Well.. I have long wanted to make a Fancy Dress costume for my kids. And I kept thinking “yes yes, when they are older”. Then I suddenly realised, that when they are TOO much older, they will not WANT to wear a homemade fancy dress costume, however cool I think it is. So NOW is the time. I seized the moment. And decided, pretty much on a whim, to my Red Ted a BATMAN costume! How to best go about it? (This would be great as a Halloween Costume too!).
Ever pragmatic person that I am, I didn’t want him to outgrow it in 3months. SO. The basis of this costume is a black T-shirt and black trousers. Which most kids have in their wardrobe. And as he grows, he can just change into a bigger black T and a bigger black pair of trousers.
Note: this Batman Costume post was originally published in August 2012. We have updated it and reshared it for you!xx
I doubled checked whether this was “ok” with Batman himself. Mmh yes. I think we are ok – you have the classic comic book batman in blue and grey or the “new” black batman from the films. You actually have quite a choice of colours when making your costume – so make it according to what you have at home? No need to buy new things or fabrics? You can have a black or blue cape and hood. And grey or black T-shirts and trousers. Go with what you have!
Materials: An old pair of Daddy’s suit trousers (ours were in charcoal grey), yellow felt, black felt, glue, safety pins, scissors, sewing machine, yellow ribbon (or similar, you could probably use some yellow felt), black ribbon for cape, “iron on patch” (for eye holes)
CAPE
1) Cut one trouser leg and open the seem on side of the leg. This will make your cape. Neaten the edges so you have straight lines. The narrow part of the leg will be the top of the cape. Sew a seam. Sew a black ribbon into the narrow top part of the cape. Make your badges as per the below.
HOOD:
2) Take the other trouser leg and cut it off. Put it on top of your child’s head. Where the sides fit neatly around your child’s head, cut top and bottom (see diagram).
3) Sew ears. Place over your child’s head and mark where the nose is. Then cut a space for nose and mask and sew another seam. I think I may “go over” our batman ears again and make them a tiny bit smaller! They are a little crazy at the moment!
4) Iron on some “magic patch” on the inside, roughly where the eyes will be. Then cut out the eyes. I did this, as our fabric REALLY frays and I knew sewing mini eye seams would be a really fiddly and a right pain. So by ironing on the patch first, you reduce the amount of fraying when you cut the eyes and you don’t have to sew a seam!
BADGES:
5) Google “Batman Badge” and grab yourself a batman badge image. Blow it up and print out to make yourself a stencil
6) Cut out two yellow ovals.
7) Cut out two black bats. Glue together with fabric glue.
8) Once dry, pin one to the cape and one to the t-shirt. By pinning it (and not sewing it), you can 1) wash your batman outfit without the felt going funny and 2) let your kids grow into new t-shirts!
Dress your batman. (Don’t forget the shoes…)
Oh and Batman needed a helper.. bring on BatBunny (designed by Red Ted himself).
Hooray we have a DIY upcycled Batman Costume!! Just in time for Halloween too!
And why not check out these CUTE TP Roll Batman Wrist Cuffs (includes a free printable) by fellow blogger Crafts by Amanda?!
Need some more No Sew Halloween Costumes? Check out the full set:
Happy Trick or Treating!
Carol says
August 31, 2012 at 7:47 amThanks for sharing this. Moms will have a way to create and customized costumes that their little ones will surely love!
Red Ted Art says
August 31, 2012 at 7:53 amAwe glad you like it 🙂
Emma @Sciencesparks says
August 31, 2012 at 8:14 amRes Ted looks so cute! and I love that bunny is dressed up too! I keep meaning to make costumes…I have a ladybird and bee in mind.. 🙂
Red Ted Art says
August 31, 2012 at 8:18 amSeize the moment, Emma, before our children only want shop bought stuff!
Jelly Babies says
August 31, 2012 at 9:49 amThis looks amazing! I want to wear it myself!
Red Ted Art says
August 31, 2012 at 9:59 amOooh how there is a thought! Should make them for adults too!
Verity Cash says
August 31, 2012 at 12:03 pmLove this! I have just made my little girl an Alice in Wonderland costume using an old disney princess dress, a bedsheet and some back ribbon. She is thrilled to bits and look so cute next to all the other shop bought Alice’s! Roll on nativty plays and angel costumes
😉
Red Ted Art says
August 31, 2012 at 12:25 pmOoh that sounds wonderful! Go you. I do love all this upcycling!!!!
Kirsty (mytwomums) says
August 31, 2012 at 3:01 pmLove this tutorial. Will have to remember it for when my boy is older.
Liz Burton says
August 31, 2012 at 6:06 pmYou’re a bluddy GENIUS!!! Love love it. x
Red Ted Art says
August 31, 2012 at 6:27 pm**BEAM** just need to sort the shoes now, right?! 😉
The fairy and the frog says
August 31, 2012 at 6:27 pmHow cute does Red Ted look- I’ve been thinking about Super Hero outfits but haven’t got the sewing machine out yet (think our may need to be more pink than black!)
Bethany @ No Twiddle Twaddle says
August 31, 2012 at 6:36 pmWe might be doing this for Halloween. My kid is OBSESSED with pretending to be a superhero. Thank you!
JDaniel4's Mom says
August 31, 2012 at 7:05 pmI love the hood! What a wonderful costume!
amber says
August 31, 2012 at 11:44 pmMy middle son LOVED a batman costume my grandmother made him when he was younger he wore it all of the time. I still have it , my little guy has not found the same love for superheroes though. I love your costume very good idea using a t-shirt and jeans.
Red Ted Art says
September 1, 2012 at 9:03 amFairy and the Frog – oooh a PINK batman.. wouldn’t that be cool?
Bethany – yes yes yes, make one!
JDaniel4’s Mom – thank you 🙂
amber – I know, funny how the kids are all different. mine loves his, but only when “no one” is around!!!
Ellie says
September 1, 2012 at 8:50 pmLove it, so ingenious to use old trousers for the cape and mask, where to you find the time to come up with all your ideas? So creative! Also loved your mermaid clothes pegs, can’t wait to have a go with these with my girls. Thanks for sharing. Ellie
Red Ted Art says
September 2, 2012 at 7:17 amEllie – thank you… on this occasion the creativity was “driven” by the fact, that I didn’t want to go out and buy anything (Red Ted is so unpredictable as to whether he would like it or not)!!!!! 😉
Mandy @ I Spy Toys says
September 4, 2012 at 10:40 amWow, over the years I have tried to make fancy dress outfits but they have never turned out this good if I am honest. I certainly don’t see the point in paying upwards of £20 for something that might only be worn a few times. Posts like this are very helpful, I might have to forward this to my daughter for her 4 year old.
Mandy
Red Ted Art says
September 4, 2012 at 11:05 amAwe, what a lovely thing to say!! Thank you! And it wasn’t too hard, really!! 🙂
Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons says
September 7, 2012 at 12:47 amLove this! We just posted our Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday link party and would love for you to link this up! http://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com/2012/09/kitchen-fun-and-crafty-friday-link.html
Trisha @ Inspiration Laboratories says
September 8, 2012 at 3:46 amMy son saw your little guy all dressed up and thought it was super cool. I agree. And BatBunny is a perfect sidekick. Thanks for sharing at the Sunday Showcase. 🙂
Red Ted Art says
September 8, 2012 at 9:00 amLove getting feedback from the kids 😉
Terri says
September 18, 2012 at 2:40 amMy 3-year-old has decided that she want to be Batman for Halloween this year. I’m sure I’ll be referencing this post again!
Red Ted Art says
September 24, 2012 at 10:17 amBrilliant! Have lots of fun Terri!
Carolyn says
October 15, 2012 at 1:12 amGreat idea! I started my almost 4 year old’s halloween costume tonight and I used your tutorial as a starting point – I had problems with the mask and actually am pretty happy with how I salvaged it! Mine actually has a neck strap and I put a bit of stuffing in the ears to make them stick up a bit. The only thing I don’t like is my eye holes – wished I had followed your advice about the patches! Now I just have to make the badges.
Julia Magnusson @ It's Not Like a Cat says
October 20, 2012 at 12:49 pmThis is great–thanks! My 4YO likes it, too. He’s been insisting on a storebought costume but really likes this one….until the end. Then: “A bunny!! I don’t want to have to carry a bunny! Batman doesn’t have a bunny! I don’t like this costume!”
🙂
Red Ted Art says
October 20, 2012 at 1:18 pmOh no! I can’t believe that Bat Bunny put him off!! Doh!
Cherie says
December 8, 2012 at 3:19 pmCool but Velcro is probably safer round the neck than a ribbon
lessens the chance of strangling and knotting
Red Ted Art says
December 8, 2012 at 3:37 pmGood idea
Lisa says
April 24, 2018 at 6:10 amI recently bought a batman costume from your favorite t-shirt, hand I known that it’s so simple to create one at home, I would have spent $42 there. Thanks for sharing the DIY idea on batman t shirt.