Back in the archives of my life (and blog) you will see a cute Little O, along side his older sailor brother, dressed as a red octopus for a magical nautical Knoxville Halloween. I made him this costume and have held onto it in the hopes that another cute little bean would be able to climb inside it’s snugly tentacles. And now I am overjoyed that this day has arrived. My darling little baby girl fits it perfectly. I just die from the squiggly eight-legged cuteness that comes from little ones wearing this costume.

And now this Halloween season we want to share this fun costume DIY with you!

To make this costume you will need:

Materials:

• about 2 yards of red cotton fabric (or a poly blend like I used here)
• about 1 1/2 yards of striped red and white fabric for the back side of the tentacles
• package of 1 1/2″ inch double fold bias tape in red (or make your own)
• package of  1/4″ or 1/2″ elastic
• two 3″ squares of white felt
• two black buttons (or 1″ circles cut from black felt)
• multiple circles cut from muslim for suction cups
• stuffing

Making the Octopus Body:

1. Cut two rectangular pieces of red fabric, about 18″x40″
2. With right sides facing, sew together both sheets of red fabric, leaving about a 4 inch opening for an arm hole on each side. Back stitch before and after the opening.
3. Press seams open around arm hole. Turn fabric right side out.
4. Cut out 8 tentacles in various shapes and lengths in both read and in the striped fabric (so 16 total). Have fun with it. I find the more organic and varied the lengths and widths the better.
5. Sew on circles of white fabric or felt to the outside of the striped fabric to suggest suction cups.
6. Sew rite side of red tentacles the the right side of striped tentacles with suction cups, leaving top open for turning.
7. Turn tentacles right side out and stuff, leaving about 1 1/2 inches free at the top.
8. Stitch on tentacles to top side of bodice using 1/4 or 1/2 inch seam allowance. Stitch four on one side and then four on the other to keep it even.
9. Place the 1 1/2″ double fold bias tape over the top of the octopus costume, being sure to cover the tops of all the tentacles. Stitch close to the edge, leaving an opening for the elastic.
10. Fold under the bottom edge of the costume 1 1/2″ and stitch, leaving at least 1 ” from the bottom for elastic to fit inside.
11. Feed elastic through the bias tape (use a safety pin to make this easier) until it comes through to the other side. Repeat this process for the bottom edge of the costume as well.
12. Pull elastic together on both the top and bottom until you are happy with how snug your little one can squeeze in and out of the costume. Tie elastic ends together and stitch openings closed.

 

Making the Octopus Hood:

1. For the hood I used a pattern a while back but you can easily make your own simple version without one. Measure your child’s head and make a half-hood shape similar to the one in the picture above. Cut two pieces of red fabric from this shape and stitch together at the back arch, leaving the area around the face and the bottom open.
2. Cut two more pieces of striped fabric for the lining using the same shape and stitch just like you did for the exterior of the hood.
3. Cut two circles out of the white felt and stitch them onto the outside of each side of the red hood. Stitch two black buttons on the inside of the white felt circles.
4. With right sides together, stitch the striped hood lining to the red outer hood, leaving an opening at one corner to turn fabric.
5. Turn fabric right side out and stitch together opening.
6. Sew on two strips of fabric at either side of the base of the hood for ties.

And now your little eight-legged spider of the sea is ready for a night of tricks or treats! And if they are anything like this little gal, they’ll love rolling around and giggling in these soft and playful tentacles.

And…If you are as in LOVE with this amazing Showler & Showler seagull print as I am, you’re in luck! Because Showler & Showler is offering all Mer Mag readers a discount. Woohoo! Just enter the discount code MERMAG for 10% off all print orders. I’m crazy in love with this Milk print as well and am quite sure we can find a nice place in our home for that one too. So many good prints to choose from!

And now to work on the boys costumes….they’ve put their orders in early this year and little O especially is dying in anticipation. Every time he see’s any Halloween decorations he starts to panic thinking that he’ll miss this whole Halloween costuming thing if I don’t get a move on…So I guess I better be getting to work! Oh my… is this the best month of the year or what?!