How to Make a Dopey Costume

Dopey is a great choice if you're looking for group costume ideas; all seven dwarfs or just a few of the crew can dress up as the classic Disney characters. If your group is big enough, consider going to a Halloween party in ‌Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs‌ family costumes. Another sweet idea is a mama in a Snow White costume with a baby Dopey. This dwarf costume is adaptable to all ages and sizes.

In the Disney movie ‌Snow White,‌ Dopey is shown wearing a baggy pea-green tunic with long sleeves and a floppy cowl neck. It comes down to his feet and features two large gold buttons on the front. Sew Dopey's tunic in a custom size from felt or fleece fabric using a large, long-sleeve T-shirt or sweatshirt as a pattern. The project should be fairly easy for anyone with basic sewing skills.

If you want to avoid sewing and get lucky at a thrift store (or in your own closet), aim to find a similar garment that's at least two or three sizes too big for the child or adult who will be wearing the Dopey costume. Just add the buttons and the costume will be almost complete.

Select a garment from your closet that roughly resembles the shape and proportions of Dopey's tunic. This could be a long-sleeve T-shirt, tunic or sweatshirt, and it should be at least two or three sizes too big.

Spread out and, if necessary, tape together sheets of paper large enough to trace around the garment. Spread out the shirt on the paper so the arms are outstretched in a "T" shape.

With a marker, trace around the edges of the garment, approximately 1 inch away all around. It doesn't need to be perfect. Clearly mark the width of the neckline. Refine the pattern to adjust the length; it should reach the ankles. Extend the neckline to be wider and to create a cowl neck, which is like a wide, shallow turtleneck. This will mean adding a wide rectangle on top of the neckline you marked.

Cut out the paper pattern. Fold it in half vertically and trim the edges so that the pattern is symmetrical.

Fold your green felt or fleece fabric in half so that you have two layers. Place the paper pattern on top of the fabric and pin it through both layers by placing straight pins around the perimeter. Cut out the fabric, cutting through both layers to get two identical tunic pieces.

Place the two tunic pieces together with the right sides of the fabric facing. Place straight pins along the sides and underarms. Using matching green thread in a sewing machine and a medium-length straight stitch, sew the underarm and side seams. Leave a 1/2-inch seam allowance and back-stitch at the start and end of each seam to secure the stitching.

For the neckline, sleeves and lower edge of the tunic, fold the raw edges of the fabric over to the wrong side by 1/2 inch and then another 1/2 inch. Pin the hems and then sew them close to the inner fold. Turn the tunic right sides out.

Cut two circles approximately 2 to 3 inches in diameter from gold or yellow felt. Sew (or glue) the buttons to the center-chest area of the tunic.

Dopey cinches his baggy tunic with a black belt featuring a large gold buckle. If you can find a similar belt, simply secure this around the waist over the top of the tunic. Otherwise, cut a long, narrow rectangle of black felt fabric for the belt and a buckle shape out of gold or yellow felt. The buckle shape is a square with two narrow, vertical rectangles cut out from the middle. Glue or sew the middle band of the buckle to one end of the belt, cinch it around the tunic and secure it in place with a few discreet hand stitches.

Dopey's purple hat is floppy with a pointed tip resembling a classic elf hat. You can substitute a purple beanie if you wish; otherwise, sew Dopey's hat from purple felt. Look online for an elf hat pattern or create one yourself.

Draw a tall triangle on paper using a pencil and ruler. Make the base of the triangle half the circumference of Dopey's head plus 2 inches for seam allowances and ease. Extend the base of the triangle by adding a rectangle of equal width with a depth of approximately 4 inches. This rectangle will be the fold-up "brim" part of the hat.

Cut out the paper pattern and place it on top of a double layer of purple felt fabric. Pin the pattern to the fabric, pinning through both layers, and then cut around the pattern with scissors. You should now have two identical hat shapes.

Place the two hat shapes together with the right sides facing. Place pins along the two side edges. Sew along the sides with a sewing machine using a medium-length straight stitch and purple thread. Leave a 1/2-inch seam allowance and back-stitch at the start and end of each side seam. Turn the hat right side out.

Fold the lower edge of the hat up twice to create a folded band around the base. Secure the band with a few hand stitches at the side seams.

With the tunic, hat and belt ready to wear, all that is needed to complete the DIY Dopey Halloween costume are some dark blue pants or leggings and a pair of brown shoes. Big, fake ears made of plastic are optional.

One final step: Practice your "hi-ho!" because it's off to work (or the Halloween party) you go, wearing your wonderful homemade Dopey costume!