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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. I’ve made costumes for my kids every single year, but only some of those years had actual tutorials to follow. Here’s a list of all the easy DIY costumes I’ve made that you can also make!
Some are sewn and some are no-sew. Some are classic Halloween characters and some are characters from books or movies.
Do you like making costumes and sewing for Halloween? Check out these ideas!
- free patterns for costumes
- Upcycled costumes for Halloween
- fall sewing projects
- back to school sewing projects
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 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 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 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 tutorial, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!
