Pirate coat -- where to get one?

Factual Questions
1

A few years ago (or maybe a couple more than a few), the employees of one of the departments here all dresses as pirates for Halloween. Very nice, but I thinks to meself, thinks me, “Arrr! Sure, I can be more authentic-like than that!” But where does one get an authentic reproduction of a 17th Century Naval greatcoat?

I haven’t had much time to search, but I did find one place that listed such a coat. I e-mailed, but I was too late. The guy died. His widow says that once his designs are copyrighted she will publish the plans. But what do you do? Go to your corner tailor, hand him the plans and say, “Make this!”?

If anyone knows of a source for a 17th Century Naval greatcoat – a “pirate’s coat” – I’d like to hear about it!

2

Try googling for “frock coat” pirate, and you’ll find plenty of pirate coats like these. Expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $900 for a well-made one though.

3

Thanks, Fear!

4

**

Hee!

5

I think that the Utlimate Pirate gear would look great as I speed down the freeway on my new Yamaha R1! :smiley:

6

[slight hijack]

Would anyone know where to buy a good quality tricorne hat. The only ones I’ve seen are the cheap felt kind.

[/hijack]

7

Johnny L.A.
What self-respectin’ pirate be fixin’ to buy a pirate coat?
ARRRR methinks ya should steal one the next time ya board and plunder a ship.

Sorry, couldn’t resist. I just had to make a pirate-type comment.

8

What’s a pirate’s favorite English football team? Aaaarsenal!
What’s a pirate’s favorite mammal? Aaaarmadillo!
What’s a pirate’s favorite fast-food chain? Aaaarby’s… no, sorry, Long John Silver’s.

Couldn’t resist.

9

Forget the coat. (Too hot down here.) What I want to know is where to get an inflatable parrot like the one Inspector Clouseau had.
RR

10

To find a pirate coat, you first need to get your hands on a pirate map.

11

How about a leather tricorne?

12

I thought the original tricornes were made from felt.

13

Pirates 'rrrr Us

14

Last time I looked, Dixie Gun works sold some period clothing/hats for re-enactors. No time to look for it now, but I’m sure they have a website.

15

Sequential thread titles, from my “find new posts” results page:

• Pirate coat – where to get one? (GQ)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: It’s rated “Arrrr!” (CS)

Yarrt, 'tis a bonnie day for pirating!

16

Or, yarr!, even.

17

If you want to get a coat made, I can help you find a pattern.

The Amazon Vinegar and Pickling Work Drygoods catalogs probably has a pirate costume pattern. I don’t have a copy of any of their recent pattern catalog so I can’t look, but you can get more information on their website (http://www.amazondrygoods.com/). If you don’t want to shell out 7 bucks for a catalog, you could call them and ask what they have.

Butterick, McCalls, and Simplicity are offering a lot more costume patterns now, so you might be able to find something at a fabric store. I found this online: http://store.sewingtoday.com/cgi-bin/butterick/shop.cgi?s.item.100003894=x&TI=10013&pageNum=1&M=&UK=30712664
Not very subtle, but if you like the style you can use different trim.

Folkwear has a pattern for a plain frock coat that you could dress up to make it look more pirate-y:
http://www.folkwear.com/frontier.html

If that’s not what you’re looking for, there are some books out that have patterns for vintage clothing. I’ve seen a couple at the UNC library–I don’t remember the title, but I could look it up if you’re interested. These are authentic patterns from the 1700s and 1800s (I think they were guidebooks for tailors). They have diagrams of the patterns that you can scale up to fit your size. A little bit more complicated, but I don’t think it’s incredibly difficult.

ME

18

Thanks, MagicEyes. I’ve sent them an e-mail.

Yarrr!

19

Glad to help!

If anyone’s interested, here are the titles of some books that have patterns for authentic period men’s clothing. You might be able to get them through interlibrary loan if you can’t find a library that has them.

Civil War gentlemen : 1860s apparel arts & uniforms / by R.L. Shep, W.S. Salisbury. Mendocino, CA : R.L. Shep, c1994.

Minister, Edward. The complete guide to practical cutting (1853) / 2nd ed., rev.–2 v. in 1 / Mendocino : R.L. Shep, c1993.

Men’s 17th & 18th century costume, cut & fashion : patterns for men’s costumes / R.I. Davis. Australia ; Studio City, CA : Players Press, c2000.

The art of cutting and history of English costume / by Edward B. Giles. Lopez Island Wash. : R.L. Shep, c1987.

Patterns of fashion : the cut and construction of clothes for men and women, c1560-1620 / written and illustrated by Janet Arnold. London : Macmillan ; New York : Drama Book, 1985.

Davis, R. I. (Ronald I.) Men’s garments, 1830-1900 : a guide to pattern cutting / London : Batsford, 1989.

For the wenches, there are some books with patterns from the Delineator and other turn-of-the-century women’s fashion magazines–if you’re into costuming, this is really cool stuff! Some of these books have been printed recently, so they’re much easier to get–just go here for the first two: http://www.lavoltapress.com/Voice-page.htm.

The Edwardian modiste : 85 authentic patterns with instructions, fashion plates, and period sewing techniques / edited and with additional material by Frances Grimble. Publisher : San Francisco, CA : Lavolta Press, 1997.

The Voice of fashion : 79 turn-of-the-century patterns, with instructions and fashion plates / edited and with additional material by Frances Grimble. San Francisco, CA : Lavolta Press, c1998.

Dress & cloak cutter : women’s costume 1877-1882 / by Charles Hecklinger.

Sorry for the hijack, Johnny! Please don’t make me walk the plank!

ME

20

Here’s another place for leather hats. They have very good quality stuff.

http://www.excaliburleather.com/