This document provides instructions for creating a low-cost Harry Potter costume using items likely already in your closet, such as a graduation robe, white shirt, black pants, and necktie. The costume can be customized into a Gryffindor student by adding a striped scarf, round glasses, Gryffindor crest, wand, and lightning scar drawn on the forehead. Tips are included for transporting and wearing the robe safely.

1. Harry Potter COSPLAY -
Wikihow
coMEDIAns - Christine, Karen, and Malcolm

2. Introduction
When you need a quick, affordable and comfortable costume for the next costume
party or Comic Con, consider this as an opportunity to use the graduation robe
that’s hanging in the back of your closet.
Any muggle can quickly create a Harry Potter costume or a variation to become a
student of Hogwarts.

3. Step 1 - Get a black graduation robe
Lightly iron it or use steam to
release wrinkles.

4. Step 2 - Find a white shirt and black pants in your closet
A white button-down shirt with a
collar works best. Black or any
type of dark slacks will do.

5. Step 3 - Add a necktie
If you have a men’s necktie that
contains colors from the Gryffindor
palette, deep red (hex code #740001)
and gold (hex code #eeba30) or
something similar, that’s great. If not,
any striped tie will do. (Green and silver,
yellow and black, blue and bronze will
sort you into the other Hogwarts
houses!)

6. Step 4 - Add a scarf
For the full Gryffindor look, the woolen scarf is a must. Any striped scarf
will do in a pinch, but one with blocks of deep red and gold will shout
Gryffindor.
You will find several versions on Amazon.com or you can whip out the
crochet hook and make one.
Base: Start with red yarn. Chain 40.
Row 1 to 12: with red yarn, single crochet across row
Change to gold yarn.
Row 13 to 24: change to gold yarn and single crochet across.
Continue alternating 12 rows of red and 12 rows of gold (about 5 times)
until the scarf is as long as you would like it to be.

7. Step 5 - Pick up a pair of glasses with round lenses
You can find plano glasses
at toy stores and novelty
shops, or you can
purchase a pair of cheap
sunglasses and pop out the
lenses.

8. Step 6 - Create a Gryffindor Crest
You can order an actual crest
patch from Etsy or print a free
downloadable image or color
your own. Carefully cut out the
patch and pin it (using safety
pins) or use fabric glue to
attach it to the left side of the
robe.

9. Step 7 - Spread the magic with a wand
You can purchase a
wand online or from a
toy store, but they tend
to be expensive. An
alternative can be the
wand pen or a small,
thin dowel painted
brown.

10. Step 8 - Add the lightning scar
The lightning scar, which Harry received as
a baby resulting from a confrontation with
none other than He Who Can’t Be Named –
Voldemort – is what makes Harry, Harry.
Take a dark (black or brown) eyebrow
pencil and draw a lightning bolt over the
right eyebrow.

11. Costume is good to go!
When you are ready,
get dressed and be a
proud member of
Gryffindor

12. Tips
❏ You can purchase most items needed for the costume
at party shops or online.
❏ If you are taking mass transit to Comic Con, you can
put the robe on a hanger and place it inside a garment
bag or plastic bag (poke a hole at the top for the
hanger handle to come through) and knot the bottom
of the bag so the robe doesn’t slide out.

13. Warnings
❏ Don’t wear prescription eyeglasses that belong to
someone else. It will be difficult to see.
❏ Use the wand carefully, especially if you are in the
Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You never know
what will happen.
❏ Be careful with the wand so you don’t poke anyone.
❏ Hem your robe if it is too long to avoid tripping.

14. Things You Will Need
❏ Black robe
❏ White shirt with a collar
❏ Black pants.
❏ Striped necktie
❏ Striped scarf
❏ Glasses with round lenses
❏ Gryffindor crest
❏ Wand
❏ Eyebrow pencil

15. Related Links
❏ How to Knit a Harry Potter Themed Scarf
❏ What to Expect at a Comic Con
❏ How to Make Your Own Necktie