I love Halloween.

This year, as you can hopefully tell, I went as a Voodoo Doll. I love my costume! It was so much fun to make.

Even better, Mr. Pieknits was a Witch Doctor/Voodoo Priest (Baron Samedi inspired) to go with! (Although I’m missing my wrist grass “bracelets” in this photo.)
I made everything for both of these costumes, and was stoked that the grand total for both was under $15!

For Witch Doctor costume we already had the suit, the top hat from last year, and even the skeleton t-shirt. Also had the basic cane that had a rounded knob top and the thrifted plastic skull. So to make the staff I cut a hole in the base of the skull and mounted it onto the top of the cane. Then I bought a roll of medical gauze from the dollar store, tea-stained it to off white and tore it up. Next I wrapped this along with string with feathers tied in it around the cane.

The skeleton gloves I also scored at a dollar store for $1. To decorate the hat wrapped it in some red ribbon and added lots of feathers. Also wove several strands of left-over rafia from my costumes to make another band (hard to see in the photos). Added a skull necklace got on clearance after Halloween last year and one from the dollar store. He also got to use his colored contacts he had gotten. I don’t really count these into the costume price as they weren’t specifically for it, just something we’d been wanting and can re-use. Got them on sale though and they really added a fantastic element!

My costume pieces (minus my little draw-string bag made last minute). I’m pretty proud of this one, my sewing skills being what they are. I kept it simple and just winged this without any pattern. Took my measurements added about 3″ of ease with basic waist shaping for the top. The burlap I got 50% off for $1.50/yard. While this was a bargain, it’s not exactly the most luxurious stuff to wear next to skin. So I lined the top with muslin I had on hand. The skirt is a simple half circle skirt. The only closures as simple drawstrings with cotton yarn. I then embroidered the X stitches with some black yarn and drew on the Voodoo VeVe symbols in marker.

I used left over yarn for some more dreads (similar to here, tied on to hair elastic, just smaller strands). A grass skirt and wristlets I made from a big bag of craft rafia I got on sale. The skirt has knotted bunches of rafia tied to a waist band. For the wrists I glued down pieces to a braided strand then stitched over them to hold in place. The cowrie shell belt I had gotten at a thrift store for $1 to use for bellydance but ended up working perfect for this too. I also made a little draw string pouch to hang off my belt from the scraps.

The red felt heart I fabric glued into place then embroidered the decorative stitching. For pins I used some old knitting needles I had on hand of course! This is my set up. I cut down a piece of salvaged styrofoam that I could slide into place between the burlap and lining. The knitting needles then stabbed through the fabric and into the foam to hold in place. That way I could take them when changing out of the costume. If I were to wear this again I’d probably glue a leather backing on to it however. Whenever I accidentally ran the needles into anything it gave a pretty good stab, ow.

And I always have to make some kind of little treat. These are “Cream Cheese Mint” Sugar Skulls like you find at weddings. Only instead of adding mint flavoring I added Almond Extract. I used a silicone skull ice cube tray from the dollar store as molds. I had originally hoped to put these on top of cupcakes but didn’t get that far. They were yummy by themselves however!