Upon spotting a mushroom costume while out shopping, 10-year-old Andrea McLeod from London, Ont., instantly knew it was the perfect Halloween outfit for her this year.
However, there was a minor setback: the only costume available at the store was designed for toddlers.
Undeterred, McLeod took matters into her own hands and decided to create the costume herself.
She recounted, “I purchased fabric and followed instructions, with my sewing teacher assisting me in putting it all together. The hat section is filled with foam, while the lower part resembles a hoodie.”
It took McLeod approximately five hours to craft her red and beige mushroom costume, which she plans to showcase to her friends on Friday.
Excited about her creation, McLeod expressed, “When I tried it on, it looked cool… They’re going to think it’s cute or something.”
This year, McLeod and many others are opting for DIY costumes over store-bought options.
Lindy Creswick, owner of Lindy Cosplay Supplies in Chatham, Ont., encouraged parents to involve their children in the costume-making process to enhance family fun and creativity.
Having worked in the costume industry and now running cosplay repair booths at Comic-Con events, Creswick shared that she crafted many Halloween costumes for her son as he was growing up.
As he matured, both Creswick and her son began making costumes together and continue to enjoy dressing up as adults. In fact, Creswick’s son is set to tie the knot on Halloween day and is advocating for costumes at the reception.
According to Creswick, children are usually eager to participate in making costumes, and parents should allow them to take the lead in selecting their Halloween attires.
She emphasized, “It’s beneficial for parents to let them express themselves because their perspective may differ from that of adults, which is crucial, especially when working together.”
Effective Planning and Creativity
Riley Papp, co-owner of Sew It Goes sewing studio in London, where McLeod crafted her outfit, highlighted the importance of planning when creating a costume.
Papp advised aspiring costume makers to have a clear vision, gather necessary materials, and minimize trips to craft stores during the creation process.
When seeking inspiration, Papp suggested utilizing platforms like Pinterest and Google to streamline shopping with specific item lists.
For beginners, some essential items on the shopping list include hot glue, fabric glue, hemming tape, a sewing needle, thread, and a seam ripper.
Papp mentioned that while costume materials are commonly sourced from fabric stores, crafting felt from dollar stores and repurposing old clothing items from home or thrift stores are also viable options.
She added, “Perfection is not a requirement when making a costume. It can be artistic and involve a lot of glue.” Papp recommended having safety pins handy on Halloween night for any costume emergencies.
