• A bat mask is essential for a homemade Batgirl costume.Andersen Ross/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
  
  Beloved superhero Batman doesn't always work solo. Batgirl, the alter ego of the daughter of Gotham City's Commissioner Gordon, is often called in to help. Her tough but feminine nature has made her a fan favorite for many women. Batgirl is now a popular Halloween costume for girls of all ages. Creating your own Batgirl costume from materials you have from home is an easy way to get the look at a fraction of the cost of buying it from a commercial outlet.
  
  

Body Suit

• Batgirl's costume is black and shiny, perfect for sneaking around in the dark to fight crime. To make the base for a homemade Batgirl costume, you simply need any black article of clothing. If you happen to have a plain black dress, you can use accessories to make into a costume. You could also use black tights or stretch pants under your dress if it is cold where you live in Halloween. If you don't have any plain black clothing, consider cutting an ordinary black trash bag to be your costume. Use black electrical tape to hold it together and fit it to your figure.
  
  

Cape

• Batgirl's cape is a very important element of her costume. If you have a plain black sheet that you can cut to size and tie around your neck, this will work just fine. After cutting it to size, hem the edges to keep the sheet from fraying. If you don't have any sewing skills, you can also find plain black capes in Halloween stores, often at an affordable price. Black capes are often included in vampire costumes.
  
  

Mask

• The mask for this costume will pull the entire look together. Trace a pattern for your mask on a sheet of craft paper, and cut out the shape. To keep your pattern symmetrical, you could draw only half the mask, and trace the outline onto a folded sheet of paper so the sides match evenly. Trace your pattern onto a piece of black felt, and cut out your mask with a sharp craft knife. Attach black yarn to either side of the mask, and tie it in place.
  
  

Accessories

• Bright pops of yellow will set your Batgirl costume in motion. On a yellow piece of felt, trace out the bat shape logo, sized to fit on the front of your dress. Pin or sew the logo in place. Search thrift stores for a bright yellow belt that will work for your costume. If you are not able to find a yellow belt, a black one will also suffice. If you have tall, black boots, these are ideal. Otherwise, you can simply pull long, black socks over shoes. For an added detail, make Batgirl-inspired cuffs out of felt, and tie them in place on each arm as you did your mask.