Materials To make great costumes you need the right materials and a makerspace where you can think and create Your family may have a permanent makerspace set up for crafting or you can create one whenever you need it You may already have many of the supplies shown here Your family can buy anything else you need at a craft store or dollar store Organize your supplies in boxes or plastic bins and you will be ready to create in your makerspace A note about patterns Many of the costumes in this book use patterns or templates Trace the pattern cut the pattern and then place it on the material you want to cut out You can either tape it in place and cut both the pattern and material or trace around the pattern onto the material and then cut it out recyclables You can make many of the costumes in this book with materials found around the house Save recyclables newspapers cardboard boxes mailing tubes cereal boxes tin cans and more to use in your craft projects Use your imagination and have fun A note about measurements Measurements are given in U S form with metric in brackets The metric conversion is rounded to make it easier to measure 4
Paint and Markers Tissue paper Craft Foam Sheets Felt GLitter Craft gems GLue and Tape Paper Tools 5
Techniques Have fun while making your costumes Be creative Your project does not have to look just like the one in this book If you don’t have a certain material think of something similar you could use The following techniques will help you create your costumes Using your creativity to make crafts is a very rewarding activity When you are finished you can say with great pride I made that Threading a needle Threading a needle can be frustrating The following tips will help Cut more thread than you think you will need Wet one end of the thread in your mouth Poke it through the needle opening Pull some of the thread through until you have an even amount and make a double knot If you are using thicker thread like embroidery thread do not double up the thread Just pull a small amount through and make the knot at the other end Easiest method Use a metal needle threader Push the metal threader through the needle hole put the thread through the loop and then pull the needle threader back through the needle Once the thread is in the loop pull the loop back through the needle Put the thread through the loop Sewing fabric The whipstitch works great with felt It is used to sew two pieces together Place the needle and knotted thread in between 1 the two pieces of felt and up through the top layer of felt Take the needle behind both layers of felt at point 1 Pull the needle through both layers of felt at point 2 Continue stitching until finished 6 2
Lark’s head knot The lark’s head knot or cow hitch is easy to make Hitch knots are used to connect one thing to another Find the halfway point in your cord or rope and fold in half there Put the fold over whatever you are tying the cord or rope to such as a dowel or post The loop should have a U shape with both ends coming over the dowel toward the front Pass both ends of the cord or rope through the loop from back to front Pull on both lines to tighten the knot Making holes in cardboard Some projects require holes to be made in cardboard There are several methods Use the tip of a pair of sharp scissors to create the hole Push the tip of the scissors through the hole and then turn the scissors If you use this method always point the scissors away from yourself Small holes push a nail through the cardboard Always point the nail away from yourself Medium holes start with the nail to make a small hole then push a Phillips screwdriver through the small hole to make it larger Big holes start with the nail to make a small hole then push a Phillips screwdriver through the small hole to make it larger Then insert your scissors and cut the hole to the size you want Be prepared Read through the instructions and make sure you have all the materials you need Cover your work area with newspaper or cardboard Clean up your makerspace when you are finished making your project Be Safe Ask for help when you need it Ask for permission to use tools Be careful when using knives scissors and sewing needles 7
