Preparation

• Choose a solid, colorful fabric for the base of the costume. Colors such as red, blue, yellow, and green are typical transformer colors and you should consider selecting your child's favorite of the colors so that he or she will adore the costume for more years to come. Select a shiny fabric to accent the base color. Reflective silver or gold material creates the metallic effect of the real transformer character. Use a piece of material that is large enough to cut several pieces of patchwork for use throughout the entire costume.
  
  Find a large cardboard box and a few smaller, accent boxes. The large box should be big enough to fit over the child's chest and stomach area. The small boxes need to fit over the arms and legs; therefore, long, rectangular boxes are best. Paint the boxes the same color as the base color of the material for the wearable part of the costume. The front of the large box should contain the painted elements of a car, truck, or other motor vehicle. After you determine which arm or leg the long, smaller boxes will go on, paint accent details on them that match the theme of the motor vehicle you have chosen for the large box.
  
  

Assembly

• Create the entire fabric costume using the material with the base color. If you live in a geographic region with cold temperatures during Halloween, consider using a warm material or warm lining because it will be tough to wear a thick jacket with this costume.
  
  After the core of the costume is assembled, sew on the shiny patchwork. Place these pieces on parts of the solid color fabric that will be exposed when the boxes are worn. If you do not have silver paint for accent on the boxes, consider gluing pieces of the shiny fabric to the box.
  
  

Completion

• Dress the child in the fabric and box portions of the costume. Add large, padded winter gloves to complete the look. This element replicates the type of hand of a transformer quickly and easily. Consider adding colorful plastic sunglasses to further complete the look. This option suits locations that have sunlight during trick or treating hours.