How to Sew a Pirate Shirt
Pirate costumes have enjoyed great popularity in modern times, largely thanks to the prevalence of swashbuckling adventure movies and the wealth of entertainment provided by children's playtime pirate games. The costumes are also widely worn by the reenactment crowd and Renaissance faire enthusiasts enjoying the adult form of playtime. The pirate shirt, with its big sleeves and loose fit, is perhaps the most important part of the necessary basic clothing. After all, pirate styles vary with the use of different trousers, vests, coats and accessories, but all costumed pirates wear pirate shirts. To sew your own pirate shirt for a man or woman, follow these instructions.
Things You'll Need
- Butterick 3072 pattern White cotton or muslin 4 5/8-inch buttons Sewing machine and supplies White thread
Instructions
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1
Determine the size of the Butterick 3072 pattern that you need. The pattern goes by men's size measurements and the shirt should be loose fitting, so much of the sizing attention should be paid to the chest, waist and shoulder-to-shoulder measurement. Be sure to fit the widest part of you so that you may not have to make adjustments to the rest of the pattern, unless you are absolutely swimming in excess fabric.
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2
Cut the pattern pieces to the size you have chosen. Pin the pirate shirt pattern pieces to your fabric, following the pattern guidelines, and cut the fabric. Transfer all markings to the fabric with a fabric pencil.
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3
Baste the collar and ruffles to their interfacing pieces first and complete the collar and cuff sections as described in the pattern directions. Set these pieces aside.
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4
Stitch the front and back of the shirt together at the shoulders. Reinforce the neck and slash line, and cut it along the slash. Pin and stitch the placket to the slash, as directed. Repeat the placket directions on the lower edges of the sleeve pieces.
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5
Gather the back of the neck and attach the collar, adjusting the gathers. Slipstitch the free edge over your work. Be sure that the collar lines up well, as it is easy to come out with an uneven collar.
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6
Gather the sleeves as directed in the pattern and attach them to the armholes of the pirate shirt. Stitch together the front and back at the sides, taking care at the underarm curves.
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7
Gather the lower edges of the sleeves and attach the cuffs, adjusting the gathers. Slipstitch the free edge over the exposed stitching.
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8
Hem the shirt and attach buttons at the neck and cuff.
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Tips & Warnings
For other pirate clothing items, try Reconstructing History patterns. You can make your shirt look more like a real pirate's through the use of aging and distressing techniques. You can dye the shirt with tea, burn holes in it, rub sandpaper over it to make worn patches, and run it many times through the wash for a ragged look. You can also use stage "dirt" makeup on the shirt to make it look like grime and gunpowder.
