Halloween is just a few weeks away, and there's still plenty of time to make something spooky by hand. Whether you're sewing a last-minute costume, running up some bunting for the front window or dressing the table for a party, the right fabric does most of the work for you. Here are our favourite Halloween fabric ideas, plus a few in-stock picks to get you started without spending a fortune.
1. Spooky Bunting and Window Decorations
Bunting is one of the quickest Halloween makes there is. Cut triangles, stitch them in pairs (or use pinking shears for a no-sew version), and thread them onto bias binding or ribbon. Because bunting doesn't get washed every week, a budget-friendly printed fabric is ideal.
Our Spooky Halloween Polycotton Fabric is just £3.99 a metre and 112cm wide, so a single metre goes a long way. It's currently available in three prints:
- Black Spider Cobwebs on White
- Black Bats on Orange
- Black Spider and White Cobweb on Orange
Mix two or three prints along one string for a bold, playful look. It's a lightweight 90gsm polycotton, so it's easy to cut and sew, and it's best suited to decorations, costumes and one-season makes (gentle hand wash, hang to dry).
2. Day of the Dead and Sugar Skull Makes
If you'd like something that lasts beyond 31 October, sugar skull prints are a brilliant choice. They're colourful rather than scary, so they work for Halloween and Día de los Muertos parties, and they look great all year round as cushion covers, tote bags, scrunchies or shirts.
Our Rose & Hubble Sugar Skulls Cotton Poplin is 100% cotton and Oeko-Tex certified, and it's currently reduced to £6.99 a metre (was £9.99). It's in stock in Black, Cerise, Turquoise and Yellow. Cotton poplin has a soft, smooth handle and holds a crisp seam, which makes it a favourite for dressmaking and quilting as well as craft projects.
3. Ghostly Party Table Runners and Draping
A sheer fabric is the easiest way to make a room feel atmospheric. Drape it over a mantelpiece, run it down the middle of a party table, or hang a length across a doorway for a ghostly entrance. Add a string of battery LED fairy lights nearby and it glows beautifully once the sun goes down.
The Halloween Gold Ghosts Organza features gold foil ghosts on white shimmer organza. It's 150cm wide and reduced to £4.99 a metre (was £6.99). Stock is limited, so if you're planning a table runner or a party backdrop, it's worth ordering sooner rather than later.
Quick tip: for a table runner, measure the length of your table and add 30–50cm at each end so it hangs nicely over the edges. Organza frays easily, so a narrow rolled hem or a line of fray stopper keeps the edges neat.
4. Gothic Costumes and Fancy Dress Details
Lace instantly adds a gothic, vintage feel to a costume. Use it for a witch's overskirt, sleeves, a cape trim, a veil or a simple wrap over a plain black dress. It's also lovely for doll clothes and small craft projects.
Our Orange Floral Lace Fabric is £4.99 a metre and a generous 150cm wide. It's 100% polyester, so it's easy to care for, and that bright pumpkin orange layers really well over black for a classic Halloween colour combination.
How Much Fabric Do You Need?
Here's a rough guide for some popular Halloween makes. Always check your pattern, but these figures are a helpful starting point:
- Bunting (around 3m long): about 1m of 112cm-wide fabric makes plenty of flags
- Table runner: your table length plus 60–100cm for the overhang
- Child's simple cape: roughly 1m
- Adult cape or overskirt: roughly 2m
- Cushion cover (45cm): about 0.5m
For more detailed measurements, take a look at our guide: How Much Fabric Do I Need?
Tips for Stress-Free Halloween Sewing
- Start simple. Bunting, capes and table runners are mostly straight lines, so they're perfect if you're short on time.
- Order a little extra. An extra half metre gives you room for mistakes, or leftovers for a matching trick-or-treat bag.
- Test first. Try your iron temperature on a scrap, especially with organza and lace.
- Think beyond Halloween. Sugar skull poplin and orange lace can be used for autumn and party-season makes too.
Get Your Halloween Fabric Sorted
All our fabrics are cut from the roll and sent in one continuous length, so you can buy exactly what your project needs. Browse the picks above, choose your favourite prints, and get stitching before the big night. Happy Halloween sewing from all of us at Bull Ring Fabrics!
