How to Make a Pirate Captain Hat

The traditional pirate hat shape.

The Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws, passed in 1571, dictated what people could wear according to their social status. Only the upper class was permitted to wear bright colors, frills and rich fabrics. But that didn't stop the pirates of the time; they took great pleasure in disregarding the laws. This was especially true of the captains who tended to enjoy showing off their bounty. A good pirate captain's hat was a thing of extravagance and finery.

Things You'll Need

• Round crown, wide-brim hat
• 1 yard of braided trim
• Needle and thread
• Fabric glue
• Straight pins
• Hat stand
• Pin or brooch

Instructions

Find Your Supplies

1. Find your hat. Look in thrift stores, flea markets and the ladies' department of your favorite discount store. The hat should have a round crown and a wide brim. The brim should be as wide or wider than the crown is high. Soft felt is the best material but suede, velvet and even straw will work as long as the brim is fairly flexible. You can go with a dark color that will show off the trim like black, brown, forest green, navy blue or maroon, or use one of the colors forbidden by the Sumptuary Laws like crimson, violet, purple or deep blue.

2. Choose a trim for for your hat. Look in fabric or craft stores for a braided trim about ¼- to 1/2-inch wide in a contrasting or complementary color. Colors that work best are gold, crimson, bright blue or yellow, depending on the color of your hat.

3. Find a brooch or pin for your hat. Anything old-fashioned and expensive-looking will work. If you want a traditional look for your pirate hat, find or make a skull-and-cross bones pin. You may also use a post earring or make your own pin with supplies from the jewelry department of a craft store.

Make Your Hat

1. Put the hat on the hat stand.

2. Fold the front brim of the hat up and pin it to the crown with the decorative pin.

   Fold the back brim up and pin to the crown with a straight pin.

3. Pinch the front brim and the back brim together on either side of the hat and pin with straight pins. You should now have a traditional pirate-shaped hat.

4. Stitch the front and back brims together near the pins and close to the edge. You will only need a couple of stitches on each side.

5. Remove the pin in the back.

6. Run a line of fabric glue along the edge of the brim. Glue your trim to the hat. Start the trim near the side or back so the two joined ends are less obvious.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have a hat stand or don't want to buy one, use a head-sized bowl, a large round container, an upside-down pitcher or anything that will keep the hat crown in shape while you form the brim.

References

• Elizabethan Era.org: Pirate Clothing
• Elizabethan England Life: Elizabethan Era hats for Men