After being sick all week, I was reminded by my son on Friday that he needed a shepherd costume by Sunday for a living Christmas card that he was taking part in. My first thought was to just go and buy one. However, when I saw the $25 dollar price tag, I decided it was time to get creative. So I went next door to the local Walmart. Anyone who knows me, knows I’m not a big fan of Walmart, but I knew it had a craft department and I knew they would have those ugly plastic candy cane lawn decorations that I was going to need if my shepherd was going to have a hook.
Here’s what I bought:
a package of 2 white king size pillowcases. (I only needed one, but couldn’t find them sold individually)
half of a yard of brown felt and a black stretchy headband
and an ugly plastic candy cane lawn ornament for 95cents.
Then it was time to get busy.
I held the pillow case up to my son and measured where I wanted the head and arm holes to be. I used a disappearing ink pen to draw my cutting line, folded the pillowcase in half length wise (to ensure symmetry) and cut my holes. Then I stitched around them for reinforcement. (He won’t be wearing it for very long, but I figured he is ten and he’s a boy… I better reinforce.) I also cut 6inch slits on the sides at the bottom and reinforced to make walking a little more comfortable.
Then it was time to transform that ugly candy cane. I measured the cane (mine was 33inches), cut a piece of felt 33″ long x 2″ wide and sewed a long tube. I didn’t bother turning it inside out, since it is felt and won’t fray I just trimmed it up nice and close to the sewing line. Then I sewed closed one end and slipped it onto the cane.
Even the cat stopped to admire this one!
For the headpiece, I used the rest of the brown felt. I simply cut a square to the size I liked and used a black stretchy headband to hold it in place.
After 45 minutes and $5 dollars worth of supplies, this is what I came up with. I had my son wear a white turtleneck underneath with a pair of sandals and a piece of jute around the waist to finish it all off. What do you think?
You did good girl!
That’s great!!! I didn’t know those big ugly candy canes even existed. You really pulled that one off… quick, cheap and easy! Great job!
Thank you for sharing. I am in your situation right now! Thanks for your help.
Wow! I AM impressed! I’ve never been able to sew…hopefully someday I can be domestic like you! 🙂
By the way, we haven’t officially “introduced” ourselves, I don’t think. I’m Jaime, Dee’s new niece…lol. And I’m so happy she’s my new aunt! She’s doing a great job too…we all love her!
Since you’re her sister, that makes you part of our family too now, so I just wanted to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season! Merry Christmas!
-Jaime 🙂
P.S. Love reading your blog too! BOTH you girls are so creative!
wow! what a great idea, thanks so much for sharing. this is going to come in handy for this weekend!! I didn’t know abt those cnady canes …what a fantastic idea!!
Thank you Thank you! I am in the same situation, and your pics and details help a ton (off to craft store!)
You are my hero. I need one ASAP and this will work.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks a ton for sharing this! It worked beautifully and we now have a great shepherd’s costume for our son’s play.
Thanks for sharing your shepherd outfit tips. You have saved me hours of trying to figure this out myself. Your tips were the best that I found on the internet – especially I need to make several for this Sunday. 🙂 Blessings.
I just found out I need a Shepard’s costume by tomorrow. I’m sick and really not up to a big project. You have saved my 5 year old from needing to someday tell his therapist how neglected and humiliated he felt in Kinder because his mom did not have a costume for him. God bless you. 🙂