Make a toad costume quick and easy for your favorite herpetologist. Create this costume in about an hour with a sewing machine, a pair of socks and fleece fabric. The pull over design allows your child to quickly dress themselves for a party or play and allows plenty of room for a warm jacket for Halloween trick or treating.
Purchase fleece fabric that has spots like a toad. Leopard spot fleece comes in many shades and takes on the look of a warty American Toad. The featured costume used two yards of fabric.
Fold the fleece fabric right sides together into a 36-by-59-inch wide rectangle. (Your fleece may be slightly more or less wide) Cut one piece at 35-inches wide. This will be the body.
Using the fold as one side of the toad costume, sew a slight curve on all four corners and the side seam opposite of the folded side.
The top curves need to go closer the center, allowing about 9-inches open at the top to comfortably slip over your child’s head. The bottom opening is about 19-inches to allow freedom of movement.
The body of the toad is now a simple oval with top and bottom openings. Cut armholes on the front of the costume a few inches inside of the seam. Fleece fabric does not fray so there is no need to finish the edges.
Cut the remaining piece into a dome shape. This will be the hood. Fold the flat bottom side up about 2-inches.
Roll a pair of socks into themselves to be the eyes.
Place the sock-eyes into the center of the folded edge for guidance. Set the eyes aside and tack or sew the in-between and sides of the eye-pocket.
Cut out a piece of fleece to be the upper eyelids. Sew into the hood. Cut a slight curve on the bottom eyelids to allow the toad eyeballs to POP! Insert the sock-eyes and sew a couple of stitches to hold in place.
Secure the hood under the child’s chin with a safety pin or a couple of stitches. Your little toad is ready to go for some hippity hoppity fun!
