65 DIY Costumes for Halloween
This post may contain affiliate links.
Enjoy this list of DIY costumes that are perfect for Halloween or playing dress up. My kids don’t need an excuse to imagine and dress up.
I love Halloween, and I love making costumes. It’s something I look forward to at the end of each summer. I’ve made costumes for my kids every single year, and we are that crazy family that starts talking about costumes in the summer. Here’s a list of all the easy DIY costumes I’ve made that you can also make!
Some are costumes to sew and some are easier no-sew costumes. Some are classic Halloween characters, some are characters from books or movies, and some are completely made up from my kids imagination.
Do you like making costumes and sewing for Halloween? Check out these ideas!
- free patterns for costumes
- Upcycled costumes for Halloween
- Halloween sewing projects
- DIY classic Halloween costumes
- DIY T-shirt Costume Ideas
- DIY Hoodie Costume Ideas
Why Make DIY Costumes?
I love to make DIY costumes for my kids for lots of different reasons. I love that I can make something unique that they want and that they’ll love. We live in a cold area so I always have to plan costumes to be warm so that they don’t have to wear a jacket or coat over it.
I almost always save money by reusing fabric and clothing from my stash and around our home, and I have found that reusing clothing saves me time.
Homemade DIY costumes use stronger and more durable fabric that will last through months and years of dress up and play time. I love that the costumes will last longer than one night of trick-or-treating.
Where to get solid clothes?
I have a couple of different places where I look for solid clothing for children. It all depends on what I’m looking for and what I need.
- When I need a solid matching set (like a t-shirt and leggings or a sweatshirt and sweatpants), I first look at primary.com. There are so many basic options in all the styles I love.
- When I need a t-shirt or sweatshirt in a very specific color, I first look at Jiffy Shirts. There are so many colors in different t-shirt blends.
- When I need something fast and I’m not picky about the color, I look at Walmart* either for my pickup or shopping in person.
DIY Costumes for Halloween
DIY Queen of Hearts Costume
Learn how to make a DIY Queen of Hearts costume with this fun tutorial. This Halloween costume can be customized just the way you like it.
DIY Mother Earth Costume
Learn how to make a DIY mother earth costume with floral fabrics and DIY accessories. This is a stunning statement costume!
Easy DIY Skeleton Costume
Learn how to make an easy DIY skeleton costume with a free SVG cut file. Cut the design with a Cricut Maker and apply to black pajamas.
DIY Medusa Costume
Learn how to make a DIY Medusa costume with a green dress and a DIY snake headband crown. This is a great last minute costume!
DIY Olympic Gymnast Costume
See the DIY Olympic gymnast costume I made for my daughter for Halloween. There are several different pieces that complete the outfit.
Free Cloak Sewing Pattern
Learn how to make a cloak with a free sewing pattern. I used this pattern to make a DIY Little Red Riding Hood costume.
DIY Pokemon Trainer Costume
Learn how to make a DIY Pokemon trainer costume with clothes in your closet. Use a free ball sewing pattern and a Cricut for the extra details.
DIY Owl Costume
Learn how to make a DIY owl costume with a cape covered in feathers and a simple hat. This DIY costume works great for kids and adults.
Free Costume Robe Sewing Pattern
Learn how to make a Halloween costume robe with a free sewing pattern. I used this pattern to make a Jedi Robe and a Harry Potter robe.
DIY Frankenstein Costume
Learn how to make an easy DIY Frankenstein costume for Halloween with a free hat sewing pattern that looks like the monster’s head!
DIY Bingo Costume (From Bluey)
Learn how to make a DIY Bingo costume with a sweatshirt and felt. Put it together with some simple accessories for a really fun Halloween costume.
DIY Bluey Costume
Learn how to make a DIY Bluey costume with a sweatshirt and felt. Put it together with some simple accessories for a really fun Halloween costume.
DIY Pumpkin Costume for Kids
Learn to make a DIY pumpkin costume for kids with felt. It’s a costume that can be worn over clothing, and the top is the perfect accessory!
DIY Princess Jasmine Costume
Learn how to make a DIY Princess Jasmine inspired costume for Halloween. Upcycle some adult dresses and add rhinestones and a crown for a great outfit.
DIY Cupcake Costume
Learn how to make a DIY cupcake costume with felt, felt balls, and an upcycled dress. This costume is fun and cute, but it’s so easy to wear!
DIY Marshmello Fortnite Costume
Learn how to make a DIY Marshmello costume for kids from the Fortnite character. Use a Cricut Maker and sewing machine for an easy costume!
DIY Lab Coat for Kids from a Men’s Shirt
Learn how to make a DIY lab coat for kids from a men’s shirt. This is a great upcycle project to make a simple Halloween costume!
DIY Ghost Mermaid Costume
Learn how to make a DIY ghost mermaid costume with a mermaid dress and a white cape. This costume is the perfect mix of cute and creepy.
DIY Fencing Costume
Learn how to put together a DIY fencing costume for a unique and athletic look. Using what you have makes a quick and easy costume.
DIY Camp Half Blood T-Shirt
Learn how to make a DIY camp half-blood t-shirt with a shirt, fabric, and HTV. Sew on a fabric pocket and add the words for a quick costume!
DIY Water Fairy Costume
Learn how to make a DIY water fairy costume with shimmer fabric and glitter tulle. Add a seashell wand and clips for the perfect accessories.
DIY Sisu Dragon Costume
Learn how to make a DIY costume inspired by Sisu from Raya and the Last Dragon. Sew the details onto a hoodie for an easy Halloween costume.
DIY Anubis Costume
Learn how to make a DIY Anubis costume with gold accessories, a stuffed dog head, and black clothes. This egyptian god is fun and easy.
DIY Mummy Costume
Learn how to make a DIY mummy costume by sewing an overlay for a hoodie and sweatpants. Add strips of fabric for a great wrapped mummy look.
DIY Calvin and Hobbes Costume
Learn how to make a DIY Calvin and Hobbes costume for a boy or man. Use regular clothes and add a stuffed tiger for a quick and easy costume.
Cute DIY Flamingo Costume
Learn how to make a DIY flamingo costume with felt and scraps of fabric. The cape and hat are so cute and easy to wear over regular clothing!
DIY Elsa Frozen 2 Jacket Dress: Upcycled
Make a DIY Elsa Jacket that goes over her dress that she wears to travel to the Enchanted Forest. Upcycle a button up shirt to reuse some of the details.
DIY Anna Frozen 2 Cloak
Make a DIY Anna cloak that she wears as she travels into the Enchanted Forest. This is an upcycle so it’s easier and cheaper!
Easy DIY Pirate Costume
Make this DIY pirate costume for an easy Halloween costume. It’s perfect for a child with a big imagination and uses stuff from their closet.
DIY Mermaid Costume
Learn how to make a mermaid tail skirt with tulle! It's perfect for a handmade costume or just dress up time, and it's easy to run and play in!
Easy DIY Vampire Costume
Make an easy DIY vampire costume with items already in your house! Any boy or girl would love be this scary vampire for Halloween!
DIY Ghost Costume
Put together this easy ghost costume that stays in place! This handmade ghost costume uses stuff in your closet, a DIY cape, and a fake chain!
Easy DIY Lobster Costume
Learn how to make an easy DIY lobster costume by upcycling a sweatshirt with felt. This costume is easy to wear, and the felt is easy to sew!
How to Make a Rainbow Unicorn Costume
Learn how to make a Rainbow unicorn costume for Halloween with colorful fleece and sweatshirt and pants. Use free patterns for the horn, ears, and wings.
Easy DIY Werewolf Costume
Make an DIY werewolf costume with this easy sewing tutorial. Create a few werewolf accessories and pair them with clothing your child already wears.
DIY Skeleton Mermaid Costume
Make a DIY skeleton mermaid costume with iron-on vinyl and a black dress to refashion. It’s a creepy cute costume that’s so fun!
DIY Princess in Black Costume
Learn how to make a DIY Princess in Black costume using HTV and some black fabric. Add in a cape, black pants, and black shoes for an easy DIY costume!
DIY Marshmallow Costume
Learn how to make a DIY marshmallow costume that is roasting on a stick in the fire! The marshmallow is easily worn over the shoulders and stuffed with batting!
DIY Harry Potter Costume
Make an easy DIY Harry Potter costume. Use items from your wardrobe, Harry Potter accessories, and then make a lined robe for the finishing touch.
DIY Ducky and Bunny Costume
Make a DIY Bunny and Ducky Costume from Disney’s Toy Story 4 that is warm for Halloween night. Make the bunny part of the costume and add ducky to the sleeve.
DIY Bo Peep Costume
Make this easy DIY Bo Peep costume from Disney’s Toy Story 4! It’s cute and easy, and can be made for children or women. It’s great for a Halloween costume or even dressing up for Easter.
DIY Gabby Gabby Costume
Use paint and a bit of sewing to make an easy DIY Gabby Gabby costume! Gabby Gabby is the creepy doll from Disney’s Toy Story 4 that turns out to be not so bad!
DIY Grim Reaper Costume
Learn how to make an easy DIY grim reaper costume. Make a simple black cloak, wear black clothes, and add a DIY scythe for a quick costume.
DIY Witch Costume
Learn how to make an easy DIY witch costume by adding lace to a black dress! Add a witch hat, black shoes, and a DIY witch broom for a fun Halloween costume.
DIY Mandalorian Inspired Costume for Kids
Learn how I made a DIY Mandalorian Inspired costume for my son using fabric, EVA foam, and faux leather. I show my process and link to some free patterns.
DIY Hercules Costume T-Shirt
Learn how to make a DIY Hercules Costume that is just a t-shirt. It’s easy to wear and easy to make with a t-shirt, HTV, and some blue fabric.
DIY Professor Trelawney Costume
Learn how to make a DIY Professor Trelawney inspired costume with a green dress, accessories, and a upcycled sweater vest.
DIY Duke Caboom Costume
Make an easy DIY Duke Caboom Costume that is perfect for kids or adults. Use clothes from your closet and some DIY no-sew accessories!
DIY Professor Quirrell Costume
Learn how to make a DIY Professor Quirrell inspired costume with a DIY wrapped hat and cloak. This is the perfect costume for a bald man.
DIY Easy Ghost Costume for Women
Put together this easy ghost costume that stays in place! This handmade ghost costume uses stuff in your closet, a DIY cape, and a fake chain!
DIY Princess Peach Motorcycle Costume
Learn how to make a DIY Princess Peach motorcycle costume. Start with a white outfit and make a pink belt, scarf, and boots for a fun look.
DIY Toad Costume (From Mario)
Learn how to make a DIY Toad costume inspired by the Mario Nintendo character. Add DIY accessories to clothing you have for a quick project!
Easy DIY Pumpkin Costume for Adults
Learn how to make an easy DIY pumpkin costume perfect for adults! Add HTV to an orange sweatshirt and top it off with a handmade pumpkin hat!
DIY Westley and Buttercup Costume
See how I made DIY Buttercup and Westley costumes from the Princess Bride. I sewed the dress and the shirt and put the accessories together.
DIY Scissors Costume
Learn how to make a DIY scissors costume that can be worn over your clothes. This is great for rock, paper, scissors, or a sewing inspired costume!
DIY Pincushion Costume
Learn how to make a DIY pincushion costume with a red t-shirt and a strawberry headband. Wear a t-shirt and jeans for this sewing inspired costume.
DIY Spool of Thread Costume
Learn how to make a DIY spool of thread costume with yarn, paint, and cardboard. It’s fun to make and easy to wear over your clothing.
Easy DIY Mr. Clean Costume
Learn how to put together an easy DIY Mr. Clean costume for a bald man with a white t-shirt, a gold clip-on earring, and a fake white mustache.
Easy DIY Charlie Brown Costume
Learn how to make a DIY Charlie Brown costume with a t-shirt and HTV. This is the perfect easy Halloween costume for a bald man.
Star Wars Inspired T-Shirts with Free SVGs
Make some Star Wars inspired t-shirts with free SVG cut files. They are great for easy t-shirt Halloween costumes or just everyday tees.
DIY Blue Shell Costume (From Mario)
Learn how to make a DIY blue shell costume for kids, adults, or dogs. The blue shell from Mario Kart is a fun, unique, and simple Halloween costume.
DIY Dog Ghost Costume
Learn how to make a DIY dog ghost costume with some white fabric and a white baseball cap. Depending on the nose it can even be a Zero ghost dog.
DIY Werewolf Dog Costume
Learn how to make a DIY werewolf dog costume by upcycling a button up shirt and a piece of denim. It is mostly cutting and one row of sewing.
DIY Sirius Black Dog Costume
Learn how to make a DIY sirius costume for your black or gray dog. This easy costume of the Azkaban prison number hangs off a dog collar.
DIY Patronus Costume for your Dog
Learn how to make a DIY patronus costume for your pet! Be a student at Hogwarts and bring your patronus (ghost) pet for a walk!
If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!
I believe small sewing moments can create great joy. Find your own “right” way to sew. -Heather
Super helpful post! Thank you so much.
Lovely Halloween costume ideas. Kids will definitely love this. Thanks for sharing.
Superb costume ideas. Thanks for sharing these ideas with us.
Hi my son wants to be a water pail carrier, he’s dreaming I should diy something for him I wondered if you could help me create something as I see all your very creative ideas,