• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • YouTube

How-to: Faux Bois Sweatshirt & Tree Costume

October 21, 2013 5 Comments

How-to: Faux Bois Sweatshirt & Tree Costume - Hands Occupied

I’m a total lover of faux bois, a.k.a. woodgrain, prints. I first learned how to draw a faux bois print in seventh grade art class, and it’s been my favorite thing to doodle ever since. I have been wanting to do a dyed faux bois DIY style project for months, but then I realized how amazing it would be to do a faux bois style project to incorporate in a Halloween costume. I think saving this idea was the right decision!

Supplies

for the sweatshirt
scissors
iron & ironing board
freezer paper
white shirt/sweatshirt
Tacky Glue (lots!)
balloon
brown dye
sink/washing machine (depending on your dye’s directions)

for the costume
fake leaf garland
green, yellow & brown eye shadows
mascara
brown eyeliner
lip gloss

Directions

Wash and dry your sweatshirt before you begin. Turn it inside out and iron freezer paper to the whole inside of the garment, sleeves and all.

How-to: Faux Bois Sweatshirt & Tree Costume - Hands Occupied

Turn your sweatshirt right side out. If you’ve got a pocket on your sweatshirt, iron freezer paper to the inside of that too. Trim any excess freezer paper.

How-to: Faux Bois Sweatshirt & Tree Costume - Hands Occupied

Draw a faux bois (woodgrain) pattern over the entire front of your sweatshirt with Tacky Glue. Let dry 24 hours.

How-to: Faux Bois Sweatshirt & Tree Costume - Hands Occupied

Flip the sweatshirt over and draw a woodgrain pattern over the entire back of the sweatshirt. If you’re working with a hooded garment, put an inflated balloon inside the hood to hold it up. Draw a woodgrain pattern over the whole hood with Tacky Glue. Let it all dry 24 hours once again. The glue dries clear, like this:

How-to: Faux Bois Sweatshirt & Tree Costume - Hands Occupied

Remove the freezer paper from the inside of your sweatshirt, and dye it brown according to your dye package’s instructions. Be careful if your instructions suggest using super hot water, because your glue will begin to dissolve. You might want to use just warm water instead. The glue is how the woodgrain pattern gets printed, so if the glue disappears while the shirt’s still in the dye bath, the pattern won’t turn out.

How-to: Faux Bois Sweatshirt & Tree Costume - Hands Occupied

Most dyes involve washing and drying your garment as the last step. The last of the glue will dissolve in the wash.

Tree Costume

I was inspired by Peter Pan’s lost boys for the look of my tree costume. All you need to make this work, other than the DIY sweatshirt, is a fake leaf garland (check craft stores’ floral departments) as a scarf and the right hair & makeup.

For the makeup, I dabbed a little yellow eyeshadow on my tear ducts and used a dark green shadow for my lids. Then, I added just a little brown eyeliner and mascara on the eyes and a really light pink lip gloss. The real clincher for the makeup is rubbing brown eyeshadow at random on your face, and doing your hair as messily as possible – I recommend a good hair wax for pixie-cut hair. For an extra messy touch, I had my husband “style” my hair during our little photo shoot for this post. 

How-to: Faux Bois Sweatshirt & Tree Costume - Hands Occupied

I’m looking forward to going as a toasty warm tree this Halloween! No revealing costumes for this lady. Why would I bother? I’m going to be SO comfy!

Linking at Skip to my Lou, Creative Jewish Mom & I Heart Nap Time.

Filed Under: DIY Style, Halloween, How-to Tagged With: craft, crafts, diy, diy style, faux bois, faux bois sweatshirt, halloween costume, halloween diy, leaf, modest, tree, warm, woodgrain, woodgrain sweatshirt

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

Previous Post: « Weekly Reader
Next Post: The Mobile Living Room »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • Weekly ReaderWeekly Reader
  • How-to: Duck Tape Tablet Case & Foldover ClutchHow-to: Duck Tape Tablet Case & Foldover Clutch
  • How-to: Washi Tape Statement NecklaceHow-to: Washi Tape Statement Necklace
  • Dimensional Easter Egg EarringsDimensional Easter Egg Earrings

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Comments

  1. Rachel | 52 Weeks Project

    October 21, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    So cool Heidi! That sweatshirt is amazing :)

    Reply
  2. Carol

    October 22, 2013 at 9:13 pm

    What a great idea!

    Reply
  3. creativejewishmom/sara

    October 23, 2013 at 6:04 pm

    Fantastic Heidi, and so happy to “meet” a top notch crafter like you, hope you’ll join the party regularly, everyone will be thrilled!

    Reply
    • Heidi

      October 23, 2013 at 7:17 pm

      Why thank you! So happy to e-meet you too! You’re on my list of linkys to join on the regular – I love your site :).

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Wood Grain Printing | pinfollow.me feeds says:
    October 31, 2013 at 5:02 pm

    […] Repin Like The sweatshirt for this fun tree costume was printed using tacky glue and dye, which I think is a useful technique to know, and the result is very effective. Go here for the tutorial. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

UPDATES BY EMAIL

Monthly highlights sent to your inbox.

Find Me Elsewhere, If You’re There

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi GustadDiscover Unique Items

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
.
Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
.
What’s on your needles this week? 
.
Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
.
#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
.
I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
.
#craftorganization #handsoccupied #latchhook #latchhooking
Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies, so getting a few hung in my new studio has been a priority. Here’s my first attempt. 🔨 
.
Details: This pegboard panel is for organizing my knitting needles, latch hook tools, sewing thread, etc. It doesn’t need to hold much weight, so I didn’t anchor this into a stud - just used basic drywall anchors. I’ve also got a set of two 2’x4’ panels for another spot in my studio, and those will need a stud/more than 3 drywall anchors. Wish me luck! 
.
[description: video features a woman hanging a panel of pegboard using a square dowel and drill]
It’s time for the annual Hands Occupied new year It’s time for the annual Hands Occupied new year update, and for the first time in years, I feel like I have some clarity about what I’m doing next. ❤️ Head to the blog to read all about it, the 1ink is where you’d think. 
.
#handsoccupied #knitting #creativeburnout
June’s face is giving, “What fresh heck is thi June’s face is giving, “What fresh heck is this?” 😆
.
June’s big ears can get cold in winter, so I’m improvising a doggie ear warmer/hood for her. What are the odds she tries to shred it immediately when it’s done? 
.
#knitting #knittingfordogs #handsoccupied #schneagle #wipwednesday #wip
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy