How to make a quick Harry Potter costume

We just got back from Universal Studios Orlando and the fun of seeing the villages of the Harry Potter books in real life. It was amazing! When we went, I asked my kids if they wanted to wear their homemade Harry Potter costumes I made them for the Cursed Child midnight release party, but they didn’t want to wear the hot black robes in the 100-degree weather. However, I saw loads of people who bought the Hogwarts robes there or came with their own homemade Harry Potter robes. If you’re thinking of being someone from the Harry Potter world this Halloween, this makes a great quick Harry Potter Halloween costume.

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The Two Minute Harry Potter costume

This only works for young kids, but we used it for Princess’ Harry Potter birthday party a few years ago.

But the largest black t-shirt you can find at a thrift store.

Now, fold it in half, and carefully cut down the middle of the front.

You now have a very simple and silly Harry Potter costume that works great for a preschooler of if you’re making robes for 12 hyper girls.

 

Supplies for a quick Homemade Harry Potter costume

Measure the person you’re making a costume for from the shoulder to slightly above the floor. In my example I’m pretending my measurement is 40”.

Double your number, and divide by 36 to convert to yards.  For my example I need 2.2 repeating yards, for ease of cutting I’ll round it up to 2.25 yards. Two fabric suggestions: black knit fabric (not swimsuit fabric, too slippery), if cost is an issue just get cotton broadcloth, but it’ll ravel and have loose threads.

No sew method: hot glue gun, scissors, chalk

Sewing method: black thread, scissors, chalk

 

Five steps for your homemade Harry Potter costume

1. Unfold your fabric, and refold it to match the two cut ends together. If you want to be fancy, neaten up that bottom edge, but let’s be honest here, we’re making a five minute costume.

2. Have your volunteer lay down on the fabric with their shoulders just a hair below the fold, and hold their arms out like a T. Using chalk or something that will show up on the black fabric draw a rectangle for the cutting line on either side of their body. When they move away from the fabric you should see a nice blocky capital T. Cut out your T.

More official way, Use a ruler and measure in 1/4 of the way on the fabric. Then measure straight down, that’s what I did with all of my fancy rulers, but the other method is quicker and easier.

Your fabric will look something like this drawing. You’ll be getting rid of those two long rectangles on either side of the T.

 

3. Fold your fabric into fourths (hotdog fold) so the uncut edges meet. At the top where the fold is cut a rounded wedge shape out, this is your neck hole. Now, make sure you only have one piece of fabric, and then carefully cut the front open. Make very sure you are only cutting one piece of fabric, not two, otherwise you just cut your costume in half.

Not that I’ve done that or anything.

 

Non-sewing 4. Hot glue the edges of your fabric together. I’ve found it best to put down 3/4 inches of glue down and then press the fabric together, and then continue on. If you go too far, the glue dries before you can press it down.

Sewing 4. Sew your arm and side seams, and you have a nice quick costume.

5. Have fun wearing your costume out as you trick or treat (or go to your favorite Harry Potter event, one of the nearby towns has turn

 

their town square into Diagon Alley for Harry Potter’s birthday, how cool is that?).

Your costume is done, now you need accessories

• Harry Potter Wand
• Dumbledore hat/wig (ours is from Hot Topic several years ago, and is a Gandalf hat)
• what to read after Harry Potter
• Harry Potter peg dolls
• Harry Potter unit

 

Super fancy not at all quick Harry Potter costume

Last year, we were the Weasley family for Halloween, so I made all of the kids’ robes for Gryffindor.

I purchased this Simplicity pattern and used view B.

Modifications made:

1. I lined the sleeves with a deep red fabric. I couldn’t find quite the right shade of red, it’s almost a maroon color.

2. I partially lined the front of the robes with red fabric. I’m pretty sure, I also did a partial lining on the back so I could have nicely enclosed raw edges on the sleeves. If you want a nicer weight to the robes, I’d line the whole thing, but this is Texas, and we have heat matters to consider 9 months out of the year.

3. I lined the hood with red fabric.

4. I should have gotten the Hogwarts patch, but didn’t think of it in time. I’m still considering ordering them to add on for just letting them play around.

More quick and fun costumes