Elf Jr. Musical: Jovie Macy's Elf Costume Built from a Christmas Tree Skirt

This page walks through how I built Jovie's Macy's elf costume for our Elf Jr. school production using a Christmas tree skirt from Michaels — purchased post-Christmas for $8.49. The skirt becomes both the collar and the skirt with one cut, and the built-in velcro closure makes fitting adjustments easy across different cast sizes.

A Christmas-themed costume display with a striped red and white shirt, red skirt with green and red decorations, green and white striped tights, red slippers with white trim, and a paper elf hat and face overlay.

SUPPLY LIST

How to Separate Collar from Skirt

Top view of a Christmas tree with green branches on a red and green tree skirt placed on a wooden floor.

Christmas Tree Skirt from Michaels (post christmas sale price $8.49)

A fabric piece designed to look like a watermelon slice, featuring a red interior with a green border and a gray outline to mimic a watermelon rind.

Fold skirt ½ and lay flat

Red fabric with a curved white chalk line, held in place by three colorful clips, on a wooden surface.

Chalk line 5 inches from opening

Close-up of red fabric pieces, likely parts of a clothing garment, with clips to hold the pieces together on a beige background.

Cut along chalk line. The top portion is the collar the bottom is the skirt.

How to Make the Collar

The collar is cut from the top portion of the tree skirt — one cut yields both pieces simultaneously

A close-up of a red fabric with a heart-shaped cutout and a pair of scissors cutting along the edge of the cutout.

Cut and remove inner seam of “collar” piece

A red velvet Christmas wreath with a circular shape and inner cutout, laid flat on a beige background.

This is how the collar looks before adding trim. The skirt came with velcro closure which was very helpful

A white and red ironing blanket with a donut shape, and a handheld steamer placed on top of it.

I recommend adding fusible interfacing to improve the shape of the collar

Red Christmas wreath with a candy cane arranged in a circle.

Add candy cane pattern binding to inner collar edge

A red felt elf hat with green trim and a candy cane-shaped headband inside, arranged on a beige background.

Add green sparkle rick rack trim

A red Christmas elf collar with pom-poms, green and white trim, and a candy cane striped inner ring, laid flat on a beige background.

Add “pompom” trim to outer edge of collar. I love this trim!

Red and white striped dress with puffed sleeves and a festive red collar decorated with pom-poms, green zigzag trim, and white lace accents.

Collar sits on top. Velcro can be added to shoulders if needed to secure collar

Green rick rack trim
Red & white bias tape
Red “pompom” trim

A festive arrangement of decorative ribbons and fabric, featuring a red and white pom-pom trim, a red and white striped ribbon, and a green textured ribbon, with some ribbon curls in the background.

How to Make the Skirt

WAISTBAND

Cut one piece of fabric 6 inches x 30 inches. This finishes to a 3 inch x 30 inch waistband.

Step 1 — Add interfacing Apply fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the waistband fabric. This adds structure and helps the waistband hold its shape through multiple performances.

Step 2 — Fold and iron Fold the waistband in half lengthwise so it measures 3 inches x 30 inches. Press firmly with an iron until flat and crisp.

Step 3 — Stitch closed Sew along the open long edge to close the waistband. Press again.

Step 4 — Attach to skirt Pin the waistband to the raw top edge of the felt skirt and sew together.

Step 5 — Add velcro closure Sew velcro approximately 3 inches wide at the back opening only. The waistband overlaps at the back — velcro adjusts to different waist sizes without alteration, which is especially useful for large casts.

💡 Why velcro over snaps or buttons: Adjusts to different waist sizes, survives quick costume changes, and is easy for young performers to manage independently backstage.

💡 Fabric tip: Use holiday fabric with metallic thread or subtle sparkle for the waistband — it catches stage lighting and ties the waistband visually to the rest of the Jovie costume.

Diagram showing how to make a bowtie with red fabric, including measurements and folding instructions.
Close-up of a red skirt with a waistband overlapping at the back opening, featuring an arrow and text indicating the overlap.

FINISHING THE SKIRT

Step 6 — Add felt circles Cut red felt circles and glue along the bottom hem using Aleene's Fabric Glue. No sewing required. Space them evenly around the hem for a consistent look from the audience.

💡 Hint: Cut a cardboard circle template so all circles are identical — consistency matters more on stage than up close.

Step 7 — Add white ruffle trim Sew or glue Ruffled Quilt Trim along the bottom edge of the skirt below the felt circles. This adds volume and a feminine finish that reads well under stage lighting.

Step 8 — Add the top Pair the skirt with a festive striped top. A red and white striped short-sleeve top works perfectly and is readily available on Amazon for around $12.99. The stripe pattern complements the circular skirt without competing with the collar.

Step 9 — Add the collar Place the collar over the top. At this point the Jovie costume comes together completely — the collar, top, and skirt work as a unified look.

Step 10 — Add accessories Complete the costume with:

💡 The accessories are what make this costume read as Jovie specifically — the skirt and collar could be any elf, but the hat, tights, and shoes lock in the Macy's elf character immediately.

Red and green holiday-themed skirt with large red polka dots and white trim.
Red holiday-themed skirt with green band, red circles, white ruffle trim, and festive design.
Red and white striped top with puffed sleeves and a red, green, and white Christmas-themed skirt with polka dots and ruffled hem.
A Christmas-themed dress with red and white striped top, puffed sleeves, and a red full skirt with green and red circular accents at the hem, displayed on a mannequin.
Christmas costume accessories including a green elf hat, red and green elf shoes, red gloves with white cuffs, red Santa boots with white trim, red and white striped thigh-high stockings, and red and green gloves with pom-poms.

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Follow along for costume ideas from this and future productions.