Fleece Cat Costume

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Luxe Fleece, 60" wide:
• 1 1/2yds black
• 1/4yd white
• Orange & green scraps
• Pellon® EZ-Steam II 2-Sided Pressure Sensitive Fusible Web, 9"x 12", 1
• 1/4" black elastic, 13"
• Marking pen
• Embroidery floss, white
• Needle for floss
• Sewing machine & basic sewing supplies
• Iron
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting board
• Scissors
• X-Acto® knife with #11 blade

DIRECTIONS:

1. To print the patterns, click on the "Download Project PDF" button (above). Enlarge patterns.
2. Cut out one of the ponchos on the fold out of black fleece. Cut the arm holes.
3. Cut two of the hood sides and four of the ears out of black fleece. Sew two of the ears together leaving the bottom edge open. Repeat.
4. Cut out the inner ear patterns. Cut a scrap of white fleece large enough for both ears.
5. Apply fusible web to back of the fleece. Trace the inner ears on the web and cut out. Iron in place on the black ears. Stitch close to edges of inner ears to fully secure.
6. Lay the ears on the right sides of the hood sides as per location on the pattern. Fold the front edge of the hood RST. This should almost cover the ear. Pin this fold and sew 1/2" from the fold. This will capture the end of the ear. Repeat for the second ear. Pin and sew the two sides of the hood RST 1/2" SA.
7. Cut out one of the collar on the fold out of black fleece. Cut a second collar on the fold out of white fleece. Cut the white fleece approximately 1/4" wider than the pattern on the zig zag/fringe side.
8. Lay the black collar piece RS down. Lay the white collar on top RS down. The top curve of the white collar should be pinned 5/8" down from the top curve of the black collar. Straight stitch the collars together 1/2" down from top of white collar.
9. With WST line up the lower edge of the hood with the top curve of the poncho. Sew 1/2" SA. This seam will be on the right side of the poncho. Lay the collar white side up on the RS of the hood. Match up the raw edges of the hood/poncho seam with the raw edges of the collar. Sew 1/2" from the black edge of the collar. The stagger of the edges of the black and white collar will decrease the layers in the seam at the neck. When the collar is flipped down over the poncho the seam will be under the collar, the black collar will be on top.
10. Neck ties: Cut two 1 1/4"x 14" pieces of black fleece. Fold in half lengthwise and sew lengthwise close to edge. Repeat.
11. Hold one end of a tie 3/4" past the front of the poncho under the seam for the collar. Fold the collar over the end of the tie and zig zag stitch in place. Repeat for the other side.
12. Mask: Cut one of the black fleece and one of the white fleece full mask pattern pieces. Center the black on top of the white and sew together close to the edge of the black panel. For a finished look, sew with a zig zag stitch around the edge of the black panel. Place the mask up to the intended users face to locate the proper placement of the eye holes. Once located cut out the holes using an X-Acto knife.
13. Place fusible web to the back of scraps of fleece: Orange for nose and mouth and green for the eyes. Trace the patterns on to the back of the web. Cut out all the parts, peel the back of the web and press on to the mask as per the locations on the pattern. Line up the eye holes. Sew close to the edge around all the parts to further secure. Sew a tight zig zag stitch around the eye holes to finish the edges.
14. On the back of the mask use the marking pen to draw the lines in the forehead and the whiskers. Straight stitch along the forehead lines. Use the white embroidery floss to sew the lines of the whiskers, knotting in the back.
15. Pin one end of the elastic 1/2" over the side on the back of the mask and zig zag stitch in place. Try on the mask to adjust the length of the elastic. Sew the other end of the elastic to the back of the other side.

Craft Hack Tips and Tricks:

• To cut the arm holes on the poncho weave a pin just past the ends of the line for the hole. Use the rotary cutter to cut the hole. The pins will act as a stop for the cutter if cut slowly.
• When straight stitching on the fleece the thread will not be visible so there is no need to color coordinate the thread to the mask parts. Test sew a sample prior to sewing the mask.