How to Make an Easy Costume for a Bird

Making a costume for your pet bird can seem challenging. However, it is easy to make a simple, medieval-style tabard, the short tunic that knights wore over their armor. Naturally, the tabard that you make for your bird will be sleeveless. In designing the tabard, you can borrow from history and make your bird a crusader or musketeer. Or use the designs from superheros to decorate the tabard. Let your imagination be your guide.

Things You'll Need

  • Fabric
  • (Optional) Elastic or bias tape or felt
  • Velcro or snaps
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut out two rectangles to be the front and back of the tabard. The size of the rectangles depends on the size of your bird. Each rectangle should cover one side of your bird's torso, but don't make it so long that it interferes with the bird's feet.

    • 2

      Finish the edges of the rectangles, either by turning them under and sewing or by using bias tape around the edges.

    • 3

      Make four narrow strips to hold the tabard together. These can be made from bias tape, cut out of felt (which does not ravel) or made from the tabard fabric. The length of these strips will vary according to the size of the bird. Use two strips to connect the tabard front to the back at the top or neck of the garment. Use the other two strips to connect the sides.

    • 4

      Sew the 2 top/neck strips to one of the smaller ends of your rectangle (call this the front), and sew the other end of the strips to the back rectangle. Now you have two connected rectangles with a square hole (the sides of the strips form the sides of the hole) for your bird's head.

      Sew the other two side strips to either side of the front rectangle only. Sew them along the long side of the front tabard, closer to the bottom. The side strips will reach back and go under the wings, so be sure to leave enough room.

    • 5

      Sew Velcro tabs or snaps to the back end of the side strips and to the back of the tabard. Now, after you slip the tabard over your bird's head, you can attach the side strips to the back to hold the tabard in place.

    • 6

      Decorate the front and back of the tabard with designs, if you want. You can use iron-on embroidered patches or fabric paints. But if you use fabric paints, be sure to use non-toxic paints.