Rating by Canadian Senior Years(out of 5)
With Halloween on the way and many parents scrambling for costume ideas, this book provides detailed instructions on how to sew many costumes for kids. Grandma, if you have some very basic sewing skills, I think you would find that most of these costumes are quite quick and easy to put together. Each costume idea is accompanied by a full colour photograph (complete with face makeup), a grid pattern and instructions that are thorough and easy to follow. I like the final pages which describe last-minute no-sew panic solutions for those, who like me leave this until the very last second. This book is the best I have seen on this topic!!
CHAMBLY, QUEBEC -- September 7, 2002 -- As soon as the first pumpkin
appears, Halloween fever starts and the children will jump up and down in
anticipation. If you wish to make a bewitching costume in one evening, a new
award-winning book, Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids offers
inspiration with 100 original designs, full-color photos and patterns. A
portion of the proceeds is donated to UNICEF to help needy children around
the world.
"Create lasting memories with handmade costumes", says Peltosaari, "and let
the children help." Kids love to participate in making a costume,
accessories, and a special treat bag for the big night. And Halloween is no
longer just one night since disguises are needed for celebrations at school,
parades, and parties, not to mention those endless dress-up games. The best
costumes can dress up many children and last many memorable Halloweens. It
may seem quicker to buy a costume but kids come in all sizes while
off-the-rack costumes donąt.
Even without a sewing machine and using clever shortcuts for quick outfits,
you can make a spectacular costume in one evening. Warm fleece and other
easy fabrics and hotglue are perfect for Halloween. Most costumes in this
book can be made without a sewing machine.
Whether you buy or sew, donąt hide the costumes after Halloween is over.
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, to make an irresistible magnet for your kids and their
friends. Watch their eyes light up at the sight of costumes that feed
imagination and provide good times without TV or computers. "A trunk full of
costumes will soon become a trunk full of unforgettable childhood memories,"
says Peltosaari.
Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids offers exciting alternatives to
store-bought costumes for many Halloweens to come. It's the winner of 2001
Writerąs Digest National Self-Published Book Awards (reference category).
Free sample patterns and ideas from the book are shown on
www.easyhalloween.com. Copies are available from UNICEF at 1-800-567-4483
($29.95). Color-coded patterns for 3-12 year-olds are simple and
user-friendly. Instructions are well organized with dozens of no-sew
shortcuts and last-minute solutions. Creative and comfortable designs range
from traditional and storybook characters, animals and clowns to celestial
beings, country costumes, and cultural tributes. Halloween history, safety
tips, and brief background stories are included.
Leila Peltosaari Albala has written several user-friendly books on
Halloween, sewing, crafts, and cooking. She is now working on a costume book
for adults.
If you would like to order this book from Amazon.com, press the following link:
Advertising Information 
(out of 5)