by Audrey Busciglio

Created on: October 06, 2009   Last Updated: October 07, 2009

It won't be long now until another Halloween is upon us. The ghosts and goblins will be knocking at our doors and the creativity of some people will emerge. Homemade Halloween costumes are always a festive idea that gives the person wearing it an individual outfit unlike any other. Each handmade costume has a special quality that you can not find in many of the cookie cutter, stamped costumes that are found in stores.

When I was a young child my mom put together many of my trick or treating outfits. She loved to sew and did it quite well. One year she made me a tiger costume. Full body suit with the tiger print. It was not that hard to find the material in a fabric store. Animal prints were quite common, especially back in the 1960's. The costume covered me from head to toe and my face was made up to look fierce. The tail was also added to give it a realistic look. it was quite comfortable as I remember and it was unique, not many children were running around looking like tigers, even on Halloween.

On another occasion I went to a Halloween party dressed up as a hula dancer. My mom never went to Hawaii, but the exoticness of the look intrigued her. She took a big garbage bag with a draw string and cut the plastic to look like long fringes. She intertwined some straw and I looked like a hula dancer. My hair was dark and long. flowers added the finishing touches in my hair and also around my neck. I wore a body suit and sandals. It does not sound like much but, I won the contest for best costume at the party I attended. It was different and creative on my mom's part.

I experimented with some ideas when my own children were at that trick or treating age. One time I dressed my youngest in a dalmatian suit. One hundred and one dalmatians was a favorite movie of hers. I took white sweat pants and a white sweat shirt that she almost outgrew. I knew I did not need to worry about ruining good clothes. I made big black circles all over the outfit, until it looked like a Dalmatian puppy. I took two white tube socks and attached it to a white ski cap for the head. Of course the black circles were put on the socks and cap too. She looked adorable and I did receive many compliments on this costume as we trick or treated in the neighborhood.

It is fun to create your own style. The individuality does come out in each personal costume. My older children were farmers at different times. Again the blue denim overall was a good start. Hay and straw were placed in the pockets, the sides and the neck. Red paisley scarves added a touch of authenticity. A sturdy straw hat finished off the assemble. The costumes were different, but they both looked like farmers. It was easy, and fast, to put together and very comfortable.

It is always fun to see the different costumes Halloween brings. Walking down the block when my children were younger gave me the opportunity of seeing many creative costumes. I have seen a table, a building, thermometers etc. These were outfits people put together themselves. Many children have come to my door looking extraordinary. There are many ideas and many people who can pull off a eye catching costume.

Homemade Halloween costumes are a fun way to get mom, grandma, and even Aunt Sue to get involved. The costume fits the child perfectly because it is made especially for their dimensions. It is a fun experience for the creator of the costume, and the trick or treater themselves. I have fond memories of that time with my own mom and also with my three children. Memories I won't soon forget.

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