The cactus has become one of this year’s most popular motifs, so a DIY cactus costume felt like a must. This version is simple, fast, and fun — all you need is a green dress, a headband, yarn, and a hot glue gun. We partnered with our favorite craft and yarn supplier to use quality yarn that gives great texture and a subtle sheen, but the project works with basic supplies you likely already have on hand. It’s a perfect last-minute Halloween—or costume party—idea when you want something playful and low-effort.
Cactus Costume Supplies
- Green dress (any style you like)
- White yarn — a yarn with a metallic sheen works well to mimic cactus spines
- Bright yarns in yellow, pink, purple, or red for flower pom-poms
- Headband
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Step-by-Step Tutorial
1. Cut several 9-inch pieces of white yarn. Fold each piece into thirds and snip open the loops so each becomes three separate strands about 3 inches long.
2. Gather three strands together and tie a small knot in the center to form a short tuft. Repeat until you have enough tufts to cover the areas of the dress you want spiky: front, back, and sleeves are common choices.
3. Lay the dress flat and heat your glue gun. Put a small dot of hot glue on the back of each knotted tuft and press it onto the dress. Work in small sections so the glue doesn’t cool before you attach the yarn.
4. Make pom-pom flowers for decoration. Wrap colored yarn around your hand two dozen times for a larger pom-pom (use fewer wraps for smaller ones). Slip the wrapped yarn off your hand and tie a short piece of yarn tightly around the center of the looped bundle.
5. Cut through the loops on both sides, then trim and fluff the yarn to form a round pom-pom. Repeat until you have several pom-poms in your chosen colors.
6. Attach embellishments: glue two pom-poms together and secure them to one shoulder, glue a single pom-pom to the opposite wrist, and glue the remaining pom-poms onto a headband to create a floral cactus crown.
7. Allow all glue to fully set before wearing. If desired, trim any uneven yarn ends for a tidy finish.
Costumes to Pair With a Cactus Costume
- DIY Lawn Flamingo Costume or a cactus-and-baby cactus duo for a playful pair
- A bright “That Pink Door” costume that contrasts nicely with green
Photos by Jeff Mindell
Gather a group of friends in varying shades of green and you’ll have your own little cactus garden — a fun, coordinated look that’s easy to customize.
This post was created in partnership with our yarn supplier. All content and opinions are our own. Thank you to the sponsors who help keep this project possible.
If you make a Studio DIY costume, share it on Instagram with #studiodiyincostume for a chance to be featured on the blog and join the community of DIY creators.