How to Make a DIY Wizard Robe from a Bathrobe or Graduation Gown

The quickest way to make a DIY wizard robe is to start from something that is already robe-shaped: a dark bathrobe, an old graduation gown or a long black cardigan. Remove or hide anything that looks modern, close the front with a clasp or ribbon, add a hood or collar if it needs one, then trim the edges with ribbon, felt or fabric paint. A no-sew version takes about half an hour with fabric glue or safety pins; a few straight seams on a sewing machine make it sturdier.

If you have neither a bathrobe nor a gown, a dark flat bed sheet makes a simple pull-over robe with no sewing at all. This guide covers all three starting points, how to add a hood, how to make the robe look less like bedtime wear, and the props that finish a wizard costume.

What You Need

• A base: a dark bathrobe (fleece or flannel works best), a graduation gown, or a dark flat bed sheet
• Fabric glue or iron-on hemming tape for the no-sew method, or a sewing machine and matching thread
• Safety pins and sharp fabric scissors
• A closure: a metal cloak clasp, a large button, a brooch or a length of ribbon or cord
• Trim: satin ribbon, felt in a contrast color, braid or gold fabric paint
• Optional: extra dark fabric for a hood or wide sleeves (about 1 yard or 1 m)
• A tape measure and tailor's chalk or a bar of soap for marking

Which Base Should You Use?

A graduation gown looks most like a wizard robe straight away, a bathrobe is the warmest and easiest to find, and a bed sheet is the cheapest because you probably already own one.

Base	Sewing needed	Pros	Watch out for
Graduation gown	None	Already long, dark and wide-sleeved	Thin fabric; zips or school logos to cover
Bathrobe	None or a little	Warm for trick or treating, has sleeves and a belt	Can look like nightwear; terry towelling is bulky
Flat bed sheet	None	Free, any length, easy to cut	No sleeves; needs a belt or cord to shape it
Fabric from scratch	Yes	Any color and size you want	Takes the longest; see our cloak guides instead

Method 1: Turn a Graduation Gown into a Wizard Robe

A graduation gown needs only a closure and some trim to become a wizard robe, because the long body and wide bell sleeves are already the right shape.

1. Try the gown on and check the length. If it drags, fold the hem up inside and hold it with hemming tape or a few safety pins.
2. Cover the front zip, if there is one, with a strip of ribbon or felt glued down one side so the robe looks like it opens like a coat.
3. Cover any school name or logo with a felt patch in a contrast color, or with a simple shape you cut yourself, such as a star or moon.
4. Add a clasp or a pair of ribbons at the neck. Our guide to fastening a cloak or cape shows several options that work just as well on a robe.
5. Glue or stitch a band of ribbon or felt around the sleeve edges and down the front opening. A single contrast color, such as gold, silver, red or green, makes it look intentional rather than borrowed.

Method 2: Make a Wizard Robe from a Bathrobe

A dark bathrobe becomes a wizard robe once you hide the belt loops, swap the terry belt for a cord and give the edges a trim.

1. Remove the fabric belt, and snip off belt loops if you won't need them again. Tie a length of thick cord, rope or a long scarf around the waist instead.
2. If the robe has patch pockets with a print or logo, cover them with felt or turn the robe so the cord and sleeves draw the eye instead.
3. Widen the sleeves for a more magical look: cut a large rectangle of dark fabric for each sleeve, fold it into a tube and glue or sew it over the robe's own sleeve so it hangs open at the wrist.
4. Add trim along the front edges and cuffs, and pin a brooch or clasp at the collar.

Method 3: No-Sew Wizard Robe from a Bed Sheet

A flat sheet makes a simple tabard-style robe: cut a head hole in the middle, let it hang front and back, and belt it at the waist.

1. Fold a dark flat sheet in half widthways. Hold it against the wearer and trim the length so it ends at the ankle or mid-calf, keeping it short enough to walk in.
2. Fold it in half again lengthways to find the center of the fold, and cut a small curved notch for the neck. Start small; you can always make it bigger.
3. Slip it over the head. For a coat-style robe, cut straight up the center front from the hem to the neck hole, and finish the new edges with hemming tape or leave them raw if the fabric doesn't fray.
4. Close the sides under the arms with a few safety pins or dots of fabric glue, leaving armholes.
5. Tie a cord or sash at the waist so the robe falls in folds instead of hanging like a box.

How to Add a Hood or Collar

A hood makes almost any robe look like a wizard's, and you can add one with or without sewing.

• Sewn hood: follow our tutorial on making a hood without a pattern, then stitch it to the robe's neckline the same way you would sew a hood onto a cape.
• No-sew hood: fold a rectangle of fleece in half, glue the back seam with fabric glue and attach it inside the collar with safety pins.
• Cloak instead of a hood: wear a no-sew cloak or a full hooded cloak over the robe for a layered, traveling-wizard look.
• High collar: cut a curved strip of stiff felt, glue it inside the back of the neckline and fold it up for a dramatic sorcerer collar.

Ways to Make It Look Magical

Trim, texture and a few accessories are what turn a plain dark robe into a wizard costume.

• Cut stars and moons from gold or silver felt and glue them along the hem and sleeves.
• Paint a border of simple runes or swirls with fabric paint; practice on scrap fabric first.
• Line the inside of the hood or the turned-back cuffs with a bright satin for a flash of color when you move.
• Add a pointed hat, made the same way as our witch hat in a deep blue or purple felt.
• Carry a hot glue wizard wand and a homemade spell book.

Troubleshooting

• It still looks like a bathrobe. Swap the belt for a cord, add wide oversleeves and trim, and wear a hood or hat. The silhouette changes most with sleeves and a hood.
• The robe is too long and trips the wearer. Hem it to ankle length for adults and mid-calf for children, especially for stairs and trick or treating.
• Fabric glue soaked through. Use a thin line rather than blobs, and put a sheet of paper inside the robe so it doesn't glue the front to the back.
• The sheet robe looks boxy. Belt it higher at the waist and pull a little fabric up over the cord so it blouses over.

Safety Notes

Long robes and wide sleeves can trip wearers and catch fire easily, so keep the hem above the ankle for children, keep sleeves away from candles and jack-o'-lanterns lit with real flames, and add reflective tape or carry a flashlight when trick or treating after dark.

A wizard robe pairs with plenty of other homemade costume pieces. Add a wand, a pointed hat and some potion bottles, or if the party is tonight, see our last-minute DIY Halloween costumes for more quick ideas. Find more projects in our wizard crafts section.