How to Make a Butterfly Mask For Kids

Butterfly costume felt mask | Childhood 101

Some time ago we went to a birthday party and in the party bag we took home a cardboard butterfly mask which Immy loves. Being cardboard however, it wasn’t long in the hands of a toddler before it looked somewhat worse for wear!

Butterfly costume felt mask | Childhood 101
I decided to use the cardboard version as the template to make a felt butterfly mask for Immy’s dress up box. I decided to use felt so it felt soft on the face and I knew it would be durable. It really was very simple to make – and if you are not up to the sewing (though it is really very simple hand sewing), you could try a glue gun instead.

How to Make a Butterfly Mask For Kids

You will need:

  • One square of felt in your choice of base colour
  • Felt in contrasting colours for decorating and head strap
  • Sequins and beads for decorating
  • A needle and thread
  • Elastic- I used 1.2 centimetre wide elastic
  • Iron on fusible webbing

To make:

Butterfly costume felt mask | Childhood 101

1. Cut TWO basic mask shapes from the base colour felt.

Make your own butterfly mask costume | Childhood 101
2. Cut one mask shape from the fusible webbing.

Butterfly costume mask | Childhood 101
3. Decorate one of the base mask pieces by hand sewing into place contrasting felt shapes, sequins and beads. You could also use fabric paint to decorate. This will form the front of the mask.

Make your own butterfly costume | Childhood 101
4. To make a strap to secure the mask around the head: Measure the circumference of your child’s head, subtract the width of the butterfly mask and then add on 3 centimetres. Cut a length of felt which is this length. The width should be double the width of your elastic plus one centimetre. Fold felt in half and then stitch along long edge with 1/2 centimetre seam allowance. Turn tube right side out. I used a safety pin attached to one end and pushed it through the middle of the tube to do this.

Butterfly costume mask tutorial | Childhood 101
5. Thread elastic through the tube. Again, I used a safety pin, this time attached to the end of the elastic, to push the elastic through. So that the mask fits snugly, cut the elastic slightly shorter than the felt strap.

Make your own butterfly mask | Childhood 101
6. Sew the strap securely to the second felt butterfly.

Butterfly costume felt mask | Childhood 101
7. Place the fusible webbing between the two felt mask pieces and iron the two butterflies together. Be careful not to iron your sequins, ironing instead from the back!

More simple, homemade costume ideas…
Bird Costume Mask small
Homemade bird wings small | Childhood 101
Princess Hat Costume

7 Comments

  1. Great idea.
    The mask that you've made is lovely… your daughter is going to have lots and lots of fun as a butterfly!

  2. artsy_momma says:

    I love it! You make it look so easy!!!

  3. great job!

  4. What a terrific idea. My kids are very into superheroes and always want masks. I've made simple cut-out ones from felt with a simple cut-uot tie in the back, but they never last long. With this template (easily modified to a more generic superhero shape) and instructions, I can make some great, versatile masks!

  5. You always make the coolest things. I am a tad envious. Just a tad. Heehee.

  6. Granny Lyn says:

    Takes me back when I used to make so many things like that for my nursery school children! Will have to start again now I have 3 grandaughters!

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