An Indian costume, whether for Halloween or a Thanksgiving play, need not be a difficult or expensive project. Native American clothing is made from a simple pattern relying on beautiful bead and leather work to make it distinctive. A T-shirt is ideal as a base for an Indian costume since it has the same basic shape, the material has a soft fuzziness similar to leather and it can be cut into fringe without fraying. It only needs to be decorated to an individual's taste.
Things You'll Need
Large tan T-shirt
Seam ripper
Iron
Scissors
200 plastic pony beads
2 yards of beaded trim
Fabric glue
Step 1
Remove the hems from the sleeves and shirttail of the T-shirt with the seam ripper. Iron out the creases.
Step 2
Cut fringe into the hemline of the shirt about 3 inches deep and about 1/2 inch apart. String a bead onto each fringe, and tie the end into a knot to prevent the beads from falling off.
Step 3
Cut fringe into the sleeves of the shirt about ½ inch wide and about 3 inches deep. String a bead onto each fringe, and tie the end into a knot to prevent the bead from falling off.
Step 4
Glue trim around the neck of the T-shirt with fabric glue.
Step 5
Glue trim to the front of the shirt from each shoulder into a point on the front of the shirt.
Tip
Wear your shirt with matching tan pants and moccasins. Wrap a strip of trim around your head as a headband. You may also make or buy Indian-style jewelry to go with your costume.