As Halloween 2023 was approaching, my daughter’s excitement was palpable. She had was absolutely captivated by ghosts and monsters, especially ghosts. We happened to have this adorable Halloween book with illustrations of ghosts, bats, black cats, owls that she couldn’t get enough of.
She couldn’t wait to dress up for her very first “Trick or Treat” adventure around the neighborhood, and I wanted to make her a special costume. I needed something that was also easy to wear even in cold weather, better if over her jacket.
So I had the idea of making a ghost cape. Easy to put on, cozy enough to wear over a jacket if the weather turned cold, and most importantly, it would be something she would love. Moreover, it would be easy and quick for me to make with the materials already in my stash!
Click for the finished project detailed photos
With my design in mind, I started gathering materials.
Luckily, I had some lovely white fabric that had been handed down to me by my husband’s aunt, and it was perfect for the job. It wasn’t too thick, but it wasn’t so thin that it would be see-through. Also, it was a little shiny, so both suitable for a ghost and for my daughter’s love for sparkly things.
Some black felt I had left over from her rocket costume would be perfect to make a spooky ghost face. I drew and cut out two deep black eyes and and open mouth to be sewn to the front of the cape.
I then set to work. First, I measured the length of the cape on my daughter. I wanted it to be long enough to flow but not too long that it would get in her way while walking. For the width, I measured the span of her arms when they were outstretched. Using those measurements, I cut a rectangle of fabric with rounded corners: I made the short side slightly shorter than the full arm span to allow for easier movement, and wide side double the desider final height of the cape. This way I had the whole costume in just one piece of fabric.
Next, I carefully measured the center of the fabric to mark where the opening for her head would go. I then used a t-shirt as a guide to trace the neckline and cut it open. On the back of the neck I also cut a vertical slit for wearing, to make it easier for her to slip the cape on. To finish the edges, I turned the fabric under and hemmed all around the cape to give it a clean, polished look.
The last step was to give the neckline and back opening a proper finish. I cut a 4cm-wide strip from the same white fabric and used it as bias tape to enclose the open edges. First, I sewed the strip along the back slit to ensure it wouldn’t fray. Then, I repeated the process all around the neckline for a neat finish. To complete the look, I attached a small automatic button at the back slit so she could easily close it and keep the cape in place.
And just like that, the ghost cape was ready!
When my daughter finally saw the completed ghost cape, she absolutely loved it! Halloween was in two weeks time, but she wanted to wear her costume nonetheless, even just to play around the house.
She had so much fun wearing it, and she proudly showed off her ghost face to everyone she met. The cut-out eyes and mouth from the black felt added just the right amount of spookiness, and the cape flowed behind her like a true ghost.
It was such a hit that she asked to wear it again for the following Halloween!
By Halloween 2024, I still had plenty of the same lovely white fabric left, so I decided to add a tiny matching candy bag for her “Trick or Treat“.
I made it simple yet cute, with the same ghostly face from the cape on one side. The candy bag was just the right size for her little hands and made the entire costume feel even more complete.
My daughter was thrilled to carry her ghost bag around the neighborhood, adding an extra touch of fun to her trick-or-treating. It was such a joy to see her so happy in her ghost costume, and I was glad I could make something she adored.
Now, I’m wondering: will my daughter want to wear the ghost costume again in 2025? Given how much she loves it, I wouldn’t be surprised if she does!
I love that she can continue to wear something that feels special to her. Planning for you child’s growth is always rewarding.
What creative ideas have you come up with for Halloween or Carnival? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below: I’d love to hear how you brought your own costume creations to life!
