This DIY Gollum costume will have you singing for juicy fish in no time. I am so excited to share with you our Family Halloween theme for 2016! The boys chose Lord of the Rings! They were so excited. Technically only Gandalf has read the series. Well, and my husband. Gandalf found out I had watched the movie without reading the book first (scandal, I know!) and was pretty upset. I told him it was because of love. I watched the movies (I think we even when to midnight showings together) with their dad because I loved him dearly. And I really enjoyed the movies. I just don’t think I could read about Orcs for chapters and chapters. My others kids know about Lord of the Rings from our LOTR Chess Set. And Grady may have showed them some you tube clips. Maybe someday when Grady and I are old and alone I can talk him into reading to me, if he promises to do voices.
After we settled on the theme Draco immediately volunteered to be Gollum! He is a big fan of the juicy fish song. This kid is in heaven with this year’s costume. He loves crouching all over the house and talking in a creepy voice. And I loved that it was super simple to make. And the best part, I had all the material in my fabric stash. I only had to pick up some brown yarn. Gollum’s loincloth material is from past Jedi Robes. (You can click for a tutorial) And I have no idea who gave me that beige colored material. But I would like to thank them again now! Another blessing of knowing how to sew. It can save money. Sometimes. His costume essential cost $3 and 2 1/2 hours of my time.
DIY Gollum Costume Tutorial
Materials:
Flesh colored material (make sure it has some stretch for squatting easily)
Brown material
Scissors
Yarn
Elastic
Hook and eye
Sewing Machine
Gollum Pants
I used a pair of baseball pants for my pattern. Also I pair of pajama pants would work well. Because I wanted them fairly tight I cut them very close to my pair of pants, where usually I would leave room for an inseam. Also leave extra room on top to allow room for some elastic. Cut four pieces. Take two of those pieces and place right sides together. Sew up the side and then on the other side from the bottom to the crotch. Repeat with the other leg. Then turn one of the pant legs right side out. Place that into other leg. This will have the right sides together. Then sew along them together from end to end. Make sure to sew another stitch line in the crotch area for reinforcement.
Turn them out and admire your work. Have your child or friend try them on. Measure elastic for their waist. Turn down the top of your material to allow room for your elastic and sew. Leave and inch or two open. Using a safety pin that you attach to your elastic, work your elastic through your casing you have made. Sew the elastic together. Stitch your hole closed. Hem your pants.
Pick a shirt to use as your pattern. This one is from his brother’s birthday party two years ago. Cut two pieces. Sew them together, right sides together, at the shoulders and sides. Leave room for your arms. Measure your arm hole and cut a long rectangle to fit your needs. If you look closely you can see I cut two pieces for each sleeve. I didn’t like the look of the arm seam, so I unpicked it and did it again. Ideally you want to fold your material so you have only one seam. Turn your sleeve right side out and place it inside your shirt piece. Your shirt piece should be inside out. This puts the right sides together. Stitch together. Repeat for the other side.
Because this is a costume, and not an everyday shirt, I just cut a neck home in the front with my pinking shears and a slit down in the back. I then folded my material over and stitch it in place. Then add a hook and eye in the back to keep it closed. Or a safety pin if you are in a rush.
His hat is one of my favorite things about this costume. Measure your child’s head. Use a beanie as a guide and cut out your material. Another great reason to have some stretch in your material. I also cut out 4 ear pieces by eyeballing it. Sew two pieces together, right sides together, and repeat with the other side. Before stitching up your beanie you want to add your ears. Lay down a piece, right side up. Add your ears, making sure they are even, and facing inside. Then lay your other beanie piece down, with the right side down. Stitch. Hem your beanie and you are almost there.
The gross hair is probably my favorite! Take your brown yarn and stick it through your tapestry needles. Have your needle in the center of piece of yarn. Stick it through the top of your beanie. Make a knot on the inside so it won’t fall out. Clip your loop and tie it off again. And keep it up until it looks perfect. Remember he will need some pieces hanging in his face. Give yourself some extra length. It’s pretty fun cutting the pieces when your kid is wearing the beanie. And don’t be intimidated by my amazing Gollum hairstyle, I am a professional. I’m sure after 15 years of doing hair yours would look amazing too.
I have to say he makes the cutest Gollum I have ever seen. I can’t wait to show you the rest of the costumes!!! Anyone want to take any guesses for who my other kids are going to be??? Leave it in the comment below.
I’m excited to have a photo shoot with all the kids! It’s going to be amazing! Our family has been doing Family Halloween Themes for years! I hope we always dress up in coordinating costumes!!! I seriously can’t believe it has lasted this long. Check out our Return of the Jedi Costumes from last year. Or our Frozen Family Costumes. And a recent favorite costume, Alexander Hamilton. What can I say? I love dressing up! And luckily so do my kids!