O/T Need ideas for INDIAN costume

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

My daughter is in kindergarden and they are having a Thanksgiving dinner before school break. She decided she wanted to be an indian. And they have to wear an outfit. Has anyone made one before? If so, how? I hate to put soo much into one costume and she won't wear it again. TIA

 

[JustineMarie]

My DD6 was an indian at her school last year. We went out and bought a tan pillowcase. We cut a head hole and 2 arm holes and then we let her help paint it ( with acrylic paint) and at the bottom of the pillowcase, we cut slits about 1 in. apart and made a fringe at the bottom. For her hat we just made a foam head band and stapled feathers to the back. It came out really cute and I think it only cost 6$ for 2 pillowcases! HTH

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

Thanks allot!!! How old was your daughter? What size pillowcase should I get for my daughter? She is in a size 5/6

 

[allison443]

My daughter was an Indian in her summer day camp's production of Peter Pan...what they did was buy men's t-shirts (at walmart or kmart)The tshirts came in a brown/tannish color. (some kids had yellow or even orange) Then they used scissors to cut strips around the hem and the bottom of the sleeves-this was the fringe. The kids painted designs on the front. They also added those plastic "pony beads" to the fringe-just slide the bead on and knot the fabric strip below it to hold the bead on.
I have to say they came out really cute and very cheap!!


edited to add, the t-shirts we purchased were actually in the underwear section

 

[minniebeth]

I just did one for my DD and we used inexpensive fabric that was varying shades of tan and brown. We just doubled the fabric over and cut a semi-circle for a scoop neck at the fold. After the kids slipped it over their heads, we tied it with a fringe that we found at Joann's Fabric where you buy fringe by the yard. We made feather head dresses and beaded necklaces. It cost a little more, but we put it away, there will always be a need for something similar. The fabric "tunic" can be used for a shepherd, and other costumes as well with different accessories.
In preschool we've also used paper bags and the tee-shirts which also work well!

 

[JustineMarie]

Thanks allot!!! How old was your daughter? What size pillowcase should I get for my daughter? She is in a size 5/6

I just used a standard pillowcase but some of the kids had a king sized one and they were just a little longer. This was last year and my daughter was in a 5/6.

 

[skw444]

I just made some for my daughter's Pre-K class and we did like the first poster...used a tan pillowcase and cut arm holes and neck holes. Then we fringed the bottom and used 3 beads (the cheap plastic necklace beads) and beaded every other fringe and then put a feather in each of the beads. We also made a headband with the feathers. Turned out really cute!

 

[Costumesaremylife]

Silly me, I thought you meant someone from India. I hope your daughter is a lovely Native American.

 

[BostonTink85]

The pillowcase sounds like a great idea for an Indian costume. When I was in elementary school 10+ years ago we would make the costumes at school for the pilgrims and indians. The indian costumes were made out of paper shopping bags, similar to the pillowcase idea.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Get sweats (we bought white and soaked them in tea). Cut the bottom elastic off and fringe. Cut the arms and fringe. cut off the neck, and then make a straight cut in the front. Lace up the front with brown yarn or leather. You are set!

 

[meandtheguys2]

Silly me, I thought you meant someone from India. I hope your daughter is a lovely Native American.

Considering the "Native Americans" came to America from elsewhere...it all is just pickiness, isn't it? Stated by a descendant of Pocahontas...

 

[allison443]

Silly me, I thought you meant someone from India. I hope your daughter is a lovely Native American.

Maybe you have some helpful suggestions for the OP, considering your screen name?

 

[Todd&Copper]

When I was in kindergarten, we all dressed like Amerian Indians [I thought "Native American" was passe] by using a paper grocery bag and cutting it up like a vest (bottom up, slit down the front, arm holes at the sides) and then painting geometric designs on it.

Seriously, the pillowcase sounds like a good idea and fairly simple. I'd go with that.

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

Thanks for all of the replies. JustineMarie offered to give me her daughters costume. That is sooo sweet of her. But keep the ideas coming. I"m thinking of adding beads to the bottom of the skirt. That sounds cute.

 

[Cindy B]

I thought you meant from India-- I was going to suggest a sari and henna tattoos on the hands/arms.

Native American dress can be done easly with all types of household items. My Elem Ed classroom did a teaching demonstration on Native American culture-- and we had a Native American student in the class. One of the things she said is that it truly bothers her when some Americans attempt to dress like Native Americans and are truly off the mark--

Of course in a K-2nd grade setting it more of a spirit than authentic dress.

 

[Cindy B]

I thought you meant from India-- I was going to suggest a sari and henna tattoos on the hands/arms.

Indians is not the correct term, it is better to use Native Americans. American Indian is also considered a somwhat passe term as well-- but is considered acceptable.

Native American dress can be done easly with all types of household items. My Elem Ed classroom did a teaching demonstration on Native American culture-- and we had a Native American student in the class. One of the things she said is that it truly bothers her when some Americans attempt to dress like Native Americans and are truly off the mark--

Of course in a K-2nd grade setting it more of a spirit than authentic dress.

 

[Cindy B]

When I was in kindergarten, we all dressed like Amerian Indians [I thought "Native American" was passe] by using a paper grocery bag and cutting it up like a vest (bottom up, slit down the front, arm holes at the sides) and then painting geometric designs on it.

Seriously, the pillowcase sounds like a good idea and fairly simple. I'd go with that.

nope, other way around. Native American is the better term to use instead of American Indians and of course much better than the generic term Indians.

Native American implies that these individuals were the original "americans" since they were residents in the country first versus the colonists. American Indian implies the difference between Indians that are from American and Indians that live in India, the country. Since there seems to be confusion using the term "indian" in those terms, Native American seems the best useful term.

(Yes, we learn this in teaching programs. We are fortunate to have a Native American in our elementary educations classes to get a first hand perspective of this issue and that is what she prefers as well)

 

[Pigeon]

Many tribes prefer the term American Indians to Native Americans.

There is no such thing as an "Indian costume." I would try to find a book that features pictures of the clothing worn by various tribes and pick one to copy.

 

[MEM]

Part Lenni Lenape here.

This site, link below, is an excellent place to start.

http://www.native-languages.org/kids.htm

I get a little annoyed when girls dress up as NA and wear a feathered head-dress - most NA women do not wear feathers on their heads.

You might also look at the AG doll "Kaya" for inspiration - her clothing and accessories are considered authentic.

 

[Maggimus]

When I was in kindergarten, we all dressed like Amerian Indians [I thought "Native American" was passe] by using a paper grocery bag and cutting it up like a vest (bottom up, slit down the front, arm holes at the sides) and then painting geometric designs on it.

Seriously, the pillowcase sounds like a good idea and fairly simple. I'd go with that.

we did the same thing with the paper bag. The middle was cut up like a vest-- our head went where the bottom of the bag was, so that our shoulders were still govered with the bag, and the sides were cut out like a vest. We painted the signs over it too and wore our jeans (Any shirt underneath) We made headbands out of stapled constuction paper and taped a feather to the back of it that stuck upward.