WGBH asked me if I had some ideas on how to make Peep and the Big Wide World Costumes. This is my solution. These are the easiest costumes you’ll ever make! No sewing involved.
What you’ll need:
-Generic long sleeve shirt: purple, red, or yellow—depending on which character you are making (Can usually be found at any craft store)
-Black leggings or straight leg sweat pants
-Light (for Peep) or dark (for Quack and Chirp) colored generic baseball cap (Can usually be found at any craft store)
-Fabric paints to paint the cap and name on the shirt. Get the coordinating colors to paint the crown, brim, and shirt of your character.
-Felt pieces: White and black for the eyes, red for Peep’s chicken comb, and extra white if you are making Quack’s hat.
-Black pipe cleaners for Chirps head
-Large plastic disposable cup if you are making Quack’s hat.
-Scissors
-Hot glue gun
-Optional: You can use the name patterns at the end of this post to cut and make templates for painting the names on your character, OR print the patterns on iron-on transfers through an ink-jet printer. Be sure to get the appropriate kind for dark or light shirts. Use the black filled name template and THIS product if you want the name to be black. Use the white outlined name template and THIS product if you want the name to be white.
-Optional: You could also use batting or something soft to puff the shirt out a little and make it more rounded.
*Another idea: If Halloween night gets really cold in your area, you could use an oversized shirt and put it right over a child’s coat—it would make the shape looker rounder, just like the characters.
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Directions:
The directions for all the costumes are pretty much the same, with just a few variations in the hats.
Peep
For Peep’s costume, you’ll need a yellow long-sleeve shirt, black leggings/sweat pants, and pieces of white, black and red felt. You’ll also need black and yellow fabric paint.
Start with a white or light colored cap. Use the fabric paints to paint the crown yellow and then paint the brim black. Let dry. Use the patterns below to make white felt ovals, and small black circles for the eyes. Use red felt and the pattern below to make the chicken comb. Attach felt pieces to cap with hot glue.
Use the name pattern to print an iron-on transfer of the name for the shirt OR just use the pattern as a template and paint the name on with black fabric paint.
Chirp
For Chirp’s costume, you’ll need a red long-sleeve shirt, black leggings/sweat pants, and pieces of white and black felt. You’ll also need red, orange, and black fabric paint.
Start with a medium dark or dark colored cap. Use the fabric paints to paint the crown red, and then paint the brim orange. Let dry. Use the patterns below to make white felt circles, and smaller black circles for the eyes. Use thick black pipe cleaners to make the spikey tufts on top of Chirp’s head. Attach felt pieces and pipe cleaners to cap with hot glue.
Use the name pattern to print an iron-on transfer of the name for the shirt OR just use the pattern as a template and paint the name on with black fabric paint.
Quack
For Quack’s costume, you’ll need a purple long-sleeve shirt, black leggings/sweat pants, and pieces of white and black felt. You’ll also need purple and black fabric paint (and white if you are using fabric paint for the name on the shirt)
Start with a medium dark or dark colored cap. Use the fabric paints to paint the crown purple, and then paint the brim black. Let dry. Use the patterns below to make white felt circles, and smaller black circles for the eyes.
Use a large plastic disposable cup for Quack’s hat. Cut the cup down to about 1.25” high (shown above). Glue a strip of white felt around it. Attach felt pieces and felt-covered hat to cap with hot glue.
Use the name pattern to print an iron-on transfer of the name for the shirt OR just use the pattern as a template and paint the name on with white fabric paint.
Patterns for Features:
