How to Sew a Terrific Tiger Costume

(Even if You Don’t Have a Pattern!)

In today’s post I am going to show you how you can create a totally cool tiger costume, without actually having a pattern for a tiger costume. “Huh? How does that work?”, you ask. Ahh, that’s the magic of sewing! 😉

Perhaps you’re even asking why it is that I am sewing a tiger costume or why I am sharing this with you today.

Well, answering the second part of that is easy. Why share? Because I am not one to keep a good sewing tip to myself! I love to support you in getting creative with your sewing machine and sewing things that will make you smile! And I love a good work-around; when the pattern doesn’t match exactly what I’m trying to achieve, then it’s the pattern that has to change, not my goal. That’s why I’m eager to share so many sewing ideas, tips and cheats with you (you can find more under the “Sewing” category on the menu bar above ☝).

And why am I sewing a costume at all? Well, Karneval is coming in a couple of weeks! In case you’re not familiar with what Karneval in Germany means (especially from a non-German’s perspective), be sure to check out my post here. Karneval is a BIG deal in many parts of Germany and for the cities’ colourful parades, getting dressed up in costumes is practically a must (at least for children it is!!).

Because I am able to sew, and for the time being my kids actually like and enjoy what I can create, I am the one responsible for coming up with the goods. Hence the DIY, sew a tiger costume as my current sewing project.

I promised to show you how to make one without a pattern, right? Well then, read on…

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you.

Creative Children’s Costumes to Sew

Since learning the basics of sewing just a few years back, I have sewn plenty of costumes for our kids, such as a pirate, bat and ninja, a dinosaur, devil and Hogwarts pupil and even an incredible Hulk costume. I don’t mind sewing costumes for Karneval and Halloween, because they often get re-worn for the next festival or at least for a few fun rounds of dress-ups at home 😉.

Out of the wishes made this year by our 3 children, the tiger costume was definitely the most involved.

Miss 11 chose to be a character out of a Lego series (ever heard of Hidden Side Lego ? No, me neither until my daughter presented me with her costume wish!!) Basically all we had to do was organise her a purple wig and a denim jacket. All I had to sew for her was a yellow, knit-fabric beanie. Easy peasy!

Miss 8 wants to dress like a Native American (aka American Indian) and sketched out her own design of how I should make her costume. This had me modifying a dress pattern, shopping for tassels, and sewing a zipper in the back. This costume it still a work in progress but I swear it will be done in time for her school Karneval party!!

Master 6 decided that he wanted to be a wild cat and together we landed on the idea of a tiger, with a top to toe ankle costume but I didn’t have a pattern. At first I wasn’t sure where I’d start (possibly like you right now!!). I assumed I’d sew 2 pieces: a hooded pullover and a pair of trackpants / PJ pants. But after chatting with the instructor at my weekly sewing meet, it was clear that there was a better idea: a pyjamas onesie!

Is this Sewing Project for Beginners?

Well, I have posted a quite a few projects and tips for sewing newbies these last months, but this project is a little trickier, only because you are not following a pattern word for word and there are a few additions (like ears!) that need figuring out.

While the individual techniques used to sew this costume are not especially difficult, the entire project is best suited to someone who has already had some basic experience with a variety of sewing projects. That being said. If you want to try it out anyway, I am not going to stop you! “Learn by doing”, as they say!

Is this Tiger Costume for Children or for Adults?

I have sewn this costume for my 6 year old son. But who says that only kids get to have the fun of dressing up?!? At Karneval plenty of adults turn up in all sorts of costumes, including, yes, tigers. The sewing process is the same, regardless of the costume size.

Could I Sew a Different Animal Costume instead?

Yes! Sure! I sewed a tiger costume for my son because he wanted to dress up like a tiger. Had he wanted to be a lion or a bear or a zebra or a unicorn or any other 4 legged big animal, I could have used the same method. Just different fabrics, tail and ear shapes! You could use the tutorial below to create so many different types of animal costumes! Let your imagination run as wild as a tiger! 😉

Tutorial: How to Sew a Tiger Costume Using a Onesie Pyjamas Pattern

What You’ll Need:

Fabric- tiger print for the onesie, hood, ears and tail

Fabric- stretch jersey, dark-coloured for the hood lining and cuffs

Zipper (not metal)

Polyester stuffing

Sewing machine, (overlocker if available), pins, fabric scissors, pencil, paper

Step 1:

Who are you sewing the costume for: adult or child? Find yourself a onesie pattern.

Update!! I used this one from the Ottobre Winter 2015 Kids’ Fashion magazine.

In the same magazine I found a pattern for a hood which I could use for the tiger’s head.

Step 2:

Choose the pattern size you will need. This in part depends on which fabric you will be using. Pyjamas are often made out of stretch or fleece fabric. The pattern instructions I used recommended a stretch jersey.

Because the faux-fur has hardly any stretch in it, I chose to trace out all pieces of the pattern 3 sizes larger than my son’s regular clothing size.

If you using a stretch jersey fabric, you may still want to cut 1 size larger for a baggier costume (that can still fit layers of regular clothing underneath, if desired).

For the ears, you can either find ideas online or get your creativity on and sketch them yourself! (Don’t make it complicated! Something like an inverted U-shape works well 😉.)

Step 3:

Cut out all pieces of tiger-print fabric required for the onesie and hood, paying attention to any extra seam allowance (read the pattern instructions first! 😉), plus 2 ears (cut each doubled, ie 4 pieces).

Don’t throw away the offcuts!! You’ll still need a long, slender piece for the tail!! Wait until the costume is otherwise finished before cutting fabric out for the tail. This way you can better judge what size tail looks best.

Using the hood pattern cut out the hood lining using your dark stretch fabric.

Step 4:

Following your instructions carefully, using your sewing machine and/or overlocker sew the onesie pieces together.

Pin and sew the 2 halves of the tiger fabric hood, right sides together. Repeat with the 2 halves of the dark lining fabric.

Step 5:

Sew each ear, using 2 pieces with right sides together with a 1cm (1/2 in.) seam allowance. Turn the right way out.

On the open edge at the bottom of the ear, create a small fold (approx. 1cm overlap) to give the ear some curvature, and tack the crease in place.

Step 6:

Ensure the opening at the front of the costume, from the neck line down the abdomen is long enough to allow your child to easily get in and out. (If necessary, you may need to cut the opening longer.) I found having the opening from neck line to slightly below navel just right. 😉

Sew the zipper in place in this opening at the front of the costume.

Step 7:

Before sewing the 2 hood layers together, you’ll need to pin the outer hood only, to the raw edge neckline of the costume, right sides together. Sew along the neckline of the costume starting at the zipper, around the neck hole continuing back to the front again ending at the other zipper half.

Step 8:

Now that the tiger fabric hood is in place, you can experiment around with where you would like the ears to fit.

Once you are happy, mark the position on the hood and cut slits long enough for the ears to be inserted.

Insert the raw edges of one ear inside the slit. With the right side of the hood fabric tucked 1cm inwards, pin the ear in place. Be sure that the main part of the ear is showing on the outer side of the hood and not the inside!!!

From the inside of the hood, sew the ear onto the hood.

Repeat with the other ear.

Step 9:

Now you’ll sew the dark fabric hood lining onto the tiger fabric hood layer. Firstly pin, then sew the right sides together along the front edge of the hood.

Then flip the lining back inside, so now the tiger fabric outer layer and the dark fabric lining have their wrong sides facing together.

Pin the lining onto the hood/neckline seam from step 7 and sew the 3 layers together around the neck hole.

You now will have a hooded onesie, complete with a zipper down the front and 2 ears (you did sew both of them in, right?!?) on the hood.

Now for the last steps.

Step 10:

Using the same dark stretch fabric that you used for the hood lining, sew a wrist cuff onto the end of each sleeve and a cuff at the end of each trouser leg at the ankle. (FYI- ribbing also works well for cuffs!)

Here comes the grand finale… The tail!

Step 11:

Have your little tiger try on the costume so you can “pin the tail on the donkey tiger”, or at least, mark where you will attach the tail.

Next measure how long you would like the tail to be. (My Master 6 is 125 cm tall and the tail I made for him was 50 cm long).

Cut out a long, slender rectangle piece of the tiger fabric, gently narrowing it at the end.

Fold in half along the long sides, right sides together and sew along the raw edge and around the tapered end, using a 1cm seam allowance. Don’t forget to leave the widest end open!

Turn the tail right side out and fill with the polyester stuffing.

Stitch the open end closed to encase the stuffing.

Cut a small slit in the back of the costume for the tail where you just marked. Insert the closed end of the tail inwards through the slit. As with the ears, tuck the tiger fabric along the slit approximately 1cm (1/2 in.) inwards and pin the tail in place. Sew the slit (including the tail) closed.

That’s it! You’re done!

The Completed Tiger Costume

You will now be the proud owner of a self-made, no pattern, DIY, personally-customed TIGER COSTUME! Congratulations!

Here’s how ours looks:

I hope that you had fun, thinking outside of the box with me and experimenting with a jigsaw of pieces to put together your brilliant, one-of-a-kind costume! I know I did 😊. And I sure hope your little tiger loves this costume (and you for having worked so hard to make it possible 😉).

ROAR!

I’d love to hear how YOURS went. Comment below!

Better yet, share a photo of your finished costume with me! Did you know you can share your photo on Instagram and tag me @everythingsfamtastic so I can see it too? Did you sew a tiger costume? Or perhaps a polar bear? Or a bunny rabbit? Let me see it!!