photos: John Nolan

This adorkable AT-AT dog costume made the rounds last week online. As a craftster, I am always curious how fans make their elaborate cosplay costumes, especially for their pets.

StarWars.com chats with artist and photographer Katie Mello — who works as a Character Fabricator at LAIKA/house, an animation studio (Coraline) in Portland, Oregon — about how she made the AT-AT costume for her dog named Bones!

What is the back story of these photos? Why dress up your dog as an AT-AT?

I have been a Star Wars fan forever. When I was younger, I wanted to work for Industrial Light & Magic when I grew up. I studied everything I could about “special effects.”

By the time I got into college it was clear that everything would be done with computers and I was more interested in making tangible artwork. Lucky for me I discovered stop-motion animation. Now I build puppets for stop-motion productions, and have developed the skills that I need to make just about anything I want.

From the first time we saw Bones, an Italian Greyhound, my husband and I thought he looked like an AT-AT. He has such an unusual shape. Three years later, I finally made him this costume. I also used this opportunity to improve my patterning and sewing skills.

What did you make the costume out of?

First I made a costuming dummy out of upholstery foam, so I could minimize the amount of fittings that I would have to do on Bones. His comfort is important to me. To make the form, I carved the foam into Bones likeness and made sure it matched his measurements. This made the whole process much easier, and I can make other costumes for him very easily now.

The main body is a super-stretchy cotton/spandex, which I patterned for Bones using a shirt that he wears to keep warm. I also made a stretchy cowl to go over his head. I airbrushed this while it was on the costume dummy using airbrush paint.

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