Creating a Pete The Cat Costume is a fantastic idea for Halloween, school events, or just for fun! And what’s Pete the Cat without his groovy blue tail? This guide will walk you through making a fantastic Pete the Cat costume tail that’s sure to stand out. You will need some felt, stuffing, and a few other simple craft supplies to get started on this fun DIY project.
First, you’ll want to decide how wide you want your tail to be. A good width for a child’s costume tail is about 2 inches. To figure out the circumference needed for this width, you can use an online circumference calculator. Simply enter your desired width as the diameter. For a 2-inch wide tail, you’ll need a piece of felt approximately 6.3 inches wide. This calculation is crucial for getting the right shape and size for your Pete the Cat costume tail.
Alt text: A piece of blue felt laid out on a cutting mat, ready to be cut into a strip for a DIY Pete the Cat tail.
Once you know your width, cut a strip of felt to the appropriate width. Next, determine the length you want your tail to be and cut the felt strip to that length. For a child, a length of about 18-24 inches is usually a good size for a Pete the Cat costume.
Now, fold your felt strip in half lengthwise. You can then either glue or sew the long edges together. Fabric glue or hot glue works well for a quick project, or you can sew it for a more durable finish. Remember to leave one end open for stuffing and curve the other end as you glue or sew it to create the pointed tip of the tail. Trim off any excess felt along the edges to make it neat.
Alt text: Hands folding a blue felt strip lengthwise and applying glue to the edge to create the seam for a homemade Pete the Cat tail.
Turn the tail right side out. This hides the glued or sewn edges on the inside, giving your Pete the Cat costume tail a clean, finished look.
To give your tail shape and flexibility, cut a piece of 18-gauge wire to the same length as the tail. Carefully insert the wire inside the felt tail. The wire will allow you to bend and pose the tail once it’s complete, adding a playful touch to your Pete the Cat costume.
Now it’s time to stuff your tail! Use fiberfill stuffing to make it plump and fun. You’ll need a tool to help push the stuffing all the way down to the tip of the tail. A yardstick or even a chopstick can work well for this. Stuff firmly to give the tail a good shape, ensuring it’s evenly filled for the best look for your Pete the Cat costume.
Alt text: A blue felt tail being stuffed with white fiberfill, a yardstick is used to push the stuffing down, part of the DIY Pete the Cat costume tutorial.
Finally, cut out a circle of felt to close the open end of the tail. Before attaching the circle, think about how you’ll attach the tail to your costume. Velcro is a simple and effective option. Attach one side of the Velcro to the felt circle using hot glue. Once the glue is dry, sew or glue the circle securely to the open end of the tail, closing it completely. The other side of the Velcro can then be attached to the back of a shirt or pants to easily wear your Pete the Cat costume tail.
Alt text: Close-up showing velcro being attached to the felt circle that will close the end of a DIY Pete the Cat tail, preparing for costume attachment.
Congratulations! You now have a fantastic, handmade Pete the Cat costume tail ready for your groovy cat outfit. Get ready to rock your Pete the Cat look!
