Want to look like a cheerleader for Halloween but don't have a costume yet? Or are you having a hard time trying to find the right costume and want something fun and easy? With just a few outfits from your closet and a little DIY, you can have a fun Halloween costume in no time!
Step
Part 1 of 3: Making Your Pleated Skirt
Step 1. Buy or wear your old pleated skirt if possible
Making pleated skirts from scratch can be very difficult to get right, as pleats are a complicated sewing procedure. If you don't have one, you can buy one from a school uniform store or major shopping mall. Even if it's not a cheerleading skirt, basically, many school uniforms still require pleated skirts. If you don't want to spend money on a new skirt, visit a consignment store in your area. This skirt is worn by students of all ages - from kindergarten to high school. You may be able to find a pleated skirt that is too small or no longer needed to suit you for half the original price.
Step 2. Record your measurements
You will need two basic measurements for this skirt: waist and length. Wear whatever underwear you would wear with your costume, but don't take measurements with other clothes.
- Waist: Determine the position of the skirt waist you want. Most cheerleading skirts hang quite high, from around the navel. Use a tape measure to measure your waist at that level, holding it snug. Make sure not to hold your stomach in, so that the skirt doesn't get too tight the next time you wear it. Make a mark with a pen or sticker to mark your chosen waist line on your body.
- Length: Measure from the mark or sticker on your waistline to whichever part of the leg you want the hem of the skirt to be.
Step 3. Cut your fabric
You can buy fabric at a variety of craft and design stores. The length of the fabric should match your measurements, plus 2.5 cm or more for the hem and belt. For the width, triple the waist measurement (to make room for the crease), then add 5 cm for the seam and zipper.
Step 4. Make a hem at the bottom of the skirt
If you wait until you turn the flat fabric into a pipe skirt and make the pleats, hem the bottom of the skirt will be very difficult. Your hem should measure about 1 cm from the end of the fabric.
- Using a pencil, make fine marks along the fabric to indicate the position of the hem. Make an accurate 1 cm measurement, so that your hem is even.
- Fold the bottom of the fabric so that the edge just touches the mark you made inside the skirt. Hold the fabric in place with a sewing needle.
- Thread a needle and sew the hem line by hand or use a sewing machine to make your hem.
Step 5. Mark the seams you set aside
Once you've hem the bottom of the fabric, lay it flat with the ends pointing toward you. The left and right sides of the fabric, from this position, will be the edges that are sewn together to form the skirt seam. You've left an additional 5cm of width, so measure 2.5cm on each side (left and right) of the fabric and mark the seam you left with a pencil. As with the hem marking, take a series of accurate measurements from the top to the bottom of the fabric to create a line that you can follow later.
- Mark a vertical line along the center of the width of the fabric, at this point. To find the center point, measure the entire width of the fabric and then divide by two. Put a vertical line in the middle of the size.
- All markings must be made "inside" the skirt.
Step 6. Mark your folds
Measuring from the left of the seam mark you set aside (not the edge of the fabric), make crease marks every 3 inches until you reach the end of the fabric. Look at the crease marks you've made, and assume the marks are in the 1-2-3, 1-2-3 pattern. Place the needle at each "1" crease mark on the top edge of the unstitched fabric.
Pull the "1" seam and the zipper section on the right side of the fabric and thread the needle along that section
Step 7. Put the needle in the crease
Pinch the fabric on the first "1" needle (1-1) and pull it over the next "1" needle (1-2). Remove the 1-1 needle and secure the fabric in that position with the 1-2 needle. This results in a crease with the needle. Repeat this process by clamping the fabric on the third needle (1-3) and pulling it against the needles 1-4. Remove needles 1-3 and secure the fabric in that position with needles 1-4. Keep doing this until you reach the edge of your fabric.
Step 8. Iron your folds
Lay the pinned fabric on a stable surface and adjust the folds so that the folds stretch out the way you want. Iron along the crease to strengthen the crease.
Step 9. Sew the top edge of your fabric
Once you've pinned all of your pleats in place with a needle, you can sew your belt loop. Just like the hem line, you can sew it by hand with a needle or use a sewing machine if you have one. Just make sure to sew in the opposite direction from where you made the crease to make sure your folds don't pile up.
Step 10. Create a waistband for your skirt
After you've sewn your waistline, mark every 5cm from the waistline. Sew each pleat in a straight line from the waistline to the 5 cm mark to create a waistline that fits snugly at the top of the skirt. Otherwise, the skirt will hang more like an A-line skirt.
Step 11. Make the belt section
Measure the width of the top edge of your skirt and cut another piece of fabric the same width. The length should match the thickness of your desired belt (2.5 cm to 4 cm will suffice) times 2. Fold this piece of cloth along its vertical axis so that you have a wide sheet of cloth folded in half. The "inside" of the fabric should be facing out. Sew the two long edges of the fabric together with a needle or sewing machine.
- When you're done, turn the fabric side over as you would a sock. This will be the belt at the top of your skirt.
- Also iron this part evenly.
Step 12. Attach the belt to the skirt
Stretch the belt outside the skirt (the part that people see when you wear it), and secure it in position with a needle from left to right. The top of the belt should be neatly aligned with the original edge of the skirt fabric. Using a sewing needle or sewing machine, sew the two halves together along the top edge of the skirt.
Step 13. Mark the zipper
Turn the fabric of your skirt so that the "outside" is against each other. You will see the inside of the skirt from your position. Remove the needle in the section for the seam you set aside earlier. Arrange so that the original edge for the seam set aside is parallel to the original edge on the other side of the frock fabric. Join the two original edges with the needle along the seam that was set aside. The extra stitches set aside should still extend outward to the side of the needle.
Place the zipper along the seam set aside where the zipper will be inserted, then mark the end of the zipper
Step 14. Sew the hem
From the hem of the zipper to the bottom of the skirt, make a regular straight stitch with a needle or sewing machine. This will create a strong seam for the skirt. However, make a loose temporary seam along the top of the skirt, the part where the zipper still needs to be inserted.
Step 15. Insert the zipper
Open the top of the loose seam and stretch the zipper along the section where the zipper will be inserted. Make sure the zipper teeth are aligned with the seams, and the zipper is facing out. When you hold the zipper in place with the needle, you will see the inside of the skirt fabric and the back of the zipper. All needles must be on one side of the zipper - either left or right. Sew the non-needled side of the zipper. Then, remove the needle and sew the side.
Then, flip the skirt side over. Cut the loose seam you made along the top of the skirt to remove the zipper
Step 16. Sew the snaps on the belt
You'll want to make sure the extra layer of fabric stays in place while you're wearing the skirt. The easiest way to get this is with snap buttons, which can be purchased online or at arts and crafts stores. They may also be called "push buttons." Simply sew in place using a needle and thread. Make sure the buttons are placed properly so they close neatly.
With this final step, you've created your very own cheerleading pleated skirt
Part 2 of 3: Making Your Pom Poms
Step 1. Purchase your materials
No cheerleading costume would be complete without pom poms. The best materials to use for thick and durable pom poms are plastic or vinyl tablecloths. For pom poms in two colors, buy two tablecloths – each in the color you want. You will also need scissors, electrical tape or duct tape, and a ruler.
- You can find these ingredients in the party supplies section of your grocery store or most party or single-price stores.
- You can also buy ready-made pom poms if you don't want to make your own.
Step 2. Cut your ingredients into manageable squares
Work on one tablecloth at a time, if you have more than one. Remove the tablecloth from its packaging and arrange it so that the fabric is folded in half. The fabric will have a large width and a short height. Cut along the folded edge to separate the fabric into two halves. Keeping both pieces in place, fold them again so you get 4 layers of fabric that are the same width, but at an even shorter height. Cut again along the folded edge, so you have 4 pieces of fabric stacked on top of each other.
Step 3. Fold the square in half
Your 4 pieces of fabric will still be stacked on top of each other. Now, fold the fabric so you have 8 layers of fabric that are the same height, but half the width you made from the last step. Cut along the folded edge to make 8 layers of fabric.
Fold and repeat this process one more time so that you get 16 pieces of fabric that are almost square in shape. Depending on the original dimensions of your tablecloth, the fabric may still be slightly rectangular
Step 4. Repeat the whole process with the other tablecloth
You will get 32 sheets of fabric - 16 sheets of each color.
Step 5. Stack fabric squares of alternating colors
To make a pom pom that has two colors, you will want to layer the colors. Place a sheet of Color A, then a sheet of Color B, then color A, then color B. Make two piles - one for each pom pom. Each stack must have 16 squares - 8 sheets with Color A and 8 sheets with Color B.
Align the edges of the square as much as you can. Most likely the square won't align perfectly, but that's okay
Step 6. Cut it into a tassel
Lay each square of fabric on a flat surface with the edges parallel. Secure each pile to the surface by placing a long strip of adhesive tape along the center. Each square must be divided by adhesive tape.
- Place the ruler perpendicular to the adhesive tape so that it runs a straight line all the way to the edge of the fabric on one side. Cut along the ruler all the way to the adhesive tape, but don't cut the tape. Do this along the edges of the fabric, until you have a tassel of the same size.
- Repeat this process on the other side of the adhesive tape.
Step 7. Fold the fabric square like an accordion
Remove the adhesive tape from your two piles of fabric and position the fabric so that a line emerges from your position. The tassels will come out to the left and right of each pile. Fold each stack like an accordion – folding up, then down, then up, and down. It may be helpful to fold two lengths up, then one back.
Step 8. Tie the center with electrical tape
Holding all the layers of your accordion tightly, tape a piece of electrical tape around the center to secure it. The adhesive tape should be as tight as possible, so work slowly and make sure movements.
You can also add tape or string around the adhesive tape. This will serve as a handle for you to grip after you've thickened the tassel
Step 9. Ruffle the tassels
At this point, the tassels lay flat against each other. Hold your pom pom and pull the tassels in different directions, creating more volume. Continue this until you have round, fluffy pom poms.
This step will take a while to complete, but be patient. You'll have some really nice pom poms when you're done
Part 3 of 3: Defining Other Views
Step 1. Choose a boss
If you want a classic look, choose a tight sweater. You can also wear a tank top with thick straps if the weather is too warm for a sweater. Ideally, you'd wear a top with the team's logo on it, but maybe that's not the case. Use a marker to write your team name or draw a logo on your boss.
Step 2. Use transfer paper to add color to your top
If you want to add extra to your costume, try adding the logo of your favorite team to your plain t-shirt or tank top. Download or make the image you want for the t-shirt, then print it on transfer paper. Cut out your image and iron it on the shirt, following the directions for the transfer paper.
Step 3. Add shoes and socks
Once you have your basic costume, you need to complete your outfit with shoes and socks. The cheerleaders wear short white socks with their uniforms. Socks will look great with any outfit you choose, regardless of color. Choose tennis shoes or small sneakers. If you don't have shoes that match the color of your uniform, plain white sneakers will look great with anything.
You can add color to your shoes by adding small pom poms that match your costume to the laces of your shoes
Step 4. Do your hair and makeup
Style your hair in a high ponytail or pigtail. This will prevent the hair from bothering you and give your look added flexibility. For your makeup, apply foundation and powder as you normally would. Add a light blush to your cheeks. Also wear mascara and a sparkling white or bronze eye shadow. Complete with a light pink lipstick or lip gloss.
- You can add a few words to your cheek, something like the name of your team or a common phrase like "Go Team" or "Go, Fight, Win." This writing can be drawn with cosmetic pencil or face paint.
- You can also add a glitter embellishment to your make-up or a ribbon in your hair to match your costume. Anything that makes your look look vibrant is the right thing for a cheerleading costume.
