How to Make a Mermaid Halloween Costume

Halloween costumes sold in stores are usually not worth what you pay for them. They are often made of flimsy, uncomfortable fabric, fit poorly and are designed without much imagination. Sometimes you purchase a popular style like a mermaid, only to find that there are several other people out trick-or-treating or attending the party wearing the exact same thing. For an imaginative, comfortable outfit that makes a splash, make your own mermaid Halloween costume.

Things You'll Need

• Skirt
• Sequins, spray glitter or fabric paints
• Hot glue gun, or needle and thread
• Craft paint brushes
• Felt
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Ruffles (optional)
• Safety pins
• Bikini top or form-fitting top

Instructions

1. Paint a form-fitting, ankle-length skirt made of stretchy fabric with iridescent fabric paints, and decorate it with glitter glue.

2. Hot glue or sew sequins onto your skirt.

3. Measure a perfect equilateral triangle onto a piece of felt, approximately 12 inches long on each side for an adult, or four to six inches for a child, depending on how large you want your tail fins.

4. Lay the triangle out on a table, one point facing up. Fold the bottom left point over to meet the bottom right point, so that it is folded in half down the middle.

5. Cut the triangle in half at the fold, so you have two tall triangles.

6. Decorate these felt tail fins with glitter glue or paint if desired. Another option is to glue or sew layers of lightweight lace ruffles to them.

7. Pin the cut side of each triangle half to the skirt. Place one on each side. The base of the triangle should line up with the bottom edge of the skirt.

8. Sew or hot glue the triangles in place.

9. Place a large, scalloped clamshell template on top of a piece of felt in the color of your choice. Trace around it with a pencil. Move the template over on the felt, and trace around it again.

10. Cut the two seashells out of the felt.

11. Put on a top, such as a bikini top or a form-fitting tank top, that is flesh colored. Place the seashells over your breasts, and pin them into place carefully with safety pins. Make sure they are even.

12. Remove the top, and sew or hot-glue the felt shells onto the front of it. Remove the safety pins.

13. Add accessories, such as a long-haired wig, seashell jewelry, a string of pearls, a flower behind your ear or a tiara.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are able to sew, use a pattern to create your own skirt.

• Some popular colors for a mermaid costume are green, silver, gray, blue, pink or coral.

References

• Coolest Homemade Costumes: Mermaid Costume Ideas
• Costume Pop: How To Make A Mermaid Costume
• Artists Helping Children: How To Make Mermaid Costumes