Introduction: Guybrush Threepwood and Elaine Marley Pirate Costumes (Monkey Island)
This instructable will show you how to make some cool pirate costumes for your next pirate or costume party. The costumes are based on Guybrush Threepwood and Elaine Marley from the video game series Monkey Island.
Total cost was less then $50 AU. And a few hours of work.
Step 1: Inspiration
Why Guybrush Threepwood and Elaine Marley costumes?
Well, I played Monkey Island a lot when I was younger, plus it was away from the norm. We where going to a pirate party and we didn't want to dress up as the usual pirate with an eye patch.
Guybrush's attire changes throughout the Monkey Island series, the costumes we based these on were the characters form Curse of Monkey Island (Monkey Island 3). Two screen captures of charcters are seen below (source Guybrush Threepwood and Elaine Marley: A Visual History)
As a second source we also used some good deviantART fan art, Elaine Marley, Guybrush Threepwood and together.
Step 2: Materials
- white blouse
- small brown vest
- three quarter length beige pants
- red sash
- white socks
- brown shows
- single gold hoop earring
- white blouse
- brown top
- beige pants
- brown boots
- green sash
- green bandana
- white scarf
- large gold hoop earrings.
We could have easily found all the other items of clothing but already owned the basics.
For the sashes, bandana and scarf we bought some inexpensive fabric from a fabric store.
- 2m red fabric ($4/m)
- 2m green fabric ($4/m)
- 1m white fabric ($3/m)
General Equipment
- fabric scissors
Finally, two swords where made and this is it outlined in steps 5 and 6.
Step 3: Alterations to Clothing
Slight modifications were made to the clothing. Mainly the sleaves of the jumper and cardigan was removed. No hemming was performed.
A pair of beige pants were trimmed to three quarter length as worn by Guybrush.
Step 4: Scarf, Bandana and Sashs.
The fabric was trimmed roughly as the diagram below. This was done very roughly, no lines were marked and no sewn hemming was performed, but the fabric was folded to produce nice look lines.
We actually realised that we purchased too much fabric, there was a lot of waste. It wasn't realised till after that the fabric could actually be purchased by 0.1m.
Step 5: Swords: Making Pirate Blades.
We briefly look for pirate swords at a discount store, but couldn't find any. We did however find other swords and due to their cheap price decided to buy one of each.
They were:
- Knights sword and shield $2
- Zorro style sword $1
Silver paint was painted on the cardboard to produce the metalic effect.
Step 6: Swords: Finishing and Final Pictures.
A steel piece of pipe was used to make the Zorro sword handle thicker and longer.
However, this pipe then made the handle look like a steel pipe. To make it look more like a handle of a pirate's sword, first wrap the handle and the cross guard with some fabric tape. Then wrap some brown fabric strips around the handle to produce a tattered look.
For the knight's sword, I wanted to produce a curved hand guard as seen on many pirate swords. This was achieved with a strip of cardboard wrapped in black fabric tape. It was attached with some more black tape. To match the design of the original handle, a gold marker was used to copy the original design on the black tape.
Step 7: Putting It All Together.
We used the screenshots to put the costumes together.
Things that I have not mentioned are:
Tube socks were worn to replicated that of Guybrush.
As Elaine wears very large hoops, we bought the largest we could find from Diva for $9.
Step 8: Final Pictures
Final pictures of us, and a picture of the pirate party.
25 Comments
14 years ago on Introduction
Excellent instructable! Though I must say "you fight like a dairy farmer"
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
How appropriate. You fight like a cow.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
SIx years for a reply!! and "Soon you'll be wearing my sword like a SHESH KEBAB!"
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
First you better stop waving it like a feather duster!
I only noticed the six years after I sent the email. Instructables featured the costume in yesterday's email. :-) Besides, these games will never get old!
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
It was bad form by me anyway - you should have had the next insult!
11 years ago on Introduction
I cant belive people know what this is!
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
I can't believe they don't. The Monkey Island series were some of the best video games ever created!
8 years ago on Introduction
You need a pack of man-eating piranha poodles!
14 years ago on Introduction
I can hold my breath for 10 minutes!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
I can hold my breath for five minutes!
HA I CAN HOLD IT FOR TEN
BEAT THAT MORGAN LEFLAY!
12 years ago on Introduction
I'm selling these fine leather jackets.
13 years ago on Introduction
I used to play the PC Game. Beat it once without walkthrew and once with it. LOVED THE GAME!
14 years ago on Introduction
This is awesome! MI are the best damn games ever created.
14 years ago on Introduction
Yargh, Insult Swordfighting is better than the altnerative, because you don't get blood all over yar Coat. And do you have any idea how hard it is to Escape from Monkey Island?
14 years ago on Introduction
These are sooooo cute!!! I think a blonde OTT wig would have been a plus, but you guys look great, especially at that budget!! Well Done!
14 years ago on Introduction
You look more like a flooring inspector. lol nice costumes fancy pants : D
14 years ago on Introduction
[Looking through a keyhole] Guybrush Threepwood: I see a diorama of the children of the world living in peace and freedom. No, wait. It can't be that. It's just too dark to make out what's in there.
14 years ago on Introduction
I think I love you.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
heh, thanks?
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Yes, that seems to be the appropriate answer. Perhaps I should go to bed.