23rd March 2007

How to Meat People and Be Loved: The Bacon Costume

Posted by at 10:55 pm
I'm bacon!
I’m bacon!

Last year for Halloween, I was bacon. If you’ve never been bacon before, I highly recommend it. Everybody, you see, loves bacon. It is, as my friend Monica says, the Candy of the Meats.

People do not want to be quiet about their love for bacon, they want to declare it, often loudly. Even the most shy people at least muttered “bacon!” under their breath as they passed me. I have never been so popular, so adored (and strangely, so hit-on) in my life.

I won the costume contest, which was novel for me — I’ve never had a costume that would have even been considered a contender before. It might have been influenced by my handing out bacon to everyone at the party. But I couldn’t be the very embodiment of temptation that is bacon without following through with some actual meaty goodness — as it was, I had more than a few people trying to bite me.

It was a beautiful experience, and one that everyone should be able to join in, so here are the instructions on how you, too, can be bacon for a day:

  1. Buy two sheets of foam from a foam supply store. The sheets I got were 2′ x 6′. You’ll also need 2 or 3 colors of spray paint, some big plastic bags, stick pins, a hot glue gun and glue, and a few feet of heavy-duty 2″ velcro.
  2. Lie face-down on one of the foam pieces, letting your feet hang off the edge, and trace the edges of your face on the foam with a big black marker. If you’re like me, you’ll wind up with black marker on your face, so be sure to wash that off quickly.
  3. Cut out the face hole.
  4. Lie down on the foam again, this time to mark where the top of your shoulders will be when your face is lined up with the hole. Mark the edges of the foam with a black marker.
  5. Glue the two pieces of foam together at the top, above the shoulder lines, leaving enough room for your head. I used a combination of spray-mount glue and a hot glue gun. I’m a little embarassed to own a hot glue gun, but making this costume makes me feel a little better about it.
  6. Use the black marker to trace an uneven, bacony outline on the foam.
  7. Cut away the edges of the foam. Bevel the edges of the foam, to give it a slightly rounded, and less-obviously-foam appearance. Try to not freak out at the sight of all the little squirrelly bits of foam that are all over your living room.
  8. Leaving room for an arm hole, glue one side of the bacon together. I used my hot glue gun, with slightly less shame this time. Be generous with the glue, this is where your costume is going to get strained.
  9. On the other side, apply some nice, wide velcro to the opening (again, leaving room for an arm hole). I used industrial strength, 2″ wide velcro, and it worked great. It’s self-stick, and it adheres to the foam just fine.



  10. To make a template for painting, take a large garbage bag, cut the sides so it’s one big flat piece of plastic, and pin it to your bacon. Cut a free-form design in the plastic. I based mine off of this bacon bandadge. You’ll want one template for the tough, red, meaty edge, and another for the marbled pink flesh. You can re-use the templates on the front and on the back; use multiple bags if neccessary.
  11. Pick a color to paint first. I started with red, but it doesn’t really matter which you start with. Pin that template to your bacon, making sure to really secure the edges of the template.
  12. Using an even, sweeping motion, spray your paint onto your bacon. Make sure you get any exposed edges. When the paint is dry (which happens really quickly), go back and do a second coat.
  13. Repeat with your other paint color and template.
  14. Repeat with both templates on the back.
  15. The next part was a little tricky — I wanted the bacon to have an overall mottled brown appearance. I like my bacon undercooked, so I didn’t go for a crispy bacon look, but you could if that’s how you like your bacon. I mixed some brown paint with water, and daubed it all over the costume. It was pretty messy — a light coat of brown spray paint might have worked just as well.
  16. As a final treatment, I added a couple of coats of clear sealer, but I don’t think it did anything.
  17. Climb into your costume, and prepare to hear an entire evening full of meat-based puns!

Eat Me!
Eat Me!

Being bacon was, in a word, astonishing. Random people still come up to me and ask, “were you bacon?” The fine folks at Fuzzy Dude even gave me this button weeks later to commemorate the event.

If you do make your own bacon costume, please tell me about it! Maybe we can all get together and just be bacon sometime. Y’know, go hit the town, going from bar to bar as bacon. We could be a whole pack of bacon, come to life! An army of bacon! My goodness, it would be beautiful.

UPDATE: My bacon costume has been getting lots of love — read all about it in a new blog post — plus, you might be able to borrow it yourself this Halloween! Read the post for details.


Posted on Friday, March 23rd, 2007 at 10:55 pm | Filed under Crafts, Food
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There are currently 55 responses to “How to Meat People and Be Loved: The Bacon Costume”

  1. 1 On March 24th, 2007, Tiki Avengers said:

    What a ham…

    posted on March 24th, 2007 at 6:15 pm

  2. 2 On March 25th, 2007, Humuhumu said:

    I’m the meat to beat!

    Hey, waitaminnit, that doesn’t sound right…

    posted on March 25th, 2007 at 11:56 am

  3. 3 On March 27th, 2007, Maui Tiki said:

    I love it! Kinda makes you feel like Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. Everyone wants their photo with you.

    posted on March 27th, 2007 at 10:03 am

  4. 4 On March 30th, 2007, Bacon Is Sexy » Junkyard Clubhouse said:

    [...] bacon costume inspired the delightful Miss Delirium Tremens to send me a sweet message… turns out [...]

    posted on March 30th, 2007 at 3:56 pm

  5. 5 On March 31st, 2007, Bacon is Debonair » Junkyard Clubhouse said:

    [...] McPhee is selling this bacon-print tuxedo… and it’s bacon scented. I tried to infuse my bacon costume with a bacon scent, and it didn’t really work. I don’t know how they do it. They say [...]

    posted on March 31st, 2007 at 12:51 pm

  6. 6 On April 10th, 2007, Neatorama » Blog Archive » Bacon Costume. said:

    [...] Link – Thanks Humuhumu   [...]

    posted on April 10th, 2007 at 3:57 pm

  7. 7 On April 13th, 2007, Bacon Costume: I've Had Hallucinations Like This Before… » Needcoffee.com said:

    [...] Junkyard Clubhouse has posted instructions on making a bacon costume. It seems fairly straightforward, and you would then finally be able to go to a costume party as that forgotten member of the Legion of Substitute Heroes: Bacon Lass. [...]

    posted on April 13th, 2007 at 1:52 am

  8. 8 On September 6th, 2007, Neatorama » Blog Archive » Bacon Costumes said:

    [...] Garth points the way to instructions for making the bacon costume. [...]

    posted on September 6th, 2007 at 7:37 pm

  9. 9 On September 17th, 2007, links for 2007-09-17 « : whiz bang : said:

    [...] How to Meat People and Be Loved: The Bacon Costume » Junkyard Clubhouse Make your own bacon costume. The candy of meats. Thinking about Halloween. (tags: costume) [...]

    posted on September 17th, 2007 at 4:41 pm

  10. 10 On September 18th, 2007, open loops » Tuesdays With Bacon: Eat Me! Bacon Costume said:

    [...] As the creator of this wonderful costume says: “Bacon is the Candy of Meats”The site also offers instructions on how to create your very own bacon costume. [via JunkyardClubhouse] [...]

    posted on September 18th, 2007 at 9:47 am

  11. 11 On September 24th, 2007, Gina said:

    I will be bacon this year for Halloween! But, even better, upon hearing this my seven year old son declared that he wants to be a pig with a chef’s hat and butcher’s knife, so that we form an interesting duo while I walk him around trick-or-treating this year! Wow! Thanks for inspiring us!

    posted on September 24th, 2007 at 9:14 pm

  12. 12 On October 9th, 2007, Push To Talk: A Blog for Teens » Blog Archive » DIY Halloween Costume said:

    [...] Anyhow, I wish I had thought of this costume. [...]

    posted on October 9th, 2007 at 1:53 pm

  13. 13 On October 17th, 2007, Relentless Media » MMmmm bacon….costume said:

    [...] costume – Link. Thanks Humuhumu at Junkyard [...]

    posted on October 17th, 2007 at 5:38 pm

  14. 14 On October 17th, 2007, Baconbytes » Blog Archive » Bacon costume said:

    [...] Dagnabbit.  Why, oh why, didn’t i think of being a slice of bacon for Halloween?  A bacon costume? [...]

    posted on October 17th, 2007 at 6:05 pm

  15. 15 On October 17th, 2007, MMmmm bacon....costume » Developages - Development and Technology Blog said:

    [...] costume – Link. Thanks Humuhumu at Junkyard [...]

    posted on October 17th, 2007 at 6:10 pm

  16. 16 On October 17th, 2007, MMmmm bacon….costume | Camp DIY said:

    [...] costume – Link. Thanks Humuhumu at Junkyard [...]

    posted on October 17th, 2007 at 6:37 pm

  17. 17 On October 17th, 2007, That’s So Bacon » Junkyard Clubhouse said:

    [...] beloved bacon costume has had some adventures [...]

    posted on October 17th, 2007 at 7:14 pm

  18. 18 On October 17th, 2007, MMmmm bacon....costume said:

    [...] costume – Link. Thanks Humuhumu at Junkyard [...]

    posted on October 17th, 2007 at 8:18 pm

  19. 19 On October 17th, 2007, tonyandkirsten.org » Blog Archive » From Sublime to Ridiculous said:

    [...] you are looking for Halloween costume ideas, here’s one that really made me [...]

    posted on October 17th, 2007 at 9:37 pm

  20. 20 On October 17th, 2007, Bneja said:

    Can anyone suggest where to get said foam? What kind of supply store? Home Depot is not the place, nor is my local art supply store.

    posted on October 17th, 2007 at 10:49 pm

  21. 21 On October 17th, 2007, Humuhumu said:

    I bought the foam at a foam store in Palo Alto — you might try googling for “foam” and the city where you live. If that comes up with bupkus, I’d suggest you next try contacting some local upholstery shops; even if they don’t sell foam themselves, they can probably point you to a local shop that does.

    posted on October 17th, 2007 at 10:55 pm

  22. 22 On October 22nd, 2007, R6Chick said:

    I have said it before and I will say it again. Bacon is the cure for everything. If you are sad, eat bacon! If you are angry, eat bacon! Give bacon to everyone at war and they will be too happy to fight. Viva La Bacon!!!

    posted on October 22nd, 2007 at 7:46 pm

  23. 23 On October 22nd, 2007, R6Chick said:

    Many fabric stores like Hancock Fabrics or JoAnn’s frequently have foam.

    posted on October 22nd, 2007 at 7:47 pm

  24. 24 On October 23rd, 2007, The Food Monkey » blog » Bacon Costume said:

    [...] Halloween costume? Well look no further! The people at junkyardclubhouse.com have come up with step by step instructions on how to construct your own bacon costume made out of foam that is spray [...]

    posted on October 23rd, 2007 at 10:31 am

  25. 25 On October 25th, 2007, Little Fucking Ray of Sunshine » Blog Archive » links for 2007-10-19 said:

    [...] The bacon costume (tags: bacon clothing halloween food) [...]

    posted on October 25th, 2007 at 5:09 am

  26. 26 On October 30th, 2007, BaconHeather said:

    If only I were dressing up for Halloween this year…never too early to start planning for next year, though!

    posted on October 30th, 2007 at 9:50 am

  27. 27 On October 30th, 2007, linda said:

    FYI! acutriments(sp) a novelty company sells….of all things”bacon flavored tooth picks,as well as bacon bandaids,and Mark Ryden” one of my inspirations for trying to paint better”check out his wonderfull work! any way he diod a whole show” art exhibt “MEAT”
    I could dream one day doing a show,and I found this because I was doing a search on meat costume,Because I have a IDEA!
    you know you can purchase those white trays for a washer,in your home,?to drain and collect a leak??
    well take one of these”RIGHT” then put meat in it!!(this could be a fake person or a real one!!”
    allbloody,,and like a cut chicken,or steak!! and wrap the fake in clear celophane! or ,if a real live person” wrap in a sheer clear fabric,and then create a MEAT WEIGHT LABEL”
    THIS COSTUME WOULD BE IN PREOTEST OF MEAT EATING,AS I CREATED THE IDEA FOR MY 16 YR OLD VEGAN DAUGHTER!!!
    IN MY VISION I SEE IT AS A FLOAT!! AND PARADEING WHILE HANDING OUT PETA TYPE LITITURE!
    AHHA,I CANT SPELL but PErsonally I have WON every contest I have ever entered!!!! and I dont do halloween??weird ha??? AMEN
    pass the salt.
    linda chartier
    check out my art stuff,it is a small display of my outsider art.www.outsideartist
    have fun eat a fluffernutter……..ta da! thanks for the fun.

    posted on October 30th, 2007 at 2:36 pm

  28. 28 On October 31st, 2007, Food Related Halloween Costumes « The District Domestic said:

    [...] A Strip of Bacon Everyone loves bacon – so why not dress like it! Hey, it’s an easy way to MEAT people – haha For directions on how to, click here. [...]

    posted on October 31st, 2007 at 6:27 am

  29. 29 On November 2nd, 2007, I Can Bring Home the Bacon from bettycrocker.com said:

    [...] I’m so psyched. I just found my Halloween costume for next year. Should I be so honored with an invite to a costume party, I think I will have to go as bacon. Yes, you heard me: bacon. [...]

    posted on November 2nd, 2007 at 9:29 am

  30. 30 On November 4th, 2007, www.therealityshow.net said:

    That is so cool. I think I’m going to make matching minature costumes for my kids next year. :D

    posted on November 4th, 2007 at 6:39 am

  31. 31 On November 9th, 2007, siblog said:

    So I did it for Halloween this year! I followed you instructions….well kinda, and made my own bacon costume. Check it out – http://thesiblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/return-of-bacon-costume.html

    posted on November 9th, 2007 at 8:31 am

  32. 32 On November 11th, 2007, Zach Alexander » Blog Archive » Jumps & swings said:

    [...] Oh, and commentary on How to be Bacon… [...]

    posted on November 11th, 2007 at 6:20 pm

  33. 33 On March 4th, 2008, Amarie said:

    Wow! Perfect for my next Purim Party!

    posted on March 4th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

  34. 34 On June 27th, 2008, Friday Five: Baconator! said:

    [...] Bacon Costume [...]

    posted on June 27th, 2008 at 7:01 am

  35. 35 On August 24th, 2008, murray said:

    Fun. Can I get name of site for making costumes? My boy is 10 and autistic. One thing he like to do is make batman, spiderman, etc costumes. thanks much.

    posted on August 24th, 2008 at 8:29 am

  36. 36 On August 24th, 2008, Stop Eating Bacon? NEVER! « off the (meat)hook said:

    [...] you can just go all Zen and BE the bacon. Here’s a tutorial on how to make this bacon [...]

    posted on August 24th, 2008 at 9:21 pm

  37. 37 On October 30th, 2008, jennie said:

    My 9 year old tells me he wants to be bacon for Halloween this year. I’m thinking, how in the heck am I going to make him look like bacon??? So, I google bacon costume and I find you. Thanks for the inspiration…you can see the picture at the link below.

    http://www.myspace.com/floresfamily4

    posted on October 30th, 2008 at 6:11 am

  38. 38 On January 16th, 2009, ADam Cox said:

    I love my begging strips, begging strips, begging strips!

    posted on January 16th, 2009 at 6:00 pm

  39. 39 On July 30th, 2009, Chalz said:

    IT’S ALMOST HALLOWEEN!

    posted on July 30th, 2009 at 7:09 pm

  40. 40 On September 1st, 2009, Twitter Trackbacks for How to Meat People and Be Loved: The Bacon Costume » Junkyard Clubhouse [junkyardclubhouse.com] on Topsy.com said:

    [...] How to Meat People and Be Loved: The Bacon Costume » Junkyard Clubhouse http://www.junkyardclubhouse.com/2007/03/23/how-to-be-loved-the-bacon-costume – view page – cached How to Meat People and Be Loved: The Bacon Costume — From the page [...]

    posted on September 1st, 2009 at 5:54 pm

  41. 41 On October 14th, 2009, Jess said:

    How do you go to the bathroom in such a costume?

    posted on October 14th, 2009 at 9:42 am

  42. 42 On November 2nd, 2009, Farley said:

    Thanks for the help with the costume. It was weird how Bacon seemed to transcend all age groups. Even two year olds shouted, “It’s Bacon!” I did cook some up just in case and was glad because some trick or treaters that came to the party actually asked me if I had any.

    A pic:
    http://www.higherground4x4.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2125&d=1257133790

    posted on November 2nd, 2009 at 11:41 am

  43. 43 On November 3rd, 2009, Otto said:

    I made one this year too: http://www.flickr.com/photos/otto42/4072087463/

    This article is dead on. Everybody *loves* a bacon costume.

    posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 2:05 pm

  44. 44 On December 14th, 2009, Faye said:

    Your instructions were awesome! I just had a bacon themed birthday party and made the costume for that: http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs106.snc3/15343_769107260755_3403280_45164450_2175456_n.jpg

    There was bacon vodka, Baconnaise, bacon risotto, bacon dates with cheese and nuts, bacon cupcakes, and the list goes on and on…

    posted on December 14th, 2009 at 7:56 pm

  45. 45 On December 17th, 2009, I Am Not Right In The Head | How To Cook Like Your Grandmother said:

    [...] How To Meat People And Be Loved: The Bacon Costume [...]

    posted on December 17th, 2009 at 8:37 am

  46. 46 On January 8th, 2010, Hat Making Diy And How-to. | 7Wins.eu said:

    [...] How to Make a Spring Easter Bonnet, Hat, or Flower Crown with Your Kids « Costumes &Amp; Dressing Up Crafts « Kids Crafts & ActivitiesHumu Kon Tiki » Blog Archive » How to Build a Tiki BarMummy Costume: How to make a Homemade Mummy Costume | 365 Halloween How to Meat People and Be Loved: The Bacon Costume » Junkyard Clubhouse [...]

    posted on January 8th, 2010 at 12:39 pm

  47. 47 On February 20th, 2010, Krista29 said:

    I do not guess that every student in the world has a passion of analysis essay accomplishing! However, persons that don’t have writing skills should use help of great sociology essay service and enjoy a success.

    posted on February 20th, 2010 at 12:49 am

  48. 48 On February 25th, 2010, − Learn how to make your own Bacon Costume (sweet!) said:

    [...] to Bacon Festival, I’d stronly recommend wearing this to it!  You can learn how to make it HERE for free, yay!  And if anyone can’t go and they want to sell me a ticket, please let me [...]

    posted on February 25th, 2010 at 2:05 am

  49. 49 On October 12th, 2010, Adam said:

    Thanks. This is just what I was looking for!

    posted on October 12th, 2010 at 11:43 am

  50. 50 On October 17th, 2010, People in bacon costumes | Bacon Salt Cluster Blog about Gourmet Seasoning, Spice, Salt and BACON! said:

    [...] This lady made this costume herself and you can too [...]

    posted on October 17th, 2010 at 4:22 pm

  51. 51 On October 17th, 2010, People in bacon costumes | Bacon Salt Cluster Blog about Gourmet Seasoning, Spice, Salt and BACON! said:

    [...] This lady made this costume herself and you can too [...]

    posted on October 17th, 2010 at 4:22 pm

  52. 52 On October 27th, 2010, jamie said:

    i am 11 i LOVE bacon! i am now in 6th grade and for the Halloween costume contest at school i want to be bacon.My mom and i where looking for a good bacon and this was perfect! thank u so much> i love it> cross your fingers i when the contest i know i will:)

    posted on October 27th, 2010 at 6:05 pm

  53. 53 On November 2nd, 2010, Bacon Bits: The Halloween Edition | Eternally Gorgeous said:

    [...] you last minute types Junkyard Clubhouse has provided step-by-step instructions to make a solo bacon costume so you too can be a [...]

    posted on November 2nd, 2010 at 1:09 pm

  54. 54 On July 24th, 2011, TK said:

    Hey how much was the foam?

    posted on July 24th, 2011 at 7:31 pm

  55. 55 On February 5th, 2013, Advance Healthcare Haven : Deal of the Fortnight: Light-up Halloween Pens said:

    [...] who wants to do something to celebrate Halloween but can't necessarily come in to work dressed as your favorite breakfast meat, for [...]

    posted on February 5th, 2013 at 1:08 pm