Holiday Planning & Ideas Halloween Halloween Projects & Crafts Halloween Costumes for Kids How to Make a Napoleon Halloween Costume They may not have learned their French history yet, but many boys would love dressing up in Napoleon's regalia nevertheless. With a few clever tricks you can produce this look with a needle and thread and a minimum of skill: Napoleon's jacket begins as a navy-blue hoodie; it's cut and then trimmed with sections of red felt and gold upholstery fringe. By Martha Stewart Editors Martha Stewart Editors An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing. Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 20, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: GLEN GLASSER Our Napoleon wears white jeans and has a wooden toy sword painted gold. What You'll Need Materials White button-down shirt Bias tape in white and red Fabric glue Iron Basic sewing supplies Tailor's chalk Hooded sweatshirt in navy Wool felt in red and black Napoleon templates Iron-on adhesive (HeatnBond Ultra Hold Iron-On Adhesive) Gold fringe trim 10 gold-finish buttons Grosgrain ribbons for rosettes and star Gold cord Instructions For the shirt, mark and cut the shirt's front panels into points; cut the back straight. Bind cut edges with white bias tape and fabric glue. Glue short strips of bias tape above the points (to resemble pockets). Remove the buttons from the collar; stand collar up, and fold and iron the corners down tuxedo-shirt-style, as shown. Sew buttons back on in place. For the jacket, use chalk to mark a line, as shown, around pocket of sweatshirt and along zipper and hood; cut along that line, leaving 1 inch of hood (do not discard the fabric). Cut ribbing from sleeves. Cut red felt 5 inches wide and a little longer than the measurement of jacket's neck; fold it in half lengthwise. Sandwich felt around the inch that remains from hood; glue in place, and trim felt ends to make a straight line with jacket front. Glue red bias tape along jacket opening, felt collar included. Use cuff template to cut felt for cuffs; glue in place, and finish the edges with bias tape. Trace epaulet template as shown in photo below onto reserved fabric from sweatshirt pocket (so you have a double layer of fabric); cut out. Repeat. Use iron-on adhesive to join the pairs of layers (for 2 thick epaulets). Glue gold fringe around each; tack in place on jacket. Sew gold-finish buttons to jacket, 4 on each side on the front and 1 at each cuff. Tack on ribbon rosettes. For the hat, use hat template to trace and cut out 2 pieces of black felt. Measure for size by holding the pieces around the head of the person who will be wearing the hat; tack pieces together accordingly. Glue gold cord 1 inch from edge all around. Tack on a gold ribbon star.