I looked everywhere for free Coloniel costume ideas. My daughter was supposed to dress up at school I couldn't fin anything great and affordable . So, I came up with this.....
I will for warn you this is not an authentic conloniel costume(since I used a sewing machine). Traditionally, all of this would have been hand sewn. Also, I am not the best seamstress. I have made mistakes. I am sure you more seasoned seamstresses will notice immediately. Nonetheless, I needed to make something up quick for my daughter's report and thought I would share my ideas. Thanks for checking this out!
Here is the result:
What you need for the costume:
1. Simple black sheath/ simple solid dark colored women's dress (belted or tied to fit child).
I used a knee length dress of mine and one of my daughter's long-sleeved black tops.
2. The mob cap
3. The apron
4. The shoulder cloth
For the sewing projects you will need:
4 men's hankies (white flour sack type towels would be a good substitute or cut up a white bed sheet)
2 yards 1" width white grossgrain ribbon
2.5 yards 1/4" white satin ribbon
White thread
steel yarn needle
a paper grocery bag
pencil or water soluble marker
sewing machine(optional)
Shoulder cloth(uses 2 hankies, satin ribbon, white thread for machine):
1. Take two hankies fold each in half to form triangles(you will have 2).
2. Over lay the hankies on top of one another like so.
3. Stitch a with sewing machine to secure.
4. Cut two 12" pieces of the 1/4" white satin ribbon.
Stitch the ribbon to the two ends of triangle corners
(you can see the ribbon in the result picture).
There you have it! Drape over shoulders and tie the ribbons into a bow.
Apron(uses 1 hankie and the 2 yards of grosgrain ribbon):
I don't have step by step photos for this one. I apologize.
1. Sew a basting stitch by hand or by machine at a longer length stitch(I used 4 as my stitch length) along one of the sides of the hankie.
2. Gather the basting stitch.
3. Cut a length of grosgrain ribbon approx. 2 yards long
4. Center both the grossgrain and the hankie and pin.
5. Stitch the grosgrain ribbon just below the gathering stitch. I did another row of stitching down the center of the grosgrain ribbon for stability.
Mob Cap:
1. If you have a compass make a 10" diameter circle on a grocery sack. Or you can use a large bowl turn upside down and trace it onto the grocery sack. Just cut the sack up so you can have a larger piece of paper(large enough to fit a 10" circle)
2. Cut the circle out.
3. Use the circle as a pattern for one of the hankies. Draw the circle onto the hankie approx. 1/2" wider than paper circle with a pencil or water soluble marker.
4. Cut fabric circle out.
5. Fold over approx. 1/4" to form hem and pin as you fold over.
Stitch right along fold.
6. Next mark dots all along the inside of the circle approx. 1 1/2" in from the hemmed fabric circle .
Connect the dots.
7. Now, take approx 1-1 1/2 yards of the 1/4" satin ribbon and thread into steel yarn needle.
Make a running stitch right on the inside circle you marked. My stitches are approx. 1/2" long.
8. Finally gather up the ribbon and tie in a bow.
Viola!