From Captain Kidd to Captain Hook, pirates have the ability to capture the imagination of everyone, young and old. With too many pre-made costumes to count in stores, all tend to look the same. Therefore a DIY pirate costume is an excellent way to let your imagination and personality run wild, especially on a budget. Our tips and tricks from below can turn your Graybeard into Blackbeard without breaking the bank. In fact, they’re great if you’re looking for a last minute pirate custome too.
1. DIY Girl’s Pirate Costume
Pirates aren’t just for boys. Girls have swashbuckling dreams as well. In fact, one of the most successful pirates of all time was a woman. With just $10, a trip to the thrift store and some basic sewing skills, ye fair maidens can impress with this fun girl pirate costume for the lasses!
Level of difficulty: Medium
Duration: 1 hour
Materials You Need:
- Leather pants or jacket
- Cutting mat
- Scissors
- Marker
- Pins
- Rotary cutter
- Dental floss
- Needle and thread
- Bowl
- White shirt for women
- Black ribbon
- Sewing machine
- Black boots
- Fishnet Tights
- Black skirt
- Piratey jewelry
- Bandana
2. DIY Boy’s Pirate Costume
Every little boy has daydreamed about sailing the high seas at one time or another. With basic supplies, some craft skills and room for some creativity, this DIY pirate costume video can turn the ordinary into extraordinary. You can make a pirate outfit for your son that will make him want to go on an adventure.
Level of difficulty: Medium
Duration: 2 hours
Materials You Need:
- Scissors
- Felt (black and yellow)
- Elastic
- Hot glue gun and glue
- Rain boots
- Two t-shirts (red and gray)
- Black shirt or vest
- White shirt for boys
- Khaki pants
- Pirate accessories
3. DIY Inexpensive Pirate Costume
Maybe you need an inexpensive last minute pirate costume for a party tonight. Or perhaps money is tight, and Halloween extravagance isn’t in your budget this year. Either way, this costume tutorial will shiver your timbers since it only requires three T-shirts. In fact, it can show you how to dress like a pirate without buying anything. If you want to try your hands at another easy and fast Halloween costume, you can check out these DIY zombie costume tutorials.
Level of difficulty: Easy
Duration: 30 min
Materials You Need:
- Scissors
- White t-shirt
- Black t-shirt
- Orange or red t-shirt
- Black tank top
- Black leggings
- Pair of hoops
- Rings
- Black boots
4. DIY Sexy Pirate Costume
Looking to turn a few heads this Halloween without spending half your rent at a costume shop? This sexy pirate outfit will impress all the buccaneers with its frugal but classy look. It’s an excellent homemade female pirate costume for anyone who wants to dress to impress.
Level of difficulty: Medium
Duration: 1 hour
Materials You Need:
- Eyelet tool and eyelets
- Red and black striped fabric
- White Lace
- Black lace
- Red lace
- White tank top
- Black thick elastic
- White elastic band
- Sewing machine
- Pins
- Chalk
- Black faux suede fabric
- String
5. DIY Cheap Pirate Costume
You can’t remember where you buried all your treasure, so there aren’t many gold coins to go around. No need to give a heave-ho to your pirate dreams with this simple pirate costume that uses items you already have. Meaning you can learn how to make a pirate costume with regular clothes and without spending another dime.
Level of difficulty: Easy
Duration: 15 min
Materials You Need:
- White shirt
- Loose pants
- Belt
- Scarf for your head
- Sash for your waist
- Beads
- Scissors
6. DIY Paper Sword
A true pirate always has a sword at the hip, waiting to fend off any and all marauders. Of course, swords can be a bit on the dangerous side, so this paper sword tutorial can give any DIY pirate costume just the right amount of menace without sending anyone to the emergency room. It’s fast, looks great and there’s a fair chance you already have all the materials. A pirate’s outfit is more than just about the pirate clothes.
Level of difficulty: Easy
Duration: 15 min
Materials You Need:
7. DIY Pirate Shirt
Just like every pirate needs a trusty sword, no DIY pirate costume is complete without an authentic pirate shirt. This tutorial shows you how to turn a normal dress shirt into a pirate shirt worthy of Barbarossa himself. In addition, you can dress like a pirate in just fifteen minutes.
Level of difficulty: Easy
Duration: 15 min
Materials You Need:
8. DIY Pirate Hat
Every scalawag worth their weight knows that a pirate isn’t a real pirate without an authentic tricorn hat. This video shows you how to turn a plain straw derby hat into something that would fit perfectly in the movies. Cap off your pirate look with this easy DIY pirate hat that goes easy on your wallet.
Level of difficulty: Easy
Duration: 2 hours
Materials You Need:
- Straw derby hat
- Black spray paint
- Snake-pattern cloth material
- Spray adhesive
- Cutting knife
- Embroidery thread
9. DIY Pirate Face Paint
So, you have your pirate costume ready to go, sword at your side, but still feel like there’s something missing to complete the look. For scars, facial hair or even a bandana, this face paint tutorial can complete your look without being heavy on the doubloons. Therefore, all you need is face paint and some handiness.
Level of difficulty: Easy
Duration: 15 minutes
Materials You Need:
- Black face paint
- Red face paint
- Brushes (different sizes)
10. DIY Dog’s Pirate Hat
Pirates had their trusty parrots to keep them company while sailing the seven seas. While you probably don’t have a parrot, here’s a great video tutorial that can give man’s best friend a great pirate look with a tricorn hat for the canine crowd. This DIY pirate dog hat will make your little pet look adorable!
Level of difficulty: Easy
Duration: 30 minutes
Materials You Need:
- Cutting mat
- Red lace
- Gold trim
- Elastic
- Black felt or leather
Conclusion
As you can see, a pirate’s booty isn’t needed to dress like a true privateer. With eye patches, beards, hats and hooks, you are only limited by your creativity. Choose your favorite DIY pirate costume from above if your inner pirate is ready to walk the plank. Don’t forget to let us know which one worked best for you in a comment below!
