It’s the one time of year during which I wish I had better sewing skills. I mean, I can hand stitch things: sew a button or make a quick patch, but I do not own a sewing machine. I do, however, like the idea of making Halloween costumes for my kids when I can. In honor of such Mama O. made costumes, I dedicate this post and will share my AWESOME costume for this year.
To all the Halloween Costumes I’ve made, you’ve helped me find new ways to be creative and resourceful to ultimately make my kid’s happy. There has been frustration and exasperation along the way, but in the end, we’ve made it through the struggles and pulled it together in time for fun trick or treating.
The Creativity Costume Award
Way back when I started making Halloween costumes it was out of necessity. Exhibit A: Big Sister wanted to be a Puppy Ghost, her most inventive costume idea to date. We bought a puppy hat the the grocery store, so that was convenient. I sort of cut up a sheet (I think) and may have hand sewed some ribbon on to tie the sheet around her. It wasn’t complicated, but she certainly was excited. Puppy Ghost, you win for the most creative costume and the easiest execution. Big Sister still thinks of this costume even four years later.
The Recycling Theme
Fast forward a year, and I had really wanted to use a cardboard box train costume for trick or treating, but it was a bit too heavy and awkward to actually wear. The kid had fun in it for a birthday party though! Cardboard costumes, I will come back to this idea again and again, so maybe someday we’ll have a chance to work together.
No Sew, Readily Available Costume
Instead in 2013 I had a kitty cat, which involved turning a black sweatshirt inside out and adding some easy to find cat accessories (ears headband, pin-on tail). Thank you, cat costume, for being a great, go-to costume for any age. Perfect. Purrfect!
Classic Costume Award
In 2014 Grandma helped sew a pumpkin costume for Little Brother. I assisted by sewing on the velcro and the black felt pumpkin face. As you can see in Exhibit D, he is not terribly thrilled about it. Boo…but still, Pumpkin, you earn the classic costume award.
Another classic costume, is the witch, something I threw together with black clothing and stuff we already had around the house.
Beautiful Costume Award
The lovely Elsa dress wins for most beautiful costume. Obviously I had nothing to do with it beyond some hemming on the dress and cape. All the credit goes to a talented seamstress on Etsy. Thank you for the lovely dress, which lasted us for two Halloweens.
Warm and Cute Costume Awards
This award is a tie between the shark and crazy cat lady cosutmes. Grandma stepped in and made Little Brother a shark costume using a larger than normal sized gray sweatshirt, sweatpants and felt for the teeth, belly and fin. She used some sturdier material / plastic insert to help add stability to the fin. Shark, you were a warm and adorable costume. We didn’t see many other sharks while trick or treating either, so you win extra points for uniqueness.
The crazy cat lady again came together with things I had at home, stuffed cats and my bathrobe. I simply used safety pins to attach numerous cats to my bathrobe and slippers. It was warm, cute, and all around awesome! Crazy cat lady, and cat costume, you may be my go-to costumes again in the future.
For this year, I was encouraging Little Brother to use a cardboard box to be a present. I was cutting it up and planning on attaching a bow to a hat and everything. Then Big Sister proclaims that she wants to be an owl for Halloween, so Little Brother must change his mind and be an owl too. Sorry, cardboard, maybe another time! I’m still holding out hope for you.
Best Costume Ever
To date, owl costume, you win as the best costume I’ve ever made. Truth be told, this was a lot of cutting up fleece feathers, 78 for one alone, but once that part was done, it came together quickly. This tutorial, by Lynnea McCoy, was the most helpful! I started with oversize t-shirts, knowing they’d layer clothes underneath, and glued fleece feathers on them, as you can see Little Brother modeling below.
Grandma helped sew the cape onto Little Brother’s t-shirt (with her portable sewing machine), and sewed an elastic loop on each side of the cape. You can see the capes spread out in Exhibit F. When my kids have their hands in the elastic loops, they can then “flap” their wings better. I also opted to cut out fleece and paste it on cardstock on top of an existing mask. Aleene’s Original Glue was my adhesion of choice and has worked really well so far. Stay tuned for the final picture of both kids as owls and a report on how they held up during trick or treat.
Thank you costumes, and Halloween, for the opportunity to create for my kids! Until next year!
go mama o. 
Love these! Great ideas, I’m still trying to figure out a fun costume for my son. I’m such procrastinator when it comes to Halloween costumes :)!
Thanks! I am sure you’ll think of something. Happy Halloween!
I don’t sew either, but made some costumes through the years. With boys, costume making was often about ripping apart instead of sewing together.
You did a great job. Such fun memories.
Thanks! Hmm, ripping apart sounds like a nice change of pace! Maybe next year!
Reblogged this on go mama o and commented:
This year I’m going to end up buying both of my kids’ costumes. I failed today trying to make a re-wearable mummy costume. It’s fun to look back and see what costumes worked well. Happy Halloween!