Felt Costume Aprons

Last year, for my daughter's kindergarten class, I helped with the Christmas pageant costumes. These needed to be simple for the children to change, economical and yet we wanted the children to shine for all they were worth! I also wanted the costumes to be able to be used for years to come. We needed reindeer, sugar plums and Christmas mice.

To keep the costumes simple I chose to make a type of apron costume that is adaptable for almost any need. Felt, purchased by the yard, comes 60" wide, by using the fold of the felt as the shoulder a half yard is enough for the average kindergarten age child. A yard will be ample for even an adult.

As you can see from the pictured apron, the Christmas mouse, was gray with a red vest. I dressed up the vest by fusing holly and berries and adding buttons where the vest pieces meet. I also used Beads-2-Fuse to add sparkle to the holly and berries.

For the reindeer I made anglers using the same ideas presented in the animal ear head bands, and a brown apron. The apron was then dressed up by fusing a harness on it.

For the Sugar Plum Fairies, I made purple beanies and a purple apron. I then created various candies that I fused on to the apron, dressing some of them up with Beads-2-Fuse.

As you can imagine the possibilities are endless and it works in to a costume that any child can dress them self for school or party functions.

Simple Step By Step Directions

• Measure the widest area of the body trunk. Add a few inches to allow for easy movement. This will be the width of the apron.
• Measure the distance from the shoulder to the desired length of the apron. This will be the length of the apron.
• Fold the felt so one layer is the length of the apron. Trim off the excess of the other layer. (By rearranging the fold you will have a larger scrap of felt to save for other projects.)
• Use a diner plate, centered on the fold, to cut out an opening for the head.
• Put the apron on and mark where the under arm and shoulder should be. Trim out an arm opening from the felt.
  
• Attach two pieces of elastic or ribbon to each side at the waist area.
• Use various embellishment techniques to dress up the apron to meet any costume need.

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