Easy DIY Raccoon Costume for Halloween

Learn how to make a DIY raccoon costume for dressing up. This Halloween costume is comfortable, easy to make, and can be a regular set after.

Did you love seeing the Jimothy raccoon on social media this summer near Seattle? My kids loved cute Jimothy, and we looked forward to all the videos of him.

I knew a bunch of other kids were excited about Jimothy, and I wondered if other kids would want to dress up as Jimothy for Halloween. I made a raccoon costume for my daughter to wear that is a raccoon, but it also looks like Jimothy if that’s what you want to be for Halloween. The best part is this costume is very comfortable, and you don’t have to wear a mask to get the look! Let’s get started!

What should I use for the base of a DIY Raccoon Costume?

Get a gray matching sweatshirt and sweatpants (like this girls set* or make one using the Everyday Set sewing pattern) for a really comfortable costume. This will work the same for smaller kids, adults, and teens. As long as you have the hood, any gray set will work. The best part about using a set like this is that I can remove all the raccoon details after Halloween, and she can wear it as a regular set through the winter.

You will also need black gloves and black shoes to finish of the look of the costume.

What felt should I use for the DIY raccoon details?

I used cheap acrylic felt* for this costume, because I wanted it to be cheap. The felt doesn’t look as nice, but I’m going to take the details off after Halloween so she can wear the set through the winter. You can also use wool felt which looks much nicer and lasts much longer, but it’s a little more expensive.

Love to sew? Try one of these sewing projects:

• DIY costumes for Halloween
• DIY hoodie costumes
• DIY upcycled costumes

How to Make a DIY Raccoon Costume

Supplies

• blue matching sweatshirt and sweatpants (like this girls set* or make one using the Everyday Set sewing pattern)
• acrylic felt* in gray, black, and white, OR wool felt
• black gloves and black shoes
• Free large ear sewing pattern for costumes
• Polyfil or other stuffing
• Optional: fusible interfacing
• Sewing tools
• Sewing machine

Instructions

Cut out a black felt mask and a white felt mask for underneath. I just free cut this shape. The shape and size you need will depend on the size of the hood you are making it for. You just want the mask to go across the hood in a recognizable size with the white mask that ends on a point on each side so that it looks like a raccoon.

I cut out two ovals from the black felt for the eyes, then I sewed them onto the masks with a tight white zigzag stitch so that they would show up.

I sewed the mask onto the top of the hood. I also added a white oval muzzle with a black nose on top of it. I sewed everything with a straight stitch and switch between black and white thread.

Then I made the ears using the large ear sewing pattern instructions and gray felt. I sewed the ears onto the top of the hood. Doing a face and ears definitely gives the look of a raccoon to the hoodie without having to wear a mask.

Cut out two black tails that are the same shape and size. Cut out some gray strips of felt that will become the tail stripes.

Sew the felt stripes onto the tails.

Trim the edges of the stripes and tail so that everything is the same size.

Place the tail pieces right sides together. Sew around the edges but leave the top open. Make sure to backstitch when you start and when you stop and pivot at the point.

Trim the seam allowance at the point to reduce the bulk.

Turn the tail right side out and carefully poke out the point.

Stuff the tail with poly-fill to give it the fluffly raccoon tail look.

Sew the tail onto the center back of the sweatshirt with a horizontal stitch that also closes the opening in the tail.

Pair the hoodie with the matching pants. You finished!

If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!