52 DIY Costumes for Halloween
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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 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 Costume Ideas
I've made a long list of DIY costume ideas that work for playing dress up and dressing up for Halloween and trick or treating. I love making costumes to inspire my kids' imagination.
Learn how to make an easy DIY Frankenstein costume for Halloween with a free hat sewing pattern that looks like the monster’s head!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
Make a DIY Elsa Frozen 2 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.
Learn how to make a DIY Elsa Frozen 2 Dress inspired by the new movie. Hack a sewing pattern for Elsa’s original snow dress from Frozen to make a stronger dressup to play with.
Make a fun mermaid costume that is sparkly and fun! It's great for warm or cold weather!
Wear regular clothes and then make some pirate costume accessories to finish it off!
This Vampire costume is scary and easy! Make the cape and match it with clothing in your closet.
Make Anna's dress that she wears to travel to the Enchanted Forest!
These DIY felt wings are great addition to any costume. Turn a dinosaur into a dragon or a black outfit into a bat.
Ghost costumes are popular at Halloween but the sheet always fall off. Use this ghost idea instead for a much better and easier 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!
Be a witch with this fantastic spider web skirt! It's made out of felt so it's really easy to sew!
Learn how to make an easy DIY mermaid inspired dress that is perfect for a comfortable and playful dress up or a simple Halloween costume.
Learn how to make an easy DIY Elsa dress by combining a white t-shirt and a blue dress. This simple diy costume is the perfect comfortable dress up!
Magical creatures are just so fun, and the rainbow colors make this costume so fun! Add the horn, ears, and wings with a free sewing pattern.
One of the easiest costumes ever is a werewolf costume. Wear regular clothes and add some faux fur!
I've never seen a skeleton mermaid before, but I came up with the idea for my daughter and I just love it. It's a refashioned dress with added iron-on vinyl.
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!
Make summer dreams come true with this marshmallow roasting on a stick. You can buy the brown clothes and add the fire and the marshmallow.
If you have book lovers in your house, a Harry Potter costume is the best. You could even choose a different house or character instead of Harry Potter!
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!
For a warm costume make a bunny costume and add ducky from Toy Story 4. This would be even easier by starting with blue pants and a blue sweatshirt!
I love this no-sew costume because Duke Caboom is the best character. The mustache is optional!
Make the lovely and strong Bo Peep into an easy and cute costume! Just turn a dress into a simple romper!
Make another easy and no-sew costume by adding polka dots to a yellow dress!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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,