How to create a DIY World Book Day costume
World Book Day 2021 is coming. Some parents will be running for the hills, fearing their sewing capabilities aren’t up to scratch, or perhaps running for the nearest fancy dress shop to buy in the outfit for their child. If you’re reading this and are the latter, you’re not alone. A recent survey ran by nursery chain, Kiddi Caru, revealed that 60% of parents fall into that bracket – with 81% of those surveyed also admitting that it isn’t important for their child’s costume to be impressive. But with those staggering statistics in mind, if you’re looking to create a DIY World Book Day costume, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some top tips to think about, when you’re scrambling around for craft supplies at the thirteenth hour!
1. Choose something popular
Popular ideas are repeated over and over every year, and if you’re scaling the internet trying to find tips, you’re sure to find a great DIY tutorial on YouTube, or even a how-to guide on a blog. The same survey by Kiddi Caru asked parents what they thought would be the most popular outfit choice for 2021, and it’s no real surprise that Harry Potter won it, with 30% of the votes.
Parents of pre-school aged children went with characters from the Julia Donaldson books (The Gruffalo, Zog, Room on the Broom etc). While those with sons said the classic ‘superhero’, those with daughters went for Disney Princesses, with Elsa from Frozen being the most popular (23%). Of course, such is the popularity, it’s easy to buy an outfit online, but surely part of the fun, and charm of the day, is getting your child involved (if they’re the right age) and making something together?
That’s not to say don’t choose something obscure, but of course, the more popular and mainstream a character is, the more chance you’ll be able to find something on the internet to replicate, or that will inspire your creativity.
2. Pinterest is your friend
Once you (or your child) have decided on the character and costume, it’s time to get planning. Pinterest is a great platform for creating a mood board of ideas, but better still, the site is full of incredible resources – from printables to tutorials. You’ll have everything you need at your fingertips.
Let’s take the most popular costume for 2021: Harry Potter. The most important part of the get-up is the house badge, which adorns the jumper. Pinterest is an excellent resource for the abundance of badge designs out there. If you don’t fancy stitching or making one from other crafts materials, such as felt, why not print off a design and either stick it to some card, or laminate it? Add a safety pin, or hair clip and stick it on to the jumper – and there you have it!
Of course, whichever costume and character you go with, you’re sure to find something in Pinterest to help you out, or cut a few corners.
3. Discover the wonders of no-sew
You’d be forgiven for thinking that costume making will require you to haul down that 1980s sewing machine from the loft! If the thought intimidates you somewhat, don’t worry. There are plenty of other options out there – and many of them require no sewing at all!
Take this no-sew Elsa-inspired costume, for example. All you’ll need is an elasticated waist band and some tulle – lots and lots of tulle. If you can get it in a variety of colours, bonus! Simply tie strips of tulle around the waistband, and hey presto – you have yourself a dream-worthy skirt, to team up with a long-sleeved baby blue top.
Alternatively, just rummage through your craft drawers and see what you’ve got lying around. Fun felt is always a great fabric to work with – it’s easy to cut and stick, isn’t too messy and you can create some wonderful embellishments with it.
4. If in doubt, wing it!
If you’ve got to this stage and you’re still doubting yourself, you wouldn’t be alone. The aforementioned survey revealed that 28% of parents felt pressurised or judged for their child’s costume – and over half of those asked said that there was too much emphasis on the outfit. So, if you’re looking for a quick win, here are some super simple costumes you could put together:
- Recycle that witches costume from Halloween for Meg & Mog, The Worst Witch or The Witches
- Get a baggy t-shirt or a simple dress for The Boy in the Dress
- You can’t get any easier than The Boy in Striped Pyjamas
- Dig out that animal onesie for The Tiger Who Came to Tea
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Hopefully that will inspire you as World Book Day rolls around. Remember, the event takes place on Thursday 4th March 2021.
