What you'll need

• Old black jeans/jogging bottoms
• Striped shirt
• Scraps of fabric
• Cardboard and aluminium foil for sword
• Materials for accessories, e.g. eyepatch, bandanna
• Face paint

What to do

1. Take an old pair of black jeans or jogging bottoms and cut off just below the knee, leaving jagged points.
2. Cut sleeve edges and bottom of a striped shirt (any colours will do, but red and white are more authentic) into jagged points. Cut a few holes in the shirt, and layer it over any colour sweatshirt for chilly weather.
3. Add colourful strips of scrap fabric for belt and/or sash. Stick a plastic sword in the belt (or cut one out of cardboard and cover with foil).
4. Accessorize with home-made or bought items - eyepatch (made with black felt and elastic), red bandanna tied on head, clip-on gold hoop earring, etc.
5. Paint face with dark mean eyebrows, moustache, dotted-on or grey unshaven look and a red scar or two.

Contributed by iVillager TMCinPA
'My 7-year-old son loved being a pirate so much he did it twice - at ages four and six. He loved growling Arrggggh!!!! and Shiver me timbers!'

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