Dressing up in costume is fun for all children. And here is a simple way to turn some old men’s dress shirts into nativity attire.
You will need:
- A man’s dress shirt with short sleeves
- Scissors
- Muslin wrap
- Stretchy headband
- Rope or ribbon
- Sewing machine and/or over locker (for SEW OPTION only)
What to do:
NO SEW OPTION:
1. Cut off collar and unpick pockets and any unwanted tags.
2. Button shirt so that that buttons face inwards.
3. You can undo top button to put over your child’s head and then do up again once on. Tie a ribbon or some rope around their waist. Use a muslin wrap to put over their head and keep in place with a stretchy headband.
SEW OPTION:
1. Cut off collar. Then cut from collar to just above the first remaining button.
2. Overlock (or zig zag stitch on sewing machine) cut edges. Unpick all buttons, pocket and unwanted tags. Turn shirt inside out and pin open edges together along button holes.
3. Sew from top to bottom on the inside of the button holes so that when you turn it right side out the holes are not visible. You can overlock this edge if desired for a neater finish.
The neck opening should be large enough to slip over your child’s head but you can adjust as necessary. Tie a ribbon or some rope around their waist. Use a muslin wrap to put over their head and keep in place with a stretchy headband.
My children love their ‘Mary’ and ‘Joseph’ costumes and often wear them throughout the year, not just at Christmas time!
If your children are old enough you could act out a simple version of the Nativity story while they are in costume.
Originally posted 2013-12-15 09:15:46.