Called “basic” for a reason, these are sweetened clothes.

A hoodie-set or an old turtleneck transformed with a bit of fabric. Simple to make, easy to wash, gentle on the pocket-book, and transformative for the imagination.

Ingredients:

Hooded sweatsuit or fleece set (top and pants) or matching long t-shirt and pants in an appropriate backdrop color for your animal
Felt (for some types of ears; stripes)
Foam (for inside upright ears)
Furry fabric (for spots, tails, some types of ears)
Thread and needle or sewing machine
Optional – headband to attach ears if no hooded top

Sources: Old Navy, Target or Salvation Army for suits; fabric store for felt, foam, fabric

How to:

Select base color for outfit. Cut out ear shapes and attach (hand sew/tack) to top of hood. (Note: if ears —like a cat—are upright, put piece of foam inbetween layers of felt first, then tack on to hood or tack onto headband. If floppy—like a spaniel—just sew furry fabric to hood, near the crown)

Cut out fabric spots and apply to sides and back of top.

Cut out fabric tail (for best results, hand or machine sew good sides together and reverse out, like a pillowcase). Attach to center rear of waistband.

Bird: scalloped pieces of blue fabric tacked on oversized turtleneck.. and lycra swim cap as base for eyes and beak.

Bunny: whole costume is the jacket… put some batting in the cottontail to poof it up.

Wild Kitty (bottom photo): shirt from thrift store and women’s tights cut down to proper length