Whether you’re preparing a last-minute backup or just honing your skills on your sewing machine, there are tons of choices when it comes to easy Halloween costumes you can make at home. Break out your fabric scraps and some simple decorations to add a personal touch to your kids’ trick-or-treating this year with ideas like these.

Simple DIY Kids’ Halloween Costumes

1. Octopus

Combine a plain, long-sleeved shirt, some stockings, and cotton batting for an underwater look. The stockings can be decorated with patterns or dots for a more realistic look, and attached to the hem of the shirt to complete the illusion. Use a toboggan in matching colors as the head with a pair of simple felt eyes glued on.

2. Dinosaur

Lots of kids love dinosaurs, so help them dress as their favorite reptile with this classic idea. You can combine a hoodie with matching pants or use a comfortable onesie as the base, with felt claws, scales, and spines sewn onto the toes, chest, and back as needed.

3. Superheroes

With a basic domino mask and a cape, your kid can transform into their favorite superhero or even make one up from their imagination. All you need for a cape is a triangular piece of cloth. Your sewing machine will make quick work of creating neat, hemmed edges for the cape, while the mask can be cut from felt and attached with string.

4. Bat Wings

Trim black cloth to resemble the rise-and-fall pattern of a bat’s wings and glue or sew them to the back of a black shirt or long black dress. Add a black eye mask or a headband with black cloth triangles for ears as a finishing touch. Since it has so few complicated accessories, this costume is great for kids from a few months old and up.

5. Classic Ghost

This all-time favorite can be as simple as draping a sheet over your kid’s head, or you can elaborate by sewing the fabric to an old hat and hemming it to make it reusable. You can easily find templates for faces ranging from spooky to silly with a quick search online.

For fabrics, supplies, or sewing machines to make your costumes this Halloween, get in touch with Dothan Sewing Center in Houston County, AL. Backed by nearly 50 years of experience, their helpful staff can advise on materials and techniques as well as their selection of sewing machines, including products from Janome® and Brother®. Call (334) 794-3177 to speak with a staff member, or visit them online to learn more.