This post contains links to affiliate websites, such as Amazon, and other affiliates. We receive an affiliate commission for any qualifying purchases made by you using these links. This is at no additional cost to you. We appreciate your support!
Do you love Anne of Green Gables? My granddaughter asked me to make an Anne of Green Gables costume for her after reading the books. I did a bit of research on the character Anne with an E. I loved the books and series myself. Do you? This Anne of Green Gables costume is perfect for Halloween, book character day, prairie days events, or historical dress-up.
I knew I could make a Halloween costume or purchase one. I really weighed out the options, but what sold me on making mine was the fabrics I spotted from the Riley Blake line. And the fact that she really had her heart set on a homemade costume made me, plus she could use this for a prairie days costume. This really made me want to sew it for her.
My favorite made-to-order in Women's sizes 6-20 is this Anne's Dress Set (This costume is awesome for a costume party, Halloween, or Cosplay)
Below covers how to make the costume and the sewing patterns I used for the dress and the apron. I also included tips for fabrics, the layout of materials… Plus, I have also picked and shared more patterns I spotted where you don't have to alter anything. And a few more pre-made Anne of Green Gables – Prairie Costumes.
I hope this helps you make (or buy) an Anne of Green Gables Costume to use for Halloween, Cosplay, Prairie Day, or Pioneer Day. (Our local Pioneer Days in Paso Robles, CA.)
The sewing skills you will need to make your own Anne of Green Gables costume are
Basic sewing machine skills
Basic hand sewing skills
How to use patterns
How to adjust the fitting size or pick a pattern for the exact fit
Straight sewing skills
How to make a casing
There are no zippers in the costume and no buttons for making this!
With basic sewing skills, this is a pretty easy Halloween costume to make! Bonus, you can use this for a prairie costume too. If it seems too hard for you to make, scroll to the end of the post for other costumes to make.
Intermediate to the advanced sewer? You might like this Little House on the Prairie Costume we made for her a few years back.
If you aren't ready to tackle the Little House on the Prairie costume, you can easily use this project for a prairie days costume. You don't need to add elastic to the bottom sleeves. You can just hem them to the sleeve length you need.
You could make a half apron instead of a full apron.
The Pattern: I laid out and sewed the costume according to the sewing pattern. (view A)
Sewing Machine: Any basic sewing machine will work.
The Fabric: Cotton Material For the Dress. Cotton, Linen, or Muslin for the apron.
The Notions: Coordinating Threads and Elastics.
Tips for Getting the Classic Anne Look
Pick a small floral fabric design in the cotton fabric or a plain color solid fabric. Keep the apron a solid muslin or off-white (cream) colored cotton fabric. Use a pattern with a simple prairie design. Research images from patterns, the movie, books, the library, and Google. This will give you a good overall idea of what style and fabrics you are looking for.
Prairie Days Costume Variation Ideas
NOTE: Read tips by pattern info. Below, before getting your pattern!
Pattern information, sizing tips, and tips later in the post.
The costume was almost finished being sewn, prior to bringing it to my granddaughter (5 hours away for the fitting), but it still needed to be fitted to her size. I also had to make the casing for the sleeves and gather the sleeves. Pin the apron ties to her size… I had her mom measure her and give me the needed information for pattern sizing over the phone to get the bulk of the costume sewn before taking it for finishing the details.
For the apron, it was adjusted from a small adult's apron pattern by using the dress pattern laid over it to mark taking it in a bit. Instead of curving the neck/chest part of the apron, I made it go straight across
This is the image of Anne of Green Gables, from which I based the costume design.
I just used a ruler to mark it. The apron was pinned, and needed to be fitted to her size before hand-sewing the shoulder straps and ties to the apron. And the hem needed to be adjusted to her size, then hand-finished.
I have pattern recommendations below, and you don't have to pick a pattern that needs adjustments!
How to make the apron?
Lay out the pattern according to the pattern layout directions on the back of the pattern
If making sizing adjustments, alter as needed, marking alterations with a disappearing ink sewing marking pen
How did I alter the apron pattern?
To look more like the costume on the show.
The slight adjustments I made to the pattern were to omit the pocket, make the straps thinner, tie the straps thinner, and make the top of the apron straight vs. curved.
I used a ruler and the marking pen to make the adjustments for straightening the top.
The ties for the apron are sewn and then applied to the apron by pinning in place and hand or machine sewing.
This is for both the back apron ties and front arm ties. This allows for adjustments for the person who will wear it.
Back of apron and bow with ties ready to be sewn
Both the dress pattern and the apron pattern for Anne of Green Gables costume are used below, along with other patterns and recommendations.
Here she is in the costume, ready to be pinned for adjusting and the final steps to finishing the costume. She was so excited to try it on! Little sis was more excited to see her grandma. 😉
We were making the hem and length of the dress shorter, keeping much of the length to allow for growth and her being able to wear the costume again. Much like how Anne's dress was adjusted to fit her growing size.
The final adjustments for the costume were
For the sleeves
I pinned the sleeves at the wrist to make a casing. (how to make a sleeve casing) Turn back the raw edge on the sleeve 1/4 of an inch and press flat towards the inside of the sleeve. Measure elastic, mark fabric that measurement plus 1/8th inch to 1/4 inch. Next, fold over the hemmed edge, leaving an opening wide enough for the elastic, by using those measurements. Then sew the casing, leaving an opening for sliding in the elastic with a safety pin attached (1 pin to the elastic pinned to the opening-fabric holding it in place, 1 pin to the elastic for threading it through the opening. Once ends meet at the opening, thread it though meet ends, overlap slightly, and sew the elastic together. Then remove pins, insert them into the casing, and sew the seam opening shut. [How to thread elastic through a casing and stitch casing closed.]
I made the casing on the sewing machine, leaving an opening for the elastic.
Threaded the elastic through and sewed it together.
For the apron
I adjusted the straps and the ties and hand-sewed them into place.
For the hem
We raised the length just a little (allowing her room to grow and use it again)
Pinned it in place.
Then I hand-sewed the hem.
Sewing patterns for an Anne of Green Gables Costume
Butterick Pattern 4913sizes 7 to 10 (This is the pattern I used, the largest size of this sewing pattern). NOTE: If your child is over the age of 9/10 or bigger boned, I would use the next pattern. (see backs of patterns for exact measurements or read descriptions on patterns)
Simplicity Pattern 1722sizes 7-14 (The only difference and alteration is laying the longer sleeves vs shorter sleeves onto the dress pattern)
Then I just found this adult pinafore sewing pattern. Which might help you, not have to alter the straps, just shorten the length as needed.
For toddler costumes, I would just use this easypillowcase dress and bag pattern with the pretty fabrics below. And have them wear boots, and a long-sleeve shirt under the dress. (Easy P-easy! way to have a toddler girl be Anne of Green Gables)
Simplicity Pattern 8230sizes xs-xl women's (This is the pattern I used for the pinafore). I laid the dress pattern right over the pinafore pattern and marked sizing adjustments right onto the fabric by folding excess out of the way. Then marking the fabric. Making all adjustments before cutting by using her (the person's) measurements. (easy peasy!)
McCalls also has a Woman's Prairie Dress and Apron Pattern – McCall’s Costumes M7220 in (Small) ( Medium) (Large) and M7230 pattern is more of a historical pioneer and pilgrim costume. It's available in three sizes too. These would be great if you wanted to make a Marilla Cuthbert costume.
NOTE:I couldn't fit the pattern to size her in person (they live 5 hours from us), so I had her exact measurements. Another thing I did for the pinafore was to make the straps thinner and more true to the look of the costume. I used view A with no pockets and squared the neckline vs. curved. I just used my ruler. (fabric for dress and pinafore below)
What types of fabrics are used for making a costume/dress like this?
The fabric I picked for the dress was out of the same line as these. I believe the fabric I used is sold out. But here are current picks from the same line of fabrics.
Any of the above fabrics would be awesome for the dress with a white or cream pinafore (apron) made to go with it. You can also search (here) for current Anne of Green Gables Fabrics.
Any of these fabrics would be awesome for the dress with a white or cream pinafore made to go with it. You can also search (here) for current Anne of Green Gables Fabrics.
Tips & Other Notes
Tips for picking out the fabric amount for the pattern. Get a little extra fabric if you have one-directional fabrics. The layout may not accommodate the print pattern.
Also, be careful with your layout of the fabric. You want the top of the dress and bottom, and sleeves all to be going in the proper direction. Double-check your layout before cutting. I barely had enough. So I was glad I got a half yard extra. The remnants will be used for a small bag.
Using the layout instructions on the pattern will help. If you come up short on fabric for the reasons above, the extra will make the layout easier.
Lastly, she used these props for her costume
A straw hat like this Straw Hat(which we used and worked perfectly for Anne of Green Gables' hat), or this Straw Hat. In a slightly different shape.
I can't wait to update this with a photo of her in her costume with her hat and props. You can see the series Anne with an E on Netflix. And if you or your children haven't read the books, they are a must-read! These beloved books ( Anne of Green Gable books)
About the Book Character
The story is about Anne's life during the turn of the century. How she gets adopted by Marilla and Matthew and begins a new life on the farm. There are many twists and turns, exciting and sad, that make these books classics everyone should read. This endearing character has so many lessons in life, growing up, being flawed, being yourself, and accepting yourself. Not to mention life on a farm during the good and bad times. See the stories unfold by reading the book.
All the girls in my family have loved the books from the series. And all my kids loved hearing the stories read to them. It's been so much fun making costumes to go with the books she has been reading.
