I did it — I pulled off my first semi-DIY Halloween costumes and lived to tell the tale. Surprisingly, it wasn’t that hard (and I didn’t sew a single stitch). Holla!
Clara wanted to be Jessie, the cowgirl from Toy Story, and Burger got to be Slinky Dog, also from Toy Story. Here are the main supplies I used for Clara’s costume:
- a cowgirl hat from a local pop-up Halloween shop
- red yarn and white duct tape from a craft store
- flared jeans from Old Navy (on sale)
The first project was making Jessie’s long braid from red yarn. I braided several strands together to create a thick, long braid and used white duct tape to attach it to the hat. The inside looks rough, but it’s completely hidden when Clara wears it. The braid also helps the slightly-too-big hat fit better, though it still slides a little.
For footwear, I found cowgirl-style boots on sale at Old Navy. They work perfectly for the costume and will hopefully get plenty of use during the winter. I also picked up an on-sale white button-down in the boy’s section so Clara can wear it beyond Halloween. To give the flared jeans a Jessie vibe I added removable cow spots using white duct tape cut into irregular shapes. This method is totally temporary — the tape peels off later so the jeans, shirt, and boots can be used as everyday clothing until she outgrows them.
Burger’s Slinky Dog costume was straightforward. I bought a quarter yard of brown felt, cut a strip to wrap around his tummy, and used Velcro to secure it beneath his ribcage. For the “slinky” effect I bought two yards of silver trim from the trim aisle and attached it to the felt strip with safety pins on the outside of the costume, so the pins don’t touch Burger’s skin. I considered sewing the trim on after pinning it, but it looked fine as-is. Since Burger isn’t a fan of costumes — he tends to wiggle out of them quickly — I decided not to bother with sewing.
My favorite detail on Clara’s outfit is the gold fringe I added to the bottom of her flared jeans. She absolutely loves it and constantly shouts, “Look how they shake, Mommy!” I attached the fringe with safety pins so it can be removed later if we want. The fringe only cost a dollar at the craft store, and it adds a fun, playful touch to the outfit. We might remove the cow spots and keep the fringe for a little while because she enjoys it so much.
To finish the cowgirl look I made a quick belt. I found a woven leather-look trim that was the ideal width, and fastened it together with a clear plastic fillable button. I filled that button with yellow paper and a little star cut from leftover brown felt to mimic Jessie’s belt buckle, and attached it with the safety-pin backing. The whole accessory cost around four dollars and secured the trim nicely as a belt.
Clara’s favorite Jessie move so far is sliding her legs out on the floor in her boots, and she occasionally “accidentally” runs into Woody if he’s nearby. She’s getting into the character and having a blast.
If you’re planning DIY costumes, consider using removable or reusable elements so pieces can be worn later. Duct tape, felt strips, trim, and safety pins are inexpensive and flexible tools for short-term costume details. They let you create a recognizable look without committing to permanent changes or complicated sewing.
What are you making this year? Anyone else improvising with duct tape or other household items? Or are you more likely to pick something ready-made if you find it? I’ll admit we’ve bought cute off-the-rack costumes in the past and had a lot of fun, too. Whatever you decide, have a safe and happy Halloween — and I’d love to hear what your kids (and grown-ups) are dressing up as this year.