Pilgrim costumes are a common attire around the Thanksgiving holiday. These costumes are generally used for plays and reenactments and can be either handmade or bought. If you are wondering how to make a pilgrim costume on your own, this page will provide you with the steps you need to take. If you need a pilgrim costume and do not want to purchase one, you can make one at home. The majority of the materials needed can probably be found in your closet, such as a black outfit, black dress shoes, knee socks and a black belt. With the addition of other items, such as a bonnet, apron, top hat and buckles, you will be on your way to making a pilgrim costume. These directions can apply to both male and female, young or old.
Tips
Instead of a black outfit, you can also use dark brown.
How to Make a Pilgrim Costume
This video provides the materials and instructions needed to make a pilgrim costume. The directions are simple and are given for both male and female outfits. The costumes can be easily made from black outfits, shoes, belts, top hat, white knee socks and apron. A bonnet, collars and cuffs can be made using white fabric or felt with a little glue or sewing.
Step 1: Gather Supplies
Step 2: Put Together a Black Outfit
The beginning of a pilgrim costume starts with a basic black outfit. Females should wear an ankle length dress or skirt and a collarless long sleeved top. Black stockings can also be worn. Males should wear a collarless long sleeved shirt and long pants that are thin enough to be tucked into knee socks. Complete the outfits with black dress shoes or loafers.
Step 3: Make Collars
Another signature piece to a pilgrim costume is the white collar. For this, you will utilize white fabric or felt. To create the collar, measure from shoulder to shoulder on the person whom will be wearing the costume. Using the measurements, draw a rectangle on the fabric. The measurement taken should be the height and you will double it for the width. Cut out the rectangle and fold it towards you horizontally. In the middle of the folded rectangle, draw a half circle that will be large enough to fit the head of the costume wearer. Cut out the half circle. If you open up the collar, it will reveal a rectangle with a large circle in the middle. At the front of the collar, draw and cut out a narrow triangle. You can now either sew or glue the collar to the top of the black outfit.
Step 4: Make the Cuffs
Using the white fabric again, you are going to cut out 3" wide cuffs. Glue or sew the cuffs to the end of the shirt sleeves.
Step 5: Buckles
For the male's outfit, you need four large picture frame sized square buckles. If you cannot find gold, you can use gold spraypaint. Glue one on the front of each shoe, on the belt and on the front of the top hat.
Step 6: Bonnet
For the female's costume, you will need make the bonnet out of the remaining white fabric. Cut a 16 by 16 inch square out of the fabric. Take the shoelace and lay it down flat in the middle of the fabric, horizontally. Sew it or glue it to the fabric. Fold the fabric in half twice so that the fabric becomes a square. Sew or glue the side that is opposite from the shoelace together; this will become the back of the bonnet. Shape the bonnet and use the shoelaces to secure it around the person's head.
Step 7: Final Additions
To finalize the costume, add the white apron to the female outfit and tuck the male's pants into the knee length socks. The male should also wear the top hat.
You now have a pilgrim costume!
