How to Make "Popeye the Sailor Man" Costumes

Popeye's first words were "Ja think I'm a cowboy?" in response to the question "Are you a sailor?"

Popeye the Sailor Man first appeared in 1929, as part of the cast of a comic strip called "Thimble Theatre." The comic strip chronicled the adventures of Castor Oyl, Ham Gravy and Olive Oyl (Ham's sweetheart and Castor's sister). Within a year of his first appearance, Popeye had replaced Ham as Olive's boyfriend and Castor as the star of the strip. The hamburger-loving Wimpy, the foundling infant Swee'pea and the bully Bluto were introduced in the mid-1930s.

Things You'll Need

• Long-sleeved navy blue T-shirt
• Scissors
• Bright blue fabric
• Needle
• Thread
• Red fabric
• 1/2-inch navy blue ribbon
• Large yellow buttons
• Air-dry modeling clay (optional)
• Sharp knife (optional)
• Gauze (optional)
• Several pairs of old pantyhose, approximately the same shade as the wearer's skin
• Quilt batting (optional)
• Black marker
• White sailors' cap
• Yellow belt
• Bright blue bell-bottoms
• Sturdy brown shoes
• Can of spinach
• Corncob pipe
• Long-sleeved red T-shirt
• White fabric
• Black skirt
• Wide yellow ribbon
• White socks
• Brown hiking boots
• Black wig (optional)
• Hamburger buns
• Hamburger wrappers
• Platter
• Glue gun
• Black eyeliner (optional)
• Large navy blue pants
• Large navy blue blazer
• Large white dress shirt
• Skinny red tie
• Black dress shoes
• Navy blue bowler hat
• Pillows (optional)

Instructions

Popeye

1. Roll up the sleeves of the long-sleeved T-shirt so the rolls fall about an inch above the wearer's elbows.

2. Cut out strips of the bright blue fabric, about four inches wide and as long as the circumference of the rolled sleeves.

3. Cover the rolled edge of the sleeves with the strips. Sew them in place.

4. If the shirt is not a V-neck, cut a small incision at the center front of the collar and fold the corners under. Sew the corners in place.

5. Cut a large rectangle with oblong edges out of the red fabric, the width of the wearer's shoulders and about fifteen inches in length. Cut a circle from the middle, slightly smaller in diameter than the shirt's neckline. Then cut two diagonal back lines from the point of the neckline out to the wearer's shoulders. Hem the edges of the collar and sew it to the V-neckline of the shirt.

6. Sew navy blue ribbon around the edges of the collar, about half an inch from each edge.

7. Sew three large yellow buttons down the front of the shirt.

8. Cover the wearer's arms with modeling clay. Sculpt to the desired size and shape of muscles. Carefully cut the clay down the sides with the knife. Let dry.

9. Place the dried clay muscles back on the wearer's arms. Cover them with gauze, to keep the pieces together and cover the seams.

10. Cut the legs off the pantyhose. Cut finger holes in the toes. Place the wearer's fingers through the holes and pull the legs over the arms. Add layers until the desired look is achieved.

11. Alternately, skip the clay and gauze steps. Pull the pantyhose onto the wearer's arm and stuff it with quilt batting. Layer the pantyhose until the desired look is achieved.

12. Draw tattoos onto the pantyhose. Put the shirt on over the pantyhose and pin in place if desired. Wear this ensemble with a white sailors' cap, a yellow belt, a pair of bright blue bell-bottoms and a pair of sturdy brown boots. Carry a can of spinach (either a real can of spinach, or a can of something else with a handmade "SPINACH" label) and gnaw on a corncob pipe.

Olive Oyl

1. Cut two strips from the white fabric about four inches in width and the length of the red shirt cuffs' circumference. Measure the circumference of the red shirt's collar and cut a simple scalloped collar to fit it.

2. Wrap the two strips around the shirt's cuffs and sew them in place. Sew the collar in place.

3. Sew a strip of yellow ribbon around the bottom of the skirt, about an inch from the hem.

4. Wear the skirt and the shirt with a pair of white socks and brown hiking boots. Pull your hair back into a bun. If you have light-colored or short hair, consider wearing a black wig.

Wimpy

1. Wrap several hamburger buns in fast-food hamburger wrappers.

2. Hot-glue the wrapped buns to each other and to the platter.

3. If desired, draw a mustache on with black eyeliner.

4. Wear the pants, the blazer, the dress shirt, the tie, the hat and the shoes. Stuff the pants and shirt with pillows if necessary or desired. Carry the platter of "hamburgers."

Tips & Warnings

• A spinach can can be made by painting a can red with a wide yellow stripe around it. Once dry, write "SPINACH" in large black letters across the stripe.

• If you have a baby, dress him/her up as Swee'pea by placing him in a red or blue sleep sack and topping the look off with a bonnet or baby-size sailor's cap.

References

• Toonopedia: Popeye the Sailor
• Coolest Homemade Costumes: Popeye 02
• Coolest Homemade Costumes: Popeye and Olive Oyl 07