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 Cowperson
Duds
Dress
the part…make these spiffy Western vests, wrist guards and
chaps!
Kid-size
Paper-bag Vest
Make
your own Western vests and wrist guards from paper bags! Crumple
bags first if you prefer a softer palette, then flatten, cut,
round up a posse and decorate. A trail of glue hold wrist
guards in place.
 Cost:
Zilch
Time: 5 minutes and up, depending on the artist
Here's what
you need:
- Brown grocery
bags
- Crayons,
paints, and scraps of fabric and paper for decorating
Here's what
you do:
- Stand grocery
bag upside down (see diagram).
- Cut slit
along folds on bottom sides.
- Flatten bag,
fold bottom up, as shown.
- Cut out semicircles
for neck and arms.
- Slit up center
front.
- Cut along
dotted lines at top to shape front neckline.
- Cut V patterns
to shape bottom front of vest.
- Cut fringe
across bottom.
- Paint, paste,
glue, color and wear with pride.
- Wrist guards:
cut out rectangle (5" x 14") fringe, and decorate.
Chairperson's
Vest and Chaps
Urge volunteers
to join you in dressing for the part. Felt or paper vest and chaps
are the perfect companions to a pair of cowboy boots (if you have
them), a hat, and inexpensive bandana. Not to mention fringed wrist
guards! Add jeans, a shirt, and a swagger.
Cost:
$8
Time: 1 hour or less
Here's what
you need:
- Felt:1.5
to 2 yards of 52" felt (fits most)
- Felt or fabric
scraps for decorating
- Glue gun,
scissors
- Needle, thread
(or sewing machine)
- Belt that
fits around hips
Here's what
you do:
- Increase
pattern size as indicated and cut pattern.
- Vest & Chaps
Pattern (PDF): sew together at sides and shoulders. Cut scrap felt or
cloth into bright designs and hot-glue in place. Decorate your
vest with a
star (PDF),
cactus (PDF),
boots (PDF) or
horseshoe (PDF). Cut fringe.
- Chaps Pattern (PDF):
Position and hot-glue tie-ons in center only, as indicated (so
fringe is free).
- Make 4" or
5" cuts all along outside edge for fringe. To wear, pin waist
in the back, turning excess fabric in front over the top of your
belt. Knot leg ties in back. Trim length to fit.
- Cut wrist
guards with deep fringe. Fasten with pins or staples.
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