Carl Hose has been writing since high school. His work appears in the zombie anthology Cold Storage, which he co-edited. His work also appears in Champagne Shivers, DeathGrip: It Came from the Cinema, DeathGrip: Exit Laughing, the horror anthology Loving the Undead, the erotic ghost anthology Beyond Desire, and issues of Lighthouse Digest. Hose's nonfiction appears in Blue Review and Writer's Journal.
SUPPLIES
- Old hat
- Stapler and staples
- Poet shirt pattern
- Needle and thread
- Worn dark jeans
- Black boots
- Junk jewelry
- Scissors
- Black fabric
- Rubber band
- Fake beard
- Cardboard
- Silver spray paint
- Wooden dowel
- Belt
Overview
Pirate-themed costumes and parties have always been popular. Pirates are central characters in movies and books, which shows our fascination with pirate lore and legends. Learn how to make an authentic-looking pirate costume for Halloween or your next themed party that will impress family and friends and evoke the mystery of the high seas.
How to Make a Pirate Costume
Step 1
Turn an old hat with a wide brim into a pirate hat. Fold both sides of the brim forward and staple them to the hat itself, creating the unique triangular shape of a pirate's hat. You could purchase a pirate hat from a costume shop, but making your own is fun and cheaper. Any old hat with a wide brim will do. If the hat is too clean, add a little dirt or a couple of holes to give it an authentic pirate appearance.
Step 2
You need a poet's shirt to achieve the look of a real pirate. You can purchase a poet's shirt at a costume shop, but if you have a talent for sewing, you can make one for around ten dollars. You need to purchase a poet's shirt sewing pattern, available at many hobby and craft shops, and cheap shirt material. You can find bargains on patterns and material at online auction sites like eBay. A worn pair of dark jeans and a pair of black boots will complete the pirate costume.
Step 3
Add plenty of accessories. Nothing reinforces the image of a pirate like a lot of gaudy jewelry. You can find bags of it at dollar stores. Cut a piece of black cloth and attach a black stretch hair tie or a rubber band to it for an eye patch. Add a full, scruffy beard to your face, which you can purchase cheap at any costume shop. Not all pirates wore beards, but a thick black beard presents an authentic pirate look.
Step 4
Peg legs and a hook add a nice touch. You can cut a hook from cardboard and paint it silver. Wear the hook taped to your fist with your arm drawn up your shirtsleeve to allow the hook to protrude. Use a wooden dowel as a peg leg. You'll need one the appropriate length to allow you to stand evenly with your knees bent and the dowel attached to your knee. Use a belt as a harness to attach the peg leg.
Step 5
Finish off your pirate costume with a sword. You can cut a sword from cardboard and paint it, or you can purchase a toy sword for just a couple of dollars at a dollar store. Add a toy black powder gun to complete the pirate look and you'll be ready to sail the high seas to the next costume party.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : All the materials listed as things you'll need aren't necessary, depending on how you choose to make your costume.
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