If the words "Mom, can you make my costume this year?" strike terror in your heart, never fear. You can make a great costume that your child will love even if you have little sewing experience (and even less time).

Making a Halloween costume doesn't require professional sewing skills. If you can stitch a straight line with your sewing machine, you're in business.

And since costumes are for short-term use, don't fret over perfection — you can hem your costume with fusible interfacing in a pinch, for example.

You can save time by starting with clothes from your closet or the local thrift store. For example, a leotard can be the beginning of a ballerina costume, or maybe a princess (with the addition of a poufy skirt) or a fairy (add wings to the princess outfit).

If you need to start from scratch, look for a simple pattern. If you haven't followed a pattern in a while, the fewer pieces you need to deal with, the better.

Here are some costume ideas that combine pieces you may have in the dress-up box with a little creative sewing for a fabulous end result.

• Happening hippie — This favorite never goes out of style, and it is an easy costume to put together. Start with a pair of jeans, top them with a tie-dye shirt and add a fringed vest. Extra touches, like a long, straight wig and granny glasses complete the look.

Make the outfit your own by embellishing the jeans with embroidery, crystals or liquid embroidery pens.

• Wild wizard — Another perennial favorite, and almost as easy as the hippie.

A dark pair of pants and dark turtleneck are the basis for this costume. Then just add a simple cape made from fabric with glittering stars and moons or black cats. Top with a conical hat and a magic wand made from cardboard and tinfoil.

For the cape, cut fabric to the desired length plus one inch for hem. Hem the sides and both ends. Gather one end until it is about 8 to 10 inches across. Center a 36-inch length of one-inch ribbon over the gathered edge and stitch in place along the edges, turning the ends under.

On the underside of the gathers, stitch a length of hook-and-loop tape. Sew the opposite part of the tape to the back center neckline of a T-shirt or sweatshirt.

To wear, attach the cape to the hook-and-loop tape at the back of the shirt, then tie the ends of the ribbon in a bow in front.

The hook-and-loop tape supports the weight of the cape.

ARA CONTENTFrom a happening hippie to a not-so-wicked witch, make your own Halloween costumes by starting with clothes from your closet or the thrift store.