Recently I found a picture of my brother and I Halloween night circa 1975. I was a bride, my brother a tiger, and there we sat candy spread out on the groovy Kelly green shag carpet with big smiles on our faces. Maybe it was because of the candy and maybe it was because my mother created whatever kind of costume we dreamed up. Now, I continue the tradition with my own kids.
I try to stay away from sewing mostly because I’m not the best seamstress and I rely on old “Trigger,” my hot glue gun. I’m in love with the idea of creating costumes from hoodie sweatshirts and sweat pants. They’re comfortable and easy on, easy off.
I won’t try and walk you through the way I made these costumes step by step, but I’ll share what I’ve learned from making costumes over the years.
When I started creating this shark costume for my son I made a rather large head piece that looked just like a shark head. The problem? It was not comfortable and my son hated it–so back to the drawing board. I made the hood a shark head that gave more of an idea of a shark, and when my son tried it on he gave me a huge smile and could not stop looking at himself in the mirror. Mission accomplished! Happy, comfortable kid.
TIPS:
- Make sure your kid is happy and comfortable. Don’t get lost in perfection. It’s one night of the year.
Hoodies can be made into birds, bats, sharks, crabs and most animals. Look on Yahoo images and type in home-made “crab” costumes and see what other people have done. - Felt does not have to be sewed. Look at the images in my slide show to see how I created the tail with hot glue and pillow stuffing. I use the hot glue as if I am sewing. Felt has “give.” If you pull it it will stretch out and change form.
- RIT Dye is amazing. If you need green tights, orange wings, dark gray sweats ( I dyed the sweats I used for the shark ) or any fabric that’s not 100% polyester–dye it. It is much, much easier than you may think and it comes in almost every color.
- Glue rick rack on with a hot glue gun. It works like a dream!
- Use buttons for eyes and white paint for hi-lights (see slideshow)
Felt, cotton batting, rick rack, hot glue, Rit dye and buttons all available at I’ve Got a Notion
Questions? Just Ask Holly in comments.
And here I am below in one of my favorite costumes. I’m a bride, but clearly ditched the veil and the plastic daisy bouquet.
What was your favorite Halloween costume? Was it homemade or store bought?
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How cute is Holly in that picture!
How awful is that carpet? This explains why I have no carpet in my home. I remember Lite-brite pegs getting lost in that shag and stepping on them with bare feet! Stupid shag carpet.
Are there children in that shag carpet photo? I couldn’t take my eyes off of the candy stash.
Great shark, Holly. I love the HUGE teeth!
Don’t oepn the door! It’s that nasty Land Shark!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqH-KKm6Whg&feature=related
haha Lite brite pegs!! OMG! I looooved mine except that we got it used, and all the paper thingys were already pegged. Kind of lost its charm. and i never could seem to make those beautiful things from scratch like they showed in the box.
Well now I see all these years my big mistake was not using a hot glue gun. I simply must have one of those!
That big smile from your little guy is priceless. Plus it looks kinda like he’s hugging the costume to himself. Nice Job, mommma!