A knight is a popular costume both for Halloween and Catholic All Saints Eve parties. For Halloween, the knight may be a character from Dungeons and Dragons, World of Warcraft, Beowulf or King Arthur. At an All Saints party a knight may be St. George or St. Martin of Tours. He might also be the Roman Centurion who helped Jesus and His Mother. Here’s a DIY guide to make a suit of armor out of cardboard from your recycle bin. Perfect for any adult or child dragon-slayer.
You will need:
* cardboard box (or scraps)
* regular or permanent markers
* 3# margarine tub, milk jug or 5-quart ice cream pail for a helmet (depending on the size of the child or adult)
* plastic masquerade mask (not the kind with slanted eye holes)
* pieces of fabric-covered elastic (rubber bands and ponytail holders work also)
* sharp scissors Widget cutting tool or X-Acto knife
* Elmer’s glue, hair spray or paraffin (sealing wax)
* silver spray paint or roll of aluminum foil (if young children are helping, use foil for safety)
* colored plastic wrappers and foil bits form recycle bin
* brads or paper fasteners
* duct tape
* loose-knit gray sweater or gray sweatshirt
* gray sweat pants or pajama bottoms
How to make a knight’s costume
* Helmet: Spray paint butter or ice cream tub silver to coat plastic or cover with foil. If using a milk jug, cut away the handle leaving the hat shape. If you leave the handle on the ice cream pail, it should fit loosely so it doesn’t pose a choking danger. Cut two small strips of cardboard and tape them to both sides of the eye mask. Poke holes on both sides of the helmet and through the cardboard pieces. Affix mask to helmet to make a visor. Spray paint silver or cover with duct tape. If you don’t have a mask, cut a visor from cardboard.
* Chain mail: Use gray sweater to simulate a mail shirt. A knitter or crocheter might create a loose weave sweater. Another option is to cut small slits in an old sweatshirt to look like a mail shirt.
* Armor: Cut a shield-shaped piece (or round for Greco-Roman armor), breastplate (see images), arm guards and greaves (leg pieces). Poke holes and tie off pieces of elastic to attach greaves, armament and breastplate. Child should paint armor or cover with foil or duct tape. He should design his own crest (logo). England used the lion. France’s was the Fleur-de-Lys. Use these free printable designs to create a heraldic crest. Embellish all armor pieces with emblem.
* Sword: Cut broadsword shape and design hilt as desired (should match emblem). Create a “leather” scabbard (sword holder) out of a brown paper bag. Attach sword and scabbard to belt with a cloth loop.
* Scarf: A knight always wore the scarf of his lady-fair around his arm.
* Protect armor: Make a safe, non-toxic “Shellac” wash of watered-down school glue and coat armor (it will dry clear). Cardboard may also be coated with sealing wax. These methods will prevent water damage.