AI-generated picture to show the idea. Yours will look handmade.

Mummy

A DIY mummy costume is one of the cheapest costumes you can make, because the bandages come from an old white sheet. Tear it into strips, stain them with tea, and wrap them over a plain top and trousers so a little skin and one eye show through. About $8, no sewing and under an hour.

TIME: 50 min
COST: about $8
SKILL: Easy

What you need

An old white or cream sheet (single is plenty), or a roll of cheap gauze
A white or cream long-sleeve top and trousers to wear underneath
Six tea bags and a large bowl of hot water
Safety pins and a roll of double-sided tape
A pair of scissors
Optional: a little black eyeliner to smudge round the eyes

How to make it

1
Cut a notch in the edge of the sheet and tear it into strips about 5 cm wide. Tearing gives the ragged edge you want.
2
Steep the tea bags in the bowl of hot water for five minutes, then soak the strips for ten. Wring them out and hang them to dry, or tumble dry on a low heat.
3
Put on the white top and trousers. Starting at one ankle, wrap a strip upwards in a loose spiral, overlapping it by half each time.
4
Secure each strip with a safety pin hidden on the inside, or a tiny piece of double-sided tape.
5
Work up the legs, round the torso and down the arms, crossing over a few strips at the chest.
6
Leave a few strips loose at the ends so they trail when you walk.
7
Wrap the head last, leaving a gap for your eyes. Smudge a little eyeliner round them.

Make it better

Do not wrap tightly. You need to sit, walk and breathe.
Wrap your wrists and ankles last, so you can still get the costume on and off.
Make a spare set of strips. They will come undone by the end of the night.

Questions

How do I make a mummy costume at home?

Tear a white sheet into strips, stain them with tea, and wrap them over a plain white outfit. Pin as you go so it holds.

Can I use toilet paper instead?

For a few minutes of photos, yes. For a night out, no, because it tears and tends to disintegrate. A cloth sheet lasts.

Is this an official mummy costume?

No. It is a homemade, unofficial costume of the classic bandaged mummy. It is not based on any film's look.

Is it good for UK fancy dress?

Yes. It is cheap, warm and very recognisable, which makes it a safe pick for a UK fancy dress party.

Unofficial. Mummy and the The Mummy names belong to their respective owners, and we are not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by them. The names are used only to describe this homemade parody costume.

Wear it in front of your own haunted CCTV

Upload four photos of your house and Cursed Cam turns them into a night-time security monitor where something is very wrong. Put it on the TV by the door.

Make my monitor See how it works