This DIY Princess Leia costume is completely no sew so you don't need any sewing skills and it is really inexpensive to make. All you will need is an old white sheet, a glue gun and a belt or ribbon. Star Wars characters make for great dressing up - they are easily recognisable and look fabulous! If you are looking for other DIY Star Wars costumes check out some here. You could have a whole adorable Star Wars family if you are going to a whole family dressing up event.
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My girls love dressing up for World Book Day. They love reading and have lots of characters that they love and want to dress up as. This year Little Miss J is still really into Star Wars - yes we know it is a Star Wars movie but there are also books! Last year she went dressed up as Darth Vader and this year she wanted to be Princess Leia. I made her a really easy costume out of a bed sheet which didn't even need any sewing so I thought I would share it with you. Of course if you are short of time or inclination you can always pick up a costume on amazon but this is a really great option for a last minute DIY Princess Leia costume.
What you will need
- single white bedsheet / white fabric
- scissors
- hot glue gun and glue sticks
- ribbon / belt
Instructions
Get your single white bedsheet and fold it in half. Have your child to lie on it with their head over the folded top and draw around them with wide fluted arms and a dress shape (see below pictures). This way you will get the general shape of a dress that is the right size without having to use a dress pattern. The size of the sheet or fabric needed will depend upon the size of your child.
Cut out the shape, making sure to leave the fold intact (don't cut the folded side). The front and back piece will remain attached permanently by this folded side and it will hang from the shoulders and neck securely this way.
Cut a small hole in the folded top for their head. As you can see we have the shape of a dress, and we haven't needed to create a shoulder seam.
Then with the right sides together (wrong side on the outside) you can just glue gun the sides closed, leaving the ends of the arms and the bottom part open. I didn't feel the need to pin the fabric together before glueing but you could do, use a safety pin or dress pins.
Make sure you use a lot of glue and press it down quickly. If you aren't looking for a no sew Princess Leia costume and have the sewing skills and time you could of course sew these seams closed using a straight stitch, it wouldn't take long as it is just an easy sew. Just fold the costume inside out and sew the same edges, leaving a small seam allowance before turning the right way again.
Again, if you are fussy on the finish you could create folded over seams for the bottom of the armhole and bottom of the dress. Simply fold over and glue in place like the other seams. This can be done when it is turned the right way out - just remember to glue the seams backwards into the dress so they aren't visible from the front. Again, you could also sew these seams for just the right look.
Pop the white dress over your child's head and tie around the middle with silver ribbon or silver belt. I put Little Miss J's long hair into leia buns on the side of her head using hair bobbles and bobby pins to finish off the look. You could also add a light saber.
I think the final results are quite simple but very effective! Of course you could make it a lot neater than this, but I'm going for a really easy DIY Princess Leia costume that you can whip up in 10 minutes - and this is it! You can see that Miss J simply loved it and she got a ton of compliments - not bad for 10 minutes work and not much money!
Obviously this costume isn't limited for use on World Book Day - this easy Princess Leia Costume would make a great Comic Con costume, or Halloween costumes, or just an adorable little leia dress up item for play for a Star Wars fan.
This is a tutorial for a little Princess Leia dress for kids but you can easily make it for an adult - simply use a bigger sheet! I'd probably make sure to use a thick cotton sheet or wear a white vest and leggings underneath.
If you follow video tutorials better, I have made a video showing how to make this homemade Princess Leia costume...
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Lynsey Buchanan says
My daughter school never does World Book Day but if they did she would want to dress up as Cinderella
iain maciver says
chewbacca
Keith Hunt says
a viking from Iceland as we go to raykjavik each year.
Angela Treadway says
iron man usually x
kimneville1 says
My son isn't into dressing up but is going as Dennis the Menace as simple
jo liddement says
My son is going to school on World Book Day dressed as Harry Potter
Emma J Walters (@emmav6) says
we are going for fantastic mr fox this year 🙂
Hannah Scudder says
My son is not a massive fan of dressing up clothes so we will see if he wears his pirate costume, if not it will just be a gruffalo t-shirt.
laura banks says
not sure my sons school is dressing up but he has gone in the past as dennis the menace from the beano
Susan lloyd says
My daughters want to be the witches x
cherylhadfield says
Harrietti from the borrowers
melanie stirling says
Mary Poppins
lexxoliver says
Wheres Wally!
Angie McDonald says
Matilda from the Roald Dahl books!
Victoria Prince says
Not sure yet - need to get more organised!
kim plant says
my son harry potter my daughter Harley Quinn
Sam Rhodes says
My son is insisting he will be dressing as gruffalo this year!
Laura Pritchard says
The Dinosaur from The Dinosaur Next Door
Jade Hewlett says
Harry Potter
Amy Pest says
wheres wally
Kat Lucas says
Where's Waldo
Ruth Harwood says
Bilbo Baggins
Susie Wilkinson says
A Disney Princess!
Jo Glasspool says
My daughter wants to go as Rey.
Sarah Ann says
Chewbaccan
ADEINNE TONNER says
Charlie from Charlie in the chocolate factory
Harline Parkin says
Both my grandsons are going has Harry Potter my daughter got them from asda very good price too they had some great costumes
Spencer Broadley says
Some sort of pirate
Donna Caldwell says
Coraline
claire griffiths says
horrid henry
janine atkin says
mine is going as the bfg
Patricia Avery says
My grandchildren are all going as Star Wars characters 🙂
Claire Woods says
They don't do this at secondary school, which is a shame.
Angela Pagan says
I will remember this costume for next year! Brilliant! My two kids went as the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter- all homemade costumes!
Sally Collingwood says
Alice in Wonderland
Amy Wright says
My son dressed up as Kylo Ren and my daughter dressed up as Elsa
Lorraine B says
My daughter dressed up as Hermione Granger
Christina Palmer says
My Grandson will be going as Harry Potter
Liam Bishop says
Captin Hook, he loves the villains.
sheridarby says
Little rabbit Foo Foo
kelandab22 says
Verucca salt from Charlie and the chocolate factory
Kelly Ellen Hirst
Trevor Linvell says
Kylo Ren
Clare Hubbard says
My sons went dressed as the Gruffalo
Susan B says
It was the BFG. She looked great.
Erica Price says
Harry Potter
Louise ryves says
He dressed up as mog the cat
lia sturman says
harry potter
Jo Hutchinson says
Harry potter
Natalie Crossan says
My daughter dressed up as mary poppins xx
Lin martin says
Willy winks, always he loves any excuse
sharon martin says
we didn't dress up for world book day
Rachael ashmore says
My daughter dressed up as red riding hood
sirleyyoung says
We didn't have a chance to dress up this year but next time 🙂
Adrian Bold says
Iron Man