Sew a Scrap-Fabric Costume for Your Pet in Under an Hour

When you sew regularly, fabric scraps have a way of accumulating faster than you expect. I keep a growing collection of colorful leftovers tucked away in a project bag, and sometimes those odds and ends become the spark for something unexpected. This simple DIY pet costume—a flower collar—came out of exactly that kind of scrap-bin inspiration.

I had a few bright red sweatshirt remnants and some dark green corduroy— enough for a handful of petals and leaves. A bit of cardboard tucked inside each petal gave them enough structure to hold their shape, and within an hour I had transformed those scraps into a fun collar that slips comfortably around my cat’s neck. It was just in time for Halloween, though I have a feeling this will reappear in spring as well!

This project is quick, beginner-friendly, and a perfect way to turn fabric scraps into something charming. With just a little time and a few simple tools, you can make a craft in under an hour that looks far more polished than it is.

• Scrap fabric for petals (I used red sweatshirt knit, use what you’ve got)
• Scrap fabric for leaves (dark green corduroy worked for me, use what you’ve got)
• Cardboard (one small piece for each petal)
• Bias tape, ribbon, or some scrap fabric for the neckband
• Matching thread (or not matching! whatever you have on hand is fine)
• Sewing machine (or hand needle, if preferred)
• Pins or clips
• Fabric scissors or rotary cutter

🧵Sewing Advice: When working with scraps, it helps to press them first. Flat fabric is easier to cut accurately, especially when you’re making repeated shapes like petals and leaves.

About 45–60 minutes from start to finish. It’s a craft in under an hour, making it perfect for a weekend afternoon, a quick creative break between larger projects, or a last-minute Halloween costume.

This project is a great example of how a simple idea can become a DIY pet costume with very little planning. Instead of starting with something rush delivered to your place, finding a store-bought pattern, or purchasing complicated materials, I leaned on what I already had. The result is something unique, inexpensive (free even), and plenty polished—all with a personal touch.

I began by cutting five large petal shapes from the red sweatshirt fabric.

To make them consistent, I traced my rotary cutter around the rim of a drinking glass as a quick template, then extended the bottom to create a teardrop shape about four inches long. Adjust the size depending on the needs of your pet.

🧵Sewing Advice: When cutting multiple identical shapes, stack 2–3 layers of fabric and cut through them together. It saves time and gives you cleaner, more consistent edges.

One of my favorite things about this project is how well it uses fabric scraps that might otherwise get thrown out. Petals don’t require much yardage, so even weird, uneven remnants can usually be trimmed into shape.

For each petal, I placed two fabric pieces right sides together and sewed around the edge, leaving the flat end open. After clipping the curves, I cut five matching pieces of cardboard, trimming them slightly smaller so they would fit neatly inside each finished petal.

I turned the petal right side out, slid the cardboard inside for structure, and topstitched around the edge to close the opening and give it a clean finish.

This simple construction gives the petals enough stiffness to stand up and fan out, while still feeling soft and lightweight.

Before moving on, my cat wandered over to investigate. If you have a curious animal, this is usually the moment they decide to sit on your cut pieces or try to carry one off.

Next, I turned to the dark green corduroy scraps. I cut five leaf-ish shapes—slightly elongated ovals with a pointed tip. Corduroy works nicely because it has natural body and doesn’t require interfacing, but if your fabric is softer, you can double it or add light interfacing for stability.

I sewed each pair of leaves right sides together, leaving a small opening to turn them out. After turning and pressing. If you want to go the extra mile, you can run a straight stitch down the center of each leaf to create a simple vein line.

This is the most satisfying part. I laid out the five petals in a circle, overlapping their flat ends slightly, and tucked the leaves in between them. Once I was happy with the arrangement, I stitched across the flat ends to secure everything together in a single “flower” bundle.

Once everything is cut, the assembly is surprisingly fast. I love that this is the kind of craft you can finish in under an hour. If your scraps and basic tools are ready, this is a low-stress project that moves smoothly from start to finish.

I used a simple straight stitch to connect the pieces together into an unfinished collar, but I needed to come up with a way to fasten the costume to my cat. I decided the best option would be to attach a neckband along the inner curve, something that would allow me to comfortably get it on and off of my cat.

For the neckband, I attached the flower bundle to a strip of extra scrap fabric cut to fit loosely around my pet’s neck. Ribbon or elastic would also work.

🧵Sewing Advice: Always prioritize your pet’s comfort and safety. Avoid tight closures, dangling parts, or anything that could be chewed off. Additionally, do not leave a costume on your pet unsupervised!

I slipped the finished collar around my pet’s neck and adjusted the closure. The petals fanned out neatly, and the green leaves peeked through just enough to give it a full, dimensional look.

The beauty of a DIY pet costume like this is how customizable it is. Once you understand the basic structure, you can experiment with different colors, fabrics, and shapes to suit your pet’s personality. Whether you want something whimsical, seasonal, or elegant, the core technique stays the same.

🧵Sewing Advice: Photograph your finished work on a neutral background. It highlights your craftsmanship and helps the project look clean and polished in photos.

• Different flowers: Yellow petals for a sunflower, pink for a daisy, or purple for a pansy.
• Layered petals: Stack smaller petals on top for extra depth.
• Center embellishment: Add a circle of fabric, felt, or a pom-pom in the middle for a true floral center.
• Reversible: Use two fabrics so you can flip the collar for a second look.

• It’s an excellent way to use scraps.
• The construction is simple, with no tricky fitting or shaping.
• The collar is soft and adjustable, so it’s comfortable for pets to wear briefly.
• It looks more complex than it is, which makes it satisfying to complete in under an hour.

Like many scrap projects, this flower collar began as a way to use up leftover materials and ended up becoming something unexpectedly delightful. Working within the limitations of what I had on hand forced me to make fast design choices, which kept the project light and fun.

If you’ve got a growing pile of fabric scraps, this is a great way to turn a few of them into something fun. It’s a quick, creative win that doesn’t demand a whole weekend of work. And like all good sewing projects, it rewards a few thoughtful choices—clean cutting, smart pressing, and good finishing—with a result that feels polished and personal.

If you make one, we’d love to see it. Share your floral collars with us on Instagram, so we can see what unexpected fabric combinations you come up with.

Fred Tally-Foos
Blogging for Madamsew

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My name is Fred Tally-Foos and I’m a writer and happily amateur quilter living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with two cats and far too many fabric scraps. When I’m not writing about astrology or spirituality on my blog, recycling old pieces of fabric for new projects, or picking up a new hobby, you can usually find me cheering on the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.