Gettin' Crafty: Eye patches fer yer mateys!

My pirate patch

​For all those who give pom-pom critters for birthdays, feel an urge to stick googly eyes on everything or just occasionally get a twitch to fold some origami, we bring you "Gettin' Crafty" where we feature a craft you can easily make with minimal supplies and limited finances. In honor of the new exhibit opening this week at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship, we are crafting with hidden treasures and talking parrots on the brain. Though you may not be able to wear an eye patch daily (unless, you know, you have eye surgery), it comes in handy this week, Halloween and International Talk Like a Pirate Day. September 19th, mark your calendars.

​Supplies

• Foam or felt. I used the liner from an old bra, which was perfect.
• Scissors
• Elastic edging or a thin elastic headband.
• Needle and thread

Instructions

1. Cut your bra liner/felt/foam into a convincing eye patch shape. Hold the fabric up to your face, and cut carefully, so you don't nick your face.

2. Hold the elastic around your head, leaving a two inch gap where the patch will be. Snip the elastic to a comfortable but snug size for your head. No one wants a droopy eye patch!

​3. Thread the needle with some black thread.

4. At the top of the patch shape, begin sewing the elastic to the material. About 8-10 stitches should hold, and make sure you tie the end off securely.

5. Repeat on the other side of the patch with the other end of the elastic.

6. Put on your head, and practice your best "argh".

If only I had a parrot...

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