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How to Make a Dinosaur Tail

Looking for a cute addition to your child’s dinosaur Halloween costume (or just something fun for playtime)? Make your own at home using fabric and polyfil batting for a 3-D, fun effect.

Steps

  1. Pre-cut your tail. By pre-cutting the fabric, it will allow you to assemble the tail a little quicker than measuring, cutting and sewing all at once.

    Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 1.jpg
    • Cut the main fabric area: tail--cut 2 sections that are 22″ x 11″. Waist strap: Four pieces of 12″ x 3″. Circle cut 7” in diameter. Spikes cut two 22 x 3.5”.
  2. Create tail. Measure 4.5” from the left top corner and bottom left corner of the fabric and 4” from the top of the right top corner of the fabric.

    Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 2.jpg
    • Mark and cut.
    • Mark and cut the same measurements on the other piece of tail fabric.
  3. Design dino spikes. Draw spikes using your fabric pencil, on the inside of the fabric. Leave approximately ½” between each spike and use the entire fabric size to create the spikes.

    Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 3.jpg
    • Sew spikes, inside out.

      Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 3Bullet1.jpg
    • Cut along spike seam line, leaving approximately ¼” allowance for the entire strip.

      Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 3Bullet2.jpg
    • Snip the top of each spike and the corners of the spike triangles. Be careful not to snip through the sewn areas to avoid creating a hole.

      Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 3Bullet3.jpg
    • Turn spikes right-side out and poke spike tips outward using the end of the pen.

      Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 3Bullet4.jpg
  4. Attach spikes. First pin the spikes to one piece of the tail with the biggest spike on the wider end of the tail.

    Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 4.jpg
    • Sew the spikes to the first piece of the tail with 1/4" seam allowance.

      Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 4Bullet1.jpg
  5. Sew tail. Put the two identical pieces of tail fabric together, but inside out.

    Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 5.jpg
    • Sew tail leaving 1/2” seam allowance. Leave a space (about 4 to 5 inches) below the spike for the stuffing that will be added inside the tail later.
  6. Create and attach waist straps. Put two straps together (inside out) and sew 3 sides (leaving the bottom side unsewn).

    Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 6.jpg
    • Trim corners.

      Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 6Bullet1.jpg
    • Turn strips right side out and then add top stitching along the edges.

      Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 6Bullet2.jpg
    • Sew Velcro pieces on the ends of the waist straps.

      Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 6Bullet3.jpg
    • Pin waist straps inside the tail. Make sure Velcro pieces match up so they will attach when worn. Sew straps to tail.

      Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 6Bullet4.jpg
  7. Sew the circle around the tail.

    Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 7.jpg
  8. Stuff and close tail. Add polyfil stuffing and then replace with circle to close tail. Stitch around the sides to secure in place.

    Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 8.jpg
  9. Done!

    Make a Dinosaur Tail Step 9.jpg


Things You’ll Need

  • fabric (nothing too stretchy)
  • spike fabric
  • 5″ Velcro
  • Polyfil batting
  • Fabric pencil

Tips

  • Use this method to make other tails such as a mermaid tail.
  • Consider adjusting the tail length based on your child’s size (smaller children require a smaller tail).

Sources and Citations

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