In the spirit of the No Spending Challenge we’ve been doing and because homemade Halloween costumes are one of my favorite things — okay, really I stress big time about costumes but I do love the way they always turn out — here’s a few of our favorites from past years. These costumes are NOT from a store bought kit, NOT big sewing projects (since I can pretty much just do the basics with sewing), and mostly cheap or free with items being bought at thrift stores or from garage sales and a few accessories picked up at regular stores. So, if you’re in a bind for a last minute costume or trying to come up with something inexpensive, I hope these ideas will give you a little inspiration to look through the closets, grab a piece of fabric or check out the thrift stores to see what you can create.
Flapper costume using a hand me down dress over a long sleeve tshirt, beaded necklace, and purchased sequin headband and feather.
The flapper’s twin got to go as a crooner with a borrowed tie, thrift store vest, older brother’s Sunday shirt, his own Sunday pants, and the most expensive item being a hat bought at an actual costume shop.
This one was so much fun! Just a onesie and tights and then I cut up a pair of leg warmers to make the leg warmers and head and wrist bands.
Our Olaf won the costume contest at the church trunk or treat. All we did was print out an Olaf face and then trace and fill in with fabric paint.
Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine was made using a simple Jedi robe pattern that I found. The face paint was done by my awesome husband. Honestly, my robe is not nearly as good as hers, but it has worked for us and was a pretty easy pattern to follow. And I promise that he loved it – he just refused to smile for the picture because he wanted to really look like Darth Sidious.
So, not many people “got” this one, but my daughter did and she was thrilled and isn’t that all that really matters? I found this cute dress at a thrift store and thought it would make a great Hello Kitty costume. My husband made these awesome ears (I loved to see him sitting there sewing by hand and really getting into this!) using felt, a little stuffing, and a headband, and then the face paint to complete it.
I love to make costumes that are more “inspired by”, which is what you get when you don’t buy a costume at the store. Someone was selling this cute dance costume and I knew it would make a cute Minnie Mouse costume. I cut off some extra fringe, layered a white shirt underneath, and bought the mouse ears.
The chef hat, mustache, neckerchief, and apron all came from a class project at school so you know they didn’t cost much.
Witch costume was made from her own leggings and black top paired with a tulle tutu I made from different colors (given to me by a friend), purchased witch’s hat that I added some coordinating tulle to.
This one is super simple because all you need for a cowboy is a plaid shirt from the closet (hopefully), then tie a bandanna around the neck. Voila!
This pirate costume just needed some cheap, black, non fraying, leather type fabric – it sounds complicated but it was easy to find. I used one of his shirts to make a vest pattern (it turned out a little small but it was fine) and used a length of the same fabric for a belt. Add in the store bought hat, eye patch, and sword and you’re all set.
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