How to Make a Johnny Apppleseed Costume

Johnny Appleseed made quite a reputation for himself as he traveled around the countryside. It’s true that he was one of the country's earliest ecologists as he planted apple seeds wherever he went. He also built a reputation by being quite an eccentric, especially by the way he dressed. This makes him a natural for a dress-up costume. By following these step-by-step instructions, you will have a Johnny Appleseed costume that's bound to get lots of attention.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plaid Shirt
• Overalls
• Fabric Scraps
• Needle
• Thread
• Scissors
• Cooking Pot
• Small Drawstring Bag
• Cotton Grocery Bag
• 12 Plastic Apples
• Corncob Pipe
• Old Rags
• Old Newspapers
• Safety Pin
• Tree Branch
• Wire

1. Start with a plaid flannel shirt that has seen better days. Check the thrift shops where you’ll easily find one of these. Roll the sleeves of the shirt up. You want to make a different length for each sleeve. Make a tear in one of the shirt sleeves.

2. Grab a pair of overalls or pants with suspenders to wear over the shirt. Again, these should be easy to find at a thrift shop. Sew patches on the overalls or pants in three or four places. Hike the pants or overalls up so that one side is longer than the other.

3. Wear two different shoes and two different socks. (It was actually reported that Johnny Appleseed was seen wearing unmatched shoes most of the time.)

4. Place a lightweight cooking pot upside down on your head for a hat that will keep away both sun and rain. Johnny was a practical boy.

5. Take a burlap or cotton grocery bag, and fill it with a bunch of bright red plastic apples. Stuff rags in the bottom of the bag before putting in the apples. This will make the bag look full without adding all that excess weight for you to carry around with your costume. Carry this sack over one arm.

6. Take a small drawstring bag and write "seeds" on the front. Stuff it with rags or crumbled newspapers, pull it closed and safety pin it to your pants.

7. Find an old corncob pipe, run it through the dishwasher and stick it in your mouth.

8. Find a large branch, but make sure it small enough to be carried. Wire some of the apples and leaves onto the branch. You can carry around one of your own "trees." This step is optional, but it adds to the fun and storytelling.

Tips & Warnings

• If you happen to have access to a long fake beard, it would make a great addition to the costume.
• Do not allow a child to go trick-or-treating carrying the "tree" as its branches, being carried at eye-height, could easily be a danger to the child or others.