How to make an Ancient Egyptian costume

four Ancient Egyptian figures and a painted box with small doors
© Metropolitan Museum

Help! You need an Ancient Egyptian outfit, like this Ancient Egyptian tunic, for school tomorrow and it’s got to be easy to make… But don’t worry because here’s our simple, no-sew, Show Me version…

For the no-sew tunic you will need:

  • An old white sheet (that your parents don’t mind you cutting up!),
  • sewing scissors
  • measuring tape.

Get a grown-up to measure you for the length of your outfit to just below your knee.

For our 9 year old models, we cut a metre in length and 70cm for the width but you can make yours bigger or smaller depending on your size.

Next, you have to fold the material lengthwise in half and cut a quarter shape out of the folded corner for your neck hole as shown in the photo.

Now you can put the tunic on – just use a belt round your waist to secure your tunic in place.

The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology in London has an Ancient Egyptian tunic known as the Tarkhan Dress. It’s one of the oldest surviving garments in the world, and you can find out more about the Ancient Egyptian tunic with Show Me.

Egyptian Accessories

Your basic costume is finished but you need some accessories to really made you look like an Egyptian. You can find out how to make an Ancient Egyptian bead collar or Ancient Egyptian scarab necklace.

Head dress
We glued pumpkin seeds along a strip of card and then painted it gold for the headdress but you can just create a pattern with felt tip pens.

Good luck making your outfit.