Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Assemble the Wardrobe
Go through all the old clothes in your house and find items you no longer wish to use, but are still in good enough condition to wear. Collect a variety of tops, pants, skirts and dresses, if you can find them.
Make a few extra skirts in different lengths and fabrics. Cut a rectangle of fabric that is 2 inches longer than the desired length and twice as wide as your child's waist measurement. Sew the back edge together, 1/2 inch away from the edges, then turn the hem up 5/8 inch and sew it in place.
Turn the top edge of the skirt under 1 1/4 inch and sew it down, leaving a 3 inch wide open gap. Cut a piece of elastic that fits your child's waist plus 1 inch and thread it through the gap. Sew the elastic together, then sew the gap closed. Make as many skirts like this as you like.
Make a few extra dresses in different styles, if you did not find enough old dresses or nightgowns to include. Simply take a T-shirt that is larger than your child's size and fold the sleeves back. Trace the T-shirt onto a piece of large paper like newspaper or brown kraft paper, then alter the neckline and hem to suit the type of dress you want to make. Alter the sleeves in the same way, if desired, then move on to the next step.
Add an extra 1/2 inch to all edges. Cut the pattern from the paper and pin it to your fabric. Cut two of the pattern. Sew the dress pieces together along the shoulder edge, 1/2 inch away, then along the side edges. Turn the hem and neckline under 1/2 inch and sew them in place. Sew the sleeves, then sew them to the armhole openings. Add embellishments as desired.
Make a few extra shirts, following the same method you used to make the dresses.
Make a few extra pairs of pants and shorts. Take a pair of pants that are larger than your child's size and trace them onto a sheet of paper. Add 1 1/4 inches to the waistband edge and 1/2 inch to all other edges, then cut the pattern from the paper and transfer it to the fabric, like you did with the dresses and shirts.
Sew the pants pieces together along the outside edges, 1/2 inch away, then along the inside edges. Turn the leg bottoms under 1/2 inch and sew them in place. Turn the waistband edge under 1 1/4 inches and sew it down, leaving a 3 inch gap open. Cut a piece of elastic in your child's waist measurement plus 1 inch and thread it through the gap, then sew the ends of the elastic together and the gap closed.
Put all items into a large cardboard box or plastic tub. Label the box "Dress Up Game."
Assemble the Accessories
Go through all of the accessories in your house and find items that you no longer wish to use. Collect ties, shoes, hats, gloves, jewelry, scarves and purses.
Make a few costume hats that you may not already have, such as a princess hat. To make a princess hat, find a cardboard party hat and cut the top open 1 inch. Paint the hat in a pink, blue, purple, metallic or other color and let it dry. Take a piece of sheer fabric and cut it to 6 inches wide and 2 feet long. Insert one end of the fabric into the top of the hat and staple it there.
Make a cape to add to your dress up game. Cut a rectangle of fabric that is shorter than your child and as wide as their shoulder to shoulder measurement plus 2 inches. Turn all edges of the rectangle under 1/2 inch and sew them down. Cut two pieces of ribbon that are 20 inches long and sew one end of each ribbon to the top corners of the cape.
Make some costume jewelry for your game. Thread plastic beads onto elastic string to make bracelets, necklaces, rings and headdresses.
Make a few extra belts and scarves. Cut long rectangles of fabric in different colors and finish the edges by serging or zigzag stitching.
Make a Simple Clutch Bag
Draw a rectangle on a sheet of paper that is the size you would like your clutch bag to be. Round off the corners, then add 1/2 inch to all sides. Cut the rectangle from the paper.
Lay the paper pattern on top of a double layer of your heavy fabric. Cut two clutch shapes. Do the same with the outside fabric you have chosen for your clutch bag, as well as the lining fabric.
Baste the pieces of outside fabric to the heavy fabric, using a quilter's basting spray. Pin the two basted pieces together along the bottom and side edges.
Sew along the pinned areas, 1/2 inch away from the edges. Do the same to the lining pieces, then turn both clutch pieces right side out. Insert the lining into the outside fabric.
Fold the top edge of the bag 1/2 inch to the inside and sew it down. Handstitch a large snap to the inside of the top of the bag. Make as many clutch bags as you like and add them to your box.