How to Sew a Jester Costume
Whether a natural fool or one by license, the jester is a figure in history employed to entertain aristocrats. Often employed by royalty, the job was to hurl jests at everyone, even the king and queen, as well as entertain through stories, song and juggling. Dressed in a motley blend of bright colors and specific head gear, a jester stands out from everyone else in a crowd. Sewing a jester costume requires some basic sewing skills and a collage of clashing colors.
Things You'll Need
- Bright-colored fabrics
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Pins
- Iron
- Thread
- Needle
- 2 pairs of leggings or tights
- Bells
- White, long-sleeve shirt
Instructions
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Collect pieces of fabric in bright colors, patterns and textures. The louder the better. Remnant pieces work fine for this project. The basic costume consists of a tunic, leggings and three-pointed hat or headband.
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2
Measure the width of your shoulders. This will be the finished width of your tunic. Add 1 inch to the measurement for a 1/2 inch seam on both sides. Now, measure from the top of your shoulder to the spot above your knee your tunic will end. Double this measurement and add 4 inches for seam allowance and shoulder width.
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3
Select the colors of your tunic. Two primary patterns are most often seen. One has two colors side-by-side the entire length. The other is a four-color tunic in which blocks of fabric alternate across from each other on the front and back. Choose your preferred style.
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4
Cut the fabric panels that will make up the tunic. Use sections that, when fitted together, will create the needed width and length of your tunic. Pin the pieces together right sides facing, leaving 1/4 inch for a seam allowance facing the inside of the tunic. Press the seams flat with an iron. When you have pieced the sections together and trimmed it to make your desired length and width, fold the top, bottom and side edges in 1/2 inch all the way around and press flat. Pin in place.
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5
Sew all the seams. Use a loose baste or hem stitch on the top, bottom and sides. A straight line stitch for the seams between the pieces with tighter stitches will make even lines. Clip all excess threads and press seams flat when done.
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Fold the tunic fabric in half and hold it up to your shoulders. Mark the center point of your neck against the top edge of the fabric. Lay the fabric flat on your work surface and open it up. Use the mark as the center point of a 10-inch diameter circle.You can adjust this measurement if you have a larger or smaller neck. Mark and cut this circle out.
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Lay the ruler across the center of the circle from side to side. Mark 1/2 inch in on each side of the circle. Now, switch to top to bottom and mark another 1/2 inch. Clip these with the scissors. Turn the garment over. Press the flaps your notches created down to the inside of the tunic. Pin and sew a seam around the circle to finish it.
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Cut two pairs of leggings or tights in half up the crotch of the garment to the waist bands so you have four separate legs. Use bright colors or patterns that are opposite each other. Put two legs together that are not from the same pair, so you have two completely different legs. Pin them together at the crotch where you cut them from the original pairs and sew from one waist band all the way around to the other, creating a new pair.
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9
Measure the circumference of your head around the forehead area. Cut two pieces of fabric 3 inches wide and the length of your head measurement plus 1/2 inch. Put the pieces right sides together. Pin the edges and sew, leaving one end of the band open.
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Push from the closed end of the band inwards, turning the band right-side out. Overlap the closed end above the open end, pin and sew to finish the band. Check for proper fit once it is pinned and before sewing to make sure it is snug but not too tight.
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11
Sew a row of jingle bells around the head band. Place them 2 inches to 3 inches apart all the way around.
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Cut a long sash of fabric to use as a belt to tie around the tunic. You can double it and hem the edges if desired, but this is not necessary. Wear a long-sleeve, white shirt beneath the tunic.
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Tips & Warnings
Purchase a classic three-pointed jester hat, if desired, for your head piece.
References
- Photo Credit Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
