Buzz
Looking for an effortless way to assemble a Sally costume for Halloween or cosplay? Forget about the typical costume shop and create a personalized Sally gown using patchwork fabric pieces. Enhance the dress by painting stitches with black paint to emulate Sally's iconic look. Complete your ensemble with her distinctive red hair. For an authentic touch, don't forget Sally's recognizable pale blue skin and the black stitches adorning her face, making the makeup application a fun part of the process. Get ready to give everyone a fright!
Instructions
Sally's Attire
Select a sewing pattern for a straightforward knee-length dress. Opt for one featuring a V-neck and determine whether you'd like it to have short sleeves akin to Sally's attire in the film. An A-line knee-length dress serves as the ideal template for Sally's costume. Don't have the time or expertise to craft your own dress? Not a problem! Source a knee-length dress that you're willing to repurpose as a costume. Consider using an old dress from your wardrobe or explore thrift stores for an affordable option. Then, simply adhere fabric patches onto the dress.
Create unique shapes by cutting the paper pattern. Cut out the paper pattern to match your size, ensuring to leave a 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) seam allowance. Then, further cut it to form unconventional shapes that can be pieced together. Let the shapes be organic rather than conforming to any specific outline. For reference, you can consult an image of Sally from the movie.
Pin different fabric colors to the pattern pieces and cut them out. Enjoy selecting an array of fabrics for the dress. Take inspiration from Sally's dress in the movie, which features faded yellow, green, and pink hues with black polka dots. Place a pattern piece on the fabric, secure it with pins, and cut out the shape. Repeat this process until you have a fabric piece for each paper pattern piece.
Pin the fabric pieces together based on your pattern. Arrange the fabric pieces with the wrong side facing up and pin the edges together as per your paper pattern.
Stitch the pieces together following your sewing pattern. Use a standard straight stitch setting on your sewing machine and maintain a 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) seam allowance. It may be easier to sew the patches onto individual pattern pieces before joining the patterned edges to assemble the dress. Once done, turn the dress right side out and try it on for any necessary adjustments.
Add lines and swirls to some patches using a black fabric marker. Sally's dress features patches with large black circles, straight lines, or swirls. If your fabric lacks these details, use a black fabric marker to draw them onto 3 or 4 patches. Alternatively, a permanent marker can be used if a fabric marker is unavailable.
Enhance the patchwork effect by applying black fabric paint along the seams. Achieve Sally's iconic patchwork appearance by emphasizing the seams. Use black fabric paint to create dashes and x's along the seam lines, varying the sizes for a handstitched look. Allow the paint to dry for at least 4 hours before flipping the dress to paint the other side.
Hair and Accessories
Opt for a long red wig crafted from synthetic hair or red yarn.
For a realistic portrayal of Sally, select a synthetic hair wig in bright red, measuring at least 18 inches (46 cm) in length. To embody a rag doll aesthetic, consider a red yarn wig, sometimes marketed as rag doll costume wigs.
Create custom gloves using light blue tights to emulate Sally's blue arms. Outline your hand on cardboard, then insert it into a leg of the tights. Zigzag stitch around the cardboard to form finger spaces, remove the cardboard, and trim excess fabric. Repeat for the other hand, cutting a hole in the crotch for your head to pass through.
Pair light blue tights with your outfit to mimic Sally's skin tone. Choose tights in a matching shade to wear beneath your dress. Ensure they match the color of the tights used for your arms to create the illusion of pale blue skin.
Complete your Sally look with a pair of simple black shoes. In the movie, Sally sports plain black shoes with a slight heel and closed toes. If heels aren't your style, opt for black flats or any comfortable pair of black, closed-toe shoes.
Makeup
Apply light blue cream makeup all over your face and neck. Use a light blue cream makeup or mix blue eyeshadow into a white cream-based makeup. Ensure to cover your entire face, including eyelids, ears, chin line, and neck. Allow the makeup to dry completely before proceeding.
Create sunken eyes with dark blue eyeshadow. Blend dark blue eyeshadow with an eyebrow pencil and add a touch of black eyeshadow for depth. Apply it to the hood of your eyelids and along the length, then use white eyeshadow along the lower lashline to enhance the effect.
Give your face a patchy skin tone with dark blue and white eyeshadow. Apply dark blue eyeshadow along your temples, cheeks, and sides of your nose. Then, use white highlighter on the top of your nose, under your eyes, and along your chin for added dimension.
Apply dark red lipstick. For a dark, moody look, opt for a rich, burgundy shade that deeply stains your lips. Alternatively, for a more doll-like appearance or for a child portraying Sally, choose a brighter shade of red.
Adorn long, black false eyelashes to achieve a doll-like effect. Sally's eyes are notably large, and false eyelashes can amplify their size. Select falsies with extra-long lashes and adhere them to your lashline following the instructions on the package.
Draw stitch lines using black liquid eyeliner. Complete Sally's makeup by using black liquid eyeliner to draw long curved lines on your forehead above your right eye and extending from each corner of your mouth in a smiling curve. Add dashes and x's along the lines to mimic stitch marks.
Tips
- If crafting the costume for a child, opt for brightly colored fabric patches and a vibrant red yarn wig. For an adult costume, select muted hues and darker wig shades.
Required Materials
Sally's Dress
- Simple knee-length dress pattern
- Sewing pins
- Patches of fabric in various styles
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Black fabric paint
Hair and Accessories
- Red wig
- 2 pairs of light blue tights
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Cardboard
- Plain black shoes
Makeup
- Light blue cream makeup
- Makeup brushes
- Eyeshadow in shades of blue, black, and white
- Mascara
- Dark red lipstick
- False black eyelashes
- Black liquid eyeliner
