Decorations? Check. Candy? Loads. But what about your little
goblins? Ready-made costumes can’t usually be had on the cheap, but
going home-made doesn’t have to mean hours slaving over the sewing
machine.
Decorations? Check. Candy? Loads. But what about your little goblins? Ready-made costumes can’t usually be had on the cheap, but going home-made doesn’t have to mean hours slaving over the sewing machine.
“Capes are always a quick fix,” said Guinevere Powers, operations manager of Jo Ann Fabric and Crafts in Morgan Hill. “They’re really quick since all you really have to do are edge them.”
Dark capes make instant Draculas or, with some green makeup, Sesame Street Counts. Red or blue capes are more appropriate for quick-change superheros.
To get creative, try felt. It doesn’t need hemming and can be attached with craft glues like Aileen’s Tacky Glue or Fabri-Tac, a glue that’s durable and flexible enough to wash.
“Peter Pan costumes out of felt are easy because you can just cut it out and glue it together,” said Powers. “Or it can make a caveman in a different color.”
For group costumes, use felt to create your own Flintstone’s family or Simpson’s crew.
Recycling materials can bring down costume costs dramatically. Overalls that are just a bit too short are great for turning into scarecrow costumes. Sew straw or yellow raffia around the leg openings and around the cuffs of a loose shirt, which can be stuffed with a pillow to create a scarecrow’s paunch. Add face paint – think geometric shapes like circles on the cheeks and a triangle mouth – and tots will be singing their way down the yellow brick road.
If you fear even gluing a costume together, don’t worry. Consignment and thrift shops like the Goodwill often have inspirational vintage finds for adults. For kids, resale shops also sometimes carry used costumes. Monterey Street Antiques, 7507 Monterey St. in Gilroy, carries a wide selection of fairly current outfits, all at a substantial discount.
