#  >> K-12 >> Middle School

How to Make a Model of Ancient Egyptian Clothing for a Project

We know a lot about how ancient Egyptians dressed from paintings, sculptures and even actual garments found in their tombs. Fashions for men and women were very similar: simple sheaths, short-sleeved tunics, pleated gowns and shawls. Men also wore knee-length kilts or loincloths. The styles and material, cool linen woven from flax, were suitable for the hot climate. Very conscious of personal hygiene, Egyptians shaved or closely cropped their hair and covered their heads with kerchiefs. Human-hair wigs and elaborate headdresses were a sign of wealth and social status. Both men and women adorned themselves with jewelry and cosmetics. Most Egyptians went barefoot, but sometimes they wore sandals made of leather or reed.

Things You'll Need

  • Fashion doll with long, dark hair
  • White cotton fabric
  • Thin gold ribbon
  • Colored pencils
  • Paper
  • Fabric markers
  • Ultra-fine black marker
  • Scissors
  • Flexible fabric glue
  • Assorted beads
  • Gold thread
Show More

Instructions

  1. Make an Ancient Egyptian Clothing Model

    • 1

      Refer to the "Statue of an Offering Girl" and other Egyptian objects on the Metropolitan Museum website before and during your work on the model. (See Resources.)

    • 2

      Get an inexpensive vinyl fashion doll with long, dark hair from a craft or dollar store, or recycle an old doll to use for your model.

    • 3

      Plan your design by tracing the outline of your model on a piece of paper. Draw a tube-shaped gown that goes from just under the chest to just above the ankles of the model. Add two shoulder straps wide enough to cover the chest.

    • 4

      Make an Egyptian motif on your sketch of the gown using colored pencils. Most ancient Egyptian garments were left the natural white color of linen, so you can leave your fabric undecorated if you wish.

    • 5

      Cut a rectangle of cotton fabric large enough to wrap around the model for the gown. Include some extra to glue a side seam. Make it wide enough so you can slip the gown over the model's shoulders and hips.

    • 6

      Cut two pieces of fabric for the shoulder straps. Make the straps long enough to glue, tie or sew behind the gown.

    • 7

      Make an Egyptian design on the gown material using fabric markers, or leave it plain white.

    • 8

      Glue the side seam and attach the straps to the gown.

    • 9

      Put the gown on the model.

    • 10

      Make a belt by tying a thin gold ribbon just under the chest. Let it hang down the front of the gown.

    • 11

      Use assorted beads to make jewelry for your model: a broad collar, bracelets and anklets.

    • 12

      Refer to the wig rings of Princess Sithathoryunet on the Metropolitan Museum website for your model's hairstyle. Make a similar style by tying sections of your model's hair with gold thread. Wrap the thread several times around a section of hair, knot it tightly and cut the thread. It will be easier to section the hair if you use a needle. When you're satisfied with the hairdo, secure the knots with a dab of fabric glue.

    • 13

      Give your model "Egyptian eyes" by carefully lining them with an ultra-fine black marker.

Learnify Hub © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved