Scout Ham Costume
Bring Harper Lee's classic novel to life with this DIY masterpiece.
In Harper Lee's classic novel *To Kill a Mockingbird*, young Scout Finch famously wears a bulky, homemade ham costume for the school's Halloween pageant. This iconic literary outfit is beloved for its quirky charm and the crucial role it plays in saving her life from an attacker. The look centers on a large, structured brown ham shell painted with the word 'PORK' over simple, mid-century children's clothing.
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Time
- ~180 min
- Budget
- $30–80
Try it on
See yourself as Scout Ham
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Scout Ham costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Scout Ham costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Ham structure base
A flexible structure made from chicken wire, flexible foam sheets, or a modified pop-up laundry hamper to create the oval ham shape.
DIY: Shape chicken wire into a hollow cylinder tapered at both ends, wrapping the edges in duct tape for safety.
Brown burlap or felt fabric
Coarse brown fabric to wrap and cover the structural frame, giving it a rustic, homemade look.
DIY: Use brown paper grocery bags painted with brown acrylic paint for a papier-mâché finish.
White fabric paint
Matte white acrylic or fabric paint to write the label on the front.
DIY: Use thick white school glue mixed with white acrylic paint.
Internal shoulder straps
Heavy-duty webbing or suspenders attached inside the frame to hold the costume up on your shoulders.
DIY: Braided thick rope or old backpack straps stapled securely to the inner frame.
Plaid skirt or denim overalls
A simple 1930s-style plaid skirt or denim overalls to wear underneath the ham structure.
Brown leather boots or Mary Janes
Simple, flat vintage-style children's shoes in brown or black leather.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Scout Ham costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Construct the main cylindrical ham frame using lightweight chicken wire or flexible foam sheets taped into an oval shape.
- 2
Cut out two small armholes on the sides of the frame and a wide opening at the bottom for your legs.
- 3
Cover the entire exterior of the frame with brown burlap or felt, securing it with hot glue or heavy-duty staples.
- 4
Use white fabric paint to stencil the word 'PORK' in large, bold capital letters across the front chest area of the ham.
- 5
Attach two thick webbing straps or suspenders inside the frame so the weight of the costume rests comfortably on your shoulders.
- 6
Put on your base outfit of a plaid skirt or denim overalls paired with a simple green or brown shirt.
- 7
Step into the ham structure, pull it up over your torso, slip your arms through the side holes, and put on your brown boots.
Makeup & hair
Style your hair into a short, messy tomboy bob with straight-across bangs, or use a simple brown wig. Keep makeup completely natural or skip it entirely to match Scout's rugged, youthful look.
Scout Ham for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as Atticus Finch in a 1930s three-piece suit and wire-rimmed glasses.
- group
- Create a group with Atticus Finch, Jem (with a cardboard arm sling), and a mysterious Boo Radley in a gray jumpsuit.
- kids
- This is a perfect school book-report costume for kids; use lightweight cardboard instead of wire for safety.
- Plus size
- The structural ham shape can easily be scaled up using larger wire mesh or flexible foam sheets for a comfortable fit.
Tips
- Ensure the armholes are large enough so you can easily reach your face and hold a trick-or-treat bag.
- Add suspenders or backpack straps inside the ham structure to distribute the weight onto your shoulders.
- If using chicken wire, wrap the edges thoroughly in duct tape to prevent any sharp wires from poking you.
Scout Ham costume FAQ
- Why did Scout wear a ham costume?
- She wore it for the Maycomb school Halloween pageant, where she represented one of the county's agricultural products.
- How does the ham costume save Scout's life?
- The stiff chicken wire and thick fabric of the costume protect her from Bob Ewell's knife during his attack on her and Jem.
- What is the easiest way to make the ham shape?
- Using flexible foam sheets or a pop-up laundry hamper covered in brown fabric is a great, wire-free alternative.
Did you know? In the 1962 film adaptation, the ham costume was designed to look exactly like the description in the book, complete with a structured, painted burlap shell.