of the short sides. Then turn it inside out. Next, turn the open edge over so that you have created a kind of a “tunnel” at the top of the stripe. Since you are going to feed the ties from the halter biketard through this “tunnel,” I made it to be wide enough to feed the ties through it. Lastly, I sewed the bottom part of the stripe to the back of the halter biketard. I recommend that you try the biketard on the wearer so that you can see where you will start sewing the stripe to the biketard.
For the tail, sew the black strip down the center of one of the triangle pieces. The black strip will end on the corner pointing to the bottom. The two triangular pieces are sewn together with the black stripe going from top to bottom and the top left open. Then I will turn it inside out creating a pouch with the velvet on the outside. I am stuffing this “pouch” with an extra piece of tulle so that the tail is puffy. If you don’t have any tulle, use whatever works for you. Last, I am going to sew a zigzag stitch along the top of the tail and trim the edges. Once that is done, I am going to pin the tail on the biketard on top of the stripe down the back with the tip of the tail pointing to the neck and making sure that all three of the stripes – cream, black, cream – match up so that they look like three continuous stripes. Last, zigzag the tail to the biketard. This will cause the tail to pouf out a little when you flip it over.
If you are using a tulle skirt, you will need to sew the base of the stripes and the tail so they go over the skirt just slightly.
To sew the breast pieces, pin them on top of each other on the front of the biketard. You will probably have to trim the top of them a little to fit around the neck area. If the two pieces do not match up exactly you may want to trim the bottom layer a little so that it does not stick out. Then sew around the edges to with a zigzag stitch so that they retain the stretchy quality of the fabric.
And there you have it – a cute, little chipmunk.
Have a Happy Halloween and enjoy your trick or treating.
