Halloween-costume making tips for the non-crafty
October 6, 2013 8:02 PM Subscribe
My son would like something like these fuzzy pant legs for his Halloween costume, and I'm wondering if I might be able to make something instead. However, I'm not especially crafty.
My idea is to get some fuzzy fabric and fitted pants or leggings. I think I could use the pants as a rough pattern for the fabric and then glue the fabric to the pants; it's okay if there are visible seams. A quick search found this fabric from Joann and this fabric on Amazon.
Those pants seem to have some sort of padding on the sides (I'm basing this in part on reviews from these pants around the web), so I don't know if I could incorporate that or not.
So, crafty people of Metafilter, these are my questions:
1. Does my approach seem reasonable?
2. Where are good places to get fabric? Would I be better off going to a fabric store in Portland or buying something online? I'm more concerned with price than quality since this costume probably won't be worn more than a few times.
3. How much fabric should I buy? My son is just under 5 feet tall.
4. Do you have other tips for me?
My idea is to get some fuzzy fabric and fitted pants or leggings. I think I could use the pants as a rough pattern for the fabric and then glue the fabric to the pants; it's okay if there are visible seams. A quick search found this fabric from Joann and this fabric on Amazon.
Those pants seem to have some sort of padding on the sides (I'm basing this in part on reviews from these pants around the web), so I don't know if I could incorporate that or not.
So, crafty people of Metafilter, these are my questions:
1. Does my approach seem reasonable?
2. Where are good places to get fabric? Would I be better off going to a fabric store in Portland or buying something online? I'm more concerned with price than quality since this costume probably won't be worn more than a few times.
3. How much fabric should I buy? My son is just under 5 feet tall.
4. Do you have other tips for me?
Do you have a hot glue gun? An ability to sew??
For $42, you can make these for $20 or $30. Feet are a whole 'nother issue you will NOT be able to recreate.
I'm crafty, like, RuPaul's Drag Race/Drag Queen level crafty. I would not make these to save $10 to $20 bucks since the ones on sale are awesome and already made.
posted by jbenben at 8:55 PM on October 6, 2013 [9 favorites]
For $42, you can make these for $20 or $30. Feet are a whole 'nother issue you will NOT be able to recreate.
I'm crafty, like, RuPaul's Drag Race/Drag Queen level crafty. I would not make these to save $10 to $20 bucks since the ones on sale are awesome and already made.
posted by jbenben at 8:55 PM on October 6, 2013 [9 favorites]
Does the color of the fur matter very much? Often if you go to a fabric store you can find a section called "remnants" which are often pretty big cuts of fabric that aren't enough to fit on a roll and are sold at deep discount prices. It's solidly deep into Halloween crafting time so there will probably be a whole bunch of deals and remnants for costumey fabrics at any store you check out. The issue might be that you'd only find black or grey or some crazy color or pattern of faux fur, not brown.
How I'd do it, quick and dirty:
-hot glue
-very cheap cotton/cut up old pillow case/whatever
-leggings
-faux fur, maybe... two, three yards?
-polyfill
Make two slightly tapered tubes for the below-the-knee portion out of the fur (slightly trapezoid shape, glue together inside-out, flip right-side out when dry) and then glue around the top, keeping it loose for the most part for maximum flexibility.
Get your scrap cotton and make four layers by folding/stacking, and cut the same sort of oblong thigh shape four times. (Stuffing will make them taller but smaller, so make them wider than you might think. Any extra can just be folded up so don't worry.) Leave plenty of extra room around the edges. Either glue willy-nilly or sew if you've got the skills around all but 1/4th of the edges so you've got two round pocket things. Stuff lightly with polyfill and glue up the open part.
Cut two matching shapes of the faux fur to fit over the outer thigh + padding bits. I think it would probably look kind of like beetle wings, with long curved sides, a little curve in at the top, and a big carrot cut from the center bottom, like (/\), which when you glue it together would make that poofy pouch shape. Make it long enough to hang over a good amount of the bottom tubes you made.
To help you figure out this shape, take more scrap fabric and make a template. Put your kid in the leggings and pin the padding pillows in place (safety pins are good.) Take your scrap fabric and drape, pinning it to his waist and then folding and pinning until it makes the shape you want. Remember, the floofiness of the fur will disguise a lot of lumpy sins. Take chalk or marker or whatever and draw directly on your scrap fabric to define the shape, then cut it out. Make a copy of it on more scrap fabric and glue it all together to make sure it actually works. THEN you make it out of the fur, twice. Remember to flip the template for the other side!
Sew the pads onto the leggings first. Big ugly stitches will be just fine. Then apply the upper fur parts, leaving the padding relatively unattached to the fur bit so there's less stress on it. Basically by not having too many points of attachment you're building in flexibility.
If he wants the fur to extend over the feet, make separate shoe covers, which are just vamp-shaped pieces of fabric with an adjustable or elastic strap underneath that fits in front of a sole's heel. That way you don't have to worry about the feet pulling on the knees.
If you don't already own a good glue gun, a bunch of scrap fabric, the right leggings, some kind of marking device, safety pins, and so-on, you might want to splurge for the pants. Crafting is super satisfying, but those pants are an amazing deal right now.
posted by Mizu at 9:01 PM on October 6, 2013
How I'd do it, quick and dirty:
-hot glue
-very cheap cotton/cut up old pillow case/whatever
-leggings
-faux fur, maybe... two, three yards?
-polyfill
Make two slightly tapered tubes for the below-the-knee portion out of the fur (slightly trapezoid shape, glue together inside-out, flip right-side out when dry) and then glue around the top, keeping it loose for the most part for maximum flexibility.
Get your scrap cotton and make four layers by folding/stacking, and cut the same sort of oblong thigh shape four times. (Stuffing will make them taller but smaller, so make them wider than you might think. Any extra can just be folded up so don't worry.) Leave plenty of extra room around the edges. Either glue willy-nilly or sew if you've got the skills around all but 1/4th of the edges so you've got two round pocket things. Stuff lightly with polyfill and glue up the open part.
Cut two matching shapes of the faux fur to fit over the outer thigh + padding bits. I think it would probably look kind of like beetle wings, with long curved sides, a little curve in at the top, and a big carrot cut from the center bottom, like (/\), which when you glue it together would make that poofy pouch shape. Make it long enough to hang over a good amount of the bottom tubes you made.
To help you figure out this shape, take more scrap fabric and make a template. Put your kid in the leggings and pin the padding pillows in place (safety pins are good.) Take your scrap fabric and drape, pinning it to his waist and then folding and pinning until it makes the shape you want. Remember, the floofiness of the fur will disguise a lot of lumpy sins. Take chalk or marker or whatever and draw directly on your scrap fabric to define the shape, then cut it out. Make a copy of it on more scrap fabric and glue it all together to make sure it actually works. THEN you make it out of the fur, twice. Remember to flip the template for the other side!
Sew the pads onto the leggings first. Big ugly stitches will be just fine. Then apply the upper fur parts, leaving the padding relatively unattached to the fur bit so there's less stress on it. Basically by not having too many points of attachment you're building in flexibility.
If he wants the fur to extend over the feet, make separate shoe covers, which are just vamp-shaped pieces of fabric with an adjustable or elastic strap underneath that fits in front of a sole's heel. That way you don't have to worry about the feet pulling on the knees.
If you don't already own a good glue gun, a bunch of scrap fabric, the right leggings, some kind of marking device, safety pins, and so-on, you might want to splurge for the pants. Crafting is super satisfying, but those pants are an amazing deal right now.
posted by Mizu at 9:01 PM on October 6, 2013
I think jbenben has it. Faux fur is expensive-- even with one of JoAnn's ubiquitous 40% off coupons, that fabric you linked will run you $10/yard-- and nice particolored super-shaggy fur is going to be even more expensive. Remnants (that I've seen, at least) aren't actually all that cheap-- maybe 50% off?-- so it's not guaranteed you'll score a deal there. And all the other little stuff for the project will also add up.
If you assume $20+ worth of fur (2 yards seems like a minimum; might be more if you're mixing furs like in the picture), plus ~$2 worth of hot glue, plus ~$4 worth of batting, a $2 spool of thread, some $6 leggings to go underneath... well, you're coming up on $42 pretty quickly. Any tools you don't already have (hot glue gun, sharp sewing scissors since regular craft scissors aren't going to cut that thick fur worth squat) will be an added expense. Add in the distinct possibility that you might fail utterly (if I've learned one thing from Project Runway, it's that pants are really hard to make) and end up losing what you paid for the materials plus the cost of buying the darn things on Amazon after all... well, it's not looking good. I say this as a crafter myself: sometimes, there's no shame in just buying the thing.
posted by Bardolph at 9:40 PM on October 6, 2013 [2 favorites]
If you assume $20+ worth of fur (2 yards seems like a minimum; might be more if you're mixing furs like in the picture), plus ~$2 worth of hot glue, plus ~$4 worth of batting, a $2 spool of thread, some $6 leggings to go underneath... well, you're coming up on $42 pretty quickly. Any tools you don't already have (hot glue gun, sharp sewing scissors since regular craft scissors aren't going to cut that thick fur worth squat) will be an added expense. Add in the distinct possibility that you might fail utterly (if I've learned one thing from Project Runway, it's that pants are really hard to make) and end up losing what you paid for the materials plus the cost of buying the darn things on Amazon after all... well, it's not looking good. I say this as a crafter myself: sometimes, there's no shame in just buying the thing.
posted by Bardolph at 9:40 PM on October 6, 2013 [2 favorites]
I agree with the others that you would probably save about $10 making these yourself, which would be paying yourself less than a dollar an hour for the trouble. However if the problem is the size, here are my thoughts on making them yourself.
1. Your approach could work, but this stuff is HOT to wear for any length of time and pants underneath would not be my choice. Plus, you would ruin the pants.
2. I would check the local stores. In my area Joann would usually have the best selection of fun fur. If color isn't important, there is usually some fun fur on sale.
3. My method for these types of costumes works pretty well and will help you determine how much material to buy beforehand. I have made both a Cookie Monster and Elmo costume that fit pretty well. Get a roll of dressmaker's tracing paper. Get a pair of pants that fit your son that don't stretch too much, like jeans, and fit him well - just a little loose. Then trace out the pant segments on the tracing paper, matching where the seams are if you can. Then go back and add a 1/2" along each edge to be joined, and about an inch at the waste and cuffs. Bonus if you can get some cheap fuzzy slippers to sew onto the bottom. Once you have your pants segments, staple them together at their original seams every few inches. Now have your son try then on and pencil in adjustments.
For the puffy parts on the sides, trace then out on the paper where you want them. Take the paper pants apart. If you rip them a little bit, not as big deal as long as you can lay them flat again. Cut along the outline where the puffy part will start. For the "smooth" part of the pants make new paper forms adding a 1/2" along the section you just cut off. For the puffy sections, make new forms adding 1/2" at the bottom and top, but adding a couple inches along the middle, tapering back to the 1/2"probably 6" from the ends. Make another set of these with only 1/2" added to make the inside part of lighter material. Take these forms to the fabric shop and lay them out on the fabric on the cutting table to see how much fabric you will need.
Trace the patterns from the paper forms to the fabric and cut. Put the seams together inside out with the 1/2" overlap and staple these together. Brush the fur away from the edge of the fabric with your hand before you put the seams together, this will make the seam look less like a seam. Invert the pants and try on. The staples could hold if they weren't used too much, especially if you use good staples. I would run a hand stitch up every 1/4" or run a sewing machine along it. For the waist sew a tube and put a rope through. Fill the puffy parts with sheet poly-fill.
4. Have a vacuum handy at all times. These furs usually shed a lot.
posted by Yorrick at 9:55 PM on October 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
1. Your approach could work, but this stuff is HOT to wear for any length of time and pants underneath would not be my choice. Plus, you would ruin the pants.
2. I would check the local stores. In my area Joann would usually have the best selection of fun fur. If color isn't important, there is usually some fun fur on sale.
3. My method for these types of costumes works pretty well and will help you determine how much material to buy beforehand. I have made both a Cookie Monster and Elmo costume that fit pretty well. Get a roll of dressmaker's tracing paper. Get a pair of pants that fit your son that don't stretch too much, like jeans, and fit him well - just a little loose. Then trace out the pant segments on the tracing paper, matching where the seams are if you can. Then go back and add a 1/2" along each edge to be joined, and about an inch at the waste and cuffs. Bonus if you can get some cheap fuzzy slippers to sew onto the bottom. Once you have your pants segments, staple them together at their original seams every few inches. Now have your son try then on and pencil in adjustments.
For the puffy parts on the sides, trace then out on the paper where you want them. Take the paper pants apart. If you rip them a little bit, not as big deal as long as you can lay them flat again. Cut along the outline where the puffy part will start. For the "smooth" part of the pants make new paper forms adding a 1/2" along the section you just cut off. For the puffy sections, make new forms adding 1/2" at the bottom and top, but adding a couple inches along the middle, tapering back to the 1/2"probably 6" from the ends. Make another set of these with only 1/2" added to make the inside part of lighter material. Take these forms to the fabric shop and lay them out on the fabric on the cutting table to see how much fabric you will need.
Trace the patterns from the paper forms to the fabric and cut. Put the seams together inside out with the 1/2" overlap and staple these together. Brush the fur away from the edge of the fabric with your hand before you put the seams together, this will make the seam look less like a seam. Invert the pants and try on. The staples could hold if they weren't used too much, especially if you use good staples. I would run a hand stitch up every 1/4" or run a sewing machine along it. For the waist sew a tube and put a rope through. Fill the puffy parts with sheet poly-fill.
4. Have a vacuum handy at all times. These furs usually shed a lot.
posted by Yorrick at 9:55 PM on October 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
I love those furry legs! As a Mom, though, $42 for one small part of his Halloween costume?! I think I'd try for a more economical alternative, too. You could maybe use these instead, with some sweatpants.
There are also some cool creature slippers for boys--is he going more for a satyr/goat look (if so, this mask is inexpensive and awesome!) or a monster/werewolf look?
posted by misha at 10:38 PM on October 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
There are also some cool creature slippers for boys--is he going more for a satyr/goat look (if so, this mask is inexpensive and awesome!) or a monster/werewolf look?
posted by misha at 10:38 PM on October 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks to everyone so far for the feedback! A few folks have suggested I buy the furry legs. Well, they might be out there in a kid size, but so far I've only seen them in adult size, and my son, at age 10, is likely too small for the adult small. So making them is part cost-savings, but also partly about getting him something that will fit.
Also: we do have a hot glue gun! I forgot to mention that.
Misha, he's going for more of a goat/horse look. Also I think he just really wants to wear fuzzy pants.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:50 PM on October 6, 2013
Also: we do have a hot glue gun! I forgot to mention that.
Misha, he's going for more of a goat/horse look. Also I think he just really wants to wear fuzzy pants.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:50 PM on October 6, 2013
Do you know what your son's measurements are? Maybe you can contact the seller for the size of these pants. If they are somewhat close you can easily add a drawstring to the pants. (Or any other fur pants that may be cheaper or work still.)
Adding a drawstring is really easy! You can basically follow the steps on this, expect I would cut two slits on the inside of the pants so that the drawstring won't show (kind of like sweatpants.) So then all you need is some furry pants, a long shoelace or drawstring from another sweatshirt or something, scissors, and a safety pin!
Also, if you have any good thrift shops near you they often get lots of kids costumes, you can maybe even find something that you could chop the legs off of and do a quick hand stitched waistband by folding over the top and then you can add a drawstring to that too.
posted by Crystalinne at 6:07 AM on October 7, 2013
Adding a drawstring is really easy! You can basically follow the steps on this, expect I would cut two slits on the inside of the pants so that the drawstring won't show (kind of like sweatpants.) So then all you need is some furry pants, a long shoelace or drawstring from another sweatshirt or something, scissors, and a safety pin!
Also, if you have any good thrift shops near you they often get lots of kids costumes, you can maybe even find something that you could chop the legs off of and do a quick hand stitched waistband by folding over the top and then you can add a drawstring to that too.
posted by Crystalinne at 6:07 AM on October 7, 2013
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