[royaloakmi]

Haven't posted in this area before, so I'm not sure this is the right spot, but does anyone have ideas for a ghost costume for a 3 yo?

My son wants to be a ghost (the traditional white kind that goes "boo!"), but I don't want to just throw a sheet over his head, b/c he will constantly take it on and off and trip himself while walking. (At l;east that's what happens when he plays ghost around the house.)

So, I'm thinking kind of a cape style thing with a separate head piece (so he has unobstructed vision) - does anyone have any ideas - I'm at a loss for exactly how to fashion this so he doesn't turn out looking like a klansman or a sperm.

 

[mummy marja]

Hmmm...have you looked for any patterns?

I have an idea but it's hard to explain without drawing a picture! i'll try anyways.

cut a large circle for the cape (or a half-circle and sew up the side seam) with a small circle in the middle (big enough to go over his head, but not too big that it falls off his shoulders)

For the head piece, you could make a hood and paint his face white, or use another circle shape, gathering the outside edge and sewing that to the inner circle of the cape part. If you have white mesh you could sew a large oval of that into the front, so he can see.

Does that make sense at all? Hope it helps!

 

[Elyra]

Quote:

Originally Posted by royaloakmi So, I'm thinking kind of a cape style thing with a separate head piece (so he has unobstructed vision) - does anyone have any ideas - I'm at a loss for exactly how to fashion this so he doesn't turn out looking like a klansman or a sperm.

My son looked like a klansman. I took him all over the neighborhood proud as I could be for making his costume, my first handmade costume ever! When we got home my husband took one look at him and cracked up and asked me if I knew what he looked liked. I said a spooky ghost. He said spooky yes and then told me. I was mortified!!!

So, here are my thoughts since I have btdt!

Make a poncho style over covering in a white cotton in two layers. Make the squares with the first layer having a hole for the head and holes for his arms. The next layer should go over the first diagonally so that the corners are not touching. (does that make sense?) and he can use his arms. I would put him in a white sweat suit or something like that underneath. Then I would spary his hair with that crazy color stuff in white and paint his face white with dark around his eyes, but sparingly because he is little. If he was older or wanted to be really spooky I might drape some tule or some of the spider webs over his face. That way he can still see out and still looks like a ghost.

This was my costume when I was in elementry school. I loved it so much I wore it for 4 years. I hope that give you some ideas to spring off of.

 

[eepster]

I would do the following:

-Get about a yard of 72inch wide white felt and a small piece of black felt or premade felt letters
-lay DS down on folded felt with his arms stretched out and his feet a few inches below the cut edge
-trace around him with tailor chalk in a ghost like shape
-mark where to leave an opening for his arms, then let him get up
-cut out the costume leaving a small seam allowance
-stitch around out side leaving open the bottom and the arms
-have DS try it on and mark where his face is, then take off costume
-cut out an oval where you marked his face
-cut out letters from black felt
-glue black letters to the front that spell "Boo" (this makes your intent clear)

If you can't sew use fusible web that comes in strips or a good fabric glue. I worked for years in a fabric store and this basic method works for a incredible variety of costumes.

 

[sparkeze]

Oh my, My 4yo DS wants to be a ghost and I'm planning to make him something to wear over a white sweatsuit but I NEVER thought about him potentially looking like a klansman!!!! Yikes! I'll have to keep that in mind when I'm making the costume.

eepster- I like the felt idea, I think it would look nice but I'm having a really hard time visualizing your directions! I also like the BOO idea, that would help with being mistaken for someone else. Is there any specific type of glue that would hold up well for felt?

royaloakmi did you make a costume? I would love to see what you did!!

 

[Ravin]

If you make the costume from felt or fleece, you can easily and durably cut "tatters" by making the bottom edge zig-zaggy. This should also help make the kid look like a ghost and not like the KKK junior league.

 

[eepster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkeze eepster- I like the felt idea, I think it would look nice but I'm having a really hard time visualizing your directions! I also like the BOO idea, that would help with being mistaken for someone else. Is there any specific type of glue that would hold up well for felt?

Sorry it took me awhile to see there was a question.

I'm not sure how to better explain it with out pictures. Maybe it would help to think of it as making a giant ghost shaped pillow case with holes for the face and arms that goes over DC. Or did you ever make garbage bag rain coats as a kid.

As for glue fusible web is great or a hot glue gun but be careful not to melt acrylic felt. Aleens "ok to wash" would be my third choice but it does tend to get sucked up by the felt. Some times the letters come with adhesive already on them. You can always just do a few quick hand stiches too.

 

[gnysgrl]

Try this fleece poncho. I was going to put white face paint on my daughters face and this poncho will work over her coat in this cold weather in MI.

http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?.../hpPoncho.html

 

[phoebeboston]

I used a pillowcase. I appliqued felt over the eyes and mouth then cut them out about a 1/4 inch away from the stitching so the felt outlined the cutouts.
Then I used a schrunchie to gather the point and tied a bow for the girl ghost. For the boy ghost I had him wear a hat to cover the point.

Oh,also you need to have the child try on the costume (putting on the schrunchie) before you mark where the eyes and mouth holes go to get them positioned correctly.

You can also adjust the ghost head over their sweats by securing the girls with a necklace and the boys with a necktie.

I was able to sort of fringe the black felt around the eyes for a girlie lash look.
Black sweat pants are the best for nightime ghosts. From a distance it looks gives the appearance of floating.