Costumes are needed for school plays and reports as well as parties and Halloween.  Most costumes are a one-time thing so the expense can be hard to justify.  
We are going to come up with a few costume hints and ideas that cost very little at most.  We begin the costume hats because a hat can define the outfit with little effort.  

1. All the hats can be created with a sheet poster board.  If you don’t have poster board you can use construction paper but will need to tape pieces together to make them large enough. 


2. From just a few basic shapes many styles of hats can be created.    To determine the size of the piece, measure the person’s head for the crown piece and use the same measurement for the inside circle of the brim as well as the top of the crown.  Personal preference and the size of the paper determine brim width. 

3. Make sure tabs are cut evenly around the inside of the brim to make attaching the crown easier and more secure.    Draw the circle of the size for the brim hole so you can determine how deep to cut the tabs.  If you are worried about cutting them freestyle draw them first so you have a line to follow.   

4.  Tabs for the top of the hat are also needed and are cut on the outside of the circle.  Not as many are needed as on the brim because this area doesn’t get handled as much.  Make sure however, enough tabs are cut to eliminate any gap that may show between top and side of crown. 

5. Decorating the hat with feathers, buckles, hatbands etc.  adds to the look of the hat and elevates the whole costume.

Next we will examine how many costumes can be created with a pillowcase.  If you have any ideas send them along.