What age group is this costume for?
Preschool and Younger

Estimated time required to make this costume:
1 hour for beginners

Difficulty level:
Almost as easy - some sewing

Items you will need: (Hit your return key to start a new line)
2 yards of white fabric (black for bat)
(if you live in a warm climate choose lighter fabric, if you live in a cold climate choose sweat pants material)
White thread (black for bat)
1/4 inch elastic
White and black face paint (optional)
White shirt, pants, shoes, gloves (black for bat)
(again, choose clothes by the climate)
Stick-on reflective strips (for the bat)

Instructions:
Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, then in half again the other way to find the center of the fabric and mark the center with a pen.

Place a small plate or similar object about 6 inches across over the center of the fabric and trace around it. Cut out the circle.

Fold the fabric over all the way around the hole wide enough that you will be able to feed your elastic through it easily, and sew along the edge, leaving an opening to feed the elastic in.

Feed the elastic in until it goes all the way around, then sew the ends of the elastic together.

Put the shirt on your child, then put the fabric on your child with his/her head through the elastic. Have them hold their arms out to the sides (like a T) and pin the fabric to the end of the sleeve, trimming as needed for your child. Remove from your child and sew where you pinned to the fabric.

Place costume on the child again, and trim along the bottom until child is no longer in danger of tripping. (Longer in back than in front for better safety on stairs)

Don't worry about hemming anything, whether this is a ghost or a bat, it's supposed to be a little ragged.

If you make the bat costume with black fabric, be sure to place reflective strips around the edges, and avoid trick or treating after dark.

Paint your little trick or treater's face if desired.

Other information to consider:
This is truly a simple costume to make. The best part is, you can put anything under it, so if you live in Wyoming (like we used to), you can put your child in snow gear and still have a great costume!

It's also a costume that can be worn over and over on any child. And it is very easy for the child to wear. There are no masks or complicated, uncomfortable costume bits to get into.