My family does themed Halloween costumes most years and my two youngest wanted to go with an Inside Out theme this year! They picked Joy and Disgust as the characters for their costumes and both fully embraced these personalities!
I used all Simple Life patterns for both costumes. I used the Quinn and Energize patterns for Disgust and Autumn for Joy. I used the simple version of Energize in the capri length and did the circle skirt (not high low version) of Quinn. I then added a quick belt using scraps of fabric, thick interfacing and a belt loop that I had on hand to match. For her neck scarf I upcycled the satin lining of a ripped up tutu in my girls’ dress up box. I also used the simple version of Autumn for Joy’s costume (which is by far the easiest costume I have ever sewn). To complete the look for Joy we bought an LED light (with remote) from 5 Below and a wig on Amazon. Both costume fabrics are from Purple Seamstress and were just perfect for re-creating these looks!
My daughter also asked me to re-create Bing Bong’s Bottomless bag to use as her trick or treating bag to match her costume. I loved her idea so much! I found similar candy themed fabric at Hobby Lobby and I wrote up a blog post for Simple Life with a free tutorial on a cinch bag using 2 different methods to complete her look. Now both girls have new trick or treat bags in the Inside Out theme. Head over here and check out the EASY and free tutorial to sew up your own cinch bag.
I just love sewing up our family costumes every Halloween and can’t wait to see what next year has in store! I hope you are inspired for your costumes and I would love to have you follow me on Instagram for my sewing adventures as well!
*This post does include some affiliate links but all opinions and views are my own*
My family does themed Halloween costumes every year and our kids wanted to be pirates and mermaids this year! I am so excited to share these makes with you all! This was such a fun (and easy!) theme to bring to life with my kids.
First, I will share the mermaid costumes with you. My two youngest daughters LOVE anything mermaid and magical so this was such a perfect fit for both of them. I used the Sirena pattern from Boo & Lu patterns. This pattern is mermaid perfection, I did not alter this pattern in any way to achieve my daughter’s costumes! We created some over the top mermaid headpieces with face make-up to complete their look.
Next, my older two kids wanted to be pirates for Halloween. For my son’s costume I used the Master of Disguise and Imagine patterns from Sew A Little Seam. If you aren’t familiar with the Master of Disguise pattern it is just PACKED with endless costume options. I actually blogged all about this pattern here when it released several years ago. This time I chose the cropped length woven pants, open vest, peasant shirt with zig zag hem and boot covers for his look. I did not modify the pattern for any of these costume pieces. To complete his look he wanted an authentic looking pirate hat so I used the witch hat included in the Imagine pattern but modified it and then used fabric stiffener to get it to really hold the shape. For the hat modification I cut the pointy portion of the hat off and then sewed another circle on top the same circumference as the hat opening. I then sewed up a quick self-drafted belt and head sash to tie together his pirate look.
Finally, my for my daughter’s look I mashed the Raven and Dragonfly patterns from Boo & Lu. For her top I used the Dragonfly which comes with a top option and did not modify the pattern pieces. For her skirt I used the Raven pattern and cut at the natural waistline in the dress pattern piece to create a skirt instead of a dress and finished it by adding a waistband. To complete her look I added self-drafted sashes.
I just love sewing up our family costumes every Halloween and can’t wait to see what next year has in store! I hope you are inspired for your costumes and I would love to have you follow me on Instagram for my sewing adventures as well!
*This post does include some affiliate links but all opinions and views are my own*
If you are anything like me then you have a never ending pile of fabric scraps! I love sewing but I don’t love the waste created with pieces too small for my normal projects but too big to just throw in the garbage (and let’s be honest….it really hurts to throw even the smallest of fabric pieces away). I have spent the last year putting my scraps to practical use and am excited to share this list of my favorite ways to use up all of that scrappy fabric waste!
Farmhouse chic scrappy fabric roses: I was looking for a unique end of year teacher gift and stumbled across these fabric flowers and instantly fell in love! I used a tutorial from SnowyBliss and vintage fabric from my stash to sew up these bouquets and can’t wait to make more for myself! I just love the shabby farmhouse feel they give off. These were super simple to make but are quite time consuming so be prepared to settle in and enjoy the process.
Dog bed: I wanted to try out using fabric scraps as “stuffing” so I decided to sew up a new bed for my pup. I also wanted to upcycle using something already in my home for the bed. I decided to use a blanket that had holes in it and simply cut around the holes bringing new life to this blanket! I stuffed this bed full of fabric scraps and added polyfil as well to help fill it out and make it softer. Please note that if you solely stuff with fabric scraps it will be a bit lumpy (and very heavy) and adding polyfil or similar really does help smooth out the lumps. Once finished, I tufted the bed for a prettier finish. The tutorial I used for this bed is no longer available but you can use your favorite tutorial or just wing it!
Fabric pouf: I found this fun FREE tutorial from HGTV for sewing up a fabric pouf. I also used my fabric scraps as “stuffing” for my pouf as I did with the dog bed. While I did buy the fabric for the pattern as I wanted it to match my homeschooling room I did stuff it with TONS of scraps. I added some polyfil as I stuffed to help shape the pouf and make it a bit softer to lounge on.
Pattern weights: I have several practical pattern weights in my sewing room made from washers but I also wanted something cute to add a little personality to my space. When I came across these adorable chickens from GlueSticksBlog I knew they were the perfect addition AND they used up tiny fabric scraps as well! The instructions were great and they were both quick and easy to whip up.
Fabric beach ball: This project was really simple and very quick! I used the pattern from Little Lizard King to create our beach ball and bought the jumbo punch balloons for inside. There are two sizes to choose from and you can make it with 6 or 8 fabric panels. I used the 6 panels and made a 12″ size; the other size option is 9″. I do suggest to not leave your ball in the pool or the chlorine will fade your fabric immensely. I loved how little fabric this used, it was a perfect project for my scrap bin!
Doll clothes: If you have little girls that play with dolls then this is the perfect scrap-buster for you! Doll (or even barbie) clothing uses up all those tiny scraps in your pile. And my girls just adore matching Dolly & Me outfits! Most of my favorite PDF pattern companies also sell doll sized patterns. A few of my favorites are from Petite Stitchery (pictured), Peekaboo Patterns, Made for Mermaids and Little Lizard King.
Snuffle mats: these are a no sew project perfect for kids! Our small dog, hedgehog and bunny all love their snuffle mats and they can be expensive to purchase but are fairly inexpensive (and fun!) to make. I used a tutorial from Dream a Little Bigger and cut my strips 1″ wide by 6.5″ wide long. While this uses a larger amount of fleece; if you don’t mind mix and matching your scraps you can make them out of simply scraps! After making one with my kids they were then able to make several on their own to sell at a chidren’s craft fair. Since these mats use a plastic base please don’t leave them in your pets enclosures unsupervised.
Fabric bunting: These are another no sew option and fun for anyone to make. I like to hang up fabric bunting for holidays and seasonal decor at my home. You can opt to use your pinking shears to cut the fabric strips for less fraying and simply knot them onto twine. You can cut your strips whatever size you prefer to use up your scraps but I typically cut mine 1.5″ wide by 20 inches long.
Braided rope dog toys: My kids participated in a children’s craft fair recently and wanted to sell dog toys. We cut up scraps of fabric and braided them into pull toys. This is a GREAT kids craft and is a sewing free project. When we made these, we used fleece and quilting cotton scraps. The fleece is preferred as the cotton frays but our dog plays with both! For the cotton ropes we doubled the strands using 6 strips instead of 3. Simply cut out your strips (you can use pinking shears for less fraying), tie a knot at one end, braid and then tie a knot at the other end! You can trim up your ends to be even and there you have a quick, easy , kid friendly craft to make together. We cut our strips 1.5 inches wide by 20 inches long but you can customize this based on your scrap size as well.
Hair bows/accessories/hats: the options here are endless!! I love making matching bows with scraps from the dress or outfit I am making. Baby hats are a perfect baby shower gift and use up those tiny pieces. A slouchy beanie or a knotted headband are fun options for scraps well. Pictured here are some of my favorite accessory patterns including the Wintergreen Beanie from Petite Stitchery (a FREE pattern) , a knotted headband (my tutorial linked here), the Evergreen Bow from Wild Seed Patterns (she has LOTS of accessorry options that are all great scrap busters) and the knotted baby beanie included in the Hello World Collection from Petite Stitchery.
Zipper pouch: There are countless free tutorials and patterns for zipper pouches available. What I love about these is they use such small scraps and are easily customizable with charms and tassels! I love making these as gifts or party favors. Pictured below are a few of my FREE favorites that I have sewn up recently: The heart from Patterns for Pirates and the pouch from Made for Mermaids that I have made for my kids.
Critter cuddle sacks: These are a favorite at my house as we have a hedgehog that loves them! I did a blog post tutorial on how to create them a few years ago, linked here for easy viewing. They use scrap sizes of fabric and are an easy beginner sewing project to do with your kids!
Car trash can: As a mom always on the go with my kids my van is a wreck. I wanted to sew up a mini trash can to help contain the mess. I found a great tutorial from Stitches by Christy that was just what I was looking for. I used scraps of outdoor fabric I had on hand from another project to make this trash holder a bit more sturdy as well.
Grocery bag dispenser: this item has been on my to do list for an embarrassingly long time. I worked on sewing projects to improve our home this Spring and finally made this bag dispenser a priority. This project will only take you 10 minutes and helps declutter the bag mess SO quickly! I used a tutorial from Smashed Peas and Carrots but used fabric instead of ribbon for my strap.
Mini embroidery hoop ornaments: these are another sewing free option for fabric scraps and make great gifts! You can easily personalize them with vinyl or paint and they would also make a fun girls craft night project. I am linking my tutorial to making these fun ornaments here for you!
I hope that you are inspired to sew up your scrappy waste and I would love to see your scrap projects and hear about how you use up all your fabric scraps and waste!
My family does themed Halloween costumes every year and our kids wanted to be mythical woodland creatures this year! I am so excited to share these makes with you all! I absolutely love the theme we picked and loved bringing each vision to life. We chose pixies, dragons and unicorns as the creatures they wanted to dress up as.
First, my youngest is four years old and currently obsessed with all things unicorns, magical, fancy and glittery. She decided to be our unicorn of the group. I knew that the Juliet leotard from Petite Stitchery would be the perfect base for her costume. I only modified this pattern to add decorative glitter elastic to the back neckline and tulle flutters to the shoulder seam. I found some amazing burgundy stretch lace on clearance and layered this over a burgundy ponte I had on hand (which happened to be a near perfect match) for her leotard. This pattern also includes a free tutu with it so I used the waistband that was included but modified the tulle for hers. I used to be a tutu and bow maker so I have LOADS of 6″ rolls of tulle still sitting around. I decided to use up some of my existing tulle supply for this costume. I gathered 3 layers of burgundy and a top layer of gold glitter (FYI glitter tulle sheds EVERYWHERE so be prepared to be a walking glitter bomb if you go this route) and then attached these 4 layers to the waistband. I fully enclosed the tulle inside of the waistband for a nice clean finish. This resulted in a really fluffy tutu and was exactly the look we were going for. I would have loved to make her matching gold glitter tights but was unable to find a suitable fabric for this task so ended up ordering her tights on Amazon instead. I handmade her unicorn horn headpiece as well and that was probably the most fun part of making her costume!
Next, my nine-year-old chose a pixie as her costume. I was able to test out the new Raven pattern from Boo & Lu Patterns several weeks ago and knew instantly it would be an amazing pixie dress in an earth toned crushed velvet. I found a dusty olive crushed velvet from Knitpop that paired beautifully with this pattern. I have been wanting an excuse to sew up some wings from Twig and Tale for years so I jumped on the opportunity to finally buy their Woodland Sprite Wings pattern. I used the medium sized wings and couldn’t believe how much easier they were to sew up than I expected! I did slightly modify these wings to add wire into the top portion of the wings only to help retain their shape better as I used a thinner fabric than the pattern recommended. While they are not difficult they are time intensive so be sure to allow yourself ample time to put these together carefully and properly. Her floral crown was so fun to make as well and I love my daughter’s idea to add mushrooms and butterflies (both found on Amazon) into the crown for even more woodland whimsy!
My son was excited about his choice of dragon and even convinced me to sew up a matching dragon costume for our pup! I found this really fun crocodile embossed camo-look fabric in the Halloween fabrics at my local Joann store and he loved it for his costume. For this look I decided to use the Ultimate Costume Creator from Peekaboo Pattern Shop. I was intimidated about the zipper installation but it was actually super easy and had great instructions for installment. I did find the pattern ran a little big even when using his measurements but he didn’t mind and will get to wear it for dress up for a longer time. He declined the back spikes as he wanted to wear dragon wings instead so I only attached spikes to the hood portion of the costume. For his wings I used the Twig and Tale Dragon Wings in the medium size and also ordered the Mini Size for our dog’s costume. These wings turned out incredible and just made his costume! When sewing the mini size for my dog I decided to pair them with a Pet Movie Night Shirt (a FREE pattern!) from Sew A Little Seam. For the back piece, I cut mirrored pieces (with seam allowance added) instead of on the fold so that I could attach the wings inside this back seam. They made the cutest combo and I love what a good sport with our silly shenanigans our little Yorkie is!
Finally, my oldest also wanted to dress up as a pixie this year but wanted a totally different look than her sister. She had a vision for an all white dress in a full circle skirt with full fluttery sleeves. I found the most gorgeous embossed jacquard knit on sale from Surge Fabrics that made the perfect twirly dress. For her costume I used the Sorrel pattern with FREE circle sleeve add-on modified to have a deep 2″ hem. I sewed up a second pair of Woodland Sprite Wings in the medium sized as well (she wanted her wings on the smaller size) and also added the same wire modification to hers. She watched me make her sister’s floral crown and wanted to make her own without my help. I have to say that it turned out so pretty and I am quite impressed with her skills! Her costume turned out SO elegant, graceful and magical.
I just love sewing up our family costumes every Halloween and can’t wait to see what next year has in store! I would love to have you follow me on Instagram for my sewing adventures as well!
*This post does include some affiliate links but all opinions and views are my own*
Love Craft Sew 