Sew a Snake Costume

Create a spooky snake costume for Halloween so it looks like a snake is coiling around your body ready to eat! This clever costume is made of a pair of leggings (more affordable than purchasing this type of fabric yardage) and is constructed with a serger. If you don’t have a serger – don’t worry! Simply set your sewing machine for a stretch stitch, install a Jersey needle and stitch the same seams as shown below.

SNAKE COSTUME SUPPLIES

• Snake-print poly-spandex leggings (such as these; adult size small or “one size”; with elastic casing, ideally)
• Sulky Poly Deco™ Thread (four spools if using a serger; one spool if using a sewing machine)
• Fiberfill
• 5″ strip of 1/2″-wide black faux leather fabric or ribbon
• Sharp pins
• Removable fabric marker or chalk
• Clover® Wonder Clip
• Hand sewing needle

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SNAKE PREP

Trim one 1/2″-wide faux leather fabric or ribbon to a “V” shape to act as the snake tongue. Then, set aside the tongue.

Place the leggings inside out on a flat work surface. Trim off the upper-edge elastic casing (If desired, save the elastic within the casing for another use).

Trim off the crotch seam to have two leg pieces.

If using a serger, set the machine for a 4-thread overlock stitch. Thread the machine with four spools of Sulky Poly Deco Thread in a color that coordinates with the leggings fabric.

SNAKE CONSTRUCTION

Pin the leg upper edges with right sides together.

Then, serge the edge.

Fold the resulting fabric tube (with opening in the center from crotch seam) in half lengthwise with right sides together. Align the open edges.

Using a removable fabric marker or chalk, draw a line to connect the straight leg seam with the opposite straight leg seam. Pin along the line.

Serge along the line to create a continuous tube of fabric, trimming off the excess. At this point, you may want to make the snake width smaller. If so, serge off the entire leggings inseam, anywhere from 1″ to 3″ from the factory edge.

Place the fabric tube ends wrong side out on a flat work surface, centering the inseam.

Measure 4″ from one leg hem; mark along the folded edges. Draw a triangle from the folded edges at the mark to the hem lower-edge center (along the inseam). This is the basis for the snake head shape.

Using a removable fabric marker or chalk, freehand draw the snake head shape, using the triangle as a guide. Make the snake jaw protrude slightly toward the fabric-tube folded edges, and curve inward to the triangle point.

Place the snake tongue right side down, centered between the fabric tube and with the tongue straight edge aligned with the hem edge. The wrong side of the snake tongue should face the inseam.

Pin along either side of the inseam stitching to stabilize the fabric, if needed. Clip the tongue in place to avoid shifting.

Stitch along the drawn snake-head lines. Use a serger or stitch with a narrow stretch stitch. If your snake head is particularly curvy, use a sewing machine to avoid trimming off too much fabric along the drawn lines during serging.

On the opposite leg hem, mark 5″ from the hem along the inseam. Taper the existing seam in toward the hem to create a narrower tail shape. Leave the end open for turning and stuffing.

SNAKE COSTUME FINISHING

Turn the snake right side out through the tail end.

Stuff the snake with fiberfill until the desired level of plumpness is achieved.

Once satisfied with the fiberfill distribution, fold the tail edge in toward the wrong side; clip or pin shut. Whipstitch the tail end to close it.

Wear clothing you plan to wear with the snake costume. Wrap the snake around your body until the desired snake placement is achieved.

Using safety pins, pin the snake to your clothing at several places so it appears to “squeeze” your body as you exhale.

The best part is you can take off the snake and use it as a fun stuffy or gift it to a little one after Halloween!