How to Make a Pirate Doo-rag

A doo-rag is useful to keep your hair under control.

A doo-rag is a kind of stylized bandanna designed to hold the hair in place and prevent sweat from dripping into your eyes. It has a form-fitting cap and three tails, which are tied together at the nape of the neck. Many pirate costumes use a doo-rag in place of, or underneath, a pirate hat. You can make your own pirate doo-rag by using an existing one as a pattern. Everything you will need is available at your local fabric store.

Things You'll Need

• Doo-rag
• Seam ripper
• Fabric
• Straight pins
• Chalk liner
• Scissors
• Needle and thread or sewing machine
• Iron-on patch and iron (optional)

Instructions

1. Use a seam ripper to take an old doo-rag apart. Insert the blade of the seam ripper in every fifth stitch and cut it. Once you have done this along each seam, the doo-rag will pull apart.

2. Select 1/2 yard of fabric for your new doo-rag. Solid red or black works well, or you can select a print with skulls, crossbones or other pirate themes.

3. Pin the pieces of the doo-rag onto the new fabric, ensuring that they are lying flat. Keep the direction constant: if the fabric is face-up, the pieces should also be face-up.

4. Trace the pieces onto the new fabric with a chalk wheel, typically available at the same store where you bought your fabric.

5. Unpin the pieces and set them aside.

6. Cut out the new pieces from the fabric with a sharp pair of scissors.

7. Sew the new doo-rag together, using the old one as a guide. Pin the pieces together before sewing, then remove the pins.

8. Apply an iron-on skull and crossbones patch to the forehead if your doo-rag is a solid color.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the pieces of the old doo-rag to use as a pattern for future projects.

References

• It's My Bag: Make your own Skull Cap/Do-Rag
• All Free Sewing: How to Use a Seam Ripper
• Generations Quilt Patterns: Chalk Pencils and Other Chalk Markers

Resources

• Doo-Rag Pattern
• How to Tie a Doo-Rag