Child Pirate Activity Making a Pirate Costume

Pirates are popular this year due to the release of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

Boys and girls alike can participate in this child pirate activity; making a pirate costume.

A pirate costume does not need to be expensive or difficult to make.

For ideas look up sketches of pirates or photos from pirate movies to see how they dressed.

You will find a variety of styles.

Pirates did not have a uniform style of dress.

They wore a mismatch of loose-fitting clothing, usually whatever they could find.

Find your own pirate clothing by scouring second-hand stores for used clothing.

Black, brown, dark green, and burnt orange are popular colors for pirate pants. Use white, ivory, purple, red or blue for shirt colors.

Pick up pants and shirts that are at least one to two sizes too large.

Shorten the pants by cutting them off below the knee. Leave the pants unhemmed or cut jagged strips up to the knee for a tattered look. Take a piece of rope to tie around the waist for a belt.

Roll up the shirt sleeves the elbow. A scarf, wide leather belt, or 12” x 45” piece of fabric will work to tie around the shirt.

Accessorize with black or brown shoes or boots (sometimes pirates went barefoot), a bandana tied on the head, clip on gold hoop earrings, and a toy sword stuck into their belt.

If they want to wear an eye-patch, make one from a square of black felt with black elastic secured to the corners.

A small stuffed parrot can be pinned onto the shoulder.

To complete the costume, practice walking with a swagger and talk like a pirate! Aaaarrgh! Ye Mates! Off with ye to hunt for treasure!

By Nancy Johnson

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