DIY caterpillar costume

If the kindergarten, theater group or school where your child goes is planning a performance on the life of insects, a production of “Alice in Wonderland” or just a masquerade ball, you can make a bright and beautiful caterpillar costume for the girl.

Guidelines for creating a caterpillar costume

First of all, don't be intimidated by the complexity of the work ahead. There are many economical and least energy-intensive options for making a suit, which we will introduce you to below.

If you are not afraid of difficulties, we recommend using as many different details as possible - legs, spots, patterns, and so on. In wildlife there are a huge number of species of caterpillars of a wide variety of colors, so there is huge scope for imagination, and in this case it is almost impossible to overdo it.

If the costume is needed for a stage performance, it is recommended to use the brightest colors possible, as they look the most flattering, especially at a children's event. Yes, there are caterpillars of inconspicuous colors, but it is reasonable to create such images only if it is justified by the script.

The suit should not restrict movement or squeeze, but it should also not fall off and contain unstable elements that can easily tear off or fall off. The child should be as comfortable and comfortable as possible in it, including during active movements, all parts should be securely fastened.

How to make a caterpillar costume with your own hands

We present to your attention several images of various caterpillars with tips for creating them:

• Elegant caterpillar. A green shaggy sweater and leggings and makeup of the same color. Shoes can be slippers or ballet shoes. Also, makeup can be in golden shades; you can also paint your hands with it. This is the simplest option, requiring only to find or buy suitable clothes and cosmetics. The image turns out, although not the most reliable, however, beautiful and original. You can complement it with a purchased or made headband with antennae (more on how to create them below). Additionally, you can use other color combinations.
• Volumetric caterpillar. This costume is a little more difficult to create than the previous one, but it shouldn’t be too difficult. To do this, you will need an unnecessary closed dress with a long skirt, several sizes wider than the child. Sew rubber bands along its entire length, including the very bottom of the hem. To give even more volume, each “sector” can be filled with padding polyester. Depending on the objectives of the event, the length of such a dress may vary. If the caterpillar must stand still or crawl, then the skirt can be almost floor-length, and the lowest elastic band will wrap around the shins. It is easy to fall in such a suit, so to avoid injury, it is strictly not recommended to make it for small children. To give greater mobility, the length of such a suit can vary up to the waist, provided there are leggings underneath. You can adjust it by cutting off unnecessary parts of the hem. Or you can do the opposite, make a very long suit and make slits for the legs in it, the remaining part will “crawl” along the floor in a train, like a tail. In this case, the last “sector” is sewn together and, if desired, also stuffed with padding polyester. If there is no suitable dress, you can use any other fabric, for example, from an unnecessary curtain. It is enough to cut it to length and fasten the edges together, creating a kind of “pipe”. The top of it can be put on the head like a hood, it can be sewn above the head by cutting a hole for the face, or it can be secured with elastic bands in the armpit area, like a dress without straps. Of course, in the latter case, under the bottom there should be clothes of a matching color with sleeves.
• The volumetric caterpillar is an economical option. All you need is an unnecessary sleeping bag, in which you will have to make slits for the arms and legs. Many of them already have constrictions, so they do not even need additional finishing.

Important! Keep in mind that this suit can be hot. Do not use it for long events or complex moving roles!

• Original caterpillar. This option, of course, is not suitable for holidays on the theme of natural history, since it is inspired by the image of the caterpillar from “Alice in Wonderland” and can only be used in the production of this fairy tale. It includes a long terry robe, pajama pants, tousled hair and a hookah or smoking pipe.Like the first of the proposed options, it does not require special skills in needlework, you just need to find suitable clothes, however, it is not suitable for everyone and in its presentation it will require significant artistry from the child.
• Elegant caterpillar. The most complex of the proposed options, however, and the result is excellent. You will need two different colors of fabric and elastic. Divide the fabric into 4 wide strips, two of each color. Sew them together so that the colors alternate with each other. Along the edges of each of them, leave an additional fold and seam in order to insert an elastic band. Sew sleeves of a different color to the top strip, and thread elastic bands into them, as well as into the collar. If you wish, you can further decorate the resulting dress, for example, with frills at the bottom.

Options for decorating a caterpillar costume

The most recognizable parts of a caterpillar are the legs and antennae. Ordinary short black ribbons can be used as legs, or you can make voluminous legs from black fabric stuffed with synthetic padding. The antennae are made in the same way, which are then attached to the rim. In addition, they can be made from wire with any decoration at the end, springs or foil.

Reference! You can not only place many legs on the sides of the body, but also tie them together with ribbon or fishing line, attaching the top ones to the sleeves. Thus, when the child raises his arms, all his legs will rise with them.

As for the additional design of the costume, it can be sequins, appliqués made of fabric or paper, any three-dimensional compositions and much, much more.

In addition, you can make additional accessories, for example, cut out a large wooden sheet from cardboard and paint it, or cover it with green fabric - the child can carry it in his hands.