Homemade Kids' Halloween Costumes: Animal Costumes: Fish Costume

Things are going swimmingly for this giggly goldfish. His quilted costume, which ends in a generous tail and is worn with an orange snap-bottom T-shirt and leggings, is perfect for a child who is mesmerized by ponds and fish tanks. The enclosed bottom makes it only suitable for babies who aren't yet walking.

Tools and Materials 
60-inch-long piece of kraft paper
1 1/2 yards of orange wool felt
1 yard of 1/4-inch-thick polyurethane foam or one bag of wool-blanket batting
4 sets of Velcro fastener dots, 1/2 yard of pink wool felt
Scraps of black and white felt
White craft glue.

Goldfish How-To

1. To make patterns, draw a grid of 2-inch squares on kraft paper; copy templates by hand onto it. Using fish pattern, cut one piece of orange felt and foam with front scoop neckline and one piece orange felt and foam with back neckline. Use orange part of pattern to cut one front and one back from orange felt for lining. For the front, layer foam, then whole felt, then half felt; stitch around top from notch A to notch B, with 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn right side out so foam is between felt pieces. Quilt front from top to bottom, making rows of 4 1/2-inch scallops 2 1/2 inches apart. Repeat with remaining pieces for back. Place front and back together, right sides facing. Sew around tail from notch A to notch B, with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn right side out. Sew Velcro fastener dots at shoulders and underarms, as shown on template.

2. Use hat pattern to cut two pieces of felt, one orange and one pink, and one piece of foam. Layer pieces: foam, pink felt, and orange felt. Sew top, bottom, and one side closed with 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn right side out. Quilt as above. Fold in half, pink side out; sew along short edge. Turn orange side out. Cut eye from black and white felt scraps. Glue on as shown.

From Halloween 2004, Special Issue 2004

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Animal Costumes: Chicken Costume, Lamb Costume, Fish Costume - Martha Stewart Crafts

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Homemade Kids' Halloween Costumes: How to Make Hoodie Costumes: Little Red Riding Hood and Big Bad Wolf

Embrace the charm of classic storybook characters with these easy-to-make hoodie costumes.

Little Red Riding Hood Tools and MaterialsRed hoodie
Fabric glue
Needle and thread (optional)
Scissors
Eyelet trim
Clothespins
Clamps
Brown yarn
Measuring tool
Red grosgrain ribbon
Red fabric, about 22-by-22 inches or larger
String, about one yard
Tailor chalk or fabric-marking pencil
Dinner plate
Iron-on hem tape

Little Red Riding Hood How-To1. Sew or glue eyelet trim to hoodie, all around hood and over zipper. Hold in place with clothespins until dry.

2. To create the braids, measure three 3-yard strands of yarn. Fold the three strands in half. Tie a small piece of yarn around the top, near the loop, to create one 6-strand bundle of yarn. Repeat twice to make 3 bundles. Tie the three bundles together at the top. Clamp the bundles to table or stable surface and braid. Tie red grosgrain ribbon to bottom of braid. Repeat to make a second braid.

3. Glue braids to inside bottom of hood.

4. To make the cape, start with a piece of red fabric that is at least 22-by-22 inches. Create a compass by tying a piece of string to tailor chalk. Hold the string at a point 20 inches from the chalk, place in a corner of the fabric, and draw an arc on the fabric with the chalk. Use a plate to trace the neckline. Cut the cape from the fabric.

5. Use iron-on hem tape to keep the edges of the cape from fraying. Glue eyelet trim to the bottom of the cape. Secure neckline of cape around base of hood with fabric glue.

Big Bad Wolf Tools and MaterialsWolf nose, teeth, and claws template
Wolf ears and eyes template
Heavyweight paper or cardstock
Printer
Tailor chalk or fabric marking pencil
Double-sided tape (optional)
Brown hoodie
Fabric glue
Scissors
Brown pipe cleaners
Black felt
Brown felt
White felt
Pink felt
Yellow felt

Big Bad Wolf How-To1. Print wolf templates on heavyweight paper. Cut out paper templates. Trace templates onto felt that coordinates with the colors of the template, and cut pieces from felt.
Tip: Use double-sided tape to temporarily hold templates onto felt as you trace.

2. To make ears, fold a brown pipe cleaner to create a triangle with 3 1/2-inch sides, and a 2 1/2-inch base. Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner together to complete triangle. Fit the pipe cleaner triangle to the edges of the felt "inside" ear piece, and glue together. Glue the "outside" ear piece to the felt within the triangle. Bend the base of the triangle into a small arc to create the shape of an ear.

3. Attach ears to the hoodie with fabric glue.

4. Assemble felt eyes and nose as shown in the template. Attach to hoodie with fabric glue.

5. Glue top teeth and gums to top inside of hood, arranged as shown in the template. Glue bottom teeth to bottom inside of hood, on either side of zipper.

6. To create nose wrinkles, draw diagonal lines of glue originating from the top center of the nose on the inside of the hood. Pinch and hold the outside of the hood over the glue lines to form the wrinkles.

ResourcesTrim and embellishments are from mjtrim.com. Hoodies are from americanapparel.net. Felt is from magiccabin.com. Fabri-Tac fabric glue may be found on beaconadhesives.com. All other supplies are available at crafts stores.

Special ThanksSpecial thanks to Crocs, Inc., Stride Rite, American Apparel, UGG Australia, and Danskin for the children's clothes and footwear used on the show.

From The Martha Stewart Show, October 2008

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Hoodie Costumes: Little Red Riding Hood and Big Bad Wolf - Martha Stewart Crafts 

    

                       

Homemade Kids' Halloween Costumes: How to Make the Knight and Dragon Costume

Knight and Dragon
Aha! To the dragon's lair! Via the baking aisle! These two make an imposing knight and dragon team. The breastplate and the dragon's scales are candy cups; the leg and arm armor is cut from aluminum pans; a folded pie tin is the hilt of the foil-clad broadsword. No need to fear the baby dragon she breathes milk and her spikes are made of sponges.

Tools and Materials
2 packs foil candy cups
1 box brass paper fasteners
1 foil roasting pan
3 foil pie pans
1 roll aluminum foil
12 kitchen sponges

Breastplate How-To
You'll need 100 silver foil candy cups; flatten and halve each. Lay a 2-foot piece of 1/2-inch-wide double-fold bias tape in a U shape.
1. Using craft glue, attach a row of half circles inside fold, leaving room for ties. Using transparent tape, add on rows of foil cups until desired size is reached.
2. Wear over gray sweatshirt, if desired.

Headband How-To
1. Glue together overlapping foil half circles; stud with brass paper fasteners.
2. Cover fastener prongs on inside with cloth tape for comfort.
3. Make a duct-tape belt (sticky sides facing) to cinch sweatshirt.

Armor How-To
1. Shape pieces from foil pans. Turn edges in; staple ribbon to corners to tie. Use mini pie pans for knees.
Dragon Spikes and Tail How-To
1. Using craft glue, line the middle of the back of a sleeper and a matching hat with gold-colored candy cups cut in quarters.
2. Cut tail shape from cardboard; insert into a leg cut from a pair of red tights. Stuff with batting; stitch closed.
3. Sew wide end to sleeper. Hot-glue more gold cups to tail. Cut sponges into wave shapes; hot-glue along spine.

From Halloween 2004, Special Issue 2004

Read more at Marthastewart.com: 7 Grocery Getups - Martha Stewart Holidays