Last Minute Halloween Costumes
Gail Allen
October 2018
Oh no! Halloween is just around the corner and you still don't have a costume. Fear not. Here are some easy to make costumes that you can likely make with very little effort.
Oh no! Halloween is just around the corner and you still don't have a costume. Fear not. Here are some easy to make costumes that you can likely make with very little effort.
Bathroom
You will need two large towels for this. They must be long enough to reach from below your armpit to where you want your hemline to sit. Sew the towels together down one side. Fold the top down to make a drawstring hem. Sew the other side together, but remember to not close the drawstring hem. Feed an elastic or a string through it. This will be the part that secures the dress stays closed at the top. Put in the tube and tighten the drawstring or elastic so it's tight, but still comfortable. Get someone to help you make a mark where the shoulder straps should be and measure how long they should be.
Add seam allowance and cut a string or piece of fabric to that size. Sew it on where the marks are made.
Go to your bathroom and find various items: Loofah, toothbrush, hairbrush, toothpaste, bathing cap, empty shampoo bottle, rubber duck, etc. Tie or hot glue it to your dress. Wear a bathing cap and flip flops to complete the outfit.
You will need two large towels for this. They must be long enough to reach from below your armpit to where you want your hemline to sit. Sew the towels together down one side. Fold the top down to make a drawstring hem. Sew the other side together, but remember to not close the drawstring hem. Feed an elastic or a string through it. This will be the part that secures the dress stays closed at the top. Put in the tube and tighten the drawstring or elastic so it's tight, but still comfortable. Get someone to help you make a mark where the shoulder straps should be and measure how long they should be.
Add seam allowance and cut a string or piece of fabric to that size. Sew it on where the marks are made.
Go to your bathroom and find various items: Loofah, toothbrush, hairbrush, toothpaste, bathing cap, empty shampoo bottle, rubber duck, etc. Tie or hot glue it to your dress. Wear a bathing cap and flip flops to complete the outfit.
Kitchen
Start as you would for the bathroom, except use a white and red chequered cloth or similar instead of towels – old tablecloths work well here too.
Add spoons, whiskers, empty spice boxes, empty cereal boxes, cutlery, and other items found in the kitchen to the dress
Start as you would for the bathroom, except use a white and red chequered cloth or similar instead of towels – old tablecloths work well here too.
Add spoons, whiskers, empty spice boxes, empty cereal boxes, cutlery, and other items found in the kitchen to the dress
Robot
For this costume you will need some boxes in different sizes as well as some paint.
At least one box must be big enough to go around your body. Cut off the top 8 inches of the sides of the box and fold the front and back so they can rest on your chest. Make a hole where you want the shoulder straps to be and secure a string there. Cut out space around your neck if necessary. Find a box that will fit over your head and cut out holes so you can see.
You can add more boxes for arms and legs. These can be tied to the first box, but remember not to do so too tightly; you still want to be able to move.
Paint the boxes in whatever colour or pattern you want.
If you have leggings and a long sleeved shirt in a similar colour you can, put that on underneath to complete the look.
For this costume you will need some boxes in different sizes as well as some paint.
At least one box must be big enough to go around your body. Cut off the top 8 inches of the sides of the box and fold the front and back so they can rest on your chest. Make a hole where you want the shoulder straps to be and secure a string there. Cut out space around your neck if necessary. Find a box that will fit over your head and cut out holes so you can see.
You can add more boxes for arms and legs. These can be tied to the first box, but remember not to do so too tightly; you still want to be able to move.
Paint the boxes in whatever colour or pattern you want.
If you have leggings and a long sleeved shirt in a similar colour you can, put that on underneath to complete the look.
Troll
For this you need face paint, fabric in a colour close to your hair colour and some old clothes.
Cut a tail of the fabric. At the end you can place a fringed bit of the fabric if you feel like it. Sew the tail onto the back of a pair of trousers. Paint your face with the face paint and comb back your hair so it looks as messy as possible.
Dirty your clothes.
For this you need face paint, fabric in a colour close to your hair colour and some old clothes.
Cut a tail of the fabric. At the end you can place a fringed bit of the fabric if you feel like it. Sew the tail onto the back of a pair of trousers. Paint your face with the face paint and comb back your hair so it looks as messy as possible.
Dirty your clothes.
Chimney Sweep
For this you will need a completely black outfit and some black face paint (or charcoal) as well as a broomstick and some black fabric and a glue gun.
Cut a stripe off the fabric that is about 20 inches broad. Cut into it so that it becomes frilly and glue it around your broomstick until it looks like a mop.
Put on the black clothes and smudge your face with the charcoal or the black face paint until you look very dirty. For bonus you can put on a black or dark hat and a colourful neckerchief.
For this you will need a completely black outfit and some black face paint (or charcoal) as well as a broomstick and some black fabric and a glue gun.
Cut a stripe off the fabric that is about 20 inches broad. Cut into it so that it becomes frilly and glue it around your broomstick until it looks like a mop.
Put on the black clothes and smudge your face with the charcoal or the black face paint until you look very dirty. For bonus you can put on a black or dark hat and a colourful neckerchief.