How to Make a Fish Costume

Measure the waist of the costume wearer. Measure from the waist to the ankles of the costume wearer. Write these measurements down. Unbend your coat hanger, cut a length of about 18 inches, and bend it at the center to form an angle of 90 to 120 degrees. Measure the length between the 2 ends and write down.

Cut your fabric as follows: 2 inches wider than the waistline and 6 inches longer than the length of the waist to the ankles. Measure 2 inches down from the waistline and begin cutting the fabric on both sides until it forms a wedge at the ankle length, with the fabric measuring 6 inches across at the ankle length. Widen cuts on both sides until the end measures the length of the bent hanger's span. Sew a 1/4-inch seam on both sides of the tail. Sew snaps to the ends of the waistband and try on the wearer to make sure it fits. Take it off to continue.

Squeeze fabric glue to the edge of the tail fin, bend around the hanger and glue to the underside of the fabric. Dry. Using a sewing needle, thread a length of fishing line between the 2 ends of the fish tail fin, leaving a loop and tying off at both ends. Cut another piece of fishing line 2 to 3 feet long and tie to the middle of the loop. The wearer can use this line to make the tail flop and to lift it up so that he or she can walk more easily in the costume.

Using the excess fabric from the tail, cut 4 triangles of fabric at least 5 inches wide at the base and 7 inches in length. Match right sides together and sew along the 2 longer sides. Turn right side out. Tack the corners of the base of each triangle above and below the elbow on your turtleneck. These form the fins.

Gently apply blue or green face paint on the wearer's face and neck. Apply white circles around the eyes to form round fish eyes. Brush in hair gel to slick the hair back. Sprinkle glitter in the hair, on the face or both. This creates a wet look.