Red Ted Art - Make crafting with kids easy & fun

Cute & Easy Crafts for Kids

  • Home
  • START HERE
  • Preschool Crafts
  • Easy Kids Crafts
  • Paper Crafts
  • Free Printables
  • About
  • Join Our Newsletter
  • Cookies, Privacy Policies & Disclosure

How to… Make an (Upcycled) Batman Costume

February 14, 2017

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.

Batman Costume DIY - how to turn and old suit into a batmn costume for kids. Easy Halloween Costume and Upcycled project #batman #costumes #recycle

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!

Batman Costume DIY - how to turn and old suit into a batmn costume for kids. Easy Halloween Costume and Upcycled project #batman #costumes #recycle

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)

batman costume

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:

batman 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!

Batman Costume DIY - how to turn and old suit into a batmn costume for kids. Easy Halloween Costume and Upcycled project #batman #costumes #recycle

Dress your batman. (Don’t forget the shoes…)

batman costume

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?!

batman-wrist-cuffs-2

Need some more No Sew Halloween Costumes? Check out the full set:

No Sew Costume Ideas - ideal for Halloween

Happy Trick or Treating!

«
»

Filed Under: Costumes, Halloween, How To's, Sewing 41 Comments

Comments

  1. Carol says

    August 31, 2012 at 7:47 am

    Thanks for sharing this. Moms will have a way to create and customized costumes that their little ones will surely love!

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      August 31, 2012 at 7:53 am

      Awe glad you like it 🙂

      Reply
  2. Emma @Sciencesparks says

    August 31, 2012 at 8:14 am

    Res 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.. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Red Ted Art says

    August 31, 2012 at 8:18 am

    Seize the moment, Emma, before our children only want shop bought stuff!

    Reply
  4. Jelly Babies says

    August 31, 2012 at 9:49 am

    This looks amazing! I want to wear it myself!

    Reply
  5. Red Ted Art says

    August 31, 2012 at 9:59 am

    Oooh how there is a thought! Should make them for adults too!

    Reply
  6. Verity Cash says

    August 31, 2012 at 12:03 pm

    Love 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
    😉

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      August 31, 2012 at 12:25 pm

      Ooh that sounds wonderful! Go you. I do love all this upcycling!!!!

      Reply
  7. Kirsty (mytwomums) says

    August 31, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    Love this tutorial. Will have to remember it for when my boy is older.

    Reply
  8. Liz Burton says

    August 31, 2012 at 6:06 pm

    You’re a bluddy GENIUS!!! Love love it. x

    Reply
  9. Red Ted Art says

    August 31, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    **BEAM** just need to sort the shoes now, right?! 😉

    Reply
  10. The fairy and the frog says

    August 31, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    How 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!)

    Reply
  11. Bethany @ No Twiddle Twaddle says

    August 31, 2012 at 6:36 pm

    We might be doing this for Halloween. My kid is OBSESSED with pretending to be a superhero. Thank you!

    Reply
  12. JDaniel4's Mom says

    August 31, 2012 at 7:05 pm

    I love the hood! What a wonderful costume!

    Reply
  13. amber says

    August 31, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    My 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.

    Reply
  14. Red Ted Art says

    September 1, 2012 at 9:03 am

    Fairy 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!!!

    Reply
  15. Ellie says

    September 1, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    Love 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

    Reply
  16. Red Ted Art says

    September 2, 2012 at 7:17 am

    Ellie – 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)!!!!! 😉

    Reply
  17. Mandy @ I Spy Toys says

    September 4, 2012 at 10:40 am

    Wow, 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

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 4, 2012 at 11:05 am

      Awe, what a lovely thing to say!! Thank you! And it wasn’t too hard, really!! 🙂

      Reply
  18. Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons says

    September 7, 2012 at 12:47 am

    Love 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

    Reply
  19. Trisha @ Inspiration Laboratories says

    September 8, 2012 at 3:46 am

    My 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. 🙂

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 8, 2012 at 9:00 am

      Love getting feedback from the kids 😉

      Reply
  20. Terri says

    September 18, 2012 at 2:40 am

    My 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!

    Reply
  21. Red Ted Art says

    September 24, 2012 at 10:17 am

    Brilliant! Have lots of fun Terri!

    Reply
  22. Carolyn says

    October 15, 2012 at 1:12 am

    Great 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.

    Reply
  23. Julia Magnusson @ It's Not Like a Cat says

    October 20, 2012 at 12:49 pm

    This 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!”

    🙂

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      October 20, 2012 at 1:18 pm

      Oh no! I can’t believe that Bat Bunny put him off!! Doh!

      Reply
  24. Cherie says

    December 8, 2012 at 3:19 pm

    Cool but Velcro is probably safer round the neck than a ribbon
    lessens the chance of strangling and knotting

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      December 8, 2012 at 3:37 pm

      Good idea

      Reply
  25. Lisa says

    April 24, 2018 at 6:10 am

    I 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.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Make a Batman Costume from old Trousers – Red Ted Art's Blog | Dress UP Fancydress Costumes says:
    August 31, 2012 at 8:40 am

    […] post: Make a Batman Costume from old Trousers – Red Ted Art's Blog This entry was posted in Fancy Dress and tagged dress, fancy dress, fancy-dress, homemade-fancy, […]

    Reply
  2. How to Make a Batman Costume from a Pair of Pants | My Disguises - We Love Costumes says:
    September 7, 2012 at 4:57 pm

    […] to make a Batman costume for your child? The clever and crafty Maggy Woodley of RedTedArt shows you how. She made a batman costume out of an old pair of pants, something most people have […]

    Reply
  3. Red Ted Art's Blog » Blog Archive 50 Halloween Crafts & Ideas » Red Ted Art's Blog says:
    September 23, 2012 at 8:04 am

    […] we made a batman costume out of The Englishman old suit trousers. Doesn’t it look fab? It was relatively quick to make […]

    Reply
  4. 28 DIY Halloween Costume Ideas {child, family, adult} says:
    September 26, 2013 at 6:51 am

    […]  Batman Costume DIY {Simple Halloween Costumes} ~ This is a fun diy batman costume for the little super hero at your house! Recycled from a pair […]

    Reply
  5. 15+ Awesome DIY Halloween Costumes for Boys - Kids Activities Blog says:
    October 6, 2014 at 11:00 pm

    […] you have a Halloween without Batman? Check out this great up cycle by Red Ted […]

    Reply
  6. Halloween Costume Ideas in 5 Minute | Just In Five Minutes says:
    October 11, 2014 at 11:21 am

    […]  Batman Costume DIY {Simple Halloween Costumes} ~ This is a fun diy batman costume for the little super hero at your house! Recycled from a pair […]

    Reply
  7. Sensory Friendly Halloween Costumes for Kids - Mama Smiles says:
    December 25, 2015 at 5:25 am

    […] Upcycled Batman Costume from Red Ted Art […]

    Reply
  8. 78 Clever DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids - Earning and Saving with Sarah says:
    September 19, 2016 at 2:03 pm

    […] 8. Batman by Red Ted Art […]

    Reply
  9. DIY Halloween costumes says:
    October 10, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    […] It wouldn’t be Halloween without at least one Batman running around, would it? From Adam West to Christian Bale, each Batman has had his own unique identity, so your first job will be deciding what kind of Batman you want to be. Whether you want to be an outlaw vigilante or the classic friend of Gotham Police, you can find the instructions on how to make the perfect costume here. […]

    Reply
  10. DIY Superhero Costumes - Cutesy Crafts says:
    May 2, 2018 at 1:31 pm

    […] Upcycled Batman Costume from Red Ted Art […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




Welcome!

Welcome

Hello! I am Maggy and I love all things crafty and sharing my craft ideas and how tos.

The aim of this site is to provide easy, do-able and fun crafts for all ages.

Categories

Archives

Crafty Blogs

Copyright © 2021 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. These cookies feedback information to our analytics and advertisers. We track views of the site - which pages are visited, whether you are a regular or returning visitor to help generate a more personalised experience. You can switch cookies off or follow the READ MORE link for more and information on how to.OkRead more