How to Make Teen Indian Halloween Costumes

Indian Halloween costumes can be personalized by teens.

Halloween costume choices are endless. Oftentimes teens enjoy making a costume unique by adding accessories or making it entirely themselves. Styles and trends vary from one Native American tribe to the next, but there are a few items found in nearly every tribe. By using neutral-colored fabrics and accessories, making a teen Indian costume for a boy or a girl is an easy task. Making the costume can also save money in the long run.

Things You'll Need

• Brown/tan dress
• Brown/tan pants
• Brown shirt
• Scissors
• Brown or tan felt fabric
• Beads
• Feathers
• Thread
• Needle
• Hot glue gun
• Fabric paint
• Face paint
• Bracelets

Instructions

1. Select a plain brown or tan dress for a teen girl or, for a boy, a pair of plain brown or tan pants and short sleeve tan or brown shirt. Cut the bottom of the dress diagonally so it hangs above the knee at the highest point.

2. Add fringe to the costume using a dark brown felt. Not all Indians wear fringe, but it adds character to the costume. Measure the length around the bottom of the skirt and the bust line for a girl. Measure the seam of each pant leg and collar length for a boy. Take the felt and cut the lengths, creating strips of felt approximately four inches thick. Sew the strips of fabric along the bottom of the dress and along the bust line on the dress for a girl's costume. Sew fabric along the neckline of a shirt and down the outside of each pant leg for a boy's costume. Using scissors, cut the fabric every half-inch to create the fridge. Cut the sleeves of the shirt if desired to create additional fringe for a boy.

3. Add beads, feathers or other accessories to the costume. Select accessories in colors such as red, blue and yellow. Sew beads to the costume by hand and glue feathers onto the clothing using a hot glue gun.

4. Decorate brown shoes or sandals. Place different colored beads on shoestrings. Brown boots or sandals can be worn plain.

5. Create a headband. Measure the circumference of the head and cut a piece of fleece fabric long enough to wrap around and tie in the back. Cut the band two or three inches thick. Sew beads onto the band or add fabric paint and attach a single feather to the top sticking up. Hot glue the feather to the inside of the headband.

6. Add accessories to finish the costume. Use face paint or add bracelets to arms and ankles for girls. Keep all items within the red, blue and yellow color scheme.

References

• Costume Works

Resources

• Halloween Costumes
• Costumes for Less