Halloween Costume Ideas for Your Soft Toy
The easiest Halloween costumes for a soft toy are made from felt, ribbon and things you already own: a vampire cape, a witch's hat, a pirate bandana or a set of bat wings. Tie everything on rather than gluing or pinning it, keep small decorations away from younger children, and the toy should come out of its costume on 1 November looking exactly as it did before.
Before you start: three costume rules
- Nothing touches the fur that can't come off. No glue, tape, glitter, face paint or hairspray on the toy itself. Fix decorations to the costume, never to the plush.
- Tie, don't pin. Ribbon ties and soft fabric are kinder to fur and seams than safety pins or tight elastic.
- Check the care label first. Many of our Douglas® toys are surface clean only, so a costume that might drip or stain is best avoided. Our care guide explains what each label means.
Give the costume something to hold on to
Here is the trick that makes most of the ideas below easier. A soft ribbon tied loosely around the toy's middle, or a harness or little vest it already wears, gives you something to tie wings, capes and badges onto, so nothing has to grip the fur. It all comes straight back off on 1 November.
8 Halloween costume ideas for your soft toy
1. The vampire
Cut a cape from black felt, about as long as the toy's back, and line it with a red felt collar. Stitch two ribbons to the top corners and tie them in a loose bow at the chest. Felt is easy to cut, and you can skip the hemming.
2. The witch or wizard
Roll a cone of black or purple felt for the hat and stitch it to a felt brim. Two ribbons stitched inside the brim tie under the chin. A few felt stars, sewn rather than glued, finish it off.
3. The pumpkin
Start with something orange: a square of orange felt tied on as a bib, or an orange bandana. Add a green felt "stalk" hat with two leaves and you have a pumpkin patch puppy.
4. The skeleton
Cut bone shapes from white felt and tack them onto a strip of black fabric with a few loose stitches you can snip out later, then tie it around the toy like a little coat.
5. The ghost
Drape a white cotton napkin or handkerchief over the toy's back and head, with two big eye holes cut out so the face still shows. It takes about thirty seconds and is the best costume for a last-minute change of plan.
6. The pirate
Fold a spotty or red bandana into a triangle and knot it loosely at the back of the neck, with plenty of room to spare. Add a felt eye patch on a ribbon worn over the forehead rather than the actual eye.
7. The bat
Cut two scalloped wings from black felt. Stitch them to a strip of ribbon and tie the ribbon loosely around the toy's middle, so the wings sit up above the shoulders.
8. The wolf in Grandma's clothes
One for wolf owners and fairy-tale fans. Wrap your wolf (or any dog happy to play the part) in a small square of floral fabric as Grandma's shawl, add a frilly nightcap made from a scrap of white fabric and a ribbon, and you have the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood, ready to say "all the better to hear you with".
Costume safety for little hands
A soft toy in costume is still a toy that a child will hug. Keep that in mind when you add decorations:
- Stick to felt, ribbon and fabric. Sequins, beads, buttons and googly eyes can come loose, and the NHS advises keeping small objects such as buttons and small toy parts out of a baby's reach.
- Skip battery-powered fairy lights and flashing badges on anything a young child will cuddle. Button batteries can cause severe internal burns if swallowed.
- Keep ribbons short and knotted, and take the costume off at the end of the day.
- Keep a costumed toy well away from candle-lit pumpkins.
- Our Douglas® soft toys are labelled for ages 24 months and up.
After Halloween: taking it all off
Untie rather than tug, and snip any tacking stitches on the costume rather than pulling them through. Give the fur a gentle brush with a soft, dry brush where ribbons have flattened it. Store the felt pieces flat in an envelope and next year's costume is already half made.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use fabric glue to make a soft toy costume?
Use it on the costume pieces only, and let it dry fully before the costume goes anywhere near the toy. Never glue anything directly onto the fur.
What size costume does a soft toy need?
Measure around the chest and from the neck to the base of the tail, then add a little room. Loose is better than tight; tight elastic may leave the fur flattened.
Can toddlers play with a soft toy in costume?
Yes, with a grown-up nearby. The felt-and-ribbon ideas are the simplest choice. Leave out small decorations and anything with batteries, and supervise play while the costume is on.
Looking for a wolf to dress up? Browse Douglas® wolves and foxes in UK stock.
