Itsy Bitsy Spider Costume
Spin a web of cuteness with this easy nursery rhyme look.
The Itsy Bitsy Spider is a beloved nursery rhyme character representing perseverance and playfulness, making it a highly popular choice for babies, toddlers, and young kids. This adorable look centers on a cozy black outfit outfitted with six plush, stuffed spider legs that bounce as your little one moves. It is a comfortable, warm, and budget-friendly costume that is perfect for chilly Halloween trick-or-treating.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $15–40
Try it on
See yourself as Itsy Bitsy Spider
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What you need for a Itsy Bitsy Spider costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Itsy Bitsy Spider costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Black long-sleeve onesie or sweatshirt
A solid black cotton onesie, t-shirt, or cozy fleece sweatshirt to serve as the spider's body.
DIY: Use any plain black long-sleeve shirt or pajama top you already own.
Black pants or leggings
Simple, comfortable black cotton leggings or sweatpants for the base legs.
DIY: Use black sweatpants or dark knit tights.
Four black socks or tights
Four long black socks or two pairs of black tights to be stuffed and used as the extra spider legs.
DIY: Cut strips of black felt or fleece, sew them into tubes, and turn them right-side out.
Polyester fiberfill stuffing
Lightweight stuffing to fill the extra spider legs so they remain bouncy but light.
DIY: Stuff the legs with crumpled tissue paper, plastic grocery bags, or clean fabric scraps.
Black yarn or safety pins
Used to attach the extra legs to the sides of the shirt and connect them so they move together.
DIY: Use black safety pins or quick hand-sewing stitches to secure the legs.
Spider eyes headband or hat
A black beanie or headband decorated with large white and black felt googly eyes.
DIY: Glue large googly eyes or white felt circles with black centers onto a plain black knit beanie.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Itsy Bitsy Spider costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the base layer of the black long-sleeve shirt and black pants.
- 2
Stuff the four long black socks firmly with polyester fiberfill stuffing to create the four extra spider legs.
- 3
Sew or safety-pin two stuffed legs to the left side of the shirt torso, and two to the right side, spacing them evenly below the armpits.
- 4
Thread a piece of black yarn through the wrist of the shirt sleeve, then through the tips of the two stuffed legs on that side, tying them together so they move in unison when the arms are raised.
- 5
Repeat the yarn connection on the opposite side for the other set of legs.
- 6
Place the black beanie or headband with the attached googly eyes onto the head to complete the spider look.
Makeup & hair
Keep it simple and natural. If desired, use black face paint to draw a tiny, cute spider web on one cheek or a small black dot on the tip of the nose.
Itsy Bitsy Spider for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One partner dresses as the Itsy Bitsy Spider and the other dresses as a rain cloud or a water spout.
- group
- A nursery rhyme group featuring the spider, Little Miss Muffet, and a rain cloud.
- kids
- This is primarily a kids' costume; add a black tulle tutu over the leggings for a whimsical touch.
- Plus size
- Use a comfortable black crewneck sweatshirt and matching black joggers as the base.
- pet
- A black pet harness with six stuffed pipe-cleaner legs attached to the sides.
Tips
- Keep the leg stuffing lightweight so the costume does not pull down on the child's shoulders or waist.
- If trick-or-treating in cold weather, layer thermal underwear or a warm fleece jacket underneath the black shirt.
- For safety, ensure the extra stuffed legs are short enough that they do not drag on the ground and cause tripping.
- Use safety pins on the inside of the shirt to attach the legs so the silver pins are hidden from view.
Itsy Bitsy Spider costume FAQ
- How do you make the spider legs move?
- Tie the stuffed legs to the actual sleeves of the shirt using black yarn. When your child raises their arms, the stuffed legs will lift and bounce along with them.
- What is the easiest way to make this costume last-minute?
- Dress your child in all black, safety-pin stuffed black socks to the sides of a black hoodie, and stick paper googly eyes onto the hood.
- Is this costume comfortable for toddlers?
- Yes, because it is built on a base of standard cotton leggings and a sweatshirt, it feels just like regular play clothes.
Did you know? The 'Itsy Bitsy Spider' nursery rhyme teaches children a lesson in perseverance, showing that no matter how many times the rain washes the spider down, it always climbs back up the spout.