how to make xmas nativity costumes?. plz help

mumof3mk

hi there. dident know where to put this post.. :rolleyes:

both of my boys ages 5 and 10 are in the school xmas play. ive tryed (hopelessly), with not much luck, trying to find HOW TO MAKE the following costumes....

my 5 yr old is to be a STAR, and my other son is to be a ELF.

does anybody know of any gd sites, where it shows u how to make them, at home..
the school play is nxt weds. :rolleyes: , so. any help will be great.
thank you.

skylight

The Tesco free magazine has some ideas (not a star though) but they stick to the basic characters.


(Sssshhhh, I bought mine an elf and angel from Ebay - Don't tell anyone, will you! )

Savvy_Sue

OK: don't panic! Unless you have instructions to the contrary, a star could be made of cardboard and put on a headband. Then dress him in black or dark blue (sky!)

OR get two BIG sheets of thin card and cut two star shapes from that, hang it on his shoulders with string. Might need to tie it at the waist as well, IYSWIM.

If you're feeling more adventurous, then lie him down on a large expanse of newspaper, and draw a five pronged star shape out around him. Make it generous enough that you'll be able to fit his body inside once it's sewn up! You could even do a mock up of this newspaper pattern with sellotape.

Cut the 'head' off. Now put your 'pattern' onto a double sheet of white or gold or silver material - or even paper, but leave plenty of wiggle room! - and cut it out. Whatever you do, choose a material that doesn't fray! Leave some extra for seams and also add a couple of inches to the bottom of the 'head'. Sew it up, leaving holes for his hands and feet, and also leaving a fairly big neck space that his whole body will fit into. You'll need to put some fastenings on that. Now, sew your 'head' into a pointy triangle shape, rather like the Ku Klux Klan, and cut eyeholes. Or better yet a large hole for most of his face!

After that, an elf is easy! Green tights (yes, even for a boy!), LONG green jumper or t-shirt, belt. Newspaper hat painted green. Bow and quiver with arrows if you can trust him with them - made of cardboard if you don't have the real thing as a play item. Borrow or scour charity shops for the green stuff.

There are patterns you can buy, I googled nativity patterns, don't know if there are any ideas free online, didn't have time for a really good hunt. But I hope that helps for a start!

Oh, and have you looked in the library for books?

Hope that helps!

jellyhead

savvy you're fab! can you do a charles dickens costume for my 9 year old? lol!

skylight

Savvy - thats cool!

Better than my idea!

rainee

our school last year for the star had the child dressed all in black holding a large star on a pole making it stand taller at the back of the stage

jockettuk

my daughter was a elf a few yrs ago.. i put her in a green and red strippy jumper and green trousers she wouldnt wear just tights lol.. i got her out of one of the party shops a elf hat that had the ears attached for abt £3 they also do just the elf ears that slip over the top of the childs ears. painted daughters face shade of green and she looked the part..

Mumstheword

We've got a cowboy and a snowman this year. We had a cowboy outfit which just needs a band of material inserting at the waist to lengthen it, and my mate has given me her home made snowman suit, which just needs shortening. Fab!

mummysaver

If you're making any outfits I'd recommend using fleece, just cut and sew it together, hides most stitching, which is ideal when you find yourself making it the night before it's needed, and fleece doesn't need hemming. Oh, and it's often cheaper to buy a fleece blanket and cut it up rather than metres of the material, even from our cheapo fabric shop - nobody seems to want the green blankets and they're always reduced.

This year my youngest dd is an angel, but the new school we've sent her to provide all the outfits - hurray!

hobo28

An elf and a star? Hey, at least they are tangible. When my daughter was young, she was a "snowflake" and a "ray of light".

The letter from school said "Your son/daughter character for the school play is ...a ray of light. Please provide an appropriate outfit."

Just HOW on earth do you make a character for a ray of light!?!!?! Am sure, the teachers do it to torture us parents.

hilstep2000

Having just mad, today 20 tree costumes, two robins and six snowmen, you have my sympathy!!! Our dress rehearsal is on Friday, play next Tuesday, and guess what? we have a Government Inspection for the next three days! AARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!