01
Button the cardigan
Button the white cardigan closed and lay it flat. Both boas will wrap around the bodice, so leave the sleeves free.
Fran makes
An easy chicken costumewith absolutely no sewing.
A white cardigan, two fluffy feather boas, yellow leggings or tights, and a few pieces of felt become the sweetest little chicken without threading a needle.
No sewing.
Two fluffy boas.
One very fluffy chicken.
a quick note from Fran
The cardigan does all the work.
The boas bring the fluff.
I wanted a fluffy chicken costume without sewing boas onto a leotard or building a stuffed bodysuit. A buttoned cardigan, two wrapped boas, yellow leggings or tights, felt feet, and a bonnet topped with a comb get the look with much less fuss.
gather your pieces
What you’ll need
The cardigan and leggings make this feel more like getting dressed than putting on a complicated costume.
Shop the chicken costume product list
- A white cardigan
- Two white feather boas
- Yellow leggings or yellow tights
- A white bonnet or close fitting cap
- Red felt for the comb
- Yellow felt for the feet
- A small amount of stuffing for the comb
- Little black booties or yellow clogs (any comfortable, secure shoes will work)
- A rubber chicken purse (optional, but very fun)
- Fran’s printable chicken costume stencils (comb and foot templates in one PDF)
- Safety pins
- Fabric glue or a low temperature hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Needle and thread, if you’d like to sew
- Scissors
make the costume
Two boas. A handful of pins. Done.
Lay the cardigan flat and do all pinning before the child puts it on.
02
Wrap and pin the boas
Starting with the first feather boa, wrap it around the bodice until there is nothing left to wrap. Continue with the second boa, spacing each pass so the cardigan looks full and evenly feathered while keeping the button row accessible. Secure the boas in four fastening lines: one beside the front button row, one at each side, and one along the back. Add a safety pin wherever each pass of boa crosses a fastening line, using as many pins as needed to hold everything securely.
03
Make the red comb
Print both pages of the stencil PDF from the supply list at 100% / Actual Size. Check the one inch square before cutting. Trace the comb stencil twice on red felt and cut out both pieces. Stack them together, then use fabric glue or a low temperature hot glue gun around the shaped top and side edges, leaving the straight bottom open. Turn the comb inside out, fill it lightly with stuffing, and seal the bottom with more glue. Center it on the white bonnet and attach it with glue. Let the glue cool and cure completely before putting the bonnet on the child.
04
Cut and tie the felt feet
Trace the foot stencil twice on yellow felt and cut out both pieces. Starting at the center of each straight bottom edge, cut one slit up toward the toes. Stop at the dashed “STOP CENTER SLIT HERE” line. Do not cut past it. The slit creates two long ties while keeping the foot in one piece. Lay each felt foot over a shoe and tie the ends comfortably around the child’s ankle. Little black booties or yellow clogs work especially well, but any comfortable, secure shoes will work.
05
Put the whole chicken together
Pair the feathered cardigan with yellow leggings or yellow tights. Tie the felt feet around the ankles over the shoes, then finish with the white bonnet and red comb. Fluff the boas and make one final check that every safety pin is fully closed before heading out.
Fran’s quick formula
The easy way to remember the body.
Use two boas.Two full boas give the bodice its soft, feathered fullness.
Wrap until they are used.Keep circling the bodice with each boa until there is nothing left to wrap.
Pin in four lines.Front, side, side, and back hold every pass of the boas in place.
Adult assembly and supervision are required. Attach the boas while the cardigan is off the child. Use appropriately sized, fully closing safety pins and inspect every pin before each wear. Keep feathers and felt away from flames, heat, and hot bulbs. An adult should handle hot glue. Tie the felt feet comfortably around the ankles, keep all felt and ties on top of the shoes and away from the soles, and check that they cannot create a tripping hazard.
a couple of quick answers
No sew chicken costume questions
How many feather boas do I need?
Use two white feather boas. Wrap both around the cardigan bodice until there is nothing left to wrap, adjusting the spacing as you go for an even, fluffy look.
Can the cardigan still open?
Yes. Keep the boas and the front fastening line beside the button row rather than across it so the buttons remain usable.
Does this costume require any sewing?
No. The boas are attached with safety pins, and the red felt comb can be assembled and attached with fabric glue or low temperature hot glue. If you prefer, you can sew the comb edges and stitch it to the bonnet instead.