Costume Tails

Item # 222511589P05

Beginner 1-2 Hours

Draw out the shape of the tail on a large paper. Fold it in half vertically before cutting it out to make it symmetrical, if desired.
If the tail will need different colored sections, such as stripes for a raccoon tail, or a different colored tip for a fox tail, cut those sections out of the paper and make a note along the attachment edges to add 1/2" of material along those edges for the attachment.
Trace the template onto the wrong side of the material.
Cut out.
Glue. If you're piecing together stripes or a tip and using fur, trim the fur 1/2" along the attachment point first.
For tail shaping, wire can be inserted into the tail before stuffing.
Stuff the tail, if desired. Stuffing can be Poly-fil, or something like wadded up plastic bags or similar from around the house.

Braid the yarn and add loose yarn at the bottom, as for a LION'S tail.
Wrap the yarn around something, like cardboard, twice the length of the tail.
Slide it off the cardboard and tie the top.
Braid the length.
Tie the bottom.
Wrap a small amount of yarn of another color around something about 6" long, like a cell phone.
Cut the bottom and straighten out the yarn.
Turn the braided tail upside down and lay the short yarn on the bottom of the tail. Tie it in place.
Continue to add yarn around the bottom of the tail.
Turn right side up and trim the bottom of the tail to size.

Wire makes a great fluffy tail, as for a CAT'S, DOG'S or SQUIRREL'S tail.
Cut a piece of wire from a hanger or another heavy gauge wire to the size of the tail.
Shape the wire.
Wrap fluffy fur trim, or a boa, around the wire. Tying strips of tulle around the wire could also make a fluffy tail.

Attachment methods can include a safety pin, sewing or gluing on an alligator clip, sewing or gluing directly onto the costume, attaching the tail to a hip-wide loop of elastic.

When cutting fur, regularly brush the fur away from the cut line with your hand so that the edge fur remains long & uncut.

How To Make It