Product Description

First place winner in the 2001 Writer’s Digest National Self-Published Book Awards, Reference category. Independent Publisher Book Awards 2002 Finalist - How-To (Hobby/Crafts). Number one bestseller for Quality Books for public libraries. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to UNICEF to help needy children of the world. This award-winning book will make you a costume wizard. Create an unforgettable outfit for a child for Halloween and other occasions. 100 costumes with lavish full-color photos and user-friendly visual index, simple patterns in three sizes for children 3-12 year-olds, no-sew shortcuts, last-minute solutions, treat bags & accessories. Easy-to-follow instructions and well-organized layout. Most costumes can be made without a sewing machine, many in just one evening, some even in an hour or less. Creative and comfortable designs range from traditional and storybook characters, animals and clowns to celestial beings, cultural tributes, and country costumes. Background information for the characters, Halloween history, and safety tips are included.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #601298 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 142 pages

Review
"... attractive, professional ...clever, useful ...well organized... attractive (layout). ...instructions and tips are clear and concise ...thorough job..." -- Writer’s Digest critique

"...a real Halloween treat. This definitely is the best sewing book I’ve ever seen for home-ec dropouts and procrastinators." -- The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Ina Hughs, Tennessee

"...impressed! ...simple (patterns) and well laid out. The color photographs throughout the book are reason enough to purchase it." -- Kim McIlwaine, Sue Warden’s CraftScapes

"Be a costume wizard. ...need to scare up a bewitching costume in one evening? Leila Peltosaari will show you how." -- Leader-Post

"Wow!! Great idea! The color pictures of the kids in the costumes are wonderful!! The visual index ... is excellent!" -- Benajmin Franklin Awards, judges' critique, sponsored by PMA

From the Publisher
This book is the first place winner in the 2001 Writer’s Digest National Self-Published Book Awards, Reference category. Their critique describes the book well: It is an attractive, professional looking book. The front and back covers do a good job telling potential readers what they will learn. It is nice that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Unicef. The first page visual index is a good idea. Also clever and useful are the last minute, no sew costume ideas. The book is well organized and well thought out. The photography is of good quality and quite cute. The layout is attractive. Her instructions and tips are clear and concise. She does a quite thorough job telling readers exactly what they need, shortcuts, and step-by-step instructions, all in a friendly manner. I’m impressed by the amount of work it took to produce this book, and with all the author’s experience. The author obviously has put a great deal of effort and time into this project, and! her expertise and passion for the subject are evident throughout.

From the Author
My new book offers 100 exciting alternatives to store-bought costumes to inspire you to make a special outfit for a child. Kids can’t wait! They love to participate in making a costume, accessories and a special treat bag with a personal touch. You might think children will wear a costume just once, but don’t forget that clever disguises are needed for Halloween celebrations at school and parties, not to mention those endless dress-up games. The best costumes can dress many children and last many memorable Halloweens. It may seem quicker to buy a costume — if you can find one that fits. Kids come in all sizes but ready-made costumes don’t; making a costume can be the only smart solution. Whether you buy or sew, don’t hide the costumes after Halloween; start a dress-up trunk or box with vests, capes, hats, discarded clothes, costume jewelry, scarves, fabric remnants, craft supplies, magic wands and other accessories etc. to make an irresistible magnet for your kids and their friends. A trunk full of costumes will soon become a trunk full of unforgettable childhood memories.

Customer Reviews

Showcases one hundred easy-to-make costumes
In Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes For Kids, Halloween costume designer Leila Peltosaari showcases one hundred easy-to-make costumes complete with matching treat bags and accessories. The simple, step-by-step instructions are enhanced with detailed full-color photos and illustrations. The color-coded, easy patterns for 3 to 12 year olds are well-organized and feature a wealth of "no-sew" shortcuts and "last-minute" solutions. Highly recommended for even the most novice costumer, Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes For Kids is enhanced further with a history of Halloween, safety tips, and anecdotal background stories. With designs ranging from traditional and storybook characters to animals and clowns, to celestial beings and cultural tributes, most of the costumes can be assembled without a sewing machine and in only one evening. Many of the costumes are made form Polarfleece (a perfect Halloween fabric which is soft and lightweight, slightly stretchy, warm, versatile, with no hemming or seam finished needed -- and hotglues like a dream!). Although specifically targeted for the Halloween holiday, these are delightful outfits that can well serve for costume parties and school plays at any time of year!

Outstanding
Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids is the best I have seen on this topic. The full color photographs of the costumes, complete with makeup, are spectacular. The directions are thorough and easy to follow. Any of these costumes would be a terrific for Halloween and the ideas could also be used for making costumes for plays or other productions. At the price of store bought costumes or patterns, this book is a bargain, as it contains 100 costumes and many additional ideas. You won't be disappointed!

Excellnt
If you are in need of costumes for children's plays or Halloween, this is the book to buy. This book is beautifully illustrated with exact instructions and patterns. Basic sewing knowledge is needed to create the costumes. You will save money, if you normally would buy a pattern for a costume because this book has hundreds of patterns.