DIY Halloween Costume Round-Up

Halloween is just few days away so I thought a little Sew Can Do costume how-to round-up would be good for those last minute costume needs and fun like a virtual costume party too!  

 Costume Tour Time!

My Princess Merida tutorial was a big hit last year and has been really popular this year too. I've seen some fabulous "I made it!" pics from readers looking for true-to-the-movie style. I show how to modify a basic dress pattern to get the classic Brave look, how to make a quiver & belt and, of course, a wild red yarn wig to make your little Merida complete.

Go vintage cute with my classic Strawberry Shortcake hat how-to.  Add a red dress, apron & striped tights for a complete berry girl look.

Give a little pirate some extra sense of adventure with my Argh! Pirate Eyepatch tutorial.  

I also share how to put the rest of the costume together HERE.

Holy Smokes!  It's a Batman Mask & Gauntlet Pattern!  Use my free downloadable patterns to make these classic Batman accessories.  Toss in some grey pajamas & a cape and the look is complete.

And modify the mask pattern and add some other basic items to turn it into either the Old Time Bank Robber:

Or a BOO-tiful Secret Message Ghost:

Use my Just A Giraffe Coat tutorial to turn a basic jacket pattern into a wild-animal wearable:

While this isn't a free pattern here on the blog, my Dynamite Dinosaur Cape PDF Pattern makes a super warm and comfy costume:

It fits ages 3 & up and is easy to customize in whatever colors desired for boys & girls.

And for some other costume inspiration ideas, here are a few other creations I've made over the years and links to more info on them:

Shining Knight & Enchanted Princess:

            

Classic Roman Soldier (includes link to an amazing helmet how-to):

Our Star Wars Trio: Yoda, Han Solo & Princess Leia.  The Leia hairdo hat & gown patterns can be found in my shop.

This walk down Costume Memory Lane almost makes me want to make some more;)

And for more fun costume ideas, check out my DIY Halloween Costume board on Pinterest:

Let's Celebrate Star Wars Day!

Did you know today was Star Wars Day?  I totally forgot until my husband mentioned it this morning.  Which I should know since I make Star Wars related hats in my shop.  Doh!  So in honor of the occasion, here's a quick a walk down my Star Wars projects "memory lane" to get you in the mood too.  How can you celebrate the day you ask?

Maybe with some theme cookies or other spaced out sweet treats:

Give a few out of this world gifts:

Pull on some Wookiee Wear:

Rock the Leia hairdo:

Show your Dark Side:

Maybe a baby Jedi?

or go all out with full on costumes:

But no matter what you do....

May the 4th be with you!!

Come to the Cute Side With A Costume Pattern Giveaway!

Do you know the power of the Cute Side?  It's little kids+whimsical costumes.  They always get smiles wherever they go.  Especially at Halloween.  A little over a year ago my whimsical hat making skills kicked off with my Space Princess Hairdo Hat.

There was such amazing response to this little hat I still can't quite believe it!  Of course I got several suggestions for more fun themed hats to go with it (especially from my 5yr old & husband) and last Halloween my kids were all coordinated in their costumes:

After much tinkering I came up with this one, The Little Vader, so the small boys could get in on the action too. Technically my model is not a boy, but she's got the required level of fierce to carry the hat off -  just look at little bossy pants commanding things here:

So to celebrate all the little sci-fi cuties out there this Halloween season, I'm giving away TWO  sets of my most popular patterns: 

The Space Princess Hairdo Hat and 

Space Princess Gown & Belt!

Each winner will receive the hairdo hat and gown PDF patterns to make a complete Space Princess costume.  The patterns are both easy enough for a beginner and have full color, step-by-step photos and sizing for tiny baby up to 2yrs.  Using fleece makes them perfect for those chilly trick-or-treating nights and simple to wear over clothes.  Two lucky winners will be able to make a comfy & memorable costume in no time!  

And if you're not super into sci-fi looks, just remove the belt and the gown is ideal for little angels, snow bunnies or use as a cuddly winter dress.

Ready for your chance to win?  Here's how to enter:

Visit my shop, The Green Hedgehog, then come back and leave a comment saying what your favorite item is.  Be sure to include an email address if it's not on your profile.

Get Additional Entries (leave a separate comment for each one):
- Like The Green Hedgehog on Facebook
- Favorite The Green Hedgehog on Etsy
- Follow Sew Can Do
- Like Sew Can Do on Facebook
- Link to this giveaway on your blog or Facebook


The giveaway will be open until 11:59PM EST Saturday, October 8, 2011 IS CLOSED. The randomly chosen winners will be announced at the next Craftastic Monday Link Party.  Good luck!

Yeah, We're Halloween Star Wars Nerds.

My Space Princess Hairdo Hat started it all.  Just a crazy creation I made for fun that got an amazing reaction after I showed it in a post over the summer.  I was stunned people wanted to buy one.  So I started making them for my Etsy shop and was kicked into hyperdrive when it was featured on Etsy's Daily Find.  I had to take it a step further for my own kids & make a full-on trio of Star Wars costumes for Halloween.  With the number of Halloween hats I'd been furiously sewing, a few costumes seemed like a walk in the park.  Here they are in all their glory for your viewing pleasure.

I was too cheap & pressed for time to search around for something to look like Leia's gown, so I made my own.  

I found it easier to make my own pattern and create a fleece gown with detachable belt.  Yeah, I know that sounds crazy, but seriously, it was less work than spending hours surfing online or out in the stores.  It snaps up the back so it's really simple to get on & off too.  

As you can see, she totally digs it:

Of course, my guys couldn't be left out, so I made my signature Little Alien hat for Ethan as well as the rest of the ensemble.

A customer had asked me to make hands & feet for her a while back, so after creating those there was no reason not to go full force on his costume too.  Did you catch the "force" reference there?  Yeah, I'm a total nerd.

I modified a bathrobe pattern with bell sleeves and more length and snagged a light up sword (2 for $1 at Target).  Score!  My middle child is obsessed with the lights and sounds of light sabres & what he calls "blast-overs" (aka blasters), so he's our Han Solo.

Cheap white shirt & blue sweats paired with a fleece vest and snap-on belt I made and he's ready for action.

We've already worn them 3 times for various Halloween parties and gotten a great reaction, so we're ready to rock it out on the big night.  This is Serena's first Halloween costume & chance to trick or treat so I think it's going to be a blast (or blast-over as my little guy would say).

Have a great Halloween everybody!!

Sharing this with my FAVE LINK PARTIES too so check them out HERE!

Space Princess Giveaway Winners & Introducing The Latest Hairdo Hat!!

Well it's time to announce the winners of my Space Princess Hairdo Hat Pattern giveaway:

Congratulations to Meghann & Lilcee - I hope you both enjoy the pattern!  For anyone still wanting a copy of my pattern or a completed Space Princess Hairdo Hat, they are both available in my Etsy shop.  I'm also offering it in adult sizes now too, since so many people have been requesting them.  Here is my lovely sister Lia, modeling the adult size Space Princess Hairdo Hat I made for her birthday (how could she NOT have one with her name being sooooo close??):

Up until now, all my Hairdo Hat styles have been for girls, but I didn't want to leave out the boys, so I designed this little number:

It works for both boys and girls - and adults (I recently did a set for an entire family!).  Who wouldn't want to be a master of the infinite force of the universe?  It's great for practicing mind tricks too:

Are they working on you yet?  And of course, I've gotten some requests for matching feet, so here's a peek at a pair I did for a custom order:

And they look hilarious on:

Ok, I know some of you are saying ENOUGH with the sci-fi crafts (while others are thinking can there ever BE enough?), so I want to say that there are LOADS of non sci-fi crafts coming.  I promise.  I've been kept pretty busy with these hat orders, so I've kind of had them on the brain lately. But obviously I'm not the only one if the feedback I've been getting is any indication!

 Sharing this with my fave link parties too so check them out here!