DIY Pirate Shirt from a Long-Sleeved Tee
A pirate shirt can be created by altering a plain white long-sleeved T-shirt with lace and string. This homemade version works for pirate, colonial, or pioneer costumes, and can even be worn as a fashion piece. The project requires only basic sewing abilities and a handful of supplies.
By Parker Green5 steps
A pirate figure wearing a pirate shirt.
The shirt is a key element when assembling a pirate costume. Pirate shirts also have uses beyond costumes: they can be part of colonial or pioneer outfits, or simply worn as a fashion statement. Although making a pirate shirt might appear challenging, it is actually straightforward to transform an existing long-sleeved T-shirt using a few common sewing supplies. Anyone with basic sewing skills can create a simple homemade pirate shirt.
Step 1
Cut a piece of lace that measures 18 inches in length. Along the straight edge of the lace, sew a gathering stitch and pull it to gather the lace until it matches the circumference of the shirt's cuff.
Step 2
Turn the shirt inside out. Attach the lace to one of the shirt cuffs by sewing, aligning the gathered edge of the lace with the cuff's edge. Do the same for the other sleeve cuff.
Step 3
From the middle front of the shirt's collar, cut out a "V" shape that is 3 inches deep. Fold the raw edges of the "V" over by 1/4 inch and stitch the folds down.
Step 4
Cut two lengths of craft string, each 4 inches long. Across the "V" at the front of the collar, sew the two pieces of craft string in an "X" pattern.
Step 5
Turn the shirt right-side out. Wear it with a sash or waist cincher.
