If you’ve chosen a straightjacket to be your costume at the next Halloween party, there are different ways to make it. Let’s disclose two methods:
- The simplest one. Fit for: lazy people, those who don’t want to spend a lot of time and effort on a costume, and those who only realized they need a costume two hours before Halloween. It requires a minimum of effort and expense. You can make a straightjacket costume out of things you have at hand. As a result, you get a well recognizable costume quickly and nearly for free.
- The replica of a medical one. Fit for: enthusiasts, those who know the sewing basics, and those who intend to use the costume in the future. This method may also be quite inexpensive depending on what you have at home, but it does require more attention and time. As a result, you get a straightjacket costume making everyone believe you stole it from the hospital.
Making a Straightjacket Out of a Mess You Have at Home
You will need:
- a large shirt or blouse, preferably with long sleeves (longer than your full arm with the hand). If you don’t have such a shirt, you can rip off the sleeves out of another shirt
- four clasp-pins
- a pair of scissors
- a needle and a thread—required if you plan on stitching the sleeves of one shirt to the sleeves of another. The thread can be the same color as the shirt or a different color
- you can also use a sewing machine if you have one (if you don’t have it yet, check the review of two matching models — Singer 4432 vs 4423)
What to do:
- If you’re going to use the sleeves from another shirt, stitch them to the sleeves of the shirt you’re going to wear. Don’t stitch right at the end of the sleeve — it’s better to make a seam about 4 inches higher up the sleeve. If you use a sewing machine, you can also make some careless stitches across the sleeve in a random order to increase the effect of the costume.
- Want to have your hands free during Halloween and wear a straitjacket costume? Measure the circumference of your arm at its top point at the shoulder, add an inch, and cut out the circles with the relevant circumference in the shirt, right under the place where the sleeves begin. Put on the shirt and see if your arms can fit through the holes.
- Use the clasp-pins to attach the end of each sleeve near the bottom of the shirt, opposite the sleeve. If the sleeves are long enough, you can drag them across the shirt and tie them in the back.
Making an Exact Replica of a Hospital Straightjacket
You will need:
- two shirts of the same size or one large shirt (with buttons) and one small shirt (any type)
- four leather or fabric belts
- a sewing machine with appropriate needles (take leather needles if you use leather belts)
- heavy-duty scissors to cut the belts
- about 30 pins
- threads for a sewing machine
What to do:
- Cut out all buttons from the shirt that will be the main one (don’t forget the ones on the cuffs). If there are pockets, cut them out too. For that, get one scissor blade along the pocket seam and detach it. Remove all threads sticking out.
- Cut out the collar of the shirt and fold a 1 ½-inch strip near the collar inside. Attach it with the pins (check this guide for quick dealing with them) and then sew a seam with a sewing machine.
- Repeat the pin-and-sew procedure with the shirt’s button line. You should have a whole piece of cloth as a result.
- Cut the sleeves of a smaller shirt and line them with the sleeves of your main shirt. If the shirts are of the same size, cut the larger shirt’s sleeves right under the elbow zone. If you use the sleeves of a smaller shirt, glide them down the larger shirt’s sleeves until the width of the sleeves match. Cut the larger shirt’s sleeves about 1 inch lower.
- Put the smaller sleeves into the larger ones, pin the fabrics, and sew the sleeves together. Sew the ends of the sleeves together as well so that each sleeve is closed.
- Cut the belts in half and place three of them on the shirt’s left sleeve, where the buttons were. Place the belt pieces horizontally, with buckles being on one side (left or right) and another part of the belts on another (right or left). Arrange the belts near the bottom of the shirt, in the middle, and along the shoulder line. Check that the belts can buckle after they’ve been attached to the shirt. Get a stronger needle for your sewing machine and stitch the belt parts attaching them to the shirt.
- Turn over the shirt and place the last belt halves vertically in the center of the shirt. Both halves should be attached to the shirt at the abdomen zone. The upper half should make a loop and get attached in the middle of the chest. The lower one should make a loop and be attached near the bottom of the shirt. Check that the belt parts can be buckled together.
