DLTK's Holiday Crafts for Kids
Simple Gown
Good for a number of costumes including angel, bride, fairy, shepherd, princess, witch.
Loose fitting gown with elastic around the neck.
Question: Do these turn out as nice as the costumes you can purchase from the store?
Answer: Not when I make them *laugh* -- I'm not much of a seamstress. However! My youngest daughter loves the process of choosing fabric, cutting out pieces and helping put it all together. She has always treasured the costumes we've made together far more than the store bought ones. The costumes we've purchased at the store have been great (especially when Halloween sneaks up on me which happens every few years) but whenever we've taken the time to make a costume -- we've made a lot of great family memories at the same time! (and no one else is wearing an identical costume -- something which horrifies my older daughter when it happens).
Materials S(M)L:
- 50(75)82" x 45(55)55" fabric (light weight cotton blends work well).
- 1" seam binding
- thin elastic (1/4")
- Optional: ribbon, lace, beading, etc to decorate
- Optional: belt or cord to wrap around the middle
Instructions:
- Measure and cut out pieces according to the measurements below.
- Stitch sleeves to the body front and back.
- Stitch sides of the body.
- Stitch underarms.
- Pin seam binding around the neckline.
- Sew seam binding around the neck (notice that it's folded in half... make sure the opening stays wide enough for the elastic to fit through).
- Push elastic through the casing and sew the ends together. The amount of elastic you use depends on what you're comfortable with (I suggest you do this with the costume on).
- Hem the bottom of the gown and sleeves.
- Optional: stitch ribbon or lace on to decorate (you can hot glue it on instead to save time).
- Optional: add seam binding and elastic around the arms at the wrist (about 1.5" from the hem) to make ruffled cuffs or at the mid arms to make princess sleeves.
Printable version of these instructions