How to make a HOGWARTS COSTUME

The reason for making this costume is for the Bookweek Parade at my children's school where they are allowed to go to school dressed as their favourite book character. My sons best friend is going as Harry Potter so he decided he would go as Ron Weasley. But with a few minor additions/ changes, this could be any of the characters that attend Hogwarts.


SUPPLIES
For the character of Ron Weasley, you will need:

• A can of orange coloured hair spray
• About 1.5- 2m of black poplin fabric (available at fabric stores like Spotlight & Lincraft). It is ususally cheap at about $2-$3 per metre.
• 2 x roll of wide ribbon in burgundy and gold (or whatever house colours relevent for your character) to make into a tie. (Or dad's tie if it's the right colour).
• Iron on hemming tape.
• Small piece of elastic.
• Small stick from a tree branch.
• (Optional) Burgundy & gold yarn for a scarf).
• (Optional) stick or broom handle and rattan for a broomstick.
• White school shirt or polo shirt.
• Pair of black shoelaces.

For me, I have all of these supplies lingering in my cupboards at home, as when it comes to craft, I'm not one for throwing things away because I know they will be useful at some point down the track. You may even find that you have some of these things at home too. Don't be afraid to substitute if you have something that will do, eg. Coloured felt instead of ribbon for the tie, or even some old business shirts or clothes that you can chop up that are the right colours. Be resourceful!

 GETTING STARTED - Gryffindor Tie

To make the tie out of ribbon (or strips of coloured felt or other fabric you have gathered up):
1. Cut lengths of ribbon about 15 cm each on a 45 deg angle in about 10 of each colour. Like this:

2. If you have a sewing machine or have access to one, sew the strips together alternating the colours so you end up with a striped effect. If you don't have a sewing machine, you can also grab iron on hemming tape (a girls second best friend) and use that. Cut strips of the hemming tape to match the lengths of ribbon and then cut them in half again lengthways to make them thinner. You can then overlap your colurs joining them with the hemming tape. Works just as well. Be sure to to line up the sharp angle end of your ribbon with the blunt angle of the other colour so that you end up with it looking like this:

3. If you have sewn your pieces together, then give it a press to make sure it all sits flat. Cut off one end until you have a flat bottom that creates a right angle with the sides of your tie, and all your stripes sit at a 45 deg angle. Then take the cut end of your tie and fold up the bottom about 1cm, press, then fold in the 2 corners to form the point of your tie and press again. Should look something like this:

4. Then fold in the sides creating a slight taper from the bottom of the tie to the top and press. Repeat on the other side. Turn it over and look at it from the front to make sure it looks right. If you are happy with how it looks, take some hemming tape and iron to stick all your seams down so it all looks perfect from the front (don't worry about the back). Like this:

5. Take your piece of elastic and cut it to fit around your childs neck (so that it's comfortable) and tie a knot in it. Take your tie and make it into a false tie over the elastic so that when your tie is on underneath your collar, it looks like a real tie.

NEXT - Hogwarts Robe

For our Hogwarts robe, we are simply going to make our black fabric into a cape.

1. Take the black poplin and hold it lengthways. Along one edge take a darning needle and thread it with black yarn or heavy duty thread. Then starting at one end, thread it through back and forth all along the one edge gathering the fabric as you go. After you have reached the other end, pull it tight until the gathered area fits around the childs neck and shoulders comfortably and secure and tie off thread or yarn.

2. Attach shoelaces to each side of neck so that they can be tied in front to stop your "robe" from falling off. If you don't have a sewing machine, pinning them in place will be good enough. Hem any raw edges (if you like) with iron on hemming tape.

3.To finish the look, dress your child in his regular school pants and shirt or polo, put on the Gryffindor tie. To add authenticity, you may want to print a picture off the internet of the Hogwarts Crest and attach to the robe as well! If you have time, knit a quick scarf (see my directions on How to make a Cozy Knitted Scarf) in Gryffindor colours to add to the look. Spray your childs hair with orange hair spray and see Ron Weasley appear before you. Don't forget to take your "stick branch" wand.
For Harry Potter, make a pair of cardboard spectacles and draw a scar with an eyeliner pencil. For Harry's quidditch look, omit the tie and make your robe with burgundy fabric. Trade his wand for a broomstick.
Same could be done for Hermione, but no need for hair spray or spectacles.