How to Make an Early Explorer Costume
- 1). Measure the child who will be wearing the costume – getting measurements for waist, inseam, shoulders, head and length from shoulder to knees. Purchase a pattern for homemade pantaloons, using the measurement guide on the back of the package to ensure the proper size. Sew the pantaloons using a thin, velvety fabric in red, black or green.
- 2). Take a crew-necked white long-sleeved shirt, and sew white satiny ruffles on the edge of each sleeve near the wrist. In the same fabric as the pantaloons, sew a pinafore style shirt, with a scallopped hem. The scallops should look like upside-down castle turrets – which can be achieved by cutting upside-down “U” shapes, with a 2-inch space in between each “U.” Sew the edges down and line them with a gold or silver thread to form subtle piping. Add some additional piping along the top 2 to 4 inches of the shirt, sewing two strips along the chest.
- 3). Search thrift stores or purchase at retail a long brown bathrobe or suede coat. Cut to calf-length and hem if necessary. Add gold or silver piping to the cuff of this garment. Cut two large triangles out of two pieces of black felt. Sew gold or silver piping along the angled edges, and then attach these on either side of the robe, with the point of the triangle pointing outward. This will form the large collar popular in the times of early American explorers.
- 4). Purchase an “early explorer” hat from a party store or costume shop and pick up a toy telescope from your local toy store. You can also make a telescope by painting a paper towel roll black and adding metallic gold paint to the ends.
Take a pair of black patent leather dress shoes and add a gold “buckle” to the top of each. Complete this by cutting two small, hollowed-out squares out of a piece of gold glitter card stock or foam, and using a glue gun to attach.
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