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by Cynthia Anderson
We are not done yet. This bat-themed costume still has a few more details that I can not wait to show you how to make. For the cloak (from our 208 Kinsale Cloak for Young Folks) go here for how I made it, and for the hat, visit this blog post to learn how to make your own!
The accessories I will be making in this blog can be adapted for all kinds of costume ideas. The wand can be for witches or wizards, fairies, or magicians. Bat hair pins can be a fun thing to wear to school on their own for a Halloween theme or add them to a costume. The neck ruff is perfect for any kind of magical or historical costume. Feel free to let these simple to make projects inspire you to make your own version. Each of the projects in this blog are perfect for little helping-hands (minus the hot glue). Include a child in making a costume or have a Halloween Costume Making Party!
The Wand
All you need to make a wand is a wooden dowel or a stick, some ribbon, and a cut out shape for the tip. Because I wanted to add a touch more color to my costume, I decided to wrap the length of the wand in seam binding dyed orange, with Ritz dye. The wand wrap you see below was made with two slightly different shades of orange seam binding. I chose seam binding because it is thin and wraps around a small dowel width without puckering.
Attach the ribbon or seam binding, to the top end of the dowel with a dab of hot glue. Begin wrapping/twisting the ribbon or seam binding down the length of the dowel, keeping the ribbons laying even and flat. Once you are satisfied with the wrap, add a touch of hot glue to hold the ribbon at the bottom of the dowel.
The star on the tip of the wand, is made from unbleached muslin with interfacing sandwiched between, stitched on the machine, and then cut out. Leave a hole in the stitching large enough to insert the dowel. In the photo below you can see the dowel inserted into the point of the star. Use a touch of hot glue to hold the dowel and the inside of the star together.
Consider adding a bow and streamers at the base of the star for a really fancy wand (perfect for a fairy wand).
Hair Pins
To add another layer of detail to the costume (or to add a little Halloween theme to an every day outfit), make hairpins. Decorate hair pins with any shape you like. Hair pins work for long and short hair, but be sure they can be seen if wearing a hat.
Depending on the type of hair, the weight of the finished pin should be considered. The decorative shape could be made of paper for a truly light-weight version. When it comes to hair pin hardware, try to find the "pinch-open" hair pins/clips. They are easier to apply and remove from hair. I used regular bobby pins, because I had them on hand and my model has lovely heavy hair that can support a bit of extra weight.
For easy assembly, slip the pin over the edge of a piece of cardboard to help stabilize the pin while you work. Apply a dot or two of glue to the center of the pin. Then center or position the bat or other shape how you like.
Don't add too much glue, just a dab will do. You can always go back and add a bit more.
Tip: Hot glue or Super Glue works well when using metal. Regular white glue does not hold as well. Be sure that all glue used has set or dried before adding to hair.
Quickly remove the bat pin from the cardboard and separate the pin opening with your fingers. This will ensure the pin does not glue shut. Hold the pin open with your fingers for a few seconds until the hot glue cools and sets.
Make lots of bats in different sizes for a dramatic look.
The Ruff
Gathered ruffs are perfect for a simple but dramatic neck detail. They are easy to make and ideal for using scraps of fabric, ribbon and trims of all kinds. Just be sure there is enough width and length for the desired effect. Light-weight fabrics typically work best, because of the tight gathering. The amount of fabric needed depends on the circumference of the neck measurement, the desired fullness of the gathers, and the width of the ruff.
Because I tried to limit and make the most of the fabrics used in this project, I made the ruff out of the muslin I lined the cape with. Use whatever you have on hand or when planning, reserve enough yardage to make a ruff.
I started with a length of muslin measuring 4.5" (11cm) wide by 45"(114cm) long. I left the edges raw, but you could finish them with a rolled hem, serged edge, zig-zag edge, turned hem, or bound hem, depending on the material and look you want.
Make a row of gathering stitches on either side of the center of the length.
Pull the bottom gathering thread, being careful not to break the thread. Make the gather as tight or lose as preferred and will fit around the neck.
Once you are satisfied with the gather and final length, tie off the gathering threads a few times on each end and trim the excess treads tails.
Cut two lengths of ribbon or seam binding long enough to tie a bow. Fold under the raw edge of the ribbon or seam binding and add to the center edge of each end. Position in from the edge approximately 1" (2.5cm) and stitch directly over the center of the gathering stitches to secure. Tie the bow at the front or back of the neck, depending on the look you like.
I hope you enjoyed making all these quick and easy excuses to have fun. Homemade stuff simply adds to making Halloween special. If you are inspired to make a Halloween costume using a Folkwear Pattern, we would love to see all your creative ideas.
Happy Halloween!
