DeKALB | The month of October has students wondering what they want to be for Halloween and considering making their own costumes.

Students may shy away from taking on this task, thinking that they do not have the skills or the equipment. However, there are easy ways to make costumes.

“We have a whole section on no-sew costumes on our website,” said Amanda Cox, a Jo-Ann Fabrics employee.

There is a DIY guide online to making a costume and Halloween prints are on sale at the store, Cox said.

Making a costume can be less expensive than simply buying one, but there is a lot more time and planning involved than just a single stop at the store.

“It will fit you perfectly,” Cox said. “No need to worry about universal store sizes.”

A way to make a homemade costume look more professional is to add store bought accessories. Visiting a dollar store, going to Walmart, or stopping at a downtown DeKalb store and buying inexpensive add-ons may make a costume more polished.

“I have the dress for my costume, I just need to get an apron, maybe a tray,” said Lily Zhen, junior political science major. Zhen is dressing up as a Stepford house wife.

Cracker Jax, 118 N. Third St., offers a variety of accessories.

“We have all types of jewelry, wigs and tiaras,” said owner Lauren Woods.

The wigs start at $22 and go up, and we have them in all sorts of colors, she said.

Cracker Jax also offers some pre-made costume sets and vintage clothing that could be made into a costume.

There is another alternative to making a costume piece by piece or accessorizing something already owned: shops such as Goodwill, 1037 S. Annie Glidden Road and Moxie, 230 E. Lincoln Highway, are budget conscious Halloween stops.

At these stores there is a wide selection of lightly used clothing that can be used in costume making.

“We recently set up an NIU party-wear section,” said Judy Furlung, assistant store manager at the DeKalb Goodwill. “We have ugly sweaters, western apparel, 80s and 90s clothes and more.”

Going to the Goodwill store can be less time consuming than making a costume from scratch, and a last minute alternative, also it is relatively inexpensive Furlung said.

“Even if you needed a dress, it would only cost $6.99,” she said.

The Goodwill shop has only children sized pre-made costumes in stock, but Furlung said the store frequently gets new stock.

At Moxie a variety of clothes is also offered.

“We have a lot of retro clothes,” said sales representative Alexa Tatum. “Things like flannel pants that could be made into a clown costume.”

The store offers used clothing that is retro as well as relatively new.

“Students have been coming in looking for costumes like a Jackie Kennedy Chanel suit, hat and purse, and pin-up girl clothes,” Tatum said.

Moxie buys most of the clothes it has for sale from estate sales, said Tatum.