Pirate Costumes for Children I Can Make at Home
Aargh, matey, there be pirates everywhere these days. Kids love pirates, due mainly to the popularity of Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise. If you have a little one at home who wants to become a pirate for Halloween or any day, make a costume at home that he can enjoy over and over again. Find the main elements for your homemade pirate costume in your own closets or at local thrift and craft stores.
Pants and Shirts
A white, full-sleeved shirt is the staple of a pirate costume. This style was popular in the 1980s and early 1990s, so you may be able to find one at a thrift store. Another option is to find a shirt with sleeves that are too long for your child, and tie them at the wrists to make the rest of the sleeve appear more puffy. Remove the first few buttons on the top of the shirt and cut off the collar. Then poke holes on the opposite sides of the opening, and lace a piece of ribbon or suede cording through it for that pirate tied-shirt look.
For pants, find a pair of dark pants that have gotten too short for your child, so you won't mind what you're about to do to them. Cut off the hem of the pants to make them capri-length, then cut a zigzag pattern along the new hemline for that worn-out pirate style.
Accessories
Add a sash around your child's waist. You can use a scarf, a long strip of fabric or an extra-long belt to make this. Let the shirt hang out beneath the sash and balloon out on top of it.
Put boots on your child's feet, and tie a bandana around her head. Leave her hair long; for kids with short hair, add a wig under the bandana if possible, or just keep it short and let the bandana have the attention.
Add a vest in a solid color over her shirt, and make an eye patch by cutting the shape out of felt and tying it around her head with yarn or elastic. Put a large gold hoop in one ear and a selection of gold and beaded jewelry on her neck, wrists, and fingers.
For boys, add stubble with a makeup pencil.
If you have a stuffed parrot lying around, attach it to your child's shoulder with glue or string. Give him a pillow case to carry his loot, and he's ready to go.
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