The Fox That Wore Green Sneakers

3:14 AM

I'm excited about this little costume.  I actually have other things I should have been sewing but once I got the idea in my head, I put the other projects on hold.  The project planning is my favorite part of the whole process.
Lately my little guy has been really interested in dressing up, wearing his old Halloween costumes.  I made this Max the Wolf  {Where The Wild Things Are} when he was 18 months.
So it's too small and made out of fleece, so hot for summer play (it snowed all day yesterday, so summer isn't here, but thinking ahead).
He loves the wolf the best mainly because the tail.  So we've been talking about other animals that have tails to make and narrowed it down to fox and skunk, but went with the fox.  I still think a beaver with the big flat latticed tail would be cute too, but the rest of the beaver is kind of blah.  Anyway....

So our little red fox.  I looked at pictures of actual foxes to get ideas, and decided to go with a red fox.
I just used clearance broadcloth fabric I had.  So it should be a lot cooler than fleece for the summer months.

Most of the photos of actual animals showed foxes having black legs and the tips of their ears.  So I got excited thinking I would try to mimic the actual coloring.  I used Rit black dye on the ears, forearms and lower legs of the costume.  After three rounds of the fabric soaking over 30 min each time, I gave up and decided my fabric just didn't have enough natural fiber in it to hold the color to get the ends really black.  But they're darker at least..


He loves the fox and once again, his favorite part is the tail.  He was excited as we were making it, and I let him stuff his tail with the Polyfil.

Foxes do have big ears, but when it was all done, the ears ended up being a little too big I think,



Being a fox didn't hold him back from getting dirty...

or riding his bike, although he did take care to make sure the tail was "up" so it wouldn't drag in the tires.  He was off to check out the neighbor's Hot Wheels motorized fire truck they busted out today.   
This costume was kind of for no reason (I've got big plans for Halloween already brewing), but it was fun to make, mainly because he was so excited and following the process along with me.  It will be sad when he grows up and his mom making him things is lame.  But for now it's kind of magical I think.

If you have a little fox who needs a tail of their own, I just use a pair of footed pajamas for a pattern and a hood from a jacket (you can tell the hood is a little big).

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Jessica and Lynette are crappy at the blogging side of things, thanks for stopping by anyway!

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33 comments

  1. Reeja RooMay 11, 2011 at 6:41 PM

    This is really, really cute. I disagree though - I don't think the fox ears are too big. Even when you mentioned it, I looked at the photos and thought they were just the right size. And there really is nothing better than dressing up. Lucky kid to have a mom who makes costumes for no reason!

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  2. AmieMay 11, 2011 at 6:44 PM

    This is too too cute and I think the dye came out perfectly! The ears too!! Way to go Jessica!

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  3. StaciMay 11, 2011 at 6:44 PM

    pure genius, i want it, i need it!

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  4. FrancesMay 11, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    That new little one has not slowed you down a bit...You are a amazing young lady and accomplish so much and so quickly....I remember when I could do lots of things now I am just a tired old woman....but love to see how you do so many things and with no pattern or anything...Keep up the great work...Fran

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  5. UnknownMay 11, 2011 at 7:06 PM

    Aside from the photos (that first one is gorgeous)... this costume is too cute. It looks like so much fun to have a mom who can make you "into" any animal you want to be! Great job.

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  6. PamMay 11, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    Seeing these photos just made my day! That's the cuties little fox I've ever seen. I love the last picture with him on the tricycle and his tail hanging over the seat. You need to enter that one in a photo contest. Oh, and the costume is really cute too.

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  7. chrisMay 11, 2011 at 8:04 PM

    Ok, the photos of your boy are priceless. I love him wearing the costume riding his trike!

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  8. Jo (@ boogaloo)May 11, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    ooo great job! I LOVE the effect with the dye. Really cute.
    I hope things that moms make will never be lame (but I fear that too). My 8 year old recently gave a birthday gift I made for his friend and he even told them that I had made it - so I think for now it's still cool over here too ;) Fingers crossed that lasts... or at least maybe he'll make some gifts of his own?!

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  9. JeanneMay 11, 2011 at 8:32 PM

    That turned out great. I like the way the fabric dye made it, and I like the ears big because it's kind of commical.

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  10. AprilMay 11, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    That is the cutest fox I have EVER seen!

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  11. PinkGrannyMay 11, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    This is priceless! Thanks for sharing, I know the fox with the green sneakers is going to have many days of fun with his new costume.

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  12. The Wilkins'May 11, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    Oh my heck - that fox costume + RJ = the cutest thing ever! Love it!

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  13. rebeccaMay 11, 2011 at 10:41 PM

    All i have to say is he has the coolest mommy in the world!!!!

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  14. eliseMay 11, 2011 at 10:52 PM

    absolutely magical! i adore it.
    something about foxes is so fun.
    i think the ears are perfect and the dye looks great, even if it didn't get as dark as you wanted.
    He looks so grown up especially in that first picture!

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  15. pinksuedeshoeMay 11, 2011 at 11:45 PM

    Love it. Love, Love, Love. I wish I was braver at actually sewing something I don't have a real pattern for. I've drawn up a zillion ideas, but the idea of cutting into real fabric with my real scissors sometimes freaks me out. Even if that fabric was cheap, it still freaks me out!

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  16. AnonymousMay 12, 2011 at 1:53 AM

    That is the cutest fox I've ever seen, especially with these green shoes...
    You are really talented.
    I can relate to your crafty exitement and what can be better than seeing that your child likes what your made :-)

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  17. UnikuuMay 12, 2011 at 2:04 AM

    awesom!!!

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  18. KathyMay 12, 2011 at 8:44 AM

    That os too cute!! My favorite photo is the fox on the bike!! With that tail!! hahaha Way Too Cute!!

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  19. Wanda Lynn TaylorMay 12, 2011 at 9:06 AM

    That is the cutest ever!

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  20. Stephanie KrohnMay 12, 2011 at 11:05 AM

    I think it is PERFECT! I love the big ears, and I love the way the dye just fades into the red.

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  21. AnonymousMay 14, 2011 at 4:53 AM

    he looks adorable... so cute!

    In Denmark we use a nickname for a fox. It is the boy name "Mikkel".

    So your boy is the cutest little "Mikkel" ♥

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  22. UnknownMay 14, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    Your pics are superb !!! And a great costume !!!

    i'm sure, you are wearing a "super mom" costume !you are amazing !!

    thank you for sharing
    merci

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  23. SheilaMay 14, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    Absolutely LOVE this! I love the dyed ends. I like it better that they aren't completely black. Love the tail and especially love all the pictures!

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  24. Emma RaeMay 14, 2011 at 9:08 PM

    this is amazing! i need to whip things up like this for my sons birthday! thanks for the inspiration!!

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  25. smilingwomanMay 14, 2011 at 10:58 PM

    Absolutely PRECIOUS! The "fox" AND the costume! Thanks for sharing!

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  26. Drew DanburryMay 15, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    Jessica,
    this costume is so good and the pictures are wonderful. You are doing wonderful things.
    Drew

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  27. Saras QvintessentialsMay 18, 2011 at 3:40 AM

    Wow, he is adorable and the constume is amazing! You have such a talent! I really enjoy looking at your blog!

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  28. Connie the crafterbugMay 18, 2011 at 9:32 AM

    Hahaha! I love the picture of him riding his bike with the tale sticking over the edge! How fun! You did a great job once more.
    Connie

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  29. Falafel and the BeeMay 22, 2011 at 9:53 PM

    Oh my goodness, this is the cutest costume I have ever seen!! The ears are perfect!
    ~Michelle

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  30. MMay 28, 2011 at 12:34 PM

    I love it. My daughter would die if she saw this! what did you make the ears out of so they up?

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  31. KrislingOctober 20, 2012 at 1:05 AM

    This is seriously one of the best things I have ever seen. I love it so much.

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  32. UnknownSeptember 5, 2013 at 11:09 PM

    This is such a cool costume - I love it and think it looks great!

    You may be interested to know that there is a creative costume contest happening over at http://www.halloweenhero.com/costume-contest-2013.html and there is a $250 grand prize.

    Thanks again for sharing this fox costume - it's a keeper!

    Best,
    Peter

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  33. Paige's momOctober 21, 2014 at 7:38 PM

    Can you make this for my 4 year old son? His mama isn't very crafty...but I have good taste at least! Let me know...cpage23@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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