29 Upcycled Costumes for Halloween

heather handmade sewing

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Use what you have to make one of these upcycled costumes for Halloween! This is a great way to simplify costumes, and most are cheap to make!

I love making costumes, but I also love simplifying the process. I often upcycle clothing to make Halloween costumes. I get to reuse details to make it easier and faster. It’s pretty easy to find basic solid clothing, and they are often already in your closet.

I divided the list into the main item of clothing or object that gets upcycled. Some of these even use more than one item. There are costumes for adults, girls, boys, and dogs. There is something for everyone!

upcycled costumes halloween

I have some Upcycled sewing patterns that would make great bases for costumes! It makes sewing so fast and easy!

DIY Cat Costume

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.

DIY Toad Costume (From Mario)

What is Upcycling?

Upcycling is to reuse material to create something better than the original. I usually use this to describe when I’m sewing adult clothing into clothing for children or I’m sewing clothing into an accessory or house item.

Upcycling saves time, saves money, saves the environment, and saves memories. Save time by reusing details from the original shirt. Save money by using something you already have.

Save the environment by keeping t-shirts out of the landfill. Save memories by reusing a favorite adult t-shirt for your toddler or child.

Do you like to make costumes? Try one of these:

Upcycled Costumes for Halloween

DIY Queen of Hearts Costume

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 witch 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!

star wars inspired t-shirts free svgs

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 pincushion 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 pirate costume

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 cupcake costume

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 ghost mermaid 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 lobster costume

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!

DIY Toad Costume (From Mario)

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!

diy lab coat kids

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 werewolf dog costume

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.

duke caboom diy costume

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 elsa frozen 2 dress costume

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 werewolf costume

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 anna frozen 2 costume

DIY Anna Frozen 2 Dress

Make a DIY Anna Dress out of two men’s button up shirts and some trim. Sew and upcycle the dress that she wears to travel to the Enchanted forest.

diy skeleton mermaid costume

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 Jasmine Costume

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 bo peep costume

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.

diy gabby gabby costume

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 easy elsa dress

Easy DIY Elsa Dress

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!

diy anna frozen 2 costume

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!

DIY Cat Costume

DIY Cat Costume

Learn how to make a DIY cat costume with a fuzzy blanket and free sewing patterns. This costume is cute and comfy for cold weather. Meow!

DIY Professor Trelawney Costume

DIY Professor Trelawney Costume

Learn how to make a DIY Professor Trelawney inspired costume with a green dress, accessories, and a upcycled sweater vest.

easy diy ghost costume

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!

diy spool of thread 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.

diy hercules costume t-shirt

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 bluey 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 bingo costume

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 marshmello fortnite costume

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!

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!

upcycled halloween costume ideas
heather sewing

I believe small sewing moments can create great joy. Find your own “right” way to sew. -Heather

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