Caterpillar Costume
Wiggle into fun with a vibrant, cozy caterpillar look.
Whether you are channeling the beloved literary classic 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' or a whimsical garden bug, a caterpillar costume is a cheerful and comfortable choice. This look relies on a segmented body design, bright green tones, and playful antennae. It is a crowd-pleasing option for school events, Halloween, and dress-up days.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~30 min
- Budget
- $20–60
Try it on
See yourself as Caterpillar
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
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What you need for a Caterpillar costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Caterpillar costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Green hooded sweatshirt or tunic
A bright green or lime green oversized hoodie, sweatshirt, or long tunic to serve as the main body.
DIY: Use a large green t-shirt and stuff the hem with tissue paper or poly-fill to create a rounded shape.
Segmented felt circles or stripes
Felt sheets in various shades of green, yellow, and blue to create the caterpillar's body segments.
DIY: Cut large circles from green construction paper and safety-pin them down the back of your shirt.
Antennae headband
A headband with purple or red pipe cleaners topped with yellow or orange pom-poms.
DIY: Wrap pipe cleaners around a plain headband and hot-glue craft pom-poms to the ends.
Green leggings or pants
Matching green, brown, or black leggings or sweatpants for comfort and warmth.
DIY: Use any dark neutral pants or jeans you already own.
Plush apple or fruit prop
A plush toy apple, strawberry, or leaf to reference the hungry caterpillar theme.
DIY: Cut a large red apple shape out of cardboard and draw a small hole in the center.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Caterpillar costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the green leggings or pants as your base layer.
- 2
Prepare your green hoodie or tunic. If DIYing, attach the multi-toned green felt circles in a vertical line down the back or front using safety pins or fabric glue to mimic body segments.
- 3
Put on the decorated hoodie or tunic.
- 4
Place the antennae headband securely on your head, adjusting the pipe cleaners so they stand upright.
- 5
Carry your plush fruit or cardboard leaf prop to complete the storybook look.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair simple or tucked under the hood. For a whimsical touch, paint a small red circle on the tip of your nose or add colorful green face paint dots along your cheekbones.
Caterpillar for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up as the Very Hungry Caterpillar and a giant slice of chocolate cake or a bright red strawberry.
- group
- Have one person dress as the caterpillar, others as various foods (apple, plum, pickle), and one as a beautiful butterfly.
- kids
- An incredibly popular choice for infants and toddlers; use a cozy green bunting bag or sleeping sack with a red knit hat.
- Plus size
- An oversized green fleece poncho or roomy green sweat suit provides an easy, comfortable, and naturally rounded silhouette.
- pet
- A green knit sweater for dogs with small felt segments sewn along the spine and a lightweight strap-on headband.
More ways people search for this costume
The most-searched variations of “Caterpillar costume”, and how this look adapts to each.
Diy caterpillar costume
- Skip the store: Use a large green t-shirt and stuff the hem with tissue paper or poly-fill to create a rounded shape. Cut large circles from green construction paper and safety-pin them down the back of your shirt. Wrap pipe cleaners around a plain headband and hot-glue craft pom-poms to the ends.
Tips
- If trick-or-treating in cold weather, the hooded sweatshirt base easily accommodates warm layers underneath.
- For a more structured look, stuff the back of the tunic with lightweight polyester fiberfill to create 3D segments.
- Keep the props lightweight, especially for kids, so they are easy to carry around all evening.
Caterpillar costume FAQ
- How do I make a DIY Hungry Caterpillar costume?
- Use a green shirt or dress, attach felt circles in shades of green and yellow down the front, and wear a red beanie with purple felt eyes and yellow pipe-cleaner antennae.
- What color should a caterpillar costume be?
- Bright green, lime green, and grass green are the most common colors, often accented with yellow, blue, or a red headpiece to mimic classic storybook illustrations.
- Is this costume comfortable for toddlers?
- Yes, using a soft fleece tunic, hoodie, or wearable blanket makes it one of the most comfortable, warm, and mobile costumes for young children.
Did you know? The classic literary character 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' by Eric Carle has been translated into over 66 languages and has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide since 1969.