26 Upcycled Costumes for Halloween
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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!
I have some Upcycled sewing patterns that would make great bases for costumes! It makes sewing so fast and easy!
- Upcycled Pants, Shorts, and Bloomers Pattern
- Upcycled T-Shirt Leggings and Shorts Pattern
- Upcycled T-Shirt Romper and Dress Pattern
- Upcycled Shirt Romper and Dress Pattern
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.
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:
- DIY costumes for Halloween
- Free costume patterns for kids
- Halloween sewing projects
- DIY classic Halloween costumes
- DIY T-shirt Costume Ideas
- DIY Hoodie Costume Ideas
Upcycled Costumes for Halloween
Use what you have to make one of these upcycled costumes for Halloween! Some of these upcycle just one item, and some of these upcycle multiple items!
Upcycled T-Shirt Costumes
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 Witch Costume
Learn how to make an easy DIY witch costume by adding a skirt to a black t-shirt! The lace makes the perfect details. Add a witch hat, black shoes, and a DIY witch broom for a fun Halloween 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.
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
Learn how to make a DIY cupcake costume with felt, felt balls, and a t-shirt turned into a dress. This costume is fun and cute, but it’s so easy to wear!
DIY Ghost Mermaid Costume
Learn how to make a DIY ghost mermaid costume by adding a mermaid tail to a white t-shirt! Add a white cape for the perfect mix of cute and creepy.
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!
Upcycled Men's Shirt Costumes
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
Learn how to make a DIY werewolf dog costume by upcycling a button up shirt and a piece of denim. It is just cutting and one row of sewing.
DIY Duke Caboom Costume
Make an DIY Duke Caboom Costume that is perfect for kids or adults. Use clothes from your closet and some DIY no-sew accessories! Upcycle a white men's shirt and some white pants for a really easy 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 and a curtain to make it easy to sew!
Easy DIY Werewolf Costume
Make an DIY werewolf costume with this easy sewing tutorial. Add fur to gloves and pants while wearing a button up shirt with a fur collar.
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.
Upcycled Dress Costumes
DIY Skeleton Mermaid Costume
Make a DIY skeleton mermaid costume with iron-on vinyl and an upcycled black dress. It’s a creepy cute costume that’s so fun!
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
Make this easy DIY Bo Peep costume from Disney’s Toy Story 4! It’s cute and easy, and it's mostly an upcycled dress turned into a jumpsuit!
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!
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!
Upcycled Skirt Costumes
DIY Anna Frozen 2 Cloak
Make a DIY Anna cloak that she wears as she travels into the Enchanted Forest. This is two upcycled skirts upcycle so it’s easier and cheaper to sew!
Upcycled Miscellaneous Costumes
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 Ghost Costume
Make this super easy DIY ghost costume for Halloween! Wear white clothes and turn a curtain into a creepy ghost cape!
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
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
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 (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
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!
I believe small sewing moments can create great joy. Find your own “right” way to sew. -Heather