40 easy DIY Halloween costumes to make at home
Planning a spot of trick or treating or wondering what to wear to an upcoming Halloween party? Here are our favourite patterns for DIY Halloween costumes to craft and sew in style
There's nothing more fun that crafting your own easy DIY Halloween costume in October! It's lots of fun and you can really let your imagination run wild.
We've gathered up some of our favourite homemade Halloween costumes and sewing patterns for all ages. Click here to see our best easy DIY Halloween costumes for adults or scroll down to see our DIY kids Halloween costumes. We've included a mix of no-sew and easy-sewing projects, so there's something for everyone.
Many of these ideas are quick and easy to make – perfect for when you're looking for last-minute Halloween costume inspiration!
If you think we've forgotten to include a must-make blog post or tutorial, tell us about it and we'll add it to this round-up.
If you're planning to host a Halloween party this year, check out our list of 27 DIY Halloween decorations ideas to make at home or follow our how to carve a pumpkin for beginners guide. If you want to get the children involved then explore this selection of easy Halloween crafts for kids to find lots of spooky craft ideas. Crochet fans should also take a look at our Top 15 Free Halloween crochet patterns!
Read on to discover our favourite easy-to-make Halloween costumes…
DIY kids' Halloween costumes
1. DIY Kids' Cat Cape
Make this adorable homemade Halloween costume for kids with our free step by step guide by Kirsty Hartley
2. Quick-sew Monster Refashion
Add a patch to trousers to add a spooky update! This is a great project to make if you're looking for a last-minute Halloween costume. Our free tutorial by Jess Entwistle shows you how to stitch your own. Find out how to make the easy monster costume.
3. DIY No-Sew Felt Rainbow Unicorn Costume for Kids
Designed by John Lavelle. Unicorns + rainbows + so quick to sew, you don't even need to reach for your sewing kit? Tick, tick, tick! Find out how to make it over at hello, Wonderful.
4. Homemade Halloween Costumes – Superheroes
We can't wait to get making these fun DIY kids Halloween costumes from Lia Griffith's website – perfect for your little superhero!
5. Easy Witch Halloween Costume
Looking for homemade fancy dress ideas for kids? Go back to basics and brush up simple sewing skills by making this charming witch homemade Halloween costume. Find the pattern and a step-by-step tutorial at bhg.com.
6. DIY Ice Cream Cone Costume
This adorable outfit isn't just for Halloween! If you're looking for homemade fancy dress ideas for kids that can be worn on more than one occasion, you won't go wrong with this super sweet ice cream cone outfit. Learn how to make the DIY ice cream cone costume created by Lia Griffith.
7. Easy Spider Crown Tutorial
This no-sew project is quick to create and looks really effective! Thanks for the creepy crawly inspo, Delia Creates!
8. Snow White Apron
Use this sweet little Snow White apron as an instant costume! This is a good choice for younger children and a great option if you're searching for homemade fancy dress ideas for kids. Buy the Snow White apron pattern from QueenElizabethAprons on Etsy for £5.43. It's also available in teen and adult sizes.
9. No-Sew Felt Mermaid Headband
This gorgeous felt headband is the perfect finishing touch to add to any mermaid costume! Head over to Lia Griffith's website to find out how to make your own no-sew DIY mermaid headband.
10. Dazzling Dragon Costume
Add a little sparkle to your plans with our step-by-step guide to making this mask and dragon wings. Also a good option for sizing up for Game of Thrones parties (just sayin').
11. Pillowcase Pumpkin Dress
These sweet easy-to-make Halloween costumes are so simple – all you need is a couple of pillow cases and some basic sewing supplies! Tutorial by Sugar Bee Crafts.
12. DIY Cat's Tail
A cat costume is a fun and easy homemade Halloween costume to put together. Use your crafting skills to make a felt cat mask and a soft fabric tail using this template and guide created by MollieMakes.
13. DIY Octopus Costume
This under-the-sea costume is giving us all the Love Actually feels. Mariah over at gigglesgalore.net shows you how to make it.
14. Easy Homemade Mermaid Costume
Who says DIY kids' Halloween costumes have to be scary? Whip up this no-sew project in just an evening with Mama. Papa. Bubba. Glue guns at the ready!
15. Trick or Treat Sweet Bags
Put the DIY in trick or treating with a me-made trick or treat bucket – we found this tutorial in issue 47 of Simply Sewing magazine. Designed by Kirsty Hartley.
16. Monster treat bag
If you want more trick or treat bag inspiration, try this cute monster treat bag designed by the talented Lia Griffith. It's a fun project that your kids are guaranteed to love.
17. Kids' Cosplay Suit
This clever sewing pattern for kids aged up to 12 years includes several variations for the hood, so you can easily transform it into a unicorn outfit, lion costume and many more. Buy the kids' cosplay suit pattern from RadPatterns on Etsy for £9.06.
18. A DIY we can all relate to...
Short of time and finding the prospect of me-made makes for your children a little on the daunting side? Looking for homemade fancy dress ideas for kids to make in a hurry? This round-up wouldn't be complete without a shout out to the awesome Super Mom Hacks for this post about How to Make a Ghost Costume (It's Harder Than You'd Think!). Thank you for sharing possibly the most honest portrayal of how sewing up our little ones' Halloween outfits often goes (as opposed to how we THINK it will go!).
19. Octopus Costume Sewing Pattern for Infants
Why should the big kids have all the fun? Transform your baby into a colourful octopus with this costume created by BonnieProjects. Download the pattern from Etsy for £6.34.
20. No-sew Baby Owl Costume
This cute owl costume by Lia Griffith is so quick and simple to make – and you don't need to be able to sew either! Find out how to make a baby owl Halloween costume.
21. Handmade Dress-Up Dinosaur Tail
These fun dinosaur tails are sure to delight your children long after Halloween! They're the perfect finishing touch for a child's dinosaur costume. Find the dino tail tutorial on the Andrea's Notebook website.
Best easy DIY Halloween costumes for adults
22. Easy T-shirt Mummy Halloween Costume
If you're not great at sewing, this simple easy-to-make Halloween costume idea could be the one for you. It's also a great way to reuse any old t-shirts that you might have hanging around. Find out how to make it on popsugar.com.
23. DIY Flamingo Costume
Make a statement with this easy Halloween costume created by Stefanie Ziajka! Find out how to make it at thediaryofadebutante.com.
24. DIY Hot Chocolate Halloween Costume
This cute Halloween costume looks good enough to eat! The squishy-looking marshmallows have been cleverly made using foam rollers. Head over to studiodiy.com to find the full project.
25. DIY Bat Bow Tie
If you're looking for a more understated Halloween look, have a go at making this charming DIY bat bow tie created by The Crafty Gentleman.
26. DIY T-shirt Skeleton Costume
Looking for a last-minute homemade Halloween costume? This crafty skeleton costume from marthastewart.com can be put together quickly, so it's perfect for when you're short of time. There's even a video to show you how to make your skeleton costume.
27. DIY Spider T-shirt
Give your t-shirts a creepy makeover by adding a contrasting spider's web! Visit thecraftygentleman.net to find out how to sew your own.
28. DIY Cactus Costume
This easy no-sew cactus look designed by @laurdiy is perfect for when you want to make a last-minute Halloween costume at home. All you need is a green jumper, some white pipe cleaners and some pink flowers for your hair! If you don't want to risk jabbing anyone with the pipe cleaners, you could use a chunky yarn instead. Watch Lauren making her costume on YouTube.
29. DIY Scarecrow Halloween Costume
Live out your Wizard of Oz dreams with this easy scarecrow costume from Brit+Co. Perhaps you could persuade your friends to dress up as the tin man and the lion too? In this tutorial, they've glued patches and leaves to a pair of dungarees, but if you'd like to be able to wear them again you can tack on the patches with loose stitches – or use safety pins!
30. Flying Bats Fascinator
Are you more into Halloween accessories than over-the-top costumes? We've got you covered. You can add just a touch of spookiness to your outfit with this bat fascinator project. Find out how to make your bat fascinator.
31. DIY Sun and Moon Headbands
Make a more sophisticated Halloween costume by crafting your own sun or moon headband using this easy tutorial by Lia Griffith. Find out how to make your headbands.
32. DIY Aquarium Costume
This wonderfully creative DIY Halloween costume from Damask Love is a great way to recycle any cardboard boxes that you might have lying around. This one doesn't require any sewing, but if you own a Cricut electronic cutting machine then you might find it useful! Find out how to make an aquarium costume.
33. Ziegfeld girl Costume
This DIY Halloween costume by Keiko Lynn requires a bit of extra effort, but the finished result is stunning! She's taken a pair of fairy wings and added thick steel wires to create this beautiful galaxy effect. Find out how to bring a little Hollywood glamour into your life and make your own Ziegfeld girl costume on keikolynn.com.
34. DIY Lighted Galaxy Skirt
Continuing with our space theme, we've completely fallen in love with this light-up skirt created by Dream a Little Bigger. There's very little sewing required, but you will need to do a bit of painting to add your own swirling galaxy. Find out how to make a DIY lighted galaxy skirt.
35. Head in the Clouds Halloween Costume
This charming idea from Damask Love is a quick and easy way to make a last-minute Halloween costume. She's used a Cricut machine to cut out the sun, but you could still make this outfit without one (a pair of scissors will do!). Find out how to make a Head in the Clouds costume over on her website.
36. DIY Paper Doll Costume
Did you ever play with paper dolls as a child? They were so much fun! We spent hours carefully changing their outfits and folding over the tabs.
Relive those childhood games by becoming a paper doll yourself! The Merrythought has designed this inventive costume for you to try this Halloween – head over to themerrythought.com to find out how to make your own DIY Paper Doll Costume.
37. DIY Picnic Table Costume
This quirky costume from Oh Yay Studio is so much fun! You'll need to be able to sew to make your own gingham t-shirt dress, but you might be able to substitute a floral dress to get a similar look. Find out how to make a DIY picnic table costume over on ohyaystudio.com.
38. Homemade Genie Costume
This inspired design by the Crafty Little Gnome requires a little skill to make, but the finished result is truly stunning. Head over to craftylittlegnome.com to find the tutorial.
39. Easy 10 Minute Bat Wing Halloween Costume
Why should children have all the fun? Fly away with this batwing DIY Halloween costume by Merrick White at sheknows.com. It's a great last-minute Halloween costume to make when you don't have much time.
40. Bat shoes
These bat shoes are the perfect finishing touch for any Halloween costume! Find out how to make them with this bat flats tutorial from the talented Damask Love.
We hope you've enjoyed browsing through our easy DIY Halloween costumes! If you're looking for more Halloween DIY and craft ideas, take a look at our DIY Halloween banner, Halloween rock painting ideas and easy Halloween face paint ideas for more inspiration.
Authors
Zoe is the launch Editor of Gathered.how. She has over a decade of craft publishing experience under her belt. She's a quilter and sewist who works with the UK’s best-selling craft magazines including Today’s Quilter, Love Patchwork & Quilting, Simply Sewing and The World of Cross Stitching. Zoe loves being immersed in Gathered’s quilting content, tweaking our tutorials and publishing new patterns. Zoe has previously written for radiotimes.com, Simply Knitting and The World of Cross Stitching and was previously Deputy Editor of Papercraft inspirations magazine. She has guest-lectured at Bath Spa University. She’s a keen quilter with 5 projects in progress at any one time and another 12 or so planned.
