Easy DIY Lobster Costume
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Learn how to make an easy DIY lobster costume by upcycling a sweatshirt with felt. This costume is easy to wear, and the felt is easy to sew!
I love animals, and I’ve always tried to sew animal inspired clothing and costumes for my kids. Why are kids so cute when they are dressed up like animals?!
I had some red felt, and my son had a red sweatshirt. Combined they made the easiest DIY lobster costume!
This costume is really easy even though it has a lot of different parts. The best part is if you baste all the details onto the sweatshirt, you can take them off after Halloween and use the sweatshirt as a regular jacket!
The great thing about these claws is that they are essentially red mittens. They can be worn as claws and keep the hands warm, or they can just dangle off of the sweatshirt to keep the hands free.
Do you like to make costumes? Check out one of these:
- DIY costumes for halloween
- Free costume patterns for kids
- DIY flamingo costume
- Easy DIY dragon wings
- Make a rainbow unicorn costume
DIY Lobster Costume
supplies
- Red sweatshirt
- 1-2 yards red felt
- 1/2 yard white felt
- 2 large white felt balls
- Sewing tools
- Sewing machine
Cut a piece of white felt to fit on the belly of the red sweatshirt.
Cut four 1 inch red strips of fabric that are wider than the white circle.
Sew the red strips onto the white circle but evenly spaced vertically. Trim the strips to the same size as the white circle.
Cut the circle in half vertically.
Sew each half circle onto the sweatshirt, but don’t sew over the zipper. You want to be able to still use the zipper.
Cut out four claws that are essentially mitten shaped with points. I used my hand to make the claws extra large for my son’s hands. Make sure you cut out the opening wide enough to fit a hand through even after it’s sewn.
Pin two claw mittens together and then pin the other two claw mittens together matching up all the points and edges. Sew around the edges 1/4 inch from the edge but leave the armhole open.
Pin a small section of the claw mittens to the bottom of the sleeve. Baste the claws onto the sleeves.
Cut out 4 antenna shapes. I did a long point with a slight curve.
Cut out 2 pieces of stiff interfacing that are antenna shaped.
Fuse the interfacing to the back of 2 antennae.
Pin an interfaced antenna to an un-interfaced antenna. Sew around the edges 1/8 inch from the edge. Do the same to the other pieces.
Trim any excess and so that you don’t see any of the extra layers.
Pin the two antennae to the top of the hood. Sew across the short edges to secure it.
Hand sew the white felt balls to the hood and the base of antennae. This will help the antennae stand up best.
Cut two rectangles of red felt that is 3/4 the width of the back of the sweatshirt and the same length.
Draw out the shape of the lobster tail and any lobster details you want to add. I drew different sections on different parts of the tail.
Sew around the edges and sew all the details of the tail.
Cut around the edges of the sewn tail design so that it becomes shaped like a lobster tail.
Pin the tail to the back of the sweatshirt. Make sure you place the center of the tail at the center back. Sew the tail onto the back of the sweatshirt.
To put the costume together wear the red sweatshirt with all the red details, put on the claw mittens, and then wear red pants and red shoes. You finished!
Easy DIY Lobster Costume
Learn how to make an easy DIY lobster costume by upcycling a sweatshirt with felt. This costume is easy to wear, and the felt is easy to sew!
Materials
- Red sweatshirt
- 1-2 yards red felt
- 1/2 yard white felt
- 2 large white felt balls
Tools
- Sewing tools
- Sewing machine
Instructions
- Cut a piece of white felt to fit on the belly of the red sweatshirt.
- Cut four 1 inch red strips of fabric that are wider than the white circle.
- Sew the red strips onto the white circle but evenly spaced vertically. Trim the strips to the same size as the white circle.
- Cut the circle in half vertically.
- Sew each half circle onto the sweatshirt, but don't sew over the zipper. You want to be able to still use the zipper.
- Cut out four claws that are essentially mitten shaped with points. I used my hand to make the claws extra large for my son's hands. Make sure you cut out the opening wide enough to fit a hand through even after it's sewn.
- Pin two claw mittens together and then pin the other two claw mittens together matching up all the points and edges. Sew around the edges 1/4 inch from the edge but leave the armhole open.
- Pin a small section of the claw mittens to the bottom of the sleeve. Baste the claws onto the sleeves.
- Cut out 4 antenna shapes. I did a long point with a slight curve.
- Cut out 2 pieces of stiff interfacing that are antenna shaped.
- Fuse the interfacing to the back of 2 antennae.
- Pin an interfaced antenna to an un-interfaced antenna. Sew around the edges 1/8 inch from the edge. Do the same to the other pieces.
- Trim any excess and so that you don't see any of the extra layers.
- Pin the two antennae to the top of the hood. Sew across the short edges to secure it.
- Hand sew the white felt balls to the hood and the base of antennae. This will help the antennae stand up best.
- Cut two rectangles of red felt that is 3/4 the width of the back of the sweatshirt and the same length.
- Draw out the shape of the lobster tail and any lobster details you want to add. I drew different sections on different parts of the tail.
- Sew around the edges and sew all the details of the tail.
- Cut around the edges of the sewn tail design so that it becomes shaped like a lobster tail.
- Pin the tail to the back of the sweatshirt. Make sure you place the center of the tail at the center back. Sew the tail onto the back of the sweatshirt.
- To put the costume together wear the red sweatshirt with all the red details, put on the claw mittens, and then wear red pants and red shoes. You finished!
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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!
I believe small sewing moments can create great joy. Find your own “right” way to sew. -Heather
Hi! Thank you for sharing this. My 4 year grandson called me yesterday asking me to make a lobster costume for him for Halloween….This looks like something I might can do. Now to find a red sweatshirt jacket….Thanks again!