Homemade Bat Costume for Kids with Moving Wings

Some Halloween costume requests involve a black shirt and five minutes; this homemade bat costume was not one of them.

The year my daughters decided they wanted to fly through Halloween, one chose a bat while her sister requested a butterfly.

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Naturally, neither child wanted the easy little wings you slip over your arms and call it done.

My bat-loving daughter wanted big wings that opened, closed, and moved like the real thing.

We had recently visited Venice, Italy, where the girls fell in love with the elaborate masquerade masks displayed everywhere.

We brought home a beautiful bat mask, and it became the inspiration for the rest of her costume. Thankfully, you do not need to book a flight to Venice to find one.

There are plenty of bat masks available online.

These fabric bat wings require only a few basic materials and a little hand sewing.

You can also see the DIY butterfly costume I made for her sister that same year and fly over to my Halloween party ideas for costumes, games, decorations, treats, and plenty more ways to celebrate.

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More Easy Costumes for Kids

Still deciding what should fly, float, or spook its way through Halloween? These creative costumes for kids are fun to make and guaranteed to stand out.

🦋 DIY Butterfly Costume – Create beautiful, sturdy wings that will have your little butterfly fluttering around all night.

🍬 DIY Tic Tac Costume – Turn a cardboard box and balloons into a colorful costume that looks good enough to eat.

👻 Easy Ghost Costume – Give the classic bedsheet ghost a simple upgrade so your child can actually see and move comfortably.

🐟 Light-Up Jellyfish Costume – This glowing umbrella jellyfish is surprisingly easy to make and looks amazing after dark.

⏰ Last-Minute Kids’ Costumes – Quick, clever ideas to save Halloween when costume planning somehow falls off the to-do list.

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Why These Homemade Bat Wings Are Different

I did not want to make small fabric wings that simply hung under my daughter’s arms. That would have been easier, of course, but it did not feel very bat-like.

Instead, I looked at photos of real bats and designed wings that could stretch out from her body and fold back in as she moved her arms.

Wooden dowels give the wings their shape, while soft jersey fabric allows them to flow and flutter.

The finished wings looked dramatic without being heavy, and my daughter could open and close them herself.

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Supplies for a Homemade Bat Costume

You will need:

• Approximately 2¼ yards of black jersey fabric for an eight-year-old
• 5 lightweight wooden dowels
• Black ribbon, jersey strips, or soft fabric ties
• Black thread
• A hand-sewing needle
• Fabric scissors
• Chalk or a washable fabric marker
• A black outfit to wear underneath
• A bat mask or bat-ear headband
• Fine-grit sandpaper, if the dowel ends are rough

The amount of fabric you need will depend on your child’s height and arm span. Jersey works especially well because it has some stretch, does not fray easily, and moves nicely when the wings open.

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How to Make a Homemade Bat Costume for Kids

Step 1: Fold the Fabric in Half

Fold the black jersey fabric in half so both sides of the finished bat wings will match.

Lay the folded fabric flat on the floor with enough room for your child to stretch out comfortably.

Step 2: Use Your Child to Size the Wings

Have your child lie on her back along the folded edge of the fabric, with one arm stretched straight out to the side.

Position the fold near the center of her body. This allows you to design one half of the wings and cut both matching sides at the same time.

For my eight-year-old, I used about 2¼ yards of black jersey fabric.

Step 3: Position and cut the Wooden Dowels

Place three wooden dowels over one side of the folded fabric.

Position the first dowel horizontally along your child’s outstretched arm. Place the second dowel down toward the lower center of the wing, and angle the third dowel toward the outer bottom corner.

The three dowels should meet at your kid’s hand, creating a fan-shaped structure.

Cut the dowels to the edge of the fabric.

These dowels act as a guide for deciding where to cut the fabric and how to shape the bat wing.

Make 2 sets of the same length dowels

Step 4: Mark the Bat-Wing Shape

Using chalk or a washable fabric marker, mark the placement of the dowels and sketch the outer shape of the wing.

The top should extend along the outstretched arm. Draw several large curved points along the lower edge to create the classic bat-wing shape.

Make sure the bottom will be short enough that your child can walk without stepping on the fabric.

Step 5: Cut Out the Wings

Move your child and the dowels out of the way, then cut through both layers of folded fabric along your marked wing shape.

When you unfold the fabric, you will have two matching bat wings.

Hold the wings up to your child before sewing anything. I ended up trimming the bottom of mine a little shorter after checking the fit.

Step 6: Sew the Dowels Into the Fabric

Wrap the outer edge of the fabric around each dowel to create a narrow fabric sleeve.

Hand sew the wrapped fabric securely around the dowel, working your way down the length of the wing. The stitches do not need to be beautiful, but they should be close enough together to prevent the dowel from slipping out.

Check both ends carefully to make sure the dowels remain fully covered.

Step 7: Add Hand Ties

Sew a short piece of ribbon, jersey, or another soft fabric tie near the outer end of each wing.

Tie or loop these gently around your child’s hands or wrists. The loops should be loose enough to remain comfortable but secure enough that the wings move when your child raises and lowers her arms.

Elastic loops may also work, but test them carefully to make sure they do not feel tight.

Step 8: Add the Upper Costume Ties

Attach soft fabric ties near the upper center of the wings to keep them positioned across your child’s shoulders and upper back.

The ties should sit securely without pulling tightly against the neck. You can also attach the upper portion of the wings directly to a black shirt with a few removable stitches for additional support.

Always supervise children while they are wearing costumes with long fabric, ties, or wooden supports.

Step 9: Complete the Bat Costume

Dress your child in black clothing so the wings remain the main attraction.

We completed the costume with the beautiful bat masquerade mask my daughter chose in Venice. A simple bat mask, black eye mask, or bat-ear headband would work just as well.

Black leggings, a long-sleeved shirt, comfortable shoes, and a little dark face paint can complete the look without competing with the wings.

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How the Movable Bat Wings Work

The fabric stretches between your child’s body and the two wooden dowels. When she raises her arms, the wings spread open. When she lowers or brings her arms inward, the wings fold around her.

The dowels help the wings maintain their extended shape instead of allowing the fabric to collapse under the arms.

My daughter loved being able to control the wings herself, and I loved that they behaved much more like real bat wings than the small costume wings we had seen in stores.

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Tips for Comfortable and Safe Bat Wings

Have your child practice walking, turning, opening the wings, and passing through doorways before Halloween night.

Use only lightweight dowels with completely smooth ends. Make sure all hand and shoulder ties are loose and comfortable, and never fasten anything tightly around your child’s neck.

Keep the wings short enough that they cannot be stepped on. For school events or crowded indoor parties, your child may need to keep the wings folded or remove them temporarily.

I have more Halloween costumes DIYs like an easy ghost costume and a stunning no-sew jellyfish costume.

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DIY bat costume faqs

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