DIY Unicorn Tail for Halloween

Kids Craft

DIY Unicorn Tail for Halloween

⏱ 30 minutes 💰 About $15 🧶 Easy braiding

Child from behind wearing a braided pastel rainbow yarn unicorn tail with a fringed end, tied at the waist

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The idea

My daughter is being a unicorn fairy for Halloween, but her costume didn't come with a tail — and she was adamant that she wanted one. I couldn't find one anywhere for a reasonable price, so I decided to make it. A braided rainbow yarn tail is simple to make, and it works just as well for everyday dress-up.

Watch the quick version

Materials

Impeccable Stripes yarn by Loops & Threads from Michaels, in pastel stripes
Stretch cording by Bead Landing from Michaels, for the elastic waistband
Scissors
A comb, for brushing out the ends
A chair, to tie the elastic to while braiding

A ball of pastel striped yarn, a card of white, black, brown, and gray elastic cord, and a pair of scissors on a wood table

What we did

Step 1: Separate the yarn by colour

Start by separating the yarn into each colour. The striped yarn is a mix of purple, blue, yellow, and pink, so I pulled the colours apart into their own piles.

Step 2: Cut the strips

I made 2-foot strips, cutting only one side so that each strip is technically 4 feet long.

Four bundles of pastel yarn strips laid side by side: purple, blue, yellow, and pink

Step 3: Cut the elastic

Cut the elastic long enough to wrap around your child's waist and tie in a bow. That way she can wear it more than once and put it on and take it off with ease.

Step 4: Loop the strips onto the elastic

Loop the yarn strips around the elastic, one after another, grouping the colours together. Watch the video to see how it's done.

Pastel purple, pink, yellow, and blue yarn strips looped onto a white elastic cord, before braiding

Step 5: Braid the tail

I tied the elastic to a chair so I could start braiding. Braid the yarn from the top down, then tie off the end of the braid with yarn.

Braided rainbow yarn tail with the ends tied off and the strands still loose and uneven, with a hand for scale

Step 6: Trim and brush it out

Cut the ends of the yarn so they're all the same length, then brush the yarn out with a comb to create a nice bushy tail.

Finished braided pastel rainbow yarn tail with a fluffy brushed-out end and a white elastic waistband tied in a bow

Result

A colourful unicorn tail that ties on in a bow and is easy to put on and take off, so it can be worn more than once. It's the finishing touch my unicorn fairy was asking for, and I was able to make it myself when I couldn't find one anywhere for a reasonable price.

Finished rainbow yarn unicorn tail with a braided top and a fluffy fringed end, with the elastic tied in a bow