This Instructable will teach you how to make a dress out of newspaper using a sewing machine. It makes a great recycled Halloween costume or a very interesting party dress.
This was part of a Halloween costume of The Old Gray Lady, a nickname for the New York Times. (Hence the makeup and hairdo.) It consists of a fitted, pleated bodice, a puffy petticoat, and a removable waistband, all made completely from newspaper and thread, with no glue or tape used in the process. It is surprisingly comfortable and wearable.
To make this dress, you need a stack of newspaper (I used one Sunday edition of the New York Times), a basic sewing machine, basic sewing skills, straight pins, a ruler, 2 feet of velcro, a spool of white thread, a pencil, a pair of scissors, a belt, a mirror, and a friend to help you with a couple of the steps.
This dress should fit around a size medium. It took about 8 hours to fully construct.
See the final step for ideas on how to incorporate this amazing dress into a costume for Halloween!
Note: Please keep this dress away from water and fire as it is made of paper!
This was part of a Halloween costume of The Old Gray Lady, a nickname for the New York Times. (Hence the makeup and hairdo.) It consists of a fitted, pleated bodice, a puffy petticoat, and a removable waistband, all made completely from newspaper and thread, with no glue or tape used in the process. It is surprisingly comfortable and wearable.
To make this dress, you need a stack of newspaper (I used one Sunday edition of the New York Times), a basic sewing machine, basic sewing skills, straight pins, a ruler, 2 feet of velcro, a spool of white thread, a pencil, a pair of scissors, a belt, a mirror, and a friend to help you with a couple of the steps.
This dress should fit around a size medium. It took about 8 hours to fully construct.
See the final step for ideas on how to incorporate this amazing dress into a costume for Halloween!
Note: Please keep this dress away from water and fire as it is made of paper!
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Signing UpStep 1: Tools and Materials
To make this dress, you need:
-a stack of newspaper (I used one Sunday edition of the New York Times)
-2 feet of velcro
-a spool of white thread
-a basic sewing machine (and basic sewing skills)
-straight pins
-a ruler
-a pencil
-a pair of scissors
-a belt
-access to a mirror
-a friend to help you with a couple of the steps
-around 8 hours of time
The dress was designed to fit around a size medium.
-a stack of newspaper (I used one Sunday edition of the New York Times)
-2 feet of velcro
-a spool of white thread
-a basic sewing machine (and basic sewing skills)
-straight pins
-a ruler
-a pencil
-a pair of scissors
-a belt
-access to a mirror
-a friend to help you with a couple of the steps
-around 8 hours of time
The dress was designed to fit around a size medium.
![Halloween Costume: PAPER(Craft) MAN [Cost: $0.00, Recyclable, Environment Friendly]](http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FT9/OE4W/H94ZALD2/FT9OE4WH94ZALD2.SQUARE.jpg)
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If I ever decide to wear it again, I will try and fix the petticoat so that I can sit down without it tearing!
I got so many compliments, people are still talking about my awesome dress apparently (party was last week).
Looking back, I shouldn't have skipped the reinforcing of the armholes, they ripped a bit (but I came equiped with tape, so my friends were fixing my outfit through the nigh)
Thanks you so much for this instructables, first time I actually take the plunge and try something!
I served cocktails in this dress for 5 hours. It held up just fine.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/northern-va-teen-wears-homemade-newspaper-dress-to-the-newseum/2012/07/20/gJQAAULvxW_blog.html
shoes to go with your dress :p
Kirin
We did the bodice pleats the regular thin pleat size you suggested but made a layered skirt using larger pleats!
We haven't quite finished but are planning to make another and model them with high high heels and long 'colour pop' socks! Hope to post a photo when we finish x