- 1). Purchase a pattern that roughly resembles the look you want for the costume, or use paper and a pencil to draw a pattern. Make sure there is a rough idea for both the bodice and the skirt.
- 2). Take your measurements as instructed by the pattern to ensure the costume is the right size. If you are making the pattern from scratch, you will need measurements for your chest, waist, hips and inseam. Cut all pieces of the pattern to fit your measurements.
- 3). Lay a long piece of duct tape down on a flat surface with the sticky side up, then cut another piece of the same size. Make sure these pieces of tape are longer than your pattern pieces. Overlap the first piece with the second by approximately 1 inch, then continue to lay down pieces of tape in this manner until you have a sheet large enough for one of your pattern pieces.
- 4). Create another "sheet" with a different color of tape, if you want to make certain pieces of the costume other colors. Alternate colors of duct tape to make a single sheet if you wish, or use only the primary color of your costume in your "fabric." Work slowly to avoid creases or wrinkles in the tape.
- 5). Cover the sticky side of the tape "fabric" with a backing material. You can use more duct tape for this, or to make the cheerleading costume more comfortable to wear, use lightweight fabric or piece of an old t-shirt.
- 6). Lay the pattern pieces on your duct tape "sheet" to cut the tape into parts for your costume. Pay attention to the directions in the pattern to ensure you fold the duct tape "fabric" in half for certain parts of the costume that require duplicate pieces, like the bodice or skirt. Cut your pieces with the lines in the duct tape facing the same direction.
- 7). Begin connecting the pieces of the dress, referring to the pattern if necessary. Fold the backing material a little more than 1/2 inch away from the sticky side of the duct tape, then overlap the edge to the connecting piece of the costume to stick them together. Reinforce the seams with a piece of duct tape on the front, making sure to fold the tape over at the edges.
- 8). Fold strips of tape around any raw edges of the costume. Make hems by peeling back the backing material and folding the duct tape over on itself. To get in and out of the costume, tape on a zipper, use stick-on Velcro or cut an opening and close it with duct tape.
- 9). Cut vertical lines in the bottom of your cheerleading costume skirt to make it resemble a real uniform. Make each cut about 3 inches apart and about 6 inches long. Use different colors of duct tape, if desired, to spell out a fictitious team name or add decorative lines to your costume.
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