Upon spotting a mushroom costume while shopping, 10-year-old Andrea McLeod from London, Ont., instantly knew it was the perfect Halloween outfit for her this year. However, faced with a store offering only toddler-sized costumes, McLeod took matters into her own hands and decided to create her own costume.
With the help of her sewing teacher, McLeod purchased fabric and followed instructions to sew together her red and beige mushroom costume. The hat portion was filled with foam, and the bottom resembled a hoodie. It took her about five hours to complete the outfit, which she is excited to showcase to her friends on Friday.
McLeod and others are opting for DIY costumes this Halloween, moving away from store-bought options. Lindy Creswick, owner of Lindy Cosplay Supplies in Chatham, Ont., encourages parents to involve their children in the costume-making process to foster family fun and creativity.
Creswick, who has experience in the costume industry, shared that she used to make Halloween costumes for her son and continues to enjoy dressing up as adults. Her son is even having a Halloween wedding reception and encouraging guests to wear costumes.
Planning is essential when creating a costume, according to Riley Papp, co-owner of Sew It Goes sewing studio in London. Papp suggests knowing exactly what you want to make, gathering materials efficiently, and utilizing sources like Pinterest for inspiration.
For costumes that require more structure, Creswick recommends using cardboard and recycled containers. She also advises adding details using items found around the house, such as feathers, beads, scrap fabric, and curtain drapes.
When in need of last-minute costume ideas, Creswick suggests simple and funny options like dressing as “Gum on a shoe” or a “Cereal killer.” She emphasizes that costumes do not have to be perfect and encourages creativity and resourcefulness in costume-making.
