Make a Supereasy,

Supercheap
Superhero Costume

III. ALTER THE FORCES OF THE ATMOSPHERE:

CREATE A MINI TORNADO IN A BOTTLE

$10 or less

Less than 1 hour to

prepare, hours of fun

materials

Age 7 and up

Easy

Two clean, empty soda bottles, with caps

Duct tape

Scissors
Water
Food coloring, glitter, other decorations

Step

Step

responsibility. In the right hands, however,

top. Hold the bottom bottle in one spot and

it is both entertaining and educational. This

swirl the top bottle around. The swishing of

tornado is made visible by submersing it in

the water releases the tornado, which spirals

Although other items of clothing can be

to turn into Batman (with a hooded cape) and

a bottle of water. Flip the bottle over and it

down slowly into the lower bottle. To see it

dressed up for Halloween, sweats are versa-

a Dalmatian puppy. While our costumes were

spills down into the connected bottlebut it

again, just turn the whole thing over and do

tile enough to use as the base for a range of

unmistakably homemade, the kids were always

cant escape (if you make sure the connection

it another time. And marvel at the power of

costumes. Theyre easy to sew without tearing.

satisfied. In fact, some of their favorites never

is waterproof!).

nature!

And theyre rugged and warm, which is impor-

made the transition back from superhero

tant if late October is chilly where you live.

status to normal wear but went to live in our

of water. Add some drops of food coloring and

Over the years, my kids have helped me turn

costume box, ready to be pulled on whenever

glitter, confetti, or other small decorations

sweat suits into outfits for Superman, Spider-

they felt like slipping into one of their secret

for maximum magical effect. Then cover the

Man, an astronaut, a medieval knight, and a

identities. And that was okayour sweat-suit

opening of both bottles with duct tape so that

Jedi. As babies, their matching tops were easy

costumes were still worth every penny!

1: Prepare the Bottles

Controlling a force of nature like

a tornado is a superpower that takes great

First, fill one of the bottles two-thirds full

2: Summon the Tornado

To make the tornado appear, turn

the bottles upside down so the water is on

My husbands a real comic book geek. One of our earliest dates was a stroll down to
Forbidden Planet, the famous New York City comic book shop, to pick up the newest
graphic novel in the Dark Knight series. So naturally the costume I made for our first
sons first Halloween was Batman. Like most new moms, I didnt have a lot of spare time
or energyor cashto create something elaborate. But looking at my babys dark blue
sweatpants and sweatshirt, I realized I had the basis of a great costume. And when we
were done with it, it was easy to turn the costume back into wearable clothes!

nothing leaks out. Use the scissors to poke

a small hole, about the diameter of a pencil,
in the same spot on each piece of tape. Then
take the empty bottle, turn it upside down
on top of the water-filled bottle so the holes
align, and use more duct tape to connect the
two bottles firmly. The water should flow from
one bottle to the other without spilling.

24

GEEK MOM

$10$25

1 to 2 hours

Ages 34 to help plan;

ages 78 to help cut out
and sew

Easy

SECRET IDENTITIES

25

materials

Sweatshirts, sweatpants, tights, and other

clothing items (check both boys and girls
departments for different colors)
Felt pieces and other fabric as needed (for
emblems, capes, and other details)
Scissors, needle, and thread
Glue or iron-on adhesive

Fabric pens, yarn, glue-on sparkly bits, etc.

(for additional details)
Accessories (hats, boots, socks, gloves,
underwear, etc.) as needed

special skills needed

Basic hand sewing

Another year, my older son made a SpiderMan mask and gloves by drawing Spideys
trademark webbing using an inexpensive
red knitted ski mask and gloves with black
marker.
Remember, dont let your geeky penchant
for accuracy take over. Its not the 501st
Legion (Star Wars reenactors known for their
professional-quality Stormtrooper costumes).

Step

1: Assembling the
Clothing Base

The person you have to please here is your

child. Repurposing everyday items into cosFor one or two wearings, just baste the

tumes is a way to introduce your kids to the

Super-Easy
Costumes
for Girls

clothing with loose hand stitching. For my

joy of playing dress-up and make-believe. Your

Look at pictures of the character you are

Dalmatian puppy outfit, I took a few in-and-

payoff will be a house full of happy super-

Girls can also use everyday clothing

creating to pick out the right color top and

out running stitches in each black spot, and

heroes to call your own.

for a quick costume. Padm from

bottom. Batman gets dark blue or black,

whipstitched two floppy black ears to the

Star Wars just needs a white turtle-

Superman a lighter blue top and bottom,

hood. For rougher wear, stitch things on a

neck and pants, while an adult-sized

and Spider-Man needs a red top and blue

little more securely. If you dont intend to

white bathrobe with a silver belt

bottom. If you dont have a specific charac-

reclaim the garment for everyday wear, just

works for Princess Leia. Or use a dark

ter in mind, go through your kids clothes for

attach all decorations with glue or adhesive.

blue bathrobe, white blouse, and

inspiration. (A white terrycloth hooded jacket

You can also decorate permanent costumes

tie for Harry Potters pal Hermione

and pants my younger son owned when he

with fabric pen, glue-on sparkles, or other

Granger. The same robe with a gold

was nine months old gave me the idea for

special details.

the Dalmatian puppy costume.) For musclebound heroes like Iron Man or the Hulk, use a
slightly larger size and puff it out with layers
underneath. For some characters, tights make
better leggings.

Step

2: Adding the Details

For emblems and other decora-

Step3:

Accessories Make the

Outfit!

Adding a few clever pieces can really turn

clothes into a costume. My toddlers Batman

garb included a yellow felt tool belt that
attached around his waist with Velcro
closures. I shaped a piece of black fabric

tions, sketch out the design on a piece of

into a hood with bat ears that draped down

paper, then cut out layers from the appro-

to become a cape. You can also attach two

priate colors of felt. For Batmans logo, for

pointy ears and a cape to a black winter cap

example, cut out an oval from black felt and

that wraps around under the chin.

the bat shape from yellow felt. Attach the

fabric belt can be a gown for Braves

Merida. Dont forget the bow!

I attached Supermans cape right to

layers with fabric glue or iron-on adhesive and

the shoulders of the sweatshirt with a few

let dry.

whipstitches. Red (girls) panties and red

socks over the blue tights completed the look.

26

GEEK MOM

SECRET IDENTITIES

27

materials

Sweatshirts, sweatpants, tights, and other

clothing items (check both boys and girls
departments for different colors)
Felt pieces and other fabric as needed (for
emblems, capes, and other details)
Scissors, needle, and thread
Glue or iron-on adhesive

Fabric pens, yarn, glue-on sparkly bits, etc.

(for additional details)
Accessories (hats, boots, socks, gloves,
underwear, etc.) as needed

special skills needed

Basic hand sewing

Another year, my older son made a SpiderMan mask and gloves by drawing Spideys
trademark webbing using an inexpensive
red knitted ski mask and gloves with black
marker.
Remember, dont let your geeky penchant
for accuracy take over. Its not the 501st
Legion (Star Wars reenactors known for their
professional-quality Stormtrooper costumes).

Step

1: Assembling the
Clothing Base

The person you have to please here is your

child. Repurposing everyday items into cosFor one or two wearings, just baste the

tumes is a way to introduce your kids to the

Super-Easy
Costumes
for Girls

clothing with loose hand stitching. For my

joy of playing dress-up and make-believe. Your

Look at pictures of the character you are

Dalmatian puppy outfit, I took a few in-and-

payoff will be a house full of happy super-

Girls can also use everyday clothing

creating to pick out the right color top and

out running stitches in each black spot, and

heroes to call your own.

for a quick costume. Padm from

bottom. Batman gets dark blue or black,

whipstitched two floppy black ears to the

Star Wars just needs a white turtle-

Superman a lighter blue top and bottom,

hood. For rougher wear, stitch things on a

neck and pants, while an adult-sized

and Spider-Man needs a red top and blue

little more securely. If you dont intend to

white bathrobe with a silver belt

bottom. If you dont have a specific charac-

reclaim the garment for everyday wear, just

works for Princess Leia. Or use a dark

ter in mind, go through your kids clothes for

attach all decorations with glue or adhesive.

blue bathrobe, white blouse, and

inspiration. (A white terrycloth hooded jacket

You can also decorate permanent costumes

tie for Harry Potters pal Hermione

and pants my younger son owned when he

with fabric pen, glue-on sparkles, or other

Granger. The same robe with a gold

was nine months old gave me the idea for

special details.

the Dalmatian puppy costume.) For musclebound heroes like Iron Man or the Hulk, use a
slightly larger size and puff it out with layers
underneath. For some characters, tights make
better leggings.

Step

2: Adding the Details

For emblems and other decora-

Step3:

Accessories Make the

Outfit!

Adding a few clever pieces can really turn

clothes into a costume. My toddlers Batman

garb included a yellow felt tool belt that
attached around his waist with Velcro
closures. I shaped a piece of black fabric

tions, sketch out the design on a piece of

into a hood with bat ears that draped down

paper, then cut out layers from the appro-

to become a cape. You can also attach two

priate colors of felt. For Batmans logo, for

pointy ears and a cape to a black winter cap

example, cut out an oval from black felt and

that wraps around under the chin.

the bat shape from yellow felt. Attach the

fabric belt can be a gown for Braves

Merida. Dont forget the bow!

I attached Supermans cape right to

layers with fabric glue or iron-on adhesive and

the shoulders of the sweatshirt with a few

let dry.

whipstitches. Red (girls) panties and red

socks over the blue tights completed the look.

26

GEEK MOM

SECRET IDENTITIES

27