Introduction: Needle and Thread Costume

About: Hi! I'm a slightly feral mountain hermit that likes to be helpful. I do community management at Instructables & Tinkercad. 🙌 Want to hear me chat about making? Search "CLAMP Podcast" on YouTube or your favorit…

I recently saw a pint size needle and thread costume making the rounds on pinterest and I just knew I needed to make one! :D

I'm just a bit too wide too fit a lampshade over my hips, so I built the spool out of multiple sheets of cardboard, tape and hot glue. The thread is yarn, and the needle is made from aluminum foil. 

This needle and thread costume would be easy to finish in an afternoon. I think it look me 4-5 hours from start to finish, but yours should go even faster since I already made all the mistakes for you! WOOHOO

(big thanks to audreyobscura for taking the final costume photos and editing them! she's the best! xo)

Step 1: What You'll Need:

  • cardboard
  • glue gun + glue sticks
  • masking tape
  • yarn (I used three skeins - get the cheap fat stuff!)
  • aluminum foil
  • rulers / measuring tape
  • box cutter or x-acto knife
  • scissors
  • markers / pencils
  • duct tape 
  • stapler
  • ribbon for straps
I entirely winged this build, but I think I've listed everything I ended up using. :D

Step 2: Make a Circle!

This is really the trickiest part. I wandered around the office looking for circular things slightly bigger than me. 

I ended up using an small table. I traced it onto cardboard and then made a drew a smaller circle inside the larger one. I cut that out so it formed a ring and tried it on - way too big! So I used the inside edge of the circle to make a smaller ring. (The width of the ring ended up being 1 1/2 inches, which turned out to be perfect)

Once it fits, draw it on another piece of cardboard and cut it out so you've got two rings of the same size. :)

Step 3: Make the Spool Top and Bottom

I cut strips of cardboard 3 inches wide for this. Cut them so that they'll curve nicely - i.e. across the grain, not with it!

Hot glue them to the outside edges of the rings. You'll need to piece together multiple strips for this, I'm sure. I cut mine so that they nicely together and didn't overlap.

Step 4: Make the Middle of the Spool

I recommend you get someone else to help you with the measuring for this. I did it myself and it was a little bit of a mess. :D

I decided I wanted my spool to be about 24 inches long total. I cut the middle pieces of cardboard so they were 21 inches tall. I made it three inches shorter because I wanted the to edge of the spool to be even with the inside of the spool - but this isn't entirely necessary. 

Once you have the large pieces for the inside of the spool cut, roll them up as tightly as you can. This will help break them in and making gluing and curving them easier.

Glue the inside of the spool to the inside of the rings. When you need to insert another piece of cardboard, remember that this part doesn't have to be as clean - overlap all you want! It will be covered by yarn. :)

Step 5: Cover the Ends With Masking Tape

I used pretty wide tape (2 inches) for this because it would go quicker. :D

I liked using the tape because it looks a little like the serrated edge on spools of thread. You could use duct tape for this too! 

Overlap the tape like shown. I finished the tape ends inside the spool by putting a layer of black tape around the entire edge. 

Step 6: Wrap the Yarn

This is pretty tedious, not going to lie. :D But I had very thin acrylic yarn, which was no fun to work with. But I think a thicker yarn would be great!

The original tutorial used t-shirt yarn but I didn't have any on hand and a TON of yarn. So choose wisely. ;)

I used masking tape to keep the yarn in place when I started it and tucked all the ends in.

Step 7: Add Straps

This part is all about trial and error too.

I found some 1/2 inch wide black ribbon in the craft area and decided to use it. I draped it over my shoulder and cut it so it was a little longer than I wanted it. 

I secured it with duct tape for the fitting and thought it might work long term, but I am sad to say this is one case where duct tape just doesn't cut it. :D

I ended up stapling the straps in place over the duct tape. 

Step 8: Boomshakalaka

A thread spool costume! 

Know what else this needs? A NEEDLE SWORD

Step 9: Making the Needle

I used aluminum foil to make the needle. 

I had originally thought to use the wood lathe to craft a giant needle I could paint silver, but I gave up on that when both Penolopy Bulnick and wilgubeast told me that a easy costume with a very complicated wood lathed needle might not go together. Fair enough!

I made a needle sized roll of foil and added more foil to the top and bottom as needed.

I used a knitting needle and knife to help hollow out and shape the hole in the needle. :)

Putting the needle on a hard flat surface and rolling it under the palms of my hands helped compact the foil and smooth it out.

Step 10: And Now You're Ready to Go!

I can't promise sitting down is going to be easy, but I think the inconvenience is worth looking awesome. :D

I chose to wear leggings, a tank top and heels with it. I figure it's best to keep it simple!

2013 Autodesk Halloween Contest

Second Prize in the
2013 Autodesk Halloween Contest

Halloween Costume Contest

Participated in the
Halloween Costume Contest