Hey friends! Let me guess: COVID’s finally got you by the DIY coattail? It definitely got me more than I ever imagined. At this rate, we can have DIY projects lined up for all of 2021, no? Well at least I do, especially for Halloween. And I think we can all agree that Disney and Halloween definitely work hand-in-hand. So let’s get to it!
Time waits for no one. Since NTA’s mission is to frugally create (or recreate) visions, Halloween always makes the perfect time to make nearly anything. Inspired by a friend’s parents who have DIY-ed their costumes for decades, I too have made it a tradition to be different (and stubborn) by not buying store-bought costumes. Aren’t you (or your children) tired of dressing up as a pumpkin (or a witch) and having the same costume as at least two other people at the party? Not fun.
For starters, our youngest babe always knows what she wants, and she always wants it NOW. Any ideas other than her own are simply out of the question. This particular year was the year of “Lilo & Stitch.” How the heck can I make this costume cute, practical (because weather), and inexpensive? Well, if you have about $11, you’re about to find out! Find out how you can relive one of your favorite Disney classics this Halloween!
ENOUGH TALKY TALK. LET’S GET TO THE DO IT YOURSELFIE- SELF.
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WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR YOUR DIY DISNEY LILO HALLOWEEN COSTUME:
(I’ll place image links below with everything I used to make this costume. Just click and add to cart!)
A red t-shirt (We opted for long sleeve. It’s cold where we live. Any style will do, honestly.)
•Green felt (1 yd was plenty for us. We used 1/2 light green and 1/2 dark)
•1 sheet of white felt (or white HTV for your die cut machine)
•Hot glue gun & glue sticks
•1″ Elastic for the waistband
•Elastic headband (Dollar Tree is our go-to, but these are just as good!)
•4 hair ties (Also Dollar Tree, but here’s the brand my girls and I found and love! They come in all sorts of colors and you can get them in a 10, 20, 50, or 100 count!)
•MY FREE DOWNLOADABLE LILO LEAF TEMPLATE
•Sewing machine & notions (Click the image link below to get the same machine I have!)
^ get creative with the materials! If you don’t have 1″ elastic, opt for a second headband! It’s elastic and works just as well! Use ribbon in place of hair ties (if you’re making an adult version and want an adjustable fit). The possibilities are nearly endless!
NOW TO START MAKING YOUR DISNEY LILO HALLOWEEN COSTUME:
First the shirt! Scale & print the leaf template to whatever size you want your leaves to be. I scaled mine down to about 2.5″ x 2″ since I made this for our tiny tot. Next, trace & cut your leaves on whatever material you chose (follow the steps to cut on HTV with your die cut machine if you’re lazy like me. DON’T FORGET TO MIRROR- even though they’re just leaves). Then, place and hot glue your felt leaves onto your shirt or iron/heat press your HTV. Boom. Shirt’s done! Easy right?
ONTO MAKING THE HULA SKIRT:
This may seem overwhelming, but it’s not as tedious as it seems. I actually made the entire costume (start to finish) in a couple of hours (because kids…3 kids under age 5 to be exact). First, measure the costume wearer’s waist and cut the waistband (or headband) to a comfortable size. Take your two pieces of felt and lay them flat. Fold them over lengthwise (hotdog style).
Don’t worry about them not lining up perfectly on the bottom. It won’t be noticeable at all once it’s all done. Plus, a little asymmetry is great for a project like this. No one leaf is exactly like another anyway. Use the waistband to draw a line (yes I used a crayon…getting creative and frugal) all the way to the other end of the fabric. MAKE SURE YOU’RE DRAWING ON THE FOLDED SIDE OF THE FABRIC.
Then, sew it! Sew right down that line. You now have an encasing for your waistband. Simple right?! But don’t close it up just yet. Set that elastic aside until we make the leaves. Using my pictures as a guide below, use your fabric marker or crayon to make a rough sketch leaf. Cut JUST the top layer! You’re going to use that layer to make “windowing” leaves in between the spaces of the top layer. Flip that layer up and finish outlining the second layer then cut (reference pictures below). Repeat for the next two layers. NOTE: WHEN CUTTING, MAKE SURE NOT TO CUT THE LINE THAT YOU SEWED UP TOP!
NEED MORE DISNEY? CUSTOMIZE YOUR APPAREL WITH THIS!
Now, thread the elastic through the waistband loop and sew the band together for super sturdiness (or tie it together really tight and pray for no wardrobe malfunctions).
OKAY, ALMOST DONE! NOW ONTO THE HEADBAND AND CUFFS:
I can’t promise that this part isn’t tedious, well, because it is. But it’s well worth it! And it all depends on how “fluffy” you want your cuffs to be. I prefer the full look to hide the bands and have a slightly better, snug fit. It’s well worth it if you’re patient! I know a thing or two about patience. Did I mention I have 3 kids under the age of 5?
Again with the crayon, I used the excess felt trace the bottom leaf pattern to make a bunch of leaves. Just like the skirt: lay flat, fold over, and trace half of the pattern. Cut them all out (both colors-light and dark green) and simply tie them around each hair tie and the elastic headband, alternating colors for contrast effect .
NEED MORE HALLOWEEN INSPIRATION? CLICK HERE
Now you’re all done! What an adorable costume, right?! I really hope that you enjoy making your costume as much as I did making this one! Disney is such a nostalgic staple from my childhood and I’m happy to still live in the era with my children. I was a little pressed for time but this costume turned out wonderfully finished! I also had two other costumes to make so I didn’t have the highest expectations. Click here to see some other costumes I’ve made!
Also optional: I mentioned before that the weather is more unpredictable than otherwise. When I made this costume, the weather was near 70º! I didn’t think she’d need tights until she needed tights because it ended up snowing on Halloween day. BUMMER! So I grabbed a nude tank from Walmart and whipped up these DIY leggings in about 10 minutes!
BONUS: Whether it’s for your costume or not, this little Stitch is a perfect lovey for any reason! Get the one we bought (and love) by clicking the image below!
