How to Make Your Own Jester Costume

Amelie Mueller | updated on August 31, 2017

Class clowns and resident comedians will find their fun-loving personalities reflected in their costume when they dress up as a jester. Jester costumes can be as outrageous or as subtle as their creator wishes by adding embellishments like pompoms and jingle bells. Jester costumes can be made from bright colors or darker tones and benefit from the quirkiness of color blocking. Because there are so many variations, this DIY project is suitable for men, women and kids.

Jester costumes are appropriate for all ages and genders. (Image: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images News/Getty Images)

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape

  • Gold felt

  • Scissors

  • 6 blue felt diamonds

  • 6 black felt diamonds

  • 6 red felt diamonds

  • Sewing machine

  • Black fringe trim

  • Black pompoms

  • Ribbon, 1-inch wide

  • Knitted winter hat

  • Black spandex jumpsuit or striped pajamas

  • Pointed toe boots or slippers

Making the Tunic

Step 1

Take a measurement starting from the mid-thigh all the way up to the top of the shoulders. Double this number. Take another measurement across the chest. Cut out a piece of gold felt using these measurements as dimensions.

Step 2

Fold the felt in half at the middle of the longest side. Cut a slit large enough for a head to fit through.

Step 3

Jester costumes typically feature diamond-shaped patterns. (Image: Ellerslie77/iStock/Getty Images)

Decorate the tunic by sewing a black, red and blue felt diamond across the chest. Sew black fringe trim around the edges of the tunic.

Making the Collar

Step 1

Jester's collars are pointy and decorated with pompoms or bells. (Image: courtyardpix/iStock/Getty Images)

Measure the circumference of the neck. Add 6 inches to the measurement and cut a piece of ribbon this length.

Step 2

Fold nine felt diamonds in half at the middle of their longest side. Sew the tips of each felt diamond together to make nine felt triangles, to make loops. Sew only the tips closed. Do not sew the edges of the triangles shut. Embellish by sewing a black pompom onto each tip.

Step 3

Thread the ribbon through the felt triangles so the tips and pompoms are pointing outward, away from the ribbon. Smaller collars may not need all nine felt triangles. Add the triangles as needed to fill out the collar. Loosely tie around the neck to wear.

Making the Hat

Step 1

Turn a winter cap into a jester's hat. (Image: Levent Konuk/iStock/Getty Images)

Sew a pompom onto one tip of each felt triangle.

Step 2

Fold the brim of the knitted winter hat up about 1 inch. Insert felt triangles under the brim so the tip with the pompom is pointed towards the top of the hat. Sew into place. Alternate the colors of the triangles.

Step 3

Allow the felt triangles to fold and flop over to replicate the look of a jester's hat.

Finish the Look

Step 1

Jesters often wear tight leggings and pointy toed shoes. (Image: Comstock/Stockbyte/Getty Images)

Put on a black spandex jumpsuit to serve as the base for the costume.

Step 2

Layer on the tunic, collar and hat.

Step 3

Wear a pair of pointy toed boots or slippers to complete the look.

Tip

Striped pajamas can be substituted for the black spandex jumpsuit as a base layer.

References & Resources
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