I’ve always wanted to make my kids’ Halloween costumes, but I can pretty much only sew in a straight line with my machine. Last year, I was researching DIY dinosaur costumes and found several that used hoodies with spikes and a tail added on. I decided I would buy a hoodie set and modify it, instead of making the whole thing from scratch. Then, I found green fleece hooded footed pajamas and realized it would be the perfect foundation for my creation.
I bought green fleece fabric that matched to create the tail, and a darker green felt for the spikes. I stuffed the tail and spikes with pillow stuffing to make them stand up better. The first time I sewed the tail on, it was way too low, but I took it off and repositioned it and it was perfect! I also used white felt to make claws for the hands and feet. I was actually really impressed with myself for making something like that. Luckily, for the purpose of this post, the costume still fits him (snugly) this year!
I’m a firm believer that I need to take advantage of Liam’s age for Halloween costumes while I can. Before I know it, he’ll want to be something funny or scary, so I’m going to dress him in something cute and cuddly as long as I can get away with it. Since he loves dogs so much and has the growl down, this year I decided to make him a puppy costume, using the same technique. I bought white hooded, footed PJs from Amazon, but this time I cut off the feet because we plan to walk around outside a bit and I wanted him to be able to wear real shoes. I added floppy ears, a little tail, and some spots. Then, I made a collar from red ribbon with a tag made from cardstock. I also made him a little “doggy bag” to collect a few treats from the neighbors.
He wasn’t such a happy puppy during the photo shoot, so we had to break out a little chocolate early, but he actually likes wearing the costume. He was more sad about having to stand still for pictures (and we were pushing nap time).
I’m also a sucker for family costumes, so last year Mr. TTT and I were cave people with our little baby dino, and this year I’m going to be a cat and Mr. TTT will be an animal control officer. I just love Halloween!
Do you make your LOs Halloween costumes or do you opt for something store bought?
Halloween Posts part 8 of 17
1. 10 Halloween Books for Pre-schoolers That Aren't Scary by Mrs. Chocolate2. My favorite Halloween books for kids by Mrs. Train
3. 28 Halloween Crafts for Kids by Mrs. Chocolate
4. 20 Easy Halloween Snacks for Preschoolers by mrs. tictactoe
5. DIY Festive Sweet and Salty Holiday Treats by Caroline @ Armelle Blog
6. 40 Cute Halloween Costumes for Kids by Mrs. Bee
7. A Legacy of Homemade Costumes by Mrs. Train
8. Semi-Homemade Halloween Costumes by mrs. tictactoe
9. DIY Halloween Pillowcase by Mrs. Paintbrush
10. Easy & Rewearable Halloween Costume - Olivia the Pig by Mrs. Hopscotch
11. mini halloween party + free labels by Mrs. Jump Rope
12. DIY Mini Spooky Wreath by Jennifer @ Ambrosia Creative
13. DIY Monster Plants by Jennifer @ Ambrosia Creative
14. DIY Halloween Treat Bag by Danyelle @ Dandee Designs
15. DIY Halloween Ghost Garland by Kaley Ann
16. DIY Salad Spinner Spider Web Art by Caroline @ Armelle Blog
17. DIY Natural Face Paint by Victoria @ A Subtle Revelry
honeydew / 7811 posts
so so so cute!!!
grapefruit / 4278 posts
These are adorable!
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
Love the simple green dragon…green is my fav color.
pear / 1998 posts
What a great job! I did something similar for DH and I. We went as Thing 1 and Thing 2. I just bought adult-sized red onsies and sewed a white circle with the number on the belly. Most comfortable costume ever!
honeydew / 7488 posts
Wow, great job! Where did you find a hooded, green, fleece sleeper like that? That is amazing! My DS is also going as a green dino, and I checked out some DIYs online but ended up getting one at Old Navy.
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
@T-Mom: I got it at footedpajamas.com last year, but they don’t have the same color in stock this year. The white one is also made by the same company, but I ordered it from amazon instead.
honeydew / 7488 posts
@mrs. tictactoe: great to know, thanks!
pomelo / 5258 posts
Sounds like we have similar sewing skills. I’ve made DH and myself several costumes from hooded sweatshirts in the past. I have so much fun sewing on all the embelishments and I don’t have to sew sleeves of waistbands.
blogger / persimmon / 1398 posts
Adorable!! I love these! So cute… and I loved that you DIY-ed them. My little guy has always come down the wire on his decisions… so I can’t do the DIY route. Well, unless I stay up all night, but that’s not my preference. So instead, I try to get some cute photos.
pear / 1632 posts
So darn cute!!!!
blogger / nectarine / 2600 posts
OMG he is precious what a wonderful job you did
grapefruit / 4923 posts
unbelievably cute! you did an amazing job!
pomegranate / 3225 posts
so precious!
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
i looooooooooooooooove him. and those costumes are great!
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
Thanks everyone!
apricot / 279 posts
Soooooo cute. Better than any store bought costume! Very creative too. Liam is an incredibly adorable dino!
guest
How did you make the tail and spikes? I want to do this for my kids this year.
guest
Could you give some tips on sewing the spikes on? I am do I g this for my son this year and can’t figure it out. Thanks!
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
G and Marianne – I really just made it up as I went along. For the tail, I made sort of a cone shape with felt and filled it with pillow stuffing. Then i sewed it on the butt of the sleeper, trying to make it attach as a circle instead of a line. It was messy, but it worked. For the spikes, I actually made one long piece. I folded a piece of felt in half and cut the zigzag pattern without cutting all the way through and separating them. Then, I sewed it on to the sleeper all the way down the middle. Then, I sewed the two halves together along the zig zag, then filled each pocket with stuffing. I hope that helps!
guest
Can you give detailed instructions on how you did this costume
apricot / 279 posts
Can’t see the cute feet going trick or treating though?
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
@Snowybreeze: For the dinosaur? When he wore that costume (the above pictures are from the year after), he wasn’t walking, so he didn’t go trick or treating.
apricot / 279 posts
@Mrs. Tictactoe: Ah, I see. I’m still in love with the costume! I was just trying to figure out what steps to eliminate if DD needs to put on her shoes. How do you recommend for the feet part if she is going trick or treating?
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
@Snowybreeze: If you buy footed PJs, I’d cut off the feet – that’s what I did with the puppy costume.
apricot / 279 posts
@Mrs. Tictactoe: Oh ok I overlooked that part on the post! Maybe I can just find matching pants and socks then. Thank you!
guest
Can I get detailed instructions on how to make the dinosaur costume please?
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
Ashley and Maggie: since I made the dinosaur costume two years ago and the puppy costume last year, I can’t really go back and take step by step pictures, but if you look at the comments above, hopefully that will give you a better idea of how I did it. I really just made it up as I went along!
guest
I would love to recreate this darling puppy costume for my 18 mnth old. I looked on amazon for the hooded pjs, but only found them in blue and yellow and orange. How did you find the white/ivory ones? I have exhausted every possible search I can think of. thank you!!
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
Hollie – I found some here: http://www.footedpajamas.com/Arctic-White-Hoodie-Toddler-p/fl-201-th.htm
I think that’s where I got the green ones the previous year.
guest
@mrs. Tictactoe would you be willing to make and sell one? A dinosaur for Halloween
guest
For the dinosaur costume, did you sew the zig zags for the spikes along the outside of the fabric or did you sew it on the “wrong” side then flip it inside out? Did you hand sew that part?
Thanks!
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
Janet – I cut one piece for the spikes that I sewed down the middle of the back of the pjs with my machine, then folded the spike piece in half so the zig zags matched up and stuffed them and sewed them together by hand. I hope that makes sense!
guest
where did you find the green hooded/footed? Searching everywhere with no luck!!
guest
i am having issues attaching the tail to the costume. Could you please give me some direction or tips? It just won’t stay on and I DO NOT have the best sewing skills : )
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
Angela – I got them from footedpajamas.com 3 years ago
Britt M – the tail was the hardest part. The first time I did it it was too low and too much in his crotch, so I had to take it off and reattach it. I just sort of sewed around… So I made a circle with the stitch. It was not beautiful and very DIY, but it worked.
guest
Suppper cute!!! May I ask how you made the ears on the puppy?
guest
Hi, I know this is an old post but I’m considering making the dino costume for my 2 year old. I have literally never sewed anything in my life and don’t have a machine. Do you think this could be hand sewn?
guest
do you still have this dino costume? if so, can i purchase it from you?!