Quick Halloween Costume Part 2: Make the Tunic/Dress

For the second part of this no-sew Halloween costume tutorial, we cover making a tunic or dress to go under the cape.

A witch is easy: black for everything, so you can use the same material for this as for the cape. If you have done a lace cape, you might want something sturdier though. For a Prince or Knight, a Tunic above the knee or a Surcoat he can paint his Coat of Arms on could be made in a contrasting colour. White is common in old pictures as it shows up images well, but it also shows up dirt…

Again, you can use material or tissue paper with the same concerns covered in the first tutorial.

 

Measurements

 

You will need the same two measurements as before, but this time a third will be needed it you want it to drape the arms:

1) The neck. Measure the approximate width and halve it, adding 1 cm for extra space.

2) The length. Measure from the neck to your desired length – knee, hip, etc.

and 3) The wearer should hold their arm out straight. Measure from the centre of their neck to the desired length on arm e.g. shoulder or elbow.

Your material must be twice the second measure in either length or width so you can get back and front in one piece. It must be twice the third measurement in the other direction to allow for both sleeves.

Making the dress

Now lay out your material.

1) Fold it in half (so what will be the front and back are together.

2) Then turn it 90 degrees and fold it in half again, so the two sides that will be sleeves are together. This should give you a rectangle with two sides with two folded edges (the neck), one long side with one fold showing (the centre) and two sides with edges showing.

2) Take the corner where the sides with visible folds and two folds meet. Either
– Cut an arc round the neck to make a round neckline.
– or Cut straight across, allowing extra space to make a v-neck.

3) Unfold your fabric.

4) Put it over the wearer’s head,

5) Belt it with a cord, a sword belt, etc to hold the front and back in place.

This is designed to be worn over street clothes. Dark trousers and T-shirt can blend in very easily with a witch’s dress, or contrasting shirt colours might make it stand out for a knight or fairy. A cardboard crown or witch’s hat provides the final touch.

Worn together with a cape, this is a very fast costume to make, easy to dress up with fabric paints or markers, and best of all easy to roll up and stick in a bag when it’s time to take it off.

Here’s an example below. Don’t worry if the neck seems small: it’s for a skeleton in our window!