Family Crafts: How to make a Hungry Caterpillar costume

Have fun making this lovely children's costume, using old fabric from your old fleeces and t-shirts!
For more information and the step-by-step instructions for this costume, visit www.loveyourclothes.org.uk/refashion-upcycle
Disclaimer: We recommend that you avoid using highly flammable materials and if the product is intended for use by a child that particular care is taken with small parts. The products shown in our guides are not intended for use by under 3’s. If children are involved in the making process, adult supervision is recommended at all times.
Love Your Clothes show you to make a hungry caterpillar costume which is great for Halloween or children’s dress up parties.
The things you need are:
An old green t shirt to fit your child
Old fleeces in greens, browns and reds (you can buy fleece by the meter if you don’t have any)
Length of plastic coated garden wire
Pattern pieces (included in instructions)
Sewing kit
Matching thread
Sewing machine
FOR THE BODY
Measure from the armpit for where you want your first stripe to start and add 1cm seam allowance. Mark this and then cut the t-shirt across.
Use the bottom of the t-shirt to create a template for your stripes - don’t forget to add a 1cm seam allowance to the top and bottom, if you don’t have an old fleece to upcycle you can always look in your local charity shop.
Using two pieces of coloured fleece material, pin the two fluffy sides in together and stitch using a 1cm seam allowance. Repeat so you have 4 panels for the front and 4 for the back.
Note: you will need to create two separate panels of four stripes each. These will be the front and back of the costume.
Using the leg template, create using a double layer of your fabric and cut out and then sew together and turn so the seams are on the inside and stuff. Repeat until you have the necessary number of legs (we made 8).
Fold the T-shirt in half and measure the width of the bottom edge. Add 1cm for your seam allowance. Make a note of this.
Fold the striped panels in half. Measure to your noted length. Pin and cut out. Use fabric scraps/offcuts etc to create a tassel for the back of the caterpillar.
Place the back panel on a flat surface, right side up. Position the tassels in place and secure with pins. Stitch a line up the centre back. Note: you can cut into the tassels to make them thinner if you wish.
Place the caterpillar back section on a flat surface, right side up and position the legs on it (facing inwards). Carefully lay the front panel on top, ensuring right sides are together and matching the seams.
Pin through each seam and each leg, then sew the two sides together, making sure to catch all of the layers.
With the caterpillar costume turned inside out, place the right side of the T-shirt to the right side of the costume part, matching side seams and back and front (the T-shirt will slot inside).
Pin together, easing in where necessary. Stitch together. Turn the caterpillar right side out.
TO MAKE THE CATERPILLAR HAT
Pin the hat template to a double layer of red fleece. Carefully cut it out, including the darts.
Unpin the template and separate the two hat pieces. Pin the darts closed (these are going to give the hat shape). Stitch the darts on the wrong side of the fabric on the two separate hat pieces.
FOR THE EYES AND ANTENNAE
Pin the eye template to a double layer of suitably coloured fabric (we used yellow). Cut two eyes and cut two inner eye pieces from a contrasting fabric (we used green).
Pin the antenna template to a double layer of fabric (right sides together) - we used green fabric. Cut out. Repeat this step to make two separate antennae.
Place the eye pieces in position on one side of your hat - make sure it is right side out.
Pin each eye in place and stitch down along the outer edge of the inner eye.
Place two antenna pieces right sides together, then stitch around, leaving the flat end open. Repeat for the second antenna.
Trim any excess fabric away from the seams. Using a chopstick or pencil, turn each antenna right side out.
Take a length of garden wire and feed it into each antenna to give shape. Trim any excess away with sturdy scissors (not your best sewing ones!).
Sandwich the two antennae between the two hat layers: Place the front hat panel on a flat surface with the eye side facing up. Place the antenna on top of this - facing inwards. Lay the second hat panel on top, right side down (make sure the base of each antenna pokes out slightly).
Pin the hat together and then stitch the seam. Tip: when you are ready to sew over the wire in the antennae, turn the sewing machine wheel by hand so that your needle goes over the wire and you don’t break the needle. Turn the hat the right way out.