Spider Princess Costume
Tools and Materials
3 packages (20-by-90-inch) sheet crepe paper in black
1 package (20-by-90-inch) sheet crepe paper in white
Tape measure or ruler
Scissors
Thread, in black and white
Sewing machine
Straight pins
Black seam binding or ribbon
Black Velcro fastener
Black 3/4-inch elastic, for headband
Toy spider
Black yarn, for spiderweb cape

Cutting The Patter Pieces 
1. Open two packages of black crepe paper, but do not unfold. Cut one package of folded paper crosswise (illustration 1) to create strips in each of the following widths: 9 1/2 inches, 2 1/2 inches, 2 inches, and 6 inches. Set aside; repeat with second package. Cut the folded white crepe paper the same way, creating two strips in each of the following widths: 2 inches, 3 1/4 inches, and 2 1/2 inches. You will use these strips to make the spider skirt.

2. Using bodice template (as indicated for spider costume) enlarged to 200 percent, cut out two bodice front pieces and four bodice back pieces from black crepe paper. (Working with double layers of crepe paper makes the costumes sturdy enough for sewing.)

Sewing the Bodice of the Spider Costume
1. Measure down 3 1/2 inches from center neck of the back bodice pieces, and snip a 1/4-inch horizontal notch. Then, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, stitch the four back bodice pieces together, starting below the notch (illustration 2).

2. Fold seam open, so you have two layers on each side. Edge-stitch two layers of front bodice together (1/8 inch from edge) along neck opening, arm holes, and side seams (illustration 3).

Sewing the Skirt of the Spider Costume
1. Alternate double layers of black and white strips (following measurements indicated in illustration 4). Stitch strips together using a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

2. After all strips have been stitched, fold seams open, then fold skirt in half crosswise and cut along fold. You will now have two panels -- one for the front and one for the back of the skirt.

3. With contrasting white thread, hand-baste with long stitches across the top and bottom edges of the front and back skirt panels.

4. Tug on basting thread to gather top of back skirt panel until the width of the top of the skirt is equal to the width of the bodice; pin skirt panel to bodice. Repeat with front panel.

5. Using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, machine-stitch front and back bodice pieces to corresponding skirt panels (illustration 5). Push seam allowance to bodice side, and topstitch 3/8 inch from seam to secure.

6. Gather bottoms of skirt panels by pulling on basting threads until width of each measures 22 inches. Fold up a 1-inch hem, and machine-stitch in place (illustration 6).

7. Stitch together shoulder seams with 1/2-inch seam allowance (illustration 7).

8. Cut ten 7-inch-long pieces of black seam binding. Stitch a pair under each arm, on each side of waist, and at the back of the neck opening (illustration 8). Use these ties to close the costume once it is on the child.

9. Snip Velcro fastener in half. Using the hook side only, secure one half tab to the back of each shoulder behind shoulder seam. The fastener will be used to attach the spiderweb cape. If desired, edge-stitch sides of skirt together.

Making the Headband 
Cut a length of elastic to child's head size, plus 1/2 inch for seam allowance. Stitch band into a loop, then hand-stitch body of toy spider to front of headband (illustration 9).

Making the Web Cape
Using a large piece of cardboard as a work surface, position pushpins as shown (illustration 10). Cut four 42-inch lengths of yarn. Tie end of one length to top-left pushpin; stretch straight across and tie other end to top-right pin. Loop remaining three lengths around top-center pushpin, and create "spokes" for the web, attaching to the pins as shown. Then, working off the ball of yarn, begin weaving web between spokes, tying knots at each intersection. Weave a small length of yarn through the yarns at top center pushpin; tie to secure. Pull out pushpins. Tie a 10-inch length of yarn to each end of top of web, for wrist ties. To attach web to costumed child, press yarn onto Velcro fasteners on shoulders, then tie yarn ties to wrists.

Cat-Girl Costume
Tools and Materials
3 packages (20-by-90-inch) sheet crepe paper in orange
Scissors
1 roll orange crepe-paper streamer
1 roll black crepe-paper streamer
Orange thread
Black seam binding or ribbon
Four 8 1/2-by-11-inch sheets black construction paper
Black rickrack, for headband
Orange 3/4-inch elastic, for headband

Cutting the Pieces 
1. Using bodice template (as indicated for cat costume) enlarged to 200 percent, cut out one front piece and four back pieces from orange crepe paper.

2. Cut ten black streamers and ten orange streamers to 22 inches.

3. Open one package of orange crepe paper, and fold in half crosswise; cut along fold. These pieces will be used for the skirt front. Repeat with the other package. These will be used for the skirt back.

Weaving the Bodice 
1. Weave black and orange streamers (illustration 1). Hand-baste around all edges to prevent shifting.

2. Place the front bodice piece on the diagonal over woven streamers (illustration 2). Hand-stitch all around bodice, 1/4 inch from edge.

3. Cut out front bodice.

4. Measure down 3 1/2 inches from center neck of back bodice pieces, and snip a 1/4-inch horizontal notch. Then, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, stitch the four back bodice pieces together starting below the notch (illustration 3).

5. Gather skirt, stitching it to the bodice and topstitching to finish. If desired, edge-stitch sides of skirt together.

6. Sew shoulder seams and add seam-binding ties (illustration 4). Use these ties to hold costume closed once it is on the child.

Making the Cat apron 
1. Cut 12 lengths of seam binding. Six should measure 14 inches, five should measure 17 inches, and one (for the waistband) should measure 54 inches.

2. Using the small cat-head template, cut out thirteen 2-inch cat heads from black construction paper. (Because they are small, the eyes and other facial features may need to be cut out with a utility knife.) Glue one head to each end of waistband, and then one head to one end of each of the remaining lengths of seam binding.

3. Alternating long and short pieces, hand-stitch the seam binding to waistband, spacing them 1 1/2 inches apart (illustration 5).

Making the Headband
1. Cut rickrack to child's head size, plus 1/2 inch for seam allowance. Cut elastic to an equal length.

2. Stitch rickrack to elastic band, and form elastic into a loop, stitching ends with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

3. Using the large cat-head template, cut out two 4-inch cat heads from black construction paper. Glue a piece of orange crepe paper to the back of one of the cat heads to make eyes and mouth appear orange. Sandwich the two cat heads over seam in headband, securing with glue (illustration 6). Let dry.

Pumpkin Costume  
Tools and Materials
3 packages (20-by-90-inch) sheet crepe paper in orange
1 package (20-by-90-inch) sheet crepe paper in black
Scissors
Floral wire
Thread, in orange and black
Sewing machine
White tissue paper, for stuffing
Seam binding, or ribbon, in orange and black
Craft glue
Black rickrack
1 roll green crepe-paper streamer
Pencil

Cutting the Pieces 
1. Using bodice template (as indicated for pumpkin costume) enlarged to 200 percent, cut out two front pieces and four back pieces from orange crepe paper.

2. Cut four 20-by-44-inch rectangles of orange crepe paper. These will be used to create the pumpkin shape.

3. Cut four 4-inch-wide strips crosswise from the folded black crepe paper. These will be used for the skirt (illustration 1).

4. Using a template, cut out the nose, eyes, and mouth for the pumpkin's face.

5. Cut a 20-by-22-inch piece of orange crepe paper and a 1/2-inch-by-36-inch strip of green crepe-paper streamer, for hat.

6. Snip a length of floral wire to 12 inches.

Sewing the Body 
1. With a 1/4-inch seam allowance, machine-stitch the two bodice front pieces to two layers of the 20-by-40-inch crepe-paper rectangles (illustration 2). Start at one side, and gather the paper to accommodate for the shorter length of the bodice piece as you stitch.

2. Continue gathering and stitching around the armholes, shoulders, and neckline, and down the other side of the bodice.

3. Trim excess gathered paper from around armholes, leaving excess at neck intact (illustration 3).

4. Gather crepe paper at the bottom edge until it is the same width as the bottom of the bodice front, and stitch in place leaving a 4-inch opening for stuffing (illustration 4).

5. Stuff the body front with white tissue paper, and sew up the bottom seam. Set stuffed pieces aside.

6. Measure down 3 1/2 inches from center neck of bodice back, and snip a 1/4-inch notch. Then, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, stitch the four back bodice pieces together, starting below the notch. Fold seams open (illustration 5).

7. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 with back bodice pieces, except when gathering and stitching around the center back seam cut a slit to accommodate the opening in the back of bodice. Sew around slit to close.

8. Glue eyes, nose, and mouth to pumpkin front.

Making the Pleated Skirt 
1. Fold a series of 1-inch pleats at 1/4-inch intervals in each of the 4-inch-wide strips of black crepe paper (illustration 6).

2. Align two pleated rectangles with bottom edges of the pumpkin front (illustration 7); cut off excess width of rectangles.

3. Center a 28-inch length of black seam binding over the top edge of the pleats, and edge-stitch along top and bottom, as shown (illustration 7). This will be the skirt front.

4. Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 with remaining pleated rectangles to create the skirt back.

5. Center the skirt front on the bottom edge of the pumpkin front, leaving ends of seam binding free. Stitch skirt front to pumpkin front. Repeat with skirt back and pumpkin back.

Stitching The Ties and Shoulder Seams
1. Cut six 7-inch ties from orange seam binding. Stitch one tie to each side under the arms and to each side of back neck opening. Use these ties to hold costume closed once it is on the child.

2. Stitch pumpkin front to pumpkin back at shoulder seams.

Making the Hat
1. Fold the 20-by-22-inch orange rectangle in half lengthwise.

2. Fold in half crosswise but don't crease; with a 1/2-inch seam allowance, stitch to create a cylinder (illustration 8). Turn right side out.

3. Stitch a 21-inch length of rickrack along the inside of the folded edge. Then, stitch a 22-inch length of black seam binding along the outside edge (illustration 9), overlapping 1/2 inch.

4. Measure 3 inches down from the top of the cylinder. Gather at the 3-inch mark (illustration 10), and tie with thread. Taper this stem by cutting downward at an angle, as shown.

5. Insert the length of wire into the top of the stem. Bind the stem by gluing one end of the strip of green crepe paper to the base and then wrapping upward (illustration 11). Pull the paper taut as you wrap. After wrapping the stem, continue up the length of wire until it is covered, and glue at the end.

6. Coil the covered wire around a pencil (illustration 12). Remove pencil.