Costumes can imitate life.
Making an ape costume can be a fun way to let children express their creativity and get them interested in zoology or ecology. This costume consists of a mask, a long sleeved shirt and pants. It can be used for such events as trick or treating or show and tell, or be worn around the house, just for fun.
Instructions
The Mask
1. Get pictures of various species of apes, and have your child pick a species. Keep pictures of the species your child has picked with you for later on. Spread out newspapers on a flat surface.
2. Inflate the balloon to the size you want the mask to be. Cut the newspaper into long strips with the scissors. Mix three parts white glue with one part water in a bowl.
3. Set the balloon on the newspaper. Show the child dip the newspaper into the glue mixture and apply it to half of the balloon. Leave spaces for the eyes and mouth as well a small hole to the left of the left eye hole and a small hole to the right of the right eye hole near the edges of the papier-mache mask. Let the child shape the ape features with the papier-mache once the basic mask shape is finished. Have the ape pictures set up for the child to look at as while workikng.
4. Set the balloon aside to dry for several days. Once it is dry, remove the balloon and paint the mask, again having the pictures set up for reference. Tie one end of the elastic cord to the hole to the right of the right eye hole. Have the child hold the mask up to his face. Pull the elastic cord around to the small hole to the left of the left eye hole. Pull the elastic cord until it is snug and holds the mask in place but is still comfortable for the child. Cut the elastic cord to this length and tie it at the hole to the left of the left eye hole.
The Clothes
5. Spread the brown wrapping paper out on the floor. Have the child lie down on the paper with his or her arms at about 45 degrees. Draw the child's outline on the paper using a yardstick for straight lines. Mark the waist line, the ankles, neck line and wrists. Have the child get up. Measure the child's waistline and divide this number in half. Use this number to mark the length of the waistband on the pattern. Redraw the waist of the body outline so it passes through the endpoints of the waistline endpoints.
6. Draw a larger body outline 5/8-inch around the first body outline, as a seam allowance. Cut the body outline in half at the waistline. Extend the bottom edge of the shirt outline half by 2inches by taping on a 2 inch wide piece of paper that matches the bottom edge of the shirt in length. Do the same for the top of the pants outline.
7. Lay the fur cloth on a flat surface with the backside up, the side that does not have fur. Set both halves of the pattern on the cloth so that they meet at the taped extensions. Use tailor's chalk to draw the outline of the pattern on the cloth. Remove the pattern pieces and cut the cloth along the tailor's chalk outline, and set these piece aside.
8. Lay a second piece of material on a flat surface with the backside facing up. Flip the pattern pieces over and place them on the cloth. Use tailor's chalk and outline the patterns. Remove the patterns and cut along the tailor's chalk outline.
9. Match the shirt pieces together and the pants pieces together so that the fur is facing inward. Sew the shirt together and the edges including the neckline, and do the same for the pants. Cut a length of waistband elastic that is 1 inch shorter than the length of the child's waist measurement and sew the ends together. Place this elastic 1 inch below the top edge of the pants. Fold over the top edge of the pants to cover the elastic and sew both in place.
10. Turn the pieces right side out.
Tags: body outline, elastic cord, tailor chalk, chalk outline, flat surface, Have child, hole left