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A bib, a bustle, a beak, and thou: This plumed raven is poised to swoop all night. Use our templates to create patterns for raven.

(Use templates to create bib, bustle, and beak patterns. When templates require enlargement beyond the capabilities of a printer or photocopier, use the grid method. First, decide on the size of your pattern. Next, using a ruler, draw a grid that size on kraft paper, proportionate to the grid on the original, with the same number of squares. Finally, draw the outline in the corresponding squares on the grid.)

1. Breast How-To
Cut bib from black felt; notch neck. Hot-glue 16-inch length of 5/8-inch-wide grosgrain ribbon onto inside of bib neck, spreading notches so they stand up, creating a turtleneck; trim ribbon ends. Hotglue feather trim around outside of bib at neck, feather ends upward, interspersing 10 coq feathers from which bottom feathers have been stripped. Hot-glue feather patches to front of bib to cover, working up from bottom. Hot-glue 5/8-inch-wide black satin ribbon at neck to cover edges of feathers; leave ribbon ends long for ties.

2. Bustle How-To
Use 2 yards of 54-inch-wide heavy black tulle. Pleat and staple each edge to desired width of bustle, about 8 inches. Fold in half, bringing stapled edges together to make puff; staple. To make 4 tucks in puff: Grasp fold along unstapled edge, pull it inside puff to meet stapled edge, and staple again. Repeat at two points across puff and opposite edge. Cut bustle top from black felt. Hot-glue coq feathers to lower corners and center point, and to sides at horizontal fold. Hot-glue feather patches to cover bustle top below horizontal fold. To underside of felt above horizontal fold, hot-glue stapled edge of tulle puff. Dab ends of 10 to 15 stripped coq feathers with hot glue; stick into tulle through holes. Fold bustle top at horizontal fold; safety-pin to clothing just below waist, feather side up; safety pins and staples in tulle should be hidden under felt.

3. Cuff How-To
Cut 5/8-inch-wide black grosgrain ribbon to wrist measurement; hot-glue ends of coq feathers to ribbon, interspersing with stripped coq feathers. Center 18 inches of 5/8-inch-wide black satin ribbon on cuff, covering ends of feathers; hot-glue. Wrap satin ends around wrist twice and tie.

4. Beak How-To
Cut out of velour paper; back with construction paper. Score center; fold. Punch holes; attach black eyelets at holes (optional). Cut black shoestring elastic to length required to hold beak mask, and thread through holes. Knot inside. Bend beak at tuck line.

8 No-Sew Costumes.

First Published: Fall 2000