Cheap Halloween Decor Idea: Upcycled Wire Hanger Bats

4 Materials
Don't throw away your old wire hangers from the dry cleaner! Turn them into cute Halloween bats instead. :)
I don't like to spend a lot of money on holiday decorations, but I do enjoy adding a little bit of fun flair to the house for Halloween. I'm a huge fan of making good use out of something I was about to throw away, and the other day, I realized that the shape and flexibility of a wire hanger made it the PERFECT thing to turn into a craftastic little Halloween bat.
To get started, just grab a wire hanger from your closet and fold it in half as pictured below. (You'll want to use a sturdy table or floor to steady it while you do your folding.)
Slip the top portion of the hanger UNDER the long wire to secure. Then bend that top portion down and around to form the shape of the bat's head.
Next, take some stretchy black fabric and gently pull it over the wire hanger frame. You want to pull it taut, but not too tight. Then tie it in a knot at the end to secure.


Check out my full post at www.goodinthesimple.com to find out my secret to finding stretchy black fabric that is CHEAP and perfect for this project. (There's also a full how-to video.)
After you've tied your knot, you can hide it by making a small little cut beside the knot and tucking it inside.
Add some eyes, and you've got yourself a bat! Isn't it cute? I love Halloween decorations that aren't super scary.
Now it's time to make your bat fly! Just use a little bit of stretchy, clear cord. You can find my recommendation on the best type of cord here .
Hang your bats indoors or outdoors! Mine seem to love hanging out by my bookcase for now...but on trick or treat night, I have a feeling they might migrate to our front yard tree or our front door. :)
Suggested materials:
  • Wire hanger   (home)
  • Black stretchy fabric   (big box store)
  • Googly eyes   (craft store)
See all materials
Alyssa @ Good + Simple
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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  2 questions
  • Sheri Leaman Sheri Leaman on Sep 10, 2016
    Would knee high trouser socks work instead of the fabric? I always have one odd sock hanging around.
  • Oli12399951 Oli12399951 on Oct 25, 2016
    I love this idea. Can you use black pantyhose?
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