Creating clown costumes is a great deal of fun. Children love to dress up, and drama classes love to express themselves through comedy. Store bought costumes can be expensive and ineffective for the rigors of performance or playtime. Making smart choices and “up-cycling” is a simple way of sewing costumes that look effective and will go the distance.
Up-cycling is Better than Recycling
Recycling involves taking an object, and returning it back to its simplest form to be re-used, like taking the fabric from an old skirt to create a quilt. Up-cycling involves taking the same item and re-using it, making it better in the process. Up-cycling worn clothing is the perfect solution for old sweatpants and unfashionable colors.
Auguste Clowns Are Bright and Cheerful
There are several main varieties of traditional clowns. Auguste Clowns are the ones we associate with the most jovial fun. They dress in bright colors with ill-fitting clothing. As they are likely to be the butt of the jokes of the other clowns, they often fall over or get involved in silly tricks. Comfortable, colorful and durable costuming is needed.
Up-cycling those Unwanted Clothes
Before throwing away your unwanted or ill-fitting clothing, separate all the items that would be too big for your children or students, and those that would be too small. The big pile will become the items you sew onto, and the smaller items will become embellishments.
Large, stretchy sweatpants are ideal for clowning. If you have any bright colors, keep these. Dark colored clothing is also useful, as long as you have bright accent fabrics. If your clowns are going to perform, you will need fabric that stands out in the crowd. Take sweatpants and cut the elasticated cuff off the bottom. If the pants are worn out near the bottom or on the knees, cut them into capri length or Bermuda shorts.
From the smaller clothing pile take the items with interesting prints or bright colors. Using pinking shears, cut rectangles and squares. You will need about 12 ‘patches’ for each pair of trousers. Sew the patches onto the trousers with a yarn needle and contrasting thread in big, exaggerated stitches. Overlap the patches for a planned effect, rather than having the patches appear to be functional.
Large shirts should have pockets and contrasting pocket squares attached. Oversized bows or bow ties make excellent accents. Remember that all items should be well attached, either with yarn or using a sewing machine, as loose items are a hazard for children as well as performers.
Oversized skirts are also cute. Sew a wide elastic waist onto the top of an old skirt so that it will fit your students or children. Sew primitive patches or wide lace at the bottom of the skirt.
Simple costumes can be easily constructed with very little effort, and as long as care is taken in the construction, should prove to be popular dress-up items.
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