Print this file: knight_costume_printables.pdf

Every Halloween, I try to come up with ideas for costumes for all the children that, I will be able to make, and that are sweet, fun, non-commercial (no Scream costumes, etc.). This is a dragon fighter costume. I had a wonderful designer design these templates for the costume (the printable cut-outs that are used on the chest, and everything used on the shield).The only items we purchased for this costume were the red shirt, and four pieces of yellow felt (both of which I purchased from our local Michael’s, the shirt was $5, and a few extra dollars for the felt). Yes! this is a $7 costume.

What you’ll need:

1 printable file, provided here (for all the dragon, and shield designs): knight_costume_printables.pdf
1 red shirt
4 pieces of yellow felt
Fabric flue, or Elmer’s glue, or needle & thread (to attach the yellow felt pieces to the red shirt)
A cardboard box (or pieces from a cardboard box)
Foil (from the kitchen)
Packing tape

To make the shirt:

From the yellow felt, cut out a square design to go around the ends of the sleeves. Then cut out a triangle flag design to go around the bottom of the shirt. Attach these pieces to the shirt using glue, or needle and thread (you may use Elmer’s glue, but the glue will dry stiffer than fabric glue). If using glue, be sure to place a piece of cardboard in between the layers of the shirt first; otherwise, the the glue can seep through the first layer and glue the front of the shirt to the back. Once glue is dry, print out the design templates provided here. Cut out the dragon design, and attach to shirt using baby pins or glue.

To make the shield:

Using an old cardboard box, or scrap pieces of cardboard, cut out a piece of cardboard, with dimensions of 17 inches across, by 22 inches down. The printable file here provides the red background, the dragon designs, and the yellow and black checked design. Create the look of the shield in the picture above, by arranging the printable backgrounds and designs on your piece of cardboard. Glue these pieces onto your piece of cardboard. When everything is glued, you may shape your shield by rounding off the top and bottom. When finished, cut another strip from your cardboard, that you will use for the handle; the handle will go on the back of the shield. You want this piece approximately 2-3 inches wide, and 6 inches long. Attach to the rear of the shield using your packing tape.

To make the sword:

Cut out two pieces of length from your cardboard to make the length and cross of your sword. Attach these two pieces together using packing tape. Wrap the sword in foil.

Have fun!