Fish Costume Pattern

Mermaids

A mermaid is half fish, half human. This is a popular costume for little girls because they frequently want to be like the Disney character, The Little Mermaid. This costume can be made from a store-bought fish costume pattern, or you can be creative and make it from scratch yourself. If you choose to make it from a pattern, consider using the McCall’s Mermaid pattern for women and girls.

Some older fish and mermaid costume patterns include:

• McCalls pattern 5498: Mermaid costume for adults and children
• Simplicity pattern 4043: Mermaid costume for adults and children
• Oop pattern 2-5 B3911: Child mermaid, pirate, hula girl and plant fairy
• McCalls pattern 3809: Child’s mermaid, frog and alligator costumes

Simplicity Fish Costume Pattern

A hard-to-find fish head and tail costume pattern is Simplicity 4926. This pattern makes a costume of a goldfish (or any other fish) that fits over the head and rests on the shoulders. The wearer of the costume can see through the fish's open mouth. Since it is a Simplicity costume pattern, it is very easy to sew and can be completed in a weekend. One of the best places to find this older costume pattern is on eBay.

Butterick Fish Pattern

The Butterick pattern 5597 includes a child’s mermaid costume as well as other creatures from the sea. Make an octopus, lobster, toddler mermaid (looks quite a bit like a fish) and an older child’s mermaid costume. This pattern is an older one and can be found on eBay.

Make it Yourself Fish Costumes

Since you may have trouble finding a fish costume pattern at your local fabric store, the Internet is a great resource to find costume ideas. Fish costumes can be easily made at home with a few materials you may already have on hand.

Fishbowl Costume

A fishbowl is a cute costume and can be made with a cardboard box, black paint, cellophane, blue construction paper or cloth, fish cut-outs (seaweed, fish, seashells), glue and a dark-colored outfit.

Cut a hole in the top of the box for a child’s head. Cut an armhole on each side of the box for the child’s arms. Draw a fish bowl on the front and back of the box. Trace the outline of the fishbowl with black paint. Allow the paint to dry.

Cut two large circles out of the blue paper or cloth, which will serve as the water in the fish bowl; glue one to the front and back of the box. Glue the cut-outs of the fish, seaweed and seashells to the blue paper or cloth, arranging them in a realistic manner within the fishbowl. Allow to dry completely before wearing.

Fish Head

This costume requires a few days before the big event to make. You will need:

• Paper mache mix (or make it yourself with white flour and water)
• Newspaper strips about an inch wide
• One very large round balloon (large rubber balloons work well)
• Various colors of acrylic paint
• Glue
• Embellishments: sequins, tulle material, beads, glitter
• Colored paper for fins and tail

Make sure the balloon will be about twice the size of the person’s head who will be wearing it. Place the balloon on a table between two bricks or something similar to keep the balloon from rolling. You will be making this mask one side at a time.

Take the paste and apply it directly to the balloon on the side you’ll be working on. Then apply newspaper strips to the paste and begin layering the two. Spread the paste evenly and thinly for the best results.

Allow each layer to dry slightly before beginning in another area and layer. Alternate the sides of the balloon that you are working between dryings so the mask will be one large piece, not two separate ones.

Allow the mask to dry for a day or two in a warm, dry room or in the sun. Once it is completely dry, use a pin to pop the balloon. Then carefully use a pair of sharp scissors to cut a hole for the person’s head to fit into. Don’t cut it too large or it will fall off the person when they’re wearing it. Remove the balloon and discard.

Once it has been sized correctly, use a pencil to draw your design of the fish on the mask. Make the mouth of the fish a little large so that it can be used as the eyehole. Paint your fish with bright colors. After the paint dries, add embellishments such as glitter, sequins, tulle material, fins and a tail.

More Fish Costume Pattern Resources

Check out these other websites for more make-it-yourself fish costumes:

• Family Education costume ideas
• Family Fun make-it-yourself costumes
• The Costume Cow
• Kids Turn Central
• The Bridge School costumes for the disabled. Includes ideas for shark-bitten surfer and a crocodile hunter.
• The Costumer’s Manifesto: dozens of ideas for costumes that you can easily make at home