Kilroy Was Here

🪓 DIY Jason Voorhees Costume

(Part 2): How to Dress Like Camp Crystal Lake’s Original Sack-Head Slasher

A hulking figure stands silently at the edge of the tree line. A burlap sack covers his head, a single eyehole cut into the rough fabric. He doesn't speak, doesn't rush, doesn't need to. That is Jason Voorhees, exactly as he first appeared on screen in 1981. A DIY Jason Voorhees Costume recreates his earliest, rawest, and arguably most unsettling look. This guide covers everything you need for a full DIY Jason Voorhees Costume, from clothing to presence.

Jason wasn't actually the killer in the original 1980 Friday the 13th film. That role belonged to his grieving mother, Pamela Voorhees, played by Betsy Palmer. Friday the 13th Part 2 changed everything the following year. Jason himself appeared as an adult survivor, seeking revenge for his mother's death. Actor Steve Dash played the character for most of the film's runtime. This was the moment Jason became horror's biggest villain. The character had only appeared briefly as a drowned child in the original film's shocking finale.

The now famous hockey mask didn't exist yet in this earlier version. Instead, the filmmakers dressed Jason in denim overalls, a plaid shirt, and heavy work boots. A rough burlap sack covered his head, with a single eyehole cut into the fabric. A length of rope tied around his neck held the sack roughly in place. The whole look appeared homemade, as though Jason had assembled it himself in the woods. That improvised, backwoods quality is exactly what still makes this version so effective.

That sack design actually referenced earlier horror history. It drew loosely on 1976's The Town That Dreaded Sundown, another film featuring a masked killer. Unfortunately, the timing created an unplanned problem for the production. David Lynch's acclaimed film The Elephant Man released around the same period. John Hurt's character in that film also wore a sack over his head to hide his face. Filmmakers worried audiences might see Jason's design as copying that serious, respected film. That concern helped push the franchise toward the hockey mask for Part 3 in 1982. It's a strange, unplanned coincidence that shaped horror history for decades afterward.

Friday the 13th Part 2 was a genuine commercial success despite its rough production. It earned over twenty one million dollars against a budget of just over one million. The film also delivered a franchise first, the initial full reveal of Jason's unmasked face. That shocking window crashing moment became a template future sequels would return to repeatedly.

Decades later, this sack masked version still has passionate fans within the horror community. Series creator Sean S. Cunningham has reportedly said he prefers this look over the hockey mask. A DIY Jason Voorhees Costume from this specific film captures something rare. It is horror's most iconic slasher, presented in his rawest, least polished form.

Nearly every piece of this costume can be sourced cheaply and easily. Thrift stores, farm supply shops, and your own garage likely already have most of what you need.

👕 Step 1: Base Clothing and Outfit

Start a DIY Jason Voorhees Costume with a dark plaid flannel shirt. Dark green, brown, or black plaid works best for this era accurate look. Avoid bright colors or modern patterns entirely, since neither suits this character. Thrift stores almost always carry worn, dark plaid flannel shirts fairly reliably.

Blue denim overalls complete the base, and fit matters more than people expect. Choose loose fitting overalls, at least one size larger than your normal fit. They should hang a little heavy on the shoulders, never tailored or snug anywhere. Let the straps sit slightly uneven, as though thrown on quickly rather than adjusted carefully.

Wear the flannel shirt underneath, sleeves rolled up slightly past the wrist. Leave the top button or two undone, since this character never dressed with any real care. The overalls should sit a touch low at the waist, with extra fabric pooling naturally near the ankles. A little dirt and genuine wear only improve the overall look. The entire outfit should feel simple, dirty, and practical, like clothing worn for years alone in the woods. Every seam and fold should look lived in rather than freshly pressed or coordinated.

🎭 Step 2: The Signature Layer

A burlap sack hood is the single most defining piece of this entire costume. Use a plain burlap sack with one eye hole cut into it, and only one. The opposite eye must remain completely covered at all times. Cut the hole slightly smaller than feels natural, since it should look crude, not carefully measured.

For the most screen-accurate appearance, a single eye hole is the correct choice. However, if you plan to wear the costume for an extended period, attend a crowded event, or walk outdoors at night, consider adding a second eye hole. It can be made much smaller and positioned carefully so it remains difficult to notice from the front. While it sacrifices a small amount of accuracy, the extra opening greatly improves visibility, depth perception, and overall safety. Being able to see where you are walking is far more important than perfect screen accuracy.

Let the sack hang naturally over the shoulders rather than fitting tightly to the head. Tie it around the neck with rough rope or twine, knotted loosely rather than neatly. Leave the burlap wrinkled and slightly dirty for real, convincing texture. It should look homemade, never professionally sewn or store bought in appearance. A DIY Jason Voorhees Costume lives or dies on how rough and improvised this single piece looks.

🥾 Step 3: Shoes and Workwear

Brown work boots complete the look at the floor. Old leather work boots or logging style boots both suit this character perfectly. The more worn and scuffed they already look, the better this costume reads overall.

Dust the overalls and boots with dirt or a light brown fabric paint for extra grime. Simple work gloves are a nice optional addition, though not strictly required. Old leather gloves work especially well if you happen to have a pair. Scuff the boots with sandpaper first if they look too clean or new straight out of the box.

💇 Step 4: Hair, Face, and Appearance

Hair should stay hidden completely beneath the burlap sack throughout the evening. Only one eye should ever be visible through that single cut hole. No makeup is necessary for this version, unless you're recreating specific battle damage from later scenes.

The overall appearance should read as large, silent, and completely emotionless. This character has always been intimidating without ever needing to try. A DIY Jason Voorhees Costume relies entirely on stillness and presence rather than any dramatic makeup.

🪓 Step 5: Accessories and Props

A pick axe is Jason's signature weapon throughout this particular film. A lightweight foam prop version is perfect and far safer for a real party setting. Rope or twine, already used to tie the sack in Step 2, doubles as a visible prop detail.

Dirty hands complete the woodsman appearance nicely. A little grime rubbed into the palms and knuckles sells the whole illusion further. A Camp Crystal Lake sign, even a simple homemade one, makes a wonderful photo prop for horror themed shots. A DIY Jason Voorhees Costume feels complete once the pick axe and a little grime are in place.

🚶 Step 6: Movement and Presence

Walk slowly throughout the entire evening, and never once rush. Every single step should feel deliberate, almost mechanical in its patience. Stay completely silent, since Jason has never once needed to speak.

Tilt your head slightly when looking at someone, making that single visible eye even more unsettling. Let that one eye do nearly all of the work, keeping it locked steadily on whoever you're facing. That single visible eye is what makes this specific version of the character so unforgettable. Resist any urge to fill silence with gestures or movement, since stillness carries this character far better.

📸 Step 7: Capture the Moment

A dark forest setting instantly sells this costume's entire atmosphere. A rustic cabin or an old campsite both create authentic backdrops as well. A wood pile or an old canoe adds one more nice period appropriate detail.

Hold the pick axe low rather than posing like an action hero mid swing. Simply stand there, still and silent, letting the costume speak entirely on its own. Low light photography, twilight, fog, or moonlight, creates exactly the mood this character calls for.

💡 Why Go DIY?

This costume is budget friendly from top to bottom. Most pieces can be thrifted for very little money at all. A DIY Jason Voorhees Costume rarely requires anything expensive or hard to source. Most people can put this together for a fraction of what a costume shop would charge.

It is also refreshingly easy to assemble for how iconic the final result looks. Simple work clothes, once combined with that burlap sack, become an instantly recognizable horror costume. Most people can put this together in a single afternoon of thrifting.

The burlap sack with a single eye hole instantly identifies this specific version of Jason. A DIY Jason Voorhees Costume from Part 2 stands apart from every hockey mask version people usually picture. Horror fans especially will recognize and appreciate the reference immediately.

Comfort and durability round out the appeal nicely. This costume is built from real, sturdy work clothes that are easy to wear all night. Few horror costumes on this site are quite as comfortable as this one.

This look remains one of the greatest and most beloved slasher costumes ever put on film. Building a DIY Jason Voorhees Costume honors the exact moment horror's most iconic villain first took center stage. Nearly forty five years later, that rough burlap sack still unsettles anyone who sees it.

Welcome to Camp Crystal Lake. You'll never leave.

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Further Reading & Resources

📺 See: Friday the 13th Part 2
🔍 More: Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981 - TMDB