Rainbow & Raincloud

For the raincloud (based on cloud size of 13”x12”):

• One gray baby outfit 
• 1.5 yards of white felt
• 1 – 8x10 sheet of blue felt
• 2 spools of 1/8 inch blue ribbon
• Poly-fil

For the rainbow (based on rainbow size of 20.5”x15.5”):

• One blue baby outfit
• 2 yards of red felt
• 1 yard of orange felt
• 3/4 yard of yellow felt
• 2 - 9x12 sheets of green felt
• 2 – 8x10 sheets of blue felt
• 2 – 8x10 sheets of purple felt
• 1 yard of double sided iron on interfacing (this is to give the costume some “sturdiness” choose which “weight” you think is best, I used lightweight)
• White thread for sewing (though not necessarily needed)
• 1 headband ~1” wide
• Small amount of poly-fil for sun headband

Tools

• Scissors 
• Iron
• Sewing needle and thread

Create the Raincloud:

• Cut 4 “cloud” shapes out of white felt. Tip: cut the shape out of a large piece of paper or poster board and hold it up to child’s belly to measure the size. Do not make it too large that the child will not be able to sit or move!
• Cut ribbon to make “rain” from bottom of cloud. This pattern uses 24 total ribbon strips ~9” long (12 on each completed cloud shape). If you are unsure of the proper ribbon length, make them longer and they can be trimmed once the costume is completed.
• Make 2 sandwiches with your cloud pieces and place the ribbon strips in between the 2 pieces of felt so they are sticking out of the bottom of the “cloud.” Secure ribbons with pins or glue if desired.
• Sew all along edge of clouds leaving ~1/2 inch allowance from the edge. Leave enough room unsewn on one side to allow for stuffing, recommended leave a 5” gap!
• From white felt, cut 2 strips for shoulder straps and 2 rectangle panels for the sides. Hold cloud shapes up to child to determine where to sew or hot glue the straps/panels to fit their body. Leave enough room on the side panels so it can be easily slipped over their head.
• Stuff clouds with poly-fil to desired “puffiness”
• very important not to over stuff, or else it will not fit on your child
  hand sew the opening of the clouds closed.
• From blue felt, cut several 2”x1” rectangles. Once rectangles are cut, shape each into a rough raindrop shape, no need to use a pattern, just wing it!
• Hot glue blue raindrops onto pants
• Pair costume with some cute rain boots and rain hat if desired!

Create the Rainbow:

• Cut 2 large “rainbow arch shapes” out of red felt (this will be the back base of the design and should be the size of the entire project, not just the first “red color stripe” on the front). This design uses an arch that is approximately 20.5” wide and 15.5” tall. The “base” arch shape has a narrow 2”x6.5” arch shape cut out in the middle where eventually the purple rainbow stripe will be.
• Cut 2 matching interfacing pieces, slightly smaller than the large arch shape so there won’t be any sticking out of the edges when it is put together.
• Cut out the rainbow stripes for each large red arch, the stripes in this design are 2” wide, you will need to adjust if your rainbow is larger or smaller. Make the stripes large enough so they overlap a little bit, the stripes in this design are ~1/4 inch overlapping once laid out. The center purple stripe will need to be trimmed at the end to fit, since it is the last one it will not have an overlap.
• Once everything is cut, follow the directions on your iron on interfacing and attach to one side of each large red arch. Then, iron the stripes onto the other side of the exposed interfacing to create a rainbow pattern. Do this with both base arch pieces, so you will have 2 separate rainbows.
• Use white thread and quickly sew along the edge of each arch color to secure into place. Your rainbows are now complete!
• To attach to child, add on shoulder straps and 2 side panels to avoid costume from flapping. This design uses leftover red felt from rainbow. For shoulder straps: cut 4 strips red felt, 3”x16”, sew or hot glue 2 strips together (to make it double reinforced).
• Hold up the 2 rainbow arches, one in front and one in back of child to measure best placement of straps. Hot glue straps in place on the inside of the costume, use extra glue to reinforce! Cut 2 rectangle side panels out of red felt, ~9”x6” measure on child where to put panels and hot glue in one line on the edges of each panel on the inside of the costume to secure. Make sure the panels are far enough apart so it can be slipped over the child’s head easily.
• For sunshine headband use leftover yellow felt cut 2 sunshine shapes that match the size of the headband purchased. Sew the triangle tips together and stuff lightly with poly-fil. Using hot glue, attach both sides of the yellow felt to the wide headband, you will have to cut small slits in felt to allow it to curve with the headband.
• Additional idea: make your trick-or-treat basket into a cloud! Enjoy!