How To Make a Where the Wild Things Are Children's Halloween Costume

Fold the material over in half, cut out the outline, and pin and sew the two pieces together everywhere except at the wrists, ankles, and neck.

Cut out a semicircle for the neck on one side only. From the middle of the semicircle, cut an 8-inch slit toward the belly button; then sew a 1- by 9-inch strip of fleece onto the left-hand side of the slit to create a flap.

Sew an 8-inch Velcro strip onto the outside of the fleece flap and a matching strip on the inside of the right side of the slit; this creates a closure for the front of the suit.

Have the child try on the costume so you can measure for a hood: Measure from their mid-forehead to the costume’s back collar, adding 1 inch. Next, measure around the edge of the collar, adding 1 inch. Finally, measure from one side of the collar to the crown of the head. Cut fleece material using these measurements, try it on your child’s head, and trim as needed. Sew it onto the costume, hemming around the front edge.

Make the mitts: Trace the child’s hands onto pieces of fleece from 2 inches past the wrist up to the first knuckle, leaving a ½-inch border. Lay the patterns over another piece of fleece, cut, and hem the edges.

Draw claws on a folded 4-inch-wide strip of yellow fabric. Sew along the guides, leaving an opening between the flaps. Trim the outside, leaving a ¼-inch border. Turn them right-side out and stuff with polyester. Create thumb claws the same way.

Attach the claws to the mitts using a hand stitch. Sew elastic across the wrist, thumbs, and first knuckles. Then, sew a piece of elastic across the palm of the claws to keep them in place over your child’s hands. Sew the mitts to the rest of the costume, hemming around the wrists.

Hem the ankles. Drape a piece of fleece over your child’s shoe from toe to ankle and cut out the shape. Then, use this prototype to cut out another foot covering. Cut out a circle to go around the ankle, and hem around the edges. Attach Velcro tabs to close the back of the heels.

Make foot claws the same way you made hand claws. Sew a band of elastic to each foot flap so they can be secured under the arch of the foot.

Create a tail by sewing together the two long edges of a 3-inch strip of fur. Sew the tail onto the costume.

Measure the circumference of your child’s head with the hood on, and add 1 inch. Using these measurements, draw and cut a crown from the gold foil card stock. Sew or glue three 1-inch Velcro squares to the inside of the crown. Glue the ends of the crown together, using a clip to hold together until dry.

Cut a 2-inch-wide strip of fur the same length as the crown circumference. Sew the fur to the base of the crown.

Add three Velcro strips to the hood that correspond to the Velcro strips on the crown. Attach pipe-cleaner whiskers to the edges of the hood. Cover four buttons with fleece fabric, and sew them to the front of the costume.

Paint the dowel with silver spray or acrylic paint. Cover the Styrofoam ball with aluminum foil and insert the painted dowel at the base of the ball. Wrap a ½-inch strip of gold foil around the fattest part of the ball; attach it with white glue and secure with pins until dry. Cover the top of the scepter with a jewel. Done!