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Quick and Easy Joseph Costume

Elijah’s been running around the house with an arm rest cover on his head pretending to be Joseph since Sunday.  It’s adorable, but less than functional . . . so we set out to change that today.

Here’s how to make a Joseph costume in less than 90 minutes.  I’m totally serious.  It would have taken even less time if I didn’t have to go rummaging through my fabric box.

SUPPLIES | Didn’t cost me a thing – I had everything at home!
Two different colored pieces of fabric
Thin Goody hair band (preferably one that compliments your choice of fabric!)
Clear thread for your machine

JOSEPH’S ROBE

  • Start by laying out a sleeper over your first choice of doubled fabric.  Trace the top of each arm (giving yourself room for a seam).
  • Draw a straight line for the neck opening (slightly below the neck line of the sleeper) that is large enough so your child can pull the robe over their head when finished.
  • Measure desired length for wrist openings (mine was 9″ long).  Draw lines to connect bottom of wrist opening to armpit of sleeper (again leaving room for seam at the armpit).  Arms should look a little like asymmetrical bells.
  • Find the center of the sleeper and make a corresponding mark at the bottom of the fabric.  Measure 12-14 inches on either side and make a line (this will become the hemline of your robe).
  • Connect the far edges of your hem line to the mark at the armpit.  Robe will look a little like a bell.
  • Cut out your newly created robe pattern.
  • Run a seam at the neck and wrist openings to finish the edges.
  • Seam arms and body of the robe.
  • Hem for your child’s height.

JOSEPH’S TUNIC

  • Lay out your sleeper (with the arms folded in) on your second selection of doubled fabric (fold should be at the top).
  • Measure desired length of tunic on either side of the sleeper body (leaving room for a seam).  Draw a line between side marks at the bottom of your fabric (your hemline).
  • Draw a line down the middle of the front of the tunic.
  • Cut out a scoop for the neck (leaving room for a seam).
  • Cut out your newly created tunic pattern (don’t forget to cut the line in the middle of the front).
  • Run a seam at the neck and front-center sides of tunic to finish the edges.
  • Starting at the bottom of each side of the tunic, seam half-way up (leaving an arm opening).
  • Run a seam for each arm hole to finish the edge.
  • Hem the bottom of the tunic.

JOSEPH’S HEADPIECE

  • Using the same color fabric as your tunic, cut out a 30″ square.
  • Hem all sides.
  • Use Goody hairband to hold in place
Voila!  I think my Joseph was getting a little tired of pictures by this point – but here’s the front and back of the finished product.

Because Joseph’s costume was so easy, I couldn’t stop there.  Check back tomorrow for my easy Shepherd costume and ideas if you need to create for other Nativity characters.