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How to Make a DIY Ninja Turtle Costume

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Learn how to make a DIY Ninja Turtle Costume for your little Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, or Raphael fan! Made with flannel and fleece, this costume is comfortable for Halloween or pretend play.

If you have a “Hero in a half-shell” who is wishing for a Ninja Turtle Costume this Halloween, then this is the tutorial for you. This DIY Ninja Turtle Halloween Costume is simple to sew and full of “Turtle Power!”

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Simple-Sew Ninja Turtle Costume

What do I mean by simple-sew?

I don’t have much sewing experience. In fact, the total number of items I’ve sewn together could be counted on one hand.

DIY Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Costume Leonardo

That being said, my mom is a quilter. So, I grew up hearing and learning about sewing.

For this Ninja Turtle Costume, I came up with the vision and plan (so you can be certain it is not complex).

DIY Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Costume Leonardo

To make the costume, I did the cutting, pinning, ironing, and poly-fil (so, clearly, easy for a beginner!). My mom completed most of the sewing.

We assembled the pieces of fabric together with simple methods (such as a zig-zig edge stitch vs. formal seams). The purpose of this simple-sew style is to:

  • keep the costume beginner-friendly
  • save time (it’s just a costume, after all!)
  • create a casual/rugged ninja look
DIY Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Costume Leonardo

The rugged look was influenced by his previous ninja (or Ninjago) costume (easy and no-sew!).

How to Make a Ninja Turtle Costume

DIY Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Costume Leonardo

How to Make a Ninja Turtle Costume

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Active Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Estimated Cost: 20

Learn how to make a DIY Ninja Turtle Costume for your little Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, or Raphael fan! Made with flannel and fleece, this costume is comfortable for Halloween or pretend play.

Materials

  • yellow fleece
  • green fleece
  • brown fleece
  • blue fleece (for Leonardo)
  • orange fleece (for Michelangelo)
  • purple fleece (for Donatello)
  • red fleece (for Raphael)
  • coordinating thread
  • Poly-fil

Tools

Instructions

Yellow Chest (Belly Shell)

  1. Measure the width and height of the child's chest (including the torso). chest and width measurement for ninja turtle costume
  2. Cut two rectangles from yellow fleece (per the measurements in step #1).
  3. Round the corners of the rectangles.
  4. Stack the yellow fleece (wrong sides together) and pin.
  5. Stitch 2 vertical and horizontal lines, as shown. vertical and horizontal stitch for ninja turtle costume These stitched lines create the sections of the chest, making it look like a strong belly shell for the turtle. vertical and horizontal stitch for ninja turtle costume
  6. Fill each section of the chest with poly-fil.
  7. Stitch along the outer edge with a zig-zag stitch to finish.

Green Shell (Top Shell)

  1. Measure the width and height of the child's back.
  2. Cut two rectangles from green fleece (per the measurements in step #1).
  3. Round the corners of the rectangles.
  4. Stack the green fleece (right sides together) and pin the edges together.
  5. Stitch around the edge, leaving an approximate 3-inch opening.
  6. Turn the top shell right side out.
  7. Fill the top shell with poly-fil.
  8. Stitch to close the opening.

Brown Straps

  1. Measure the child's shoulder to determine the strap length between the top shell and belly shell. shoulder measurement for ninja turtle costume
  2. Add 1.5 inches to the measurement from step #1 (for a .75" seam allowance at each end).
  3. Cut the straps to 4 inches wide by the length from #2.
  4. Fold at the center and pin along the edge (wrong sides out).
  5. Stitch along 2 of the 3 open edges.
  6. Turn the strap right side out.
  7. Stitch the final open end.
  8. Stitch the straps to the top shell and belly shell. shoulder attachment for ninja turtle costume

Mask

  1. Measure the circumference of the child's head.
  2. Add 15 inches to the measurement from step #1.
  3. Measure the child's face for the height of the mask. mask measurement for ninja turtle costume
  4. Cut a strip of fabric to the measurement from step #2 by the measurement from step #3.
  5. Fold the strip in half.
  6. Measure the distance from the edge of the face to the nose. mask measurement for ninja turtle costume
  7. Measure the size and location of eyes.
  8. Cut the strip into the shape of the mask, using the measurements from steps #6 and #7 as a guide.
  9. Stitch along the outer edge with a zig-zag stitch to finish.

Chest Strap

  1. Cut a fabric strip (approx 1.5 inches wide) for the chest. chest measurement for ninja turtle costume
  2. Stitch along the outer edge with a zig-zag stitch to finish.


Knee and Elbow Straps

  1. Cut fabric strips (also 1.5 inches wide) with wide center sections (measure child's knees and elbows for width) to cover the knees and elbows. knee and elbow measurement for ninja turtle costume
  2. Stitch along the outer edge with a zig-zag stitch to finish.
© Craftivity Designs, LLC
Project Type: DIY / Category: Halloween

DIY Ninja Turtle Costume

I couldn’t be more pleased with how his costume turned out! It’s fun, colorful, and easy to move in… as you can see by his ninja action moves.

DIY Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Costume Leonardo

Guess he lost that fight.

Thankfully, he was still able to protect Snow White… (yes, this is just an excuse to include a picture of my cuties!).

DIY Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Costume Leonardo

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