Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Arts and crafts

Discover knitting, crochet, scrapbooking and art and craft ideas on this forum.

Dressmakers - simple African costume for dressing up?

10 replies

Smithagain · 06/03/2007 21:31

DD1 is learning about Kenya in school at the moment (in Reception - she's 4.5) She has demanded "African" dressing up clothes. I'm in a creative sort of mood and I have found a promising-looking piece of cloth in a charity shop. So slightly against my better judgement, I'm going to give it a go.

At school, they have a costume with a long skirt, matching short jacket and skull cap (for carrying things on your head, allegedly). I think a jacket would take too long, but she would be content with a simple long dress with a matching hat (possibly head scarf).

Anyone know where I can get an ultra-straightforward pattern/template for a kaftan-ish dress. Or do I just lay her on a big bit of paper and improvise!!

(And please, no lectures about authentic tribal costume - I just want something vaguely plausible that will keep her fledgling interest in other countries alive!!)

OP posts:
Dior · 06/03/2007 21:32

Message withdrawn

Zog · 06/03/2007 21:33

Don't know about patterns etc (am no dressmaker) but definitely give her a long piece of cloth to tie round her middle which holds a doll on her back - very authentic!

mytwopenceworth · 06/03/2007 21:34

how about going as a masai? basically just a big red sheet!

Coolmama · 06/03/2007 21:37

you could do a very simple long skirt with a gathered waist and a top that is similar with little straps, lots of beads and a piece of material to wrap around her head - very easy!

Coolmama · 06/03/2007 21:37

oh, yes - the dolly on the back is key!

mytwopenceworth · 06/03/2007 21:38

this

Zog · 06/03/2007 21:45

or these

Zog · 06/03/2007 21:46

this

Zog · 06/03/2007 21:48

and with a baby

HTH!

Smithagain · 06/03/2007 22:20

Wow - thanks everyone. Loads of brilliant ideas.

Zoq - that one with the baby might just save me a lot of sewing! She loves her "babies" and has seen me carrying DD2 in a sling, so will think carrying them in her "African dress" is fab.

Now, how to tie a strip of cloth into a turban with a flat bit on the top ... (wanders off muttering "the things we do for our kids"...)

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread