Some of the best costumes you'll see on Halloween are made by the people who put them on. Making your own Halloween costume may seem like a lot of work, but if you pick a costume idea that you really love, select the right materials for it, and give yourself a little time to craft it, you can make a great one.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Picking a Costume Idea
Step 1. Decide how much work you want to do
Before determining what to wear for Halloween, you need to decide how much work you are willing to do on the costume. Do you want something you can easily put together or do you plan to make something elaborate?
Step 2. Evaluate how much time you have to complete the project
If you're trying to make a costume the day before Halloween, you probably need to create a last-minute one that can be easily assembled with the help of some items, clothing items, and supplies you already have around the house.
Step 3. Brainstorm your favorite characters
When you know how much time you want to invest in a costume, you will require an idea. A good point to continue is to make a list of your favorite characters from books, movies, or television shows. Dressing up as your favorite character will always be a good costume.
Step 4. Think about current events
Another good source of inspiration for the costume is current events. Recent news, celebrity accidents, or current pop culture references always make for a good disguise.
Step 5. Start with the accessories
If you're still confused about the costume idea, start by choosing great accessories that you love, such as a hat, cape, or headband. Then, create a costume around the item.
You could also craft the costume around a DIY latex mask if you're up for the challenge or want a unique look
Step 6. Decide if you are going to make an individual or group costume
Costumes that require multiple people can be fun and impressive if done right.
- A few examples of group costumes are bands, superhero groups, celebrity couples or a set of characters from a book, a movie, among others.
- Make sure everyone in the group is committed to the group costume. If anyone gets discouraged, it could ruin it.
Part 2 of 3: Choosing Your Materials
Step 1. Brainstorm your material options
An arts and crafts store is a good place to get costume supplies, even if you don't know exactly what you want before you go. Whenever you have an idea for a costume, you will find a fabric that can be used.
Step 2. Choose a fabric that is easy to work with
If your costume requires sewing, choose a material that is easy to sew or assemble, especially if you are new to crafting.
For example, felt is inexpensive and can be glued with a hot glue gun or even stapled into a garment. Basic cotton fabric is easy to sew with a machine or by hand
Step 3. Take your measurements
Before visiting the fabric store, you will need to take the exact measurements for the costume. If you are not sure how much you need, ask for help.
Step 4. Go to a thrift or recycle store
If you don't want to sew your outfit, thrift stores are great places to find cheap and quirky costume items. Sometimes these stores actually have handmade costumes to sell if you decide not to make your own from scratch.
Step 5. Think of possible decorations or accessories
When you are choosing materials, think of decorations and accessories that you can add to them. Many of them can be purchased cheaply at an arts and crafts store.
- Look for accessories like crowns, from large headbands to small flower crowns, or capes and feather boas.
- Some examples of embellishments to add easily are artificial flowers, buttons, and glitter glue.
Step 6. Check what you have at home
When you're looking for supplies for a costume, look in the back corner of the closet or the never-open drawer of the dresser. Maybe you have what you need at home!
Step 7. Give a cardboard box a different use
If nothing else works, a cardboard box can make a good base for a costume. The structure lends itself well to a robot, a washing machine, a dryer, a car or a television.
- The box cutter works best for cutting cardboard.
- Decorate the box after cutting the holes for the arms, head and body.
Part 3 of 3: Assemble Everything
Step 1. Gather your supplies
Even if you are not sewing the costume, gather the materials that you have decided to use. Spread everything out and start planning how you will put it together.
Step 2. Check the measurements well
When you have the materials, make sure you have the correct measurements for the clothes you are creating. Checking your measurements before creating a pattern and starting to cut your fabric will save you a lot of time and money.
- In the case of pants, you will need the following measurements: waist, hip, waist size and full leg length from waist to foot
- In the case of shirts, you will need the following measurements: neck, chest, shoulder width, arm length, armhole length and shirt length.
- In the case of shorts, use the measurements for pants you have, but shorten the length to the extent you want.
- For skirts, you will only need waist and hip measurements. The length and width of the garment will depend on the type of skirt you want to make.
- Make sure the fabric you decide to use is not sheer or irritating if you are making clothing as part of the costume.
Step 3. Create a pattern
Creating the costume pattern on paper will give you the opportunity to verify your measurements. This is a good technique no matter where you are gluing or sewing the costume. Transfer the pattern to a piece of felt with a marker and use scissors to cut it out before gluing them together.
Step 4. Make the clothing items for the costume
Using the pattern, make the costume garments using the fabric, which might require you to sew or glue the material. It is best to take this measurement slowly when verifying the measurements and test as you build the costume.
Step 5. Add ornaments
With the help of a hot melt gun, glue objects or ornaments to the clothes you are going to use for the costume. For example, you and your partner could cover a green suit with real or artificial leaves, wrap a toy snake around your neck and hold an apple in your hand and you will have a simple Adam and Eve costume.
Step 6. Add accessories
When you have reached the base of the costume, add accessories. You may need to glue or sew on more material, or simply drape a cape over her shoulders or add a headband.
Step 7. Try it on
Check at least once that everything looks good with the Halloween costume on. When you have everything assembled, try it on with all the accessories and make sure you are satisfied with the result. Do it a few days before Halloween so that you have time to make changes if necessary.
Advice
- If you are making clothes, make sure they are not going to come apart or fall unexpectedly. It would be good if you wear spandex clothing or garments under the costume as a precaution.
- Be sure to leave extra fabric to exact measurements when making the pattern if you are sewing the costume.
- If you don't want to make a costume on your own, but want the homemade look, you can purchase a homemade costume online at a site like Etsy.com or go to a recycled clothing store in your area to see if they have this type of costume. costume.
- You can make a costume out of a pun, as they are fun and easy to make.
- Take fabrics that you have in your house that you are not using as clothing. Buy some more fabric and when you think you are done, sew the pieces together. If the costume has more accessories or any extras, make sure you have what you need at home. For example, if you need a wig, take some wool (if you have one) and cut it to the correct length and make sure it fits on your head and that you like it.