Many children and adults alike are fascinated by American Indian culture and want to wear costumes that reflect that interest. You can make an Indian-style costume with relative ease, even without sewing. You can also create costumes that reflect Indian fashion in South Asia too. Here are some steps you should take to complete these kinds of costumes.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Making a Tunic
Step 1. Cut the neckline from the tan or brown pillowcase
Use a pair of scissors to cut a half moon shape from the bottom crease of the pillowcase. The cut must be large enough to fit the wearer's head.
- Spread out the pillowcase and trace the desired shape with a pencil before cutting. The half moon shape should be placed in the center at the edges.
- For small children, the recommended cut size is 15 x 7.5cm. For adults or older children, measure the width of the neck to determine the length of the neckline.
- You can use a flat round object like a plate to trace the shape of a half or semicircle moon.
- Ask the person who will be wearing it to put a pillowcase over his head. If the wearer's head doesn't fit through the neckline, then make a slightly bigger cut and try again.
- If you want to save time, you can choose to use a tan or brown t-shirt instead of a pillowcase. This way, you don't need to make the neckline and sleeve holes, but you do need to cut the sleeves off before continuing.
Step 2. Make the sleeve holes
Cut two more moon shapes in half along the edge of the pillowcase, near the top of the folded material. The hole must be large enough to fit the wearer.
- The sleeve holes should be evenly spaced, and each about 2.5 to 5 cm down from the top of the pillowcase.
- For children, the half-moon shape should be about 7.5 cm long and 1.25 cm wide. For adults or older children, measure the thickest part of the upper arm to determine the length of the hole to make.
- Ask the wearer to put on the pillowcase. If the arm can't fit through the hole, make the hole bigger.
Step 3. Make a tassel along the sleeve hole
Make a 3, 8- slit along the sleeve hole to create a tassel.
- Make a slit that is 1.25 cm wide.
- Continue along both arms in such a way that both arms have tassels.
- Alternatively, you can also glue small pieces of pre-purchased tassel to the costume around the sleeves.
Step 4. Cut a bit of the costume if you think it's necessary
A tunic of void sarongs should be short enough to fit grown children and adults, but perhaps too long for little ones.
Instruct the child to wear the costume. If the bantak sarong extends below the middle calf, it must be cut with scissors so that the child does not trip over
Step 5. Make a tassel at the bottom
Make a 7.5 cm slit in the open bottom of the glove to create a tassel.
- Spread pillowcases. Make a slit using sharp scissors, and make a slit about 1.25 cm wide.
- Continue to make slits around the exposed bottom of the pillowcase.
Step 6. Glue the tassel to the neckline
Use fabric glue to glue purchased or homemade tassels around the neckline.
- To make your own tassel, use additional strips of fabric or brown crochet 5 cm wide. Cut the strips of fabric into halves that are the same length as the neckline. Cut 3.8 cm wide slits along the strips of fabric, leaving 1.25 cm apart from each other.
- Glue the tassel using fabric glue to the part of the piece of fabric that doesn't have a tassel. The position of the tassel should be prone and away from the neck rather than supine and above it.
Step 7. Decorate as desired
One of the easiest ways to decorate a tunic is with a triangle of colors along the exposed base.
- Cut the sponge for crafts into a 5 cm high triangular shape. Leave the edges of the triangle rough or jagged.
- Pour a small amount of red, orange, yellow, or green fabric paint into a small bowl.
- Dip the sponge in the fabric paint and decorate the exposed bottom of the pillowcase with a row of upside-down triangles. The row should be about 10 cm from the open end, and the triangles 2.5 cm apart from each other.
- Create a triangle on the right side up on top of a row of inverted triangles using a sponge of the second triangle shape and of a different color. Each triangle on the right side facing up should be placed between the two prone triangles.
- Repeat the pattern on both sides of the pillowcase. Let the first side dry before decorating the second.
Method 2 of 4: Making the Pants
Step 1. Pick out a pair of worn tan khakis
For best results, choose a pair that is more or less the same color as the pillowcase used for the tunic.
- The pants should be tight and not loose or baggy. It's okay to wear semi baggy pants as long as they fit, but ideally one that's wide enough and loose.
- If you want, you can trim the extra fabric along the sides of the pant legs to make them tighter. Ask the wearer to put on the pants and pin them along the sides to determine how tight they need to be. Once removed, flip the inside of the pants out and sew along the safety pins to make them tighter. Trim the excess material and turn the pants inside again.
Step 2. Cut two pieces of tassel
Make two long tassel pieces that run from the waist to the bottom of the pants.
- Use brown felt, canvas, or similar strong material.
- The cut should be about 3.8 cm wide.
- Cut a 2.5 cm slit along one side of the fabric strip. Space the pieces 1.25 cm apart.
- You can also use store-bought tassels to save time
Step 3. Glue the tassel to the side of the pants
Use fabric glue or a needle and thread to attach the tassel pieces to the sides of both pant legs.
- Glue or sew the non-tufted section 1.25 cm wide.
- If you prefer to wear a skirt costume, simply add a tassel along the seam edge of the brown skirt.
Method 3 of 4: Decorate
Step 1. Wear flat-heeled shoes or brown boots
It's best to wear sandals, but simple brown strapless shoes are fine too.
- Brown leather boots can also be used as long as they have a flat sole.
- If you don't intend to walk in mud puddles, you can also use flip-flops.
- Ordinary brown sandals can also be used as long as they are not decorated with other decorations.
Step 2. Make a feather headband
Attach the feathers to the inside of the headband loop that fits the wearer's head.
- The simplest way to make a fluffy headband is to start with a brown cloth headband wrapped around your head. Use hot glue to attach one to three feathers inside the headband, at a location on the side of the head and behind the ears.
- If you don't have a brown headband, you can cut a brown stretch of fabric that is long enough to fit the wearer's head. Add a length of 2.5 cm. Wrap the strips of fabric to make the headband, using glue or hot glue to attach an additional 2.5 cm of fabric to the other end of the headband.
- Decorate with wood beads, colorful grain beads, or custom paint for crafts.
Step 3. If you want, add a belt
If you want to give your tunic a little extra shape, tie a braided leather sash around the wearer's waist.
If you're having trouble finding a sash or belt, you can also cut a piece of leather, canvas, or brown strap that's long enough to wrap around your waist. Be sure to cut enough extra material so the belt can be tied to the loose front of the costume
Method 4 of 4: Making an Indian Sari Costume
Step 1. Make a t-shirt to wear under the sari
Cut the neck of the white or brightly colored shirt with sharp scissors. You should also trim the bottom of the shirt so that the ends are at the wearer's hips.
If you want this shirt to stand out, use glue to attach the beads to the neckline and seam the bottom edge of the shirt
Step 2. Find a piece of fabric for the sari
Sari is a traditional covering cloth worn by Indian women. However, you can also make the costume with a piece of cloth. The acetate material that is usually used to coat clothes can be made into sari costumes. For a children's costume, cut the fabric 75 cm wide and 3 meters long. As for adults, cut the fabric 1.2 m wide and 5 meters long.
Choose a light color for the sari costume. Jewel-colored fabrics such as emeralds, rubies, or sapphires are great for making saris
Step 3. Wrap the sari
To make it easier to wrap around, wear a short t-shirt with leggings or short tights in a neutral color. Take one end of the fabric and tuck it into the back of the leggings. Make a crease in the fabric then tuck the next section to the waist. Repeat until the fabric is wrapped around your waist. Bring the rest of the fabric over your shoulders from back to front.
- When tucking the fabric around your waist, try to keep the fabric covering the soles of your feet, just above the floor.
- Try to make 7-10 folds when tucking the fabric. This fold should be straight and point to the left of the body.
- Once pulled over the shoulders, the rest of the fabric should still be knee-high and the floor.
- If you're afraid of sagging your sari, put a pin on it to hold it in place.
- Complete the sari costume with a large gold or silver bracelet, gold or silver hoop earrings, and flat sandals.
