I’m excited to share the first full DIY costume tutorial of the season: pool float costumes! These oversized, colorful floats have become so popular, it felt natural to turn them into wearable versions. They’re playful, bold, and surprisingly easy to make.
This is only my second sewing-based costume—usually I keep things simple—so I wanted to walk you through clear steps and provide templates to make the process straightforward. They look especially cute paired with a simple shift dress in a matching color.
There’s a video to accompany the written instructions for extra visuals, and each costume includes free printable templates to help you cut the felt pieces accurately.
Let’s get started!
Supplies You’ll Need
For the Unicorn:
- Yellow dress
- Unicorn templates (print on 11×17″ paper)
- 2+ yards white felt (adjust by waist size)
- Felt sheets in black, pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple
- Small piece of gold lame or metallic fabric
- Sewing machine
- Hand-sewing needle and thread
- 2 bags of stuffing
- Craft glue
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors
- Heavy-duty Velcro
For the Flamingo:
- Pink dress
- Flamingo templates (print on 11×17″ paper)
- 2+ yards pink felt (adjust by waist size)
- Felt sheets in black, white and orange
- Sewing machine
- Hand-sewing needle and thread
- 2 bags of stuffing
- Craft glue
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors
- Heavy-duty Velcro
For the Toucan:
- Red dress
- Toucan templates (print on 11×17″ paper)
- 2+ yards black felt (adjust by waist size)
- 1/2 yard white felt
- Felt sheets in red, yellow, orange and blue
- Sewing machine
- Hand-sewing needle and thread
- 2 bags of stuffing
- Craft glue
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors
- Heavy-duty Velcro
How To Make Pool Float Costumes
Watch the video above if you prefer a visual guide, then follow the written steps below for each float style.
For the Unicorn:
1. Print and cut the unicorn templates. Cut felt pieces accordingly: one mane piece in each color, one tail piece in each color, two head shapes from white, eye shapes from black and white, and a horn from gold lame. For the body, cut a long white strip 15″ wide and the length of your waist plus 15–20″. You can trim excess later.
2. Stack and glue the rainbow tail pieces together as shown in the video.
3. Fold the body strip lengthwise and place the tail between the fold on one short edge. Stitch that short edge and the long edge, leaving the opposite short edge open.
4. Pin the rainbow mane pieces along the head’s top curve. Place the other head piece on top and sew around the head and neck, leaving the base of the neck open. Turn both head and body right side out.
5. Stuff the head and the body; stuffing the head firmly helps the float sit stable while worn.
6. Optional: glue a felt circle over the raw edges at the base of the neck for a cleaner finish before attaching the head to the body.
7. Hand-stitch the neck to the center of the body, folding the raw edge under as you sew.
8. Fold the gold triangle horn right sides together, sew along the long edge, turn, and stuff.
9. Hand-stitch the horn to the top of the head in front of the mane.
10. Glue the white eye circles onto the black circles, then glue the eyes to each side of the head.
11. Hand-stitch the open end of the body closed. Attach heavy-duty Velcro halves to each end so they overlap; try the float on first to position the Velcro for a comfortable fit.
12. Pair the float with a yellow dress and you’re ready.
For the Flamingo:
1. Print and cut the flamingo templates. Cut two heads, four wing shapes and one tail from pink felt; two beak pieces and eye circles from black; two triangle pieces and eye circles from white; and two eye circles from orange. Cut a pink body strip 15″ wide and waist length plus 15–20″.
2. Glue black beak pieces to the front of each head shape.
3. With good sides together, stitch around the head and neck, leaving the base open.
4. Fold the body strip lengthwise and place the tail between the fold on one short edge. Stitch that short edge and the long edge, leaving the opposite short edge open.
5. Clip small notches in the curved seams of the head so it turns smoothly, then turn and stuff the head and body. Fill the head so it stays stable when worn.
6. Stitch each wing shape together leaving a small opening for turning, trim curves, turn, stuff lightly, and hand-stitch the opening closed.
7. Hand-stitch the neck to the center of the body, folding the raw edge under as you stitch.
8. Glue the white triangles on each side of the head, then layer and glue the eye pieces (white, orange, black) and attach them to the head.
9. Try the float on to determine wing placement; mark with a pin and hot-glue wings slightly forward on each side of the body.
10. Hand-stitch the open end of the body closed. Attach heavy-duty Velcro halves to each end so they overlap—try it on first to set a comfortable fit.
11. Wear with a matching pink dress.
For the Toucan:
1. Print and cut the toucan templates. Cut two head pieces and eye circles from black, one yellow beak piece, one red beak piece, one white neck piece, two orange head pieces, and two blue eye circles. Cut a black body strip 15″ wide and waist length plus 15–20″.
2. Fold the body strip lengthwise and the tail in half; place the tail between the fold on one short edge. Stitch that short edge and the long edge, leaving the opposite short edge open.
3. With good sides together, stitch around the head and neck, leaving the base open.
4. Turn the body and head right side out and stuff; firm stuffing in the head increases stability while wearing.
5. Hand-stitch the neck to the center of the body, folding the raw edge under as you stitch.
6. Glue the yellow beak piece over the top of the beak on the head, then glue the red piece on the underside.
7. Glue the white neck piece around the inner neck area.
8. Glue the orange head pieces over the white, then attach the blue eye circles on top.
9. Try on the float and mark where the wings should sit—slightly in front of each side of your body—then hot-glue the wings in place.
10. Hand-stitch the open end of the body closed and attach heavy-duty Velcro halves to each end so they overlap; test the fit before final placement.
11. Pair with a red dress and you’re set.
Photos + Video by Jeff Mindell
Which float is your favorite?
If you make one of these floats, keep it after Halloween—I have an idea for repurposing them later in the year, so hold onto yours and check back in November for that project.
If you want a matching pet costume, there are excellent tutorials for dog-sized pool floats that make for an adorable duo.
If you make a Studio DIY costume, share it on Instagram with #studiodiyincostume so it can be featured on the blog.