Costume How-To
Buy at least 100 small coffee filters (8- to 10-cup size) and 50 industrial-size filters (5-gallon size); if you can't find the industrial size, use the small throughout. You will need a white shirt and A-line skirt; the shirt can be used again, but the skirt cannot.

Shirt Jabot How-To
Turn 10 to 12 small filters inside out, fold in half, and trim off corners (throughout project, you can cut 5 or 6 filters at a time). Hot-glue to 5/8-inch-wide white ribbon of desired length. Safety-pin ribbon to center front of shirt.

Shoulder Ruffle How-To
Cut 2 pieces of 5/8-inch-wide ribbon about 12 inches long. Slit 6 small filters to center and cut base off, leaving 1/2-inch flap on inner edge; notch flap to create tabs for gluing. Wrap each ribbon around roll of duct tape or mayonnaise jar to make U shape; hot-glue 3 filters onto each ribbon, one at a time. Safety-pin ribbons to shoulders of shirt.

Cuff How-To
Measure wearer's wrist, add 2 inches, and cut 2 pieces of 1/4-inch-wide ribbon to that measurement. Turn ribbons under 1/4 inch on each end; attach 5/8-inch-wide self-adhesive Velcro strips to overlap. Wrap ribbons around a small jar. Slit 6 small filters to center and cut base off, leaving 3/4-inch flap on inner edge. Notch flap; hot-glue 3 layers of filters onto each ribbon.

Trim filters if you like. For collar, measure wearer's neck, add 2 inches, and cut 2-inch-wide white ribbon to that measurement. Turn under 1/4 inch at each end of ribbons; attach 2-inch-long piece of self-adhesive 5/8-inch Velcro. Slit small filter to center; remove base, leaving 1/2 inch flap. Wrap ribbon around duct-tape roll or mayonnaise jar; hot-glue filters, 1 layer at a time, filling width of ribbon, and trim as desired.

Skirt How-To
Place skirt on ironing board or dress form to retain its shape. We used small filters for front and alternated small and industrial size for side and back. Slit filters to center and cut off base, leaving 1/2- inch flap on inner edge. Glue filters in rows around skirt. Trim around waist, in front, and on sides. Wear skirt with crinoline petticoat for more puff.

8 No-Sew Costumes