Swipe through all 19 ideas
See every idea at a glance, then jump to the one you like.
A Sally Nightmare Before Christmas costume is one of the easiest Halloween looks to make at home, because it is mostly scraps. A thrifted dress, a handful of felt, some red yarn and a little face paint get you most of the way there.
Below are 17 easy DIY Sally Nightmare Before Christmas costume ideas, from the patchwork dress and the yarn wig to the tights, the makeup and a Jack and Sally pair. Each one says what you need and how to put it together. Pick the pieces you like or build the whole look.
1. Start with a thrifted black dress and felt scraps
SaveEvery Sally build starts with a plain base. An old short sleeved black dress works best, and thrift stores are full of them.
Gather felt in teal, purple, yellow, pink and black, plus a glue gun, a fabric marker, scissors, red yarn and pale blue tights. Lay it all out before you start so you know what is still missing.
2. Glue the felt patches on, no sewing needed
SaveCredit: HubPages
If you do not sew, a hot glue gun does the job. Run a thin line of glue along the edge of a felt piece, press it onto the dress and overlap the next piece a little.
Work on a flat table and keep your fingers back from the glue. Thin lines dry flat, while thick blobs make the felt stiff and lumpy.
3. Cut the felt into odd shapes
SaveCredit: HubPages
Sally looks patched together, so skip the straight lines. Cut felt into triangles, squares and wobbly shapes in different sizes.
Place a dark color next to a light one so every patch stands out, and cut a few more pieces than you think you need.
4. Draw swirls and dots with a fabric marker
SaveCredit: HubPages
Plain felt looks flat. Add black swirls, circles and short lines to some patches with a fabric marker and leave others plain.
Draw on each patch before you glue it down. A flat piece on the table is much easier to control than a dress on a hanger.
5. The finished felt patchwork dress
SaveCredit: HubPages
This is how the glue and felt version looks when it is done. Bold patches in blue, green, purple and pink sit on a black base, with marker swirls across a few of them.
Hang it up overnight so the glue sets before you wear it. Wear shorts or a slip underneath, because felt does not stretch.
6. A sewn patchwork dress from fabric scraps
SaveCredit: All Day Mom
If you sew, build the dress from real fabric scraps instead of felt. Cut odd shaped pieces from old clothes in faded yellows, blues, reds and checks, then stitch them together.
Leave the seams showing on the outside. Those rough stitches are what make the dress read as a ragdoll, and you do not need a pattern, because a dress you already own makes a good guide.
7. A Sally T-shirt for kids and last minute plans
SaveCredit: Country Living
For a costume you can make in minutes, start with a light blue T-shirt and add a face with felt or fabric paint. It works for kids and adults.
Make a white matching shirt for a partner or sibling, add black leggings and you are done.
8. Make a wig cap from old tights
SaveCredit: HubPages
The wig starts with a cap. Cut the leg off an old pair of dark tights, tie a knot in the end and slip it on your head, then tie a second knot to shape the top.
The yarn gets glued to this cap, so make sure it fits snugly before you go on.
9. Cut dark red yarn into long lengths
SaveCredit: HubPages
Sally has long, straight, dark red hair, and yarn is the cheapest way to get it. Wrap the yarn around a book or a piece of cardboard and cut it so every strand is the same length.
Go longer than you think you need. One large roll of yarn is plenty for a full head of hair.
10. Loop and curl the ends
SaveCredit: HubPages
A few loose loops and curls keep the yarn from looking like a mop. Lay strands out in loops on the table and glue them where they meet so they keep their shape.
Use the curly pieces around the face and at the ends, and keep the rest straight.
11. Glue the yarn onto the cap row by row
SaveCredit: HubPages
Start at the back of the cap and glue the yarn on in rows, working up toward the front. A thin line of hot glue keeps it from lumping.
Let each row cool before you add the next so the strands lie flat. Finish with a few strands across the front for bangs.
12. Put the wig and dress together
SaveCredit: HubPages
Now try the whole look. The red hair against the patched dress is the first thing people recognize.
Check that the wig sits straight, pin it with a couple of bobby pins and tuck in any stray glue strings. If the yarn tangles, run a wide tooth comb through it.
13. Blue tights with stitched lines
SavePale blue tights give you Sally’s blue skin below the knee. Stitch or draw black X shaped lines down the legs so it looks like she was sewn together.
A fabric marker is faster, thread looks better up close. Try the tights on once before the party so the lines sit where you want them.
14. Black shoes and striped socks
SaveFinish the bottom half with plain black shoes and black and white striped socks pulled up over the tights.
Closed toe shoes with a small heel look right, but flats are fine if you will be on your feet all night. Striped socks cost a few dollars and give the costume its storybook look.
15. Blue face makeup for Sally
SaveMakeup makes the costume. Spread pale blue cream makeup over your face and neck, then press dark blue shadow around your eyes so they look sunken.
Dab a little more dark blue along your temples and cheeks for a patchy look. Finish with dark red lipstick and long black lashes for a doll face, and test a small patch of skin first.
16. Carry a nightshade basket
SaveA prop gives you something to do with your hands. Fill a small wicker basket with sprigs of faux nightshade berries and leaves from a craft store and tie it with twine.
It is a nice nod to the plants Sally gathers in the story, and it is easy to hold on your arm for photos.
17. Pair it with a pinstripe suit for a Jack and Sally couple
SaveSally is a great half of a couples costume. Pair your patchwork dress with a black and white pinstripe suit and a black bat shaped bow tie for your partner.
A thrifted pinstripe suit, or just pinstripe pants and a vest, does the job. Add white face paint and a stitched smile and the pair is ready.
How to put the whole costume together
These five steps work for any version above.
- Make the patchwork dress, with glue or a needle.
- Build the yarn wig on a cap made from old tights.
- Pull on the blue tights, the striped socks and your shoes.
- Do the makeup last, with the wig already on so you do not smear it.
- Add a prop like the nightshade basket, and a partner in pinstripes if you have one.
More Halloween ideas
If you are planning the rest of the night, see our pumpkin painting ideas, our pumpkin carving ideas and our turkey disguise ideas for kids for easy kid crafts.
Sally Nightmare Before Christmas costume FAQ
How long does a DIY Sally costume take? The dress and the wig are the slow parts, so plan an afternoon for each. The tights, shoes and makeup take under an hour together.
What does it cost? One maker reported spending under twenty dollars on supplies for the felt dress, the yarn wig and the tights. A thrifted dress and a roll of yarn are the main costs.
Can kids be Sally? Yes. The felt dress and the yarn wig work in a child’s size, and the T-shirt version is the quickest. Use face paint made for skin and keep hot glue for the adult.
