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Christmas is on its way and you are looking for a fun activity that you can do with your child. Why not create an elf costume together? It will be a creative and satisfying experience for the young one and makes for some valuable parent/child time together. Once the elf costume is finished, a whole slew of elfish activities can be initiated such as songs, plays, and games.
The finished costume will consist of a short tunic and a pointed hat – decorated according to the child’s taste. It is recommended that you spread the activity over a few days to maintain your child’s interest. This activity is recommended for children age 4 and up. Parental supervision is advised.
Step 1: Materials
You will need one and a half to two yards of red felt per child, smaller pieces of other colors of felt (such as, green, white, yellow and black), non-toxic glue, a measuring tape, tiny bells, needle and thread. Fabric other than felt can be used, but it will probably require hemming.
Step 2: Introducing the idea
Tell your child that you are going to make an elf costume together. Describe the costume and specify that you will need their help. Recounting a few stories about elves (and all their good deeds) might add some magic to your activity.
Step 3: Measuring and cutting out the fabric
Fold over the felt and ask your child to lie down on it. The fold will be the shoulders of the tunic (so you don’t have to sew them!) Use a marker to indicate the sides of the neck, the lower edges of the armholes and the desired length. To avoid any limitations on movement, hip length is best. Cut out the tunic and try it on over your child’s head.
For the hat, measure the circumference of your child’s head and mark it on the felt with about an inch to spare. Mark the desired height (about 1 foot is recommended, too long will lead to the hat falling off.) Cut out the resulting rectangle, roll it into a cone and place it on your child’s head (it should go down over their ears). While holding the felt with your fingers, remove it from the head. Pin the cone together (in a straight line from hem to point) using safety pins. An extra flap of material will be left over – don’t worry about this. It won’t be seen once the hat is turned inside out.
Step 4: Sewing the fabric
This is the only step involving sewing, and it won’t take long. It is recommended that you do this step when your child is not around (needles in the eye or skin can happen, so it is best to play it safe). Using a double thread if sewing by hand, sew the sides of the tunic together leaving ample room for the arms. Turn it inside out so the seams don’t show. Next, sew the cone along the line of safety pins in the hat (from rim to point in a straight line) and turn it inside out. Finish by sewing a little bell onto the point of the hat.
Step 5: Trying on the costume
Let your child try on the costume and then check the fit. If the hat is too big, you might want to hem it under or adjust the cone seam a little.
Step 6: Decorating
Encourage your child to do a drawing of the desired costume. The child will feel very proud when his or her plan becomes a costume that can be worn.
Ask your child to draw the shapes from the plan on the smaller, different colored pieces of felt. If the child is old enough, he or she can cut out the shapes. If not, you do the cutting.
Lay out the tunic and hat and have your child glue the shapes onto the costume. Make sure ample amounts of glue are spread to the edges of the felt so the pieces won’t fall off. After decorating one side of the tunic and hat, allow the glue to dry completely before turning them over and doing the other sides.
Step 7: Enjoy
When your child puts on the finished costume, you will certainly want to take advantage of the photo op. You could also suggest that he or she come up with a little elf play or song that will be presented at a family gathering or just for you. And of course, elves are Santa’s little helpers, so you could also suggest that your elf-kids help out at the Christmas party.
Merry Christmas!
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