Sew or buy aPilgrim costume!Or, how about a Native American costume this Thanksgiving?In the slide show above, you're viewing pictures of Pilgrim Costumes for boys, girls, women and men. You'll also see Pilgrim hats, Native American Indian costumes, and even a whacky turkey costume...or how about a turkey hat? Even if you end up deciding to sew your Thanksgiving costume, you'll get some good ideas from the professional outfits that are for sale in costume shops. These particular costumes come from www.BuyCostumes.com, one of the internet's largest costume shops. (The costumes that you see above are only a sampling of what's available; there are more. If you'd like to see the entire selection, here's a link to the Thanksgiving section of BuyCostumes.com. Or if you're looking for a different costume or accessory, you can type your specific request in to the costume search box below: Buying a Pilgrim CostumeThere are only a relatively small number of costume manufacturers, so once you've seen the selection from BuyCostumes.com in the slide show above, you've seen a good percentage of the Thanksgiving costumes you're likely to find anywhere you go (online or off-line, either one.)Buying a costume has the advantage of being less work. Actually, MUCH less work than sewing a costume. You order, you get it. Period. The disadvantage of buying is that you have no say in what material is used or how it fits. If you're looking for a Thanksgiving costume that will be used year after year in pageants, you may wish to sew the costume with especially high-quality fabrics. The investment of your time will be worth it when you consider that not all of your costume's future users will treat the outfit with great care. That's no problem if you sew your costume with fabric that will "take punishment." If the costume-wearer is hard to fit, sewing is the best way to go. Although store-bought costumes have come a long ways since the days of "one size fits all," they're still only manufactured in sizes that are typically "small, medium and large." Plus sizes are becoming more common, but still can't be found in the range of styles that buyers would like to find. In the sections below on this page, you'll find a review of Pilgrim and Native American costume patterns that are available in Fall 2008, in case you decide you might like to try sewing. You'll need to find a year-round costume shop if you want a Pilgrim costume. This website has a listing of some of the best costume shops in Southern California that can serve as a reference for you. Most costume stores on the list have websites, so that you can tell if you like their selection even before you drive to their location. Here's a link to the Southern California Year-Round Costume Stores page of this site. Arizona Costume Stores: Here's a link to a page featuring Arizona costume stores. However, this list contains both year-round AND temporary costume shops, so you'll have to pay attention to the details of each listing: Arizona Costume & Party Stores list. Colorado Costume Stores: This page, too, lists temporary stores along with permanent ones, so not every shop on the directory will be useful to someone shopping for Thanksgiving Costumes--- Colorado Costume & Party Stores page. Costume stores in other states: A good source of finding the best costume stores in your neighborhood is the directory of the National Costumer's Association. Although not every year-round costume shop is a member of this group, you will find a reputable selection this way. Here's the index page of the <National Costumers Association directory. Sewing a Pilgrim CostumeThe 3 largest pattern companies in the USA (Simplicity, McCall's and Butterick) all have a selection of Pilgrim and Native American Indian costumes you can sew for Thanksgiving.However, it's easier to find some types of costumes than others. If you're sewing a Thanksgiving costume for a woman or girl, it's easier to find a Pilgrim costume pattern than if you're sewing for a man or a boy. In the section below, you'll see the best Pilgrim sewing patterns available this year. You'll also note that if you're sewing a Pilgrim costume for men, you may have to go to some extra lengths to find a pattern...because you'll need to search auction sites and out-of-print specialty stores online to get that pattern. Pilgrim Costumes for men, women, girls, and boysSimplicity's Pilgrim Costumes:1.) Adult woman's Pilgrim costume: The Simplicity pilgrim costume pattern #3723 features a woman's dress that will fit in well with your Thanksgiving re-enactment. Suggested to be sewn in a plain, dark-color fabric, this costume also features the traditional large white collar, cuffs, apron and cap that give the distinctive Pilgrim "look." 2.) Girl' Pilgrim costume: Simplicity's pilgrim costume pattern #3723 for girls features an identical dress as described for the adult Pilgrim woman...but in smaller sizes. The Simplicity Pilgrim Girl costume fits toddlers age 3 up to size 14. McCall's Pilgrim sewing patterns:1.) Girl's and woman's Pilgrim costume: McCall's pilgrim costume pattern M2337 can be purchased in sizes from Girl's 7 all the way up to Misses 22. The long dress features raglan sleeves; no zipper is needed because the elasticized neckline makes this outfit easy to put on over the head. There is no sewn-in waistline; the pattern's apron is simply tied into place. Patterns for the traditional wide Pilgrim collar and a bonnet are included, as well. 2.) Girl's pilgrim costume: Another good McCall's pattern for girls is the McCall's pilgrim costume pattern M5442. Although it's now "out of print," it's still being sold on the McCall's website until supplies are depleted. After that, you should still be able to get ahold of this pattern for years to come on the Ebay auction website...although you'll never know when it will be up for bid. (However, you can place a request for this pattern, and Ebay will notify you by email when someone is selling it.) This pilgrim girl's pattern alswo comes with adaptations for a Colonial Girl costume. Apron, cap and kerchief patterns are included in the package. Butterick's Pilgrim costume sewing patterns:2.) Out of print boys & girl's Pilgrim costume patterns: If you'd like to become a "family of Pilgrims," the above adult Pilgrim costume has its counterpart for boys and girls: Butterick 6305. Please see the above paragraph for the costume description, because the kid's Pilgrim costumes look identical to the adult versions. 3.) Out of print boy's pilgrim costume pattern: Butterick also has one of the few available patterns for Pilgrim boy's costumes. It's Butterick P236, and can nowadays only be found on auction websites and out-of-print pattern specialists online. (Aren't we lucky these days, though! Out of print patterns used to be nearly impossible to find...and meant spending hours rummaging around in second-hand stores!) Native American Indian costumesYour Thanksgiving Pageant can't be complete without the people who helped the Pilgrims survive!Adult Native American costume patterns:Simplicity's Adult Indian costume patterns: Unisex size XS to XL, chest 30" to 48" Several different styles of Native American outfits for both men & women are found in one package, Simplicity pattern #5446. Feathers and headdresses are purchased and added to the sewn costume to create the finished look you desire. Butterick's Adult Indian costume patterns: Men's and Women's Indian costumes (and children's, too) are included in the Butterick B4171 Native American costume pattern. The woman's Indian dress looks unrealisic; I'm no historian, but I doubt Indian women wore spaghetti straps. On the other hand, the men's, boy's and girl's Indian costumes included in this set look great. The men's and boy's outfit is a 2-piece set (pants/top_ with fringe detail included on both the pants and shirt. The girl's outfit is a long-sleeved, knee-length dress, which also includes plenty of fringe. This is one pattern you should consider if you're planning to sew an Indian costume for this year's Thanksgiving pageant. And, because it includes styles for both sexes and all ages, it's particularly handy. One package contains all of the men's and women's sizes, while a 2nd package contains kid's sizes from XS through L. Kid's Indian Costume Patterns1.) Simplicity's Native American Wardrobe for boys & girls looks extremely similar to this brand's costume package for adults. 4 different styles come included in this pattern, which is Simplicity pattern #5448. Sizes included in the package will fit kids approximately age 3 through 8.2.) McCall's Indian Costume pattern for girls & boys: McCall's costume pattern M2851 includes fringed Native American outfits for young boys and girls size 2 thru 8. A headband pattern is included, and requires purchased feathers to complete the "look." Girls-only patterns: 2 "Indian Girl" costumes offered by Simplicity make me realize that I don't really know what styles were worn by the Native Americans in the Massachusetts area back during the days of the Pilgrims. But, I'm pretty sure that they're NOT the styles featured in the next 2 patterns, Simplicity costume pattern 2793 (girl's sizes 7-14) and Simplicity costume pattern 2795 (for younger girls, size 3-8) These are both rather generic patterns that include options for turning one basic style into a multitude of different costumes. If you don't care about historical accuracy & just want to have some Thanksgiving fun, these economical patterns can give you a whole wardrobe of fun, all in one package. Stylin' Native American pattern: One thing's for sure: Native American girls of the Pilgrim era didn't wear capri-length leggings. But, if your daughter loves leggings & just wants to have some Feast Day fun, Simplicity costume pattern 3657 spins a modern take on Thanksgiving wardrobes. Girls size 7-14 can wear this fringed dress with an uneven hemline over their own pair of below-the-knee leggings to create the finished "look" shown on the package.
|
