DIY boys pirate costume... how not to do it

I am sometimes a weeee bit ambitious in the sewing department.  I like to think because I've watched a few seasons of Project Runway that I can work my way pretty handily around a sewing machine.  I assure you, I cannot.  However, I love making the boys Halloween costumes and this year Dave and Frank decided that they wanted to be pirates.  So pirate costumes... how to do it.  Or read this, then read someone else's blog on how you really do it and follow their advice to a tee while laughing at my sad creations. 

First off, let's get a pirate joke out of the way...
This is my favorite from the Hasting's Pirate Day website in the UK...

-What's a pirate's favourite letter of the alphabet?
....I've always had trouble with me alphabet, mate...I always get stuck at C!!

Alright onward with this riveting drivel...
The first and by far largest mistake was taking the boys with me to the fabric store.

5 Favorite Things Link-up

Thanks to Grace

 for doing a link-up.  I'm a link-up virgin so this could get interesting...


1.  Back to school shopping!!  The second half of every summer I reminisce about heading to Target to pick up all my new school supplies.  It was one of my favorite shopping trips of the year.  I could seriously barely contain my anticipation of what Trapper Keeper I would get (the Lisa Frank psychidelic panda and unicorn design vs kittens in a basket),