A monkey is one of the most forgiving costumes I make for children. Three details carry it: round ears, a lighter belly and a tail. Put those on a brown sweatsuit and almost anyone will recognise it, which leaves a lot of room to play with colour or give the monkey a job. That's how this list runs, from a plain brown monkey and a baby romper to circus, astronaut, chef and birthday versions. I've kept every one to soft clothes a child can sit and run in, face paint in place of a mask, and props light enough for a small hand.
Sewing a Monkey Tail That Curls Instead of Dragging
Nearly every costume below has a tail, and it's the piece that fails first. A limp tail drags on the ground, gets stepped on by the kids behind and pulls the waistband down. Here's how I make one that holds its curl.
- Cut two long strips of fleece or felt, wider at the base and tapering to the tip. Sew them right sides together and turn the tube out.
- Run a length of bendable wire or a few chenille stems twisted together down the middle. Fold each wire end back and tape it so it can't poke through.
- Stuff lightly around the wire with fibrefill. Packed tight, it goes rigid; a little loose, it bends and springs back.
- Stitch the base to a strip of grosgrain ribbon or a fabric tab, then sew that tab inside the back of the waistband, not to the seat of the pants.
- Bend it into a curl or question mark shape so the tip sits at the child's hip, well above the ground.
For a baby or young toddler, skip the wire. A short tail stuffed with fibrefill alone is safer and won't dig in when they're lying down or in a car seat.
1. Classic Brown Monkey Costume
This is the one I'd make first if you've never sewn a costume. Start with a brown hoodie and sweatpants or a fleece one-piece, then add a tan felt oval on the chest and two rounded brown ears with smaller tan centres, stitched to the hood or a soft headband. The tail is stuffed fabric, kept short enough that it clears the floor. Washable brown face paint on the cheeks, a little tan around the mouth, brown sneakers and a toy banana finish it. Felt cut slightly larger than you think looks better from a distance; a small belly oval disappears once the hoodie bunches up. On a cold night a thermal underneath doesn't change the shape at all.
2. Cute Baby Monkey Costume
For a baby, I start with what makes nappy changes easy: a brown footed romper or fleece bodysuit with snaps or a zip. Add a cream belly panel and small rounded ears on the hood, and sew a short, lightly stuffed tail on firmly. Leave off anything a baby could pull loose and mouth, including buttons, pom-poms and glued felt. I'd skip face paint on baby skin and use a warm brown knit cap with fabric ears, plus brown booties. A plush banana is fine for photos with an adult close by. Everything has to survive crawling, sitting and the stroller, which means flat seams and nothing stiff.
3. Toddler Monkey Costume With Banana
Toddlers move constantly, so this version is built around stretch. A brown sweatshirt, stretchy joggers and supportive brown sneakers form the base, with a tan felt belly held on by removable fabric tape and soft ears on the hood. The curly tail is brown fabric wrapped around a flexible craft material. If you use wire, fold each end back on itself and wrap it in tape before it goes inside, because a wire end will work its way through fabric over a night. A small brown nose and tan cheek circles in washable paint, a big light plush banana and a yellow bucket do the rest. It's a costume a toddler who hates fiddly clothes will tolerate.
4. Sock Monkey Costume
The sock monkey has the most charm of any here, and it's all colour blocking. Begin with a heather-gray sweatshirt and leggings, joggers or a soft one-piece. Sew cream fabric on the chest and red bands at the waist or ankles to copy the knitted toy, then make rounded gray ears with cream centres for a matching beanie. A wide cream felt muzzle with a red fabric smile sits on the beanie's front edge, not over the face. Add a long gray tail with a red tip, gray sneakers, red socks and a little pink on the cheeks. I'd use a ribbed knit for the cream and red if you can find it; it looks far more like a sock than flat felt does.
5. Circus Monkey Costume
The red jacket is what turns a plain monkey into a circus one. Dress the child in a brown long-sleeve shirt and pants, then add a short red jacket with gold ribbon trim, a cream belly, brown ears and a tail curving out behind. A small red pillbox hat on a soft headband works if it's stitched or glued firmly to the band. Gentle brown face paint at the nose and tan on the cheeks, red canvas sneakers and a foam drum or bright ring as a prop. Gold ribbon frays fast when cut, so I seal the ends with a dab of clear nail varnish or fray check before sewing. Keep every piece small enough that the child moves freely in a parade.
6. Flying Monkey Costume
Wings are the hard part of a flying monkey, and where most homemade versions go wrong. Use a charcoal-gray sweatshirt and joggers with a pale gray belly and matching ears, then layer a fitted blue vest or short jacket with red-and-white felt trim. I sew soft gray wings to the back of the jacket itself instead of hanging them from shoulder elastics, which slip down and cut into a child's armpits. Add a curled gray tail, a small matching cap, a gray nose and softly shaded cheeks, plus red sneakers. Position the wings high on the back and keep them compact so the child can still sit back in a chair.
7. Jungle Monkey Costume
Green felt leaves give this one an outdoor feel. Begin with a chocolate-brown hoodie, matching pants and brown outdoor sneakers, then add tan felt on the belly, hood and ears. A light fabric tail is fastened to the waistband, and a few felt leaves are pinned to the hoodie so they come off after. The leafy collar should be felt, never real leaves, which can irritate skin and crumble everywhere. A washable brown nose, lightly painted cheeks and a woven-look bucket of plush tropical fruit finish it. I cut each leaf with a centre vein snipped in; it makes them look less like flat cutouts. This is a good pick for school animal days and outdoor parties.
8. Banana Lover Monkey Costume
Bananas make this monkey funny. Start with a brown zip-up hoodie and joggers, a tan belly, rounded ears and a curled tail, then add a bright yellow vest or several flat felt bananas across the front. Yellow socks with brown sneakers carry the colour down. A simple painted nose and a little cheek shading are all the face needs. Finish with a plush banana and a yellow bucket with removable brown spots. Felt bananas should be stitched flat around the edge. If you only tack them at the centre, the ends curl up and catch on everything, and a child will pick at them until they come off.
9. Rainbow Monkey Costume
Some children just don't want brown, and a rainbow monkey still works as long as the shape is right. Choose a purple or turquoise sweatshirt and leggings, add a white belly edged with strips of red, yellow, green and blue felt, and make ears in the base colour with rainbow centres. A long tail in alternating colour sections is the fun part. I sew the tail as a strip-pieced tube, joining the colours flat first and then stitching it closed, which is much easier than joining separate tubes. Soft purple paint at the nose, tiny rainbow accents on the cheeks, multicolour sneakers and a cloud bag finish it. Ears, belly and tail are what keep it reading as a monkey.
10. Pink Monkey Costume
Pink is easy to identify when the shapes stay classic. Use a rose-pink hoodie with matching sweatpants or leggings and a pale blush belly panel. Make rounded ears from pink felt with cream centres for the hood, and a curled pink tail in lightly stuffed fabric. Washable face paint gives a small pink nose, a cream muzzle and rosy cheeks. Pink sneakers and a plush banana tied with matching ribbon are the finish. For sparkle, a narrow line of silver fabric trim on the ears and belly gives shine without the loose glitter that ends up in every car seat and carpet for weeks. This suits parties, parades and kids who want a brighter animal.
11. Blue Monkey Costume
Two shades of blue are the trick here. Begin with a navy or royal-blue sweatshirt and joggers, add a light-blue belly, round ears with pale centres and a tail in the darker shade. A soft blue beanie stands in when the sweatshirt has no hood. Paint a small navy nose and shade the cheeks lightly in washable blue. White sneakers with blue socks, and a plush banana, foam leaf or small blue bucket as the prop. If the belly and ears are the same blue as the body, they vanish from more than a few feet away, so I always pick a belly at least two shades lighter. Use a breathable cotton fleece if it will be worn indoors at school all day.
12. Purple Monkey Costume
Purple stands out at a Halloween party and isn't the least bit scary. Start with a purple hoodie and pants in fleece, jersey or another soft fabric, then add a lavender oval on the belly and matching inner ears. The long curled tail is stuffed purple fabric, attached firmly at the waistband. Lavender paint around the mouth, a small purple nose, a touch of shimmer on the cheeks and silver or white sneakers finish the face and feet. A bunch of plush yellow bananas gives the contrast that tells everyone what it is. On a cold night, put a purple thermal underneath. An unrelated coat over the top hides every detail you sewed.
13. White Snow Monkey Costume
The snow monkey is the warmest one on this list, which is why I'd suggest it for a cold-climate Halloween. Build it from a white fleece hoodie, white joggers and lined winter boots, with a pale gray belly and rounded ears with light pink centres. Sew a short, softly curled white tail to the waistband. Keep the face paint minimal: a gray nose, pink cheeks and a soft gray line above the brows. A pale blue scarf and a fabric snowball finish it. White fleece shows every mark, so I pretreat it with a fabric protector spray and pack a stain wipe. Keep any loose faux fur well away from the mouth and eyes.
14. Black Spider Monkey Costume
A spider monkey is all about the long tail. Choose a black long-sleeve athletic top and comfortable black joggers, add a narrow tan chest panel, and make black rounded ears with tan centres for a close-fitting hood or headband. The long stuffed tail is the feature, so give it a small loop at the tip and clip it to the waistband with a snap when walking through crowds. Paint a small black nose and warm tan around the mouth. Black sneakers and light brown gloves with open fingertips look like paws without stopping the child from holding a bucket. A soft vine of twisted green fabric makes a good prop for a kid who likes to climb and dance.
15. Golden Monkey Costume
Gold and cream make a warm, bright monkey. Start with a mustard-yellow hoodie and sweatpants, or a golden top with brown bottoms, then add a cream belly and rounded golden ears with peach centres. The softly curled tail is mustard fleece, stitched firmly to the waistband. Golden-brown shading on the cheeks, a small brown nose, and brushed-up hair or the hood up. Dark brown sneakers balance the brighter colour, and a plush leaf or banana is the prop. A narrow strip of metallic fabric can outline the belly, but leave out loose glitter. Mustard fleece pills quickly, so I wash it inside out on cold before and after the night.
16. Gorilla Costume
A gorilla is a fluffier, heavier-looking take on the same idea, and it should still have a friendly face. Start with a black fleece hoodie and joggers, then add charcoal faux-fur panels to the shoulders and outer arms, keeping fur away from the face. A broad gray belly gives the shape, with small black ears on the hood and washable gray paint at the nose and cheeks. Padded fabric hand covers can look like big paws while leaving the fingers free. Black athletic shoes and a foam jungle leaf complete it. I'd skip chest padding; fleece plus fur is already warm. Faux fur sheds hard when cut, so cut it from the back with small snips through the backing only, then shake it out outdoors before sewing.
17. Orangutan Costume
The orangutan's colour is what people recognise first. Dress the child in a burnt-orange sweatshirt and loose matching pants, and sew longer strips of soft orange fleece down the arms for shaggy fur that still lets them move. A dark tan belly, rounded ears and a gently curved orange tail make the base. Brush the child's hair outward or use an orange hood instead of a wig. A small brown nose and tan cheeks keep the expression cheerful. Brown sneakers are far safer than oversized animal feet, which turn a curb into a trip hazard. Fleece fringe is easy: cut strips with scissors and it won't fray. A soft vine or plush fruit is the prop.
18. Monkey King Costume
Red and gold make this monkey royal. Begin with a golden-brown sweatshirt and pants, then layer a red fabric vest trimmed in gold ribbon, plus a cream belly, rounded ears and a curled brown tail. A soft golden crown or decorated fabric headband gives the royal touch, sized so it can't slide over the child's eyes. Warm brown paint around the nose and two small gold accents on the cheeks. Red sneakers and a light cardboard staff wrapped in gold paper, with rounded ends, are the finish. Attach the short red cape with hook-and-loop tabs so it pulls away if grabbed. A cardboard staff bends in rain, so I roll it from several layers of card glued around a dowel.
19. Superhero Monkey Costume
A superhero monkey mixes the animal details with a bold costume a child will want to run in. Use a bright blue sweatshirt and leggings or joggers, a tan belly and brown ears. A short red cape attaches at the shoulders with breakaway fasteners, a wide yellow felt belt sits over the sweatshirt, and a curled brown tail comes out the back. Paint a small monkey nose, a tan muzzle and a blue eye-mask shape in washable paint instead of a tight plastic mask. Red high-tops and soft wrist cuffs finish it, with a foam banana marked with a lightning symbol for a laugh. Keep the cape above the knee. I cut capes from fleece or felt, which hold their edge without hemming.
20. Astronaut Monkey Costume
The astronaut monkey is the most fun to sew on the list. Start with a white sweatshirt and joggers, add silver fabric strips at the cuffs and ankles, a tan belly on the front and rounded brown ears on the white hood. A light cardboard backpack covered in silver paper sits on the back, with a hole cut so the tail can curve through. Edge that hole with tape so it doesn't rub the fabric. A small brown nose, tan cheeks, a few painted silver stars, white sneakers and soft gray gloves finish the look. Leave out the clear helmet. A silver headband or the hood up does the job, and the child can see and breathe easily.
21. Pirate Monkey Costume
No sword needed for this pirate. Begin with a brown long-sleeve shirt and pants, then add a red-and-white striped vest worn open over a tan belly, with rounded monkey ears on a red bandanna or soft headband. The flexible brown tail curves out behind without reaching the floor. Brown paint at the nose and tan around the mouth, dark ankle boots or brown sneakers and a light fabric belt. A cardboard treasure map, small telescope or pouch of pretend gold is a safe prop. Ears on a bandanna need a stiff base; I sew them to a strip of felt and then stitch the felt into the bandanna fold so they stand up instead of flopping sideways.
22. Monkey Scientist Costume
The monkey scientist is a good one for school, where costume rules are often strict. Dress the child in a brown shirt and joggers with a tan felt belly, rounded ears and a fabric tail, then layer a child-size white lab coat over it, left open so the belly shows. Add lensless costume glasses and tousled hair, a small brown nose and light tan cheeks. White sneakers and a cardboard clipboard covered in pretend formulas and banana sketches. A clean empty measuring cup works as a second prop. Leave out glass and anything messy. An adult's old white shirt cut down makes a passable lab coat if you don't want to buy one.
23. Monkey Chef Costume
Monkey chef is a funny one that comes together from things many families already have. Start with a brown sweatshirt and pants, a cream belly and a soft curled tail. The ears go on a white chef hat or on the sides of the hood beneath it. Add a child-size white apron and a loosely tied red scarf. Washable paint for a brown nose, tan muzzle and rosy cheeks, and white or brown sneakers. The prop is a light mixing spoon and a plush banana on a small tray. Keep the apron above the knee for stairs. I sew the ears to the hat's band rather than the puffy top, which collapses under the weight.
24. Monkey Explorer Costume
The explorer suits a child who loves maps and pretend adventures, and the layers are warm on a cold walk. Use a brown long-sleeve top and cargo-style joggers, add a tan belly, rounded ears and a short tail, then a khaki utility vest and a soft safari hat set behind the ears. Paint a small brown nose and shade the cheeks lightly. Sturdy brown sneakers and green socks. A toy compass, cardboard binoculars and a folded paper map tell the story without much weight. Keep anything that hangs on a breakaway strap or tucked in the vest pockets. The vest is the best part: all those pockets mean the child carries their own gloves.
25. Ballerina Monkey Costume
Tulle and ballet pieces make this the dressiest monkey. Start with a brown long-sleeve leotard over opaque brown leggings, add a tan belly and a soft pink tutu no longer than the knee. Rounded brown ears go on a bun cover or a comfortable headband. Make a slim tail and sew it above the tutu so it doesn't get lost in the tulle. A small brown nose, tan cheek shading and a little pink blush. Ballet flats are fine indoors, but for walking outside I'd swap to pink sneakers. A ribbon-wrapped plush banana is the prop. Soft tulle is gentler on the legs than stiff netting, which scratches.
26. Monkey Pajama Costume
When comfort matters most, a monkey made from pyjamas is the low-stress answer. Begin with brown pyjamas, a fleece sleeper or a soft lounge set, add a removable tan felt belly and ears on the hood or a stretchy headband. Fasten a short stuffed tail with a large sewn-on fabric tab rather than a small pin. Draw a tiny brown nose and two soft cheek circles in washable makeup. Slippers are fine for an indoor party, but outdoors the child needs secure sneakers. A plush banana or small stuffed animal is the prop. I reach for this with children who can't stand scratchy fabric or a mask, since they're wearing clothes that already feel like their own.
27. Robot Monkey Costume
A robot monkey is a mash-up kids love, and it's all fabric. Start with a gray hoodie and joggers, then attach a silver belly panel cut from metallic fabric rather than foil, which crinkles and tears. Add round gray ears outlined in blue trim and a segmented tail made from soft silver fabric tubes. Light blue felt squares on the elbows, knees and chest look like control panels. Gray face paint at the nose, small blue lines on the cheeks, and silver or gray shoes. The child can carry a foam banana painted silver as an energy source. Leave out the rigid boxes. I make the tail segments by stitching across a long stuffed tube every few inches, which gives the jointed look and still bends.
28. Flower Garden Monkey Costume
Flowers make this a daytime monkey that suits a party or garden event. Dress the child in a light-brown sweatshirt with leggings or joggers, a cream belly and matching ears, then add flat felt flowers in pink, yellow, purple and blue around the hood, shoulders and tail. A green felt vine curls loosely around the waist like a belt. A brown painted nose, peach cheeks and one tiny flower beside the eye. Green sneakers or brown shoes with floral laces, and a small fabric basket of plush bananas and felt flowers. Stitch every flower flat through the centre and at a couple of petal tips; tacked at the centre only, they snag on furniture and other costumes.
29. Sports Monkey Costume
For an active child who wants to feel like they're in regular clothes, the sports monkey is the answer. Start with a brown athletic shirt and comfortable joggers, a tan belly, ears and a flexible tail, then layer a brightly coloured, unbranded jersey over the top with enough belly showing to keep the animal theme. Matching wristbands and knee-high athletic socks finish the outfit. A small brown nose and tan cheeks are all the face needs. Well-fitting sneakers and a light foam ball. Leave hard equipment, helmets and anything long at home. Cut the jersey's hem up at the centre front into a small curve so the belly patch shows without the jersey riding up.
30. Birthday Party Monkey Costume
A birthday monkey is a fun one for a child whose party falls close to Halloween. Use a warm brown hoodie and pants, a tan belly, rounded ears and a curled tail. A small fabric party hat sits between the ears, sewn to the hood so it stays. Bright felt dots in primary colours go on the sweatshirt with fabric tape so they peel off afterwards. A painted brown nose, tan muzzle and little confetti shapes on the cheeks. Colourful sneakers and a light plush banana wrapped like a present. The bucket can look like a birthday cake with felt layers and soft pom-poms. Because it isn't a character, it suits Halloween and a themed party equally well.
Felt, Fleece and Fabric Tape on a Busy Kid
The materials on this list behave differently once a child has worn them for an evening, and a little planning saves a costume from falling apart halfway down the street.
Felt
Felt doesn't fray, so I use it for ears, bellies and decorations. Acrylic craft felt pills and stretches out of shape, though, and wool-blend felt keeps its edge better on pieces that get handled. Glue it to other felt if you must, but sew it to sweatshirts; craft glue cracks once the fabric stretches.
Fleece
Fleece is the best base for most of these because it's warm, it doesn't fray when cut, and it hides wobbly stitching. It does get hot indoors, so for a school day in a heated classroom, a cotton sweatsuit is the better choice.
Fabric tape and safety pins
Removable fabric tape is handy for pieces you want off afterwards, but it lets go on fleece and on anything that gets damp. If the belly panel has to last a whole evening outside, I sew it with a few big hand stitches that snip out the next day. Safety pins are fine on older children; on toddlers and babies, I always sew.
Ears, Belly, Tail, Then Whatever Your Child Adds
Every monkey here comes down to the same three pieces on clothes a child can wear for hours. Brown sweatsuits, pyjamas, fleece rompers and leggings make the base. The ears, the belly patch, a tail that bends and a toy banana make it a monkey. A job or theme, like the astronaut, chef, ballerina or robot, lets your child put their own stamp on it. Sew decorations on firmly, use washable face paint and light props, and choose shoes they can really walk in. Leave out tight masks and tails that drag, and you'll have a homemade costume that holds up through school, trick-or-treating and plenty of dress-up afterwards.
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