Brown Eyed Susan Garden Dog Costume

Note: I am a sewer, not professional but you should have some machine sewing experience to make this costume.

Materials:

• two 9 by 12 inch pieces of dark green felt
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• One 9 by 12 inch piece of yellow felt
• Iron on interfacing
• 18 inches of yellow ribbon and dark green ribbon
• 12-20 brown or/and black flat buttons
• 3/4 inch by 3 1/2 inch piece of sew on dark Velcro
• small lady bug button (optional)
• Threads

Instructions

Our dog is only 6 1/2 pounds so you will have to adjust the pattern for your size dog. Measure around the widest part of the body and also the length of the back area. Cut your felt to wrap all around the stomach/back area, you will need to sew on an additional length (second piece of felt) to make it go all the way around. You will need a dart on the top center and two darts at the top back end of the felt, this gives it a better fit.

Next attach the Velcro strips to the ends (this part is on the under side or belly area). Cut the green ribbon in half and attach near the neck area to keep the felt in place on your dogs back. Once you get this, the rest is much easier, I promise!

Iron on interfacing to the yellow felt, covering it completely. Measure around your dogs head with a string in front of the ears. Now find a dish, cup or something round that is about 1/4 inch smaller around than the string to use as a circle pattern for the opening in the flower. Trace this circle in the middle of the felt then cut a straight line from an edge to this circle, cut out the circle.

Next fold your piece in half and cut around the edges "petals" about 2 inches from the center circle. Unfold and tweak if necessary. Sew a straight stitch about 1/3 inch from the inside edge then clip 1/4 inch cuts all around to allow for a snug fit around the head. Cut the yellow ribbon in half and attach one end to the corner edges to be tied and kept on the dogs head.

Using your leftover yellow, cut different size flowers, then pin them all over the back side of the green felt, place a button on top and sew by hand or a simple zigzag by machine, this will hold the flower and the button on. If you have a lady bug, she looks good on one of the face flower petals. Hopefully the photos will help but if you have questions let me know and I will try to help.

By NoRulesArt from Sunny Florida