• Make your own Indian jewelry for your costume.INDIAN JEWALLARY image by mkb from Fotolia.com
  
  The Native American Indians and their culture have held our interest since the day the rest of the world became aware of their existence. We are fascinated with their oneness with nature, their oneness with their fellow tribe members and their beautiful artwork, most evident in their clothing and jewelry. It is no wonder that they remain a popular subject for costumes.
  
  

Girl Costume

• Start with a simple brown or tan dress, or make a mid-calf, T-shaped robe. The best materials to use are piled fabrics, like flannel, fleece or velveteen. For something more authentic, you may want to use leather or suede.
  
  Cut a square of matching fabric about the size of a poncho. Cut slits around the edges of the cloth to make fringe and a hole in the middle for your head. Wear it over your dress like a poncho, with the corners pointed down the front and back and over the shoulders. If you are using a homemade T-shaped robe, you can cut fringe into the hem. If you are using a pre-made dress, make fringe by cutting slits into a strip of matching cloth and sewing it to the edge of dress.
  
  Buy beaded trim in Native American motifs online or in fabric stores. Sew just above the top edge of the fringe on the poncho and hem line. You can also find medallions, beads and charms to decorate your costume. Wear with moccasins and another strip of trim as a headband.
  
  

Boy Costume

• For a boy costume, start with a pair of tan or brown pants and a tan or brown shirt. You can also easily make a short T-shirt from flannel, fleece, velveteen, leather or suede. Make fringe out of separate strips of cloth, and sew to the outside of the pants legs and the underside of the sleeves. Make a collar with a square of cloth with fringe cut into it. Wear with the corners pointed down the front and back and over the shoulders. Add trim to the collar and hem of shirt.
  
  For a breechcloth, a form of loincloth worn by some Native American men, tuck the short end of a long, rectangular piece of red or blue cloth into the front part of your belt. Run the fabric between the legs, and bring up to tuck into the back part of your belt.
  
  If you are really ambitious, try making a buckskin war shirt with rough piece of leather. Native Americans crafted them to follow the natural line of the pelt, so all you have to do is make a hole for your head and sew along the arms and sides. Cut leftover material under the arms into fringes, or leave to hang. Decorate with beaded trim, medals and charms.
  
  

Accessories

• Fashion your own jewelry from turquoise, silver and brass charms and beads strung on leather. Craft stores have an abundance of beautiful beads and jewels to choose from. For a chief's headdress, sew feathers between a strip of beaded trim and a ribbon. Sew it to a headband, and let the long ends hang down your back.