How to Make Indian Kids' Costumes
A homemade Indian costume for a child does not require the use of complicated patterns or advanced sewing skills. Remember that Native Americans made their clothing long before sewing machines were invented, so while you can use a sewing machine to speed up the costume-making process, you can easily hand-stitch it and add to the charm of your kid's finished costume by making it yourself.
Things You'll Need
- T-shirt
- Faux suede fabric
- Fabric pencil
- Scissors
- Needle
- Thread
- Pants
- Beads
- Adhesive hook-and-loop fasteners
- Feathers
Instructions
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1
To make a shirt pattern, lay one of your child's T-shirts on a piece of folded faux suede fabric. Trace around the T-shirt with a fabric pencil, leaving a 2-inch border between the T-shirt and your pencil line for the seam allowance.
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2
Cut the folded suede along your pencil line. You now have two pieces of material shaped like a T-shirt.
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3
Arrange the pieces of material with right-sides together and sew along the edges using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Make sure that you do not sew shut the neck hole, sleeve openings or the bottom of the shirt.
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4
Repeat steps one through three using a pair of your child's pants that comfortably fit; first trace an existing pair of pants and then sew from the faux suede.
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5
Make vertical cuts with a pair of scissors along the bottom of the shirt to form fringe. These cuts should be spaced approximately 1/2-inch apart and measure 3 to 4 inches long.
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6
Thread colorful beads randomly onto the fringe. Tie a knot into the bottom of each piece of fringe to hold the beads in place.
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7
Cut a strip of the suede fabric 2-inches wide and long enough to wrap around your child's head with the ends overlapped.
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8
Press adhesive hook-and-loop fasteners onto the ends of the suede strip to hold it in place on your child's head.
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9
Hot-glue beads or feathers to the headband to add decoration.
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Tips & Warnings
If you would like to make an Indian dress for a girl's costume, extend the hem of the top pattern by 12 inches to lengthen the top into a dress. You will not need to make the pants.
Pair the costume with leather sandals or moccasins.
