Begin with black
Begin with a basic black outfit: An ankle-length, long-sleeve, collarless dress or a plain skirt and top for a girl, and a long-sleeve shirt and pants for a boy. Both should wear black shoes, preferably loafers.
The boy’s pants should be thin enough
to be tucked into thick white knee socks.
Add a collar
Create collars out of white fabric or felt: Measure the wearer from shoulder to shoulder across their chest, then map out a rectangle on the fabric using this measurement as the height, and double it as the width.
Cut it out
Cut out the rectangle and fold it in half towards you, horizontally. Mark a half circle along the fold approximately half the size of the biggest part of the wearer’s head. Cut out this half circle; you should now have a rectangle with a round hole in the center.
Cut a triangle in front
Cut out a narrow triangle at the front of the collar. Sew or hot glue this collar onto the top of the boy’s shirt or the girl’s dress or top.
Accessorize
Cut three-inch wide white cuffs out of the fabric and sew or hot glue them onto the shirt sleeves. Add a white half-apron to a girl’s costume, and tuck the boys’ pants into white, knee-high socks.
Buy some buckles
For a boy’s outfit, get four large, picture-frame style gold buckles. If you can’t find gold ones, spray paint them. Put one on a plain black belt, glue one on the front of each shoe, and glue one on the front of a top hat.
Make a bonnet
Cut a 16- by 16-inch piece of fabric and lay it on a flat surface. Stretch the shoelace across the center horizontally. Affix it to the fabric with a few stitches or the glue gun. Fold the fabric in half twice so you have a square. Sew the side opposite the shoelace together; this will be the back of the bonnet.
You can also use a white or black handkerchief.
Don the bonnet
Shape the bonnet and use the shoelace to tie it under the chin. That’s it! Now go find some turkey and cranberries!