How to Dress a Lawn Goose for Columbus Day

The lawn goose is a Midwest tradition that's spreading its way throughout the country. They're frequently dressed for all occasions, from the first day of spring right through Valentine's Day. Though Columbus Day isn't the most common of holidays to decorate for, your lawn goose can help make the holiday a real event.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Puffy short pants or a cloth tube that has a drawstring at the top and bottom
• White square bib
• A fabric piece that will wrap around for the top
• A lawn goose shirt with mutton chop sleeves.
• An Amish farmer hat
• Scissors
• A flag stick
• White fabric to make an English flag

1. Look for a pair of puffy shorts. Many pictures of Columbus show him with close fitting tights and a pair of striped puffy shots. You can use a fabric tube with a drawstring at the top and the bottom. The material is usually shown as a vertical stripe.

2. Wrap the top of the lawn goose with another striped or colorful material. Use a V striped design with one color of the stripes from the puffy shorts.

3. Add a short white square bib layered over the top. This is the collar of the lawn goose shirt.

4. Layer another top over the V striped top and collar. Make this longer shirt of a simple color that goes well with the others. The shirt should be left open in the front and have the arms stuffed puffy at the top with small hands on the end. A simple chain across the top to hold the shirt on will suffice.

5. Create a small flag to put in the hand of Columbus. Make the flag white with a red cross.

6. Get a farmer hat and flatten the front and back. Cut a W shape with the high point of the W in the middle. Outline the W and accent it with several lines of colored paint.

7. Create a scarf for the lawn goose as the final part of the outfit for Columbus Day. Put the ends of the scarf to the back with the middle at the front of the neck.

Resources

• Buy lawn goose clothes and accessories at Goose Clothes Galore.