Back to School: The Year of the Pirate

“Is that a blunderbuss in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?”
Mae West

When the kids head back to school after summer vacation, parents have to spend money on supplies. In my state of North Carolina, merchants are exempted from state sales tax requirements on basic school supplies – notebooks, back-packs, filler paper, pencils and pens, etc. as well as clothing sales, which is a help for the less-than wealthy. I always take advantage of those tax-free days to buy the hardware supplies. But even without sales tax, clothing is expensive.

My grandson’s in high school, so this household has been trying to keep up with his needs as well as styles and clothing trends for a long time. If you’re as lucky as we are to have youngsters who are more style-setters than fashion followers, you’re already two steps ahead of the game.

In a later post I’ll discuss some useful resources for the more stylish and/or necessary aspects of wardrobe acquisition, which my daughter calls “Professional Thrifting.” In this post, I just want to talk about my grandson’s fashion wish-list, because it’s not that hard to accommodate…

Grandson in his summer pirate gear helping Grandpa with his fire-eating act at the annual Bele Chere festival in downtown Asheville.

He’s a pirate this year. Yes, the Johnny Depp variety, which I’m sure will cause no end of late evening phone calls from swooning, giggling girls. For this style he’s able to use those amazingly put-together black emo-style baggies with all the studs and zippers and pant-bottoms you detach, which makes them knicker-length to show off his red and white striped or black and grey striped knee socks (he stocks up on those at Christmas). So cool – we don’t have to run out and buy new pants!

Luckily, I’ve been a professional costumer for our family entertainment troupe for the past 25 years. Thought about being a fashion designer in high school, but costuming is both design and construction! My mother sewed, taught me when I was young, and I did pay attention in Home-Ec. That’s a skill that has come in handy all my life, not less so now that I’m a granny. Thus since my grandson bought “Pirates of the Carribean” I’ve plenty of opportunity to spot the details of style, and put together the rest of his wardrobe. Minus boots and accessories he’ll have to purchase elsewhere with his own money.

The shirts and vest are not difficult. 4 yards of unbleached cotton muslin, medium weight, will make a fine shirt. These things are old-fashioned, open v-neck, double yoke, gathered sleeve things you just can’t find in stores. Luckily they’re roomy enough to accommodate some growth, and if constructed carefully will last a couple of years even if washed every other day.

Patterns for pirate shirts are available from the usual companies, and useful if you aren’t accustomed to making it up as you go along. 4 yards of muslin will cost about $10 if not on sale, some mail-order suppliers sell in bulk (12 or more yards, good stuff to have on hand) for a buck a yard or less.

Vest patterns are also readily available, or you can do what I do – use a vest as a pattern. Just be sure to leave room for the seams (5/8″) all around, and choose your material carefully. Grandson’s will have front panels in a lined cotton/poly broadcloth of dark brown/black with a subtle pirate theme. Daughter found it at a fabric store next to where she works, it only takes a yard per vest so that was $7.00. For vest back and lining your basic black satin or grosgrain taffeta works great. Just be sure you wash and dry the panel fabric first so it won’t shrink and seriously disrupt the garment, as the lining and back material is usually rayon or some such petro-fiber.

Cotton batik fabric – usually as wrap-around skirts, shawls and other such garments – can be found at thrift stores in most localities. These make excellent head-scarves, which for a pirate need to be long enough to drape down the back when tied. Fat leather belts are also cheap at the secondhand stores, and pirates need lots of these. Your basic felt tricorn hat can be had at any costume shop in your town or on the internet (usually cheaper via ‘net) for less than $20.

For the finishing touch, those striped knee socks are invaluable. And don’t forget the broad fabric sash, definitely a pirate must-have. These are easily made of any fabric that strikes your fancy, I’ve made several out of dollar bin castaways nobody would ever really wear, but with great maroon and gold paisley or some other fine pattern. Attach fringe, maybe even bead some of it, and be sure it can be wrapped twice and tied to leave at least two feet of drape.

Aaaarrrr, Matey! Pirates rule.

Some sources for pirate patterns, costumes & stuff:

Fun Shop Costumes

House of Dra (Ren Costumes)

Simplicity Pattern Catalogue

FREE costume patterns

Popularity: 3% [?]

Filed under Back to School, Fashion, Sewing | Comment (1)