Some of the best Halloween costumes are very easy to make, but they may look like you spent a lot of time making them. One costume in particular that has a huge visual impact is a DIY spiderweb poncho. The poncho can be the main focus of a costume, as it thoroughly conveys the spidery identity. Then, you can add some accessories to complete the look. Despite looking quite elaborate, making a spiderweb poncho is fairly straightforward.
Things You'll Need
28 1/2 x 57-inch piece of black felt or black fleece
Tape measure
Chalk
Sharp scissors
1 yard of ribbon
Hot glue gun
How to Make a DIY Spiderweb Poncho
You can make an easy DIY spiderweb poncho with a piece of black felt or black fleece. Choose fleece if you want to stay warmer. Here's how to get started.
Step 1: Fold and Mark the Felt
Fold the felt in half widthwise with the fold on the left. Put your tape measure on the top of this edge and use the chalk to mark a quarter circle with a 28 1/2-inch radius.
Step 2: Cut Through the Fabric
Cut through both layers of the fabric with scissors along the quarter circle you just drew.
Step 3: Measure a Head Hole
Use the chalk and tape measure to mark a semicircle with a 3-inch radius in the top left-hand corner of the fabric. This will be for a hole for your head at the center of the poncho.
Step 4: Cut Out the Head Hole
Use scissors to cut along the chalk line you've created. Once you've finished cutting, unfold the fabric and make sure that the hole is big enough for your head (or the head of the costume wearer). If it's not, enlarge the circle carefully, making sure to keep it in a circle shape. Never cut while the costume is around someone's neck. Instead, make an effort to estimate the additional size needed and then remove the costume, cutting on a table or elsewhere.
Step 5: Draw Scallops
Draw scallops with chalk along the curved bottom of the material. You can use a bit of creativity here to make the edge look like that of a spider's web, though it does work best if you follow a pointed, scalloped pattern.
Step 6: Cut Out the Scallops
Cut out the scallop shapes that you've drawn using scissors.
Step 7: Draw the Spiderweb Pattern
Use chalk to draw a spiderweb pattern on the poncho. You'll be cutting out the negative spaces later. You can copy the pattern shown in the tutorial for easy design help.
Step 8: Cut the Spiderweb Pattern
Use scissors to cut the spiderweb pattern. For the best results, use a very sharp pair of scissors and take your time.
Step 9: Add the Ribbon
Once the cuts are finished, you can snip your ribbon in half. Then, open up the poncho and glue half of it to each side of its neckline.
Step 10: Finishing Touches
Open the poncho fully and make more cuts if needed. It can help to lay out the poncho on a large, flat surface so you can work on the whole thing at once for any needed alterations.
Step 11: Wearing the Costume
To put on the poncho, drape it around yourself and tie the ribbons together.
Step 12: Accessorizing
When you're ready to wear the poncho, put on a long-sleeved black top, black pants or leggings and a pair of black shoes. If you live in a colder climate and will be outdoors during your Halloween festivities, you can wear a black jacket underneath as well.
You can also use a hot glue gun to attach plastic spiders to the poncho and to a headband. Consider using spiders in bright colors to make them stand out against the black material or go all black for a classic look. You can also make a spider for your hair using pipe cleaners to create realistic fuzzy legs.
