Whether you take beekeeping as a profession or a hobby, every beekeeper knows that getting stung is not fun! A beekeeper suit is the single most crucial accessory protecting a beekeeper from those painful stings. So, you can put all the thoughts of getting stung away and work fearlessly and more productively with your hives and around your bees.
When dealing with bees, the first thought that crosses your mind is how to prevent bee stings. There are several ways but having a beekeeper suit is one of the best ways to prevent bee stings when working with them. The beekeeper suit, also known as a bee suit, is readily available online across many well-known beekeeping stores like Buzzing Bee. But here we will talk about how to make a beekeeping suit yourself.
A beekeeper suit is a simple full-body protective suit that keeps you protected from bee stings and is easy to make at home.
How to make a DIY beekeeper suit – A step-by-step guide.
You can find several different styles and colors of beekeeper suits. They are usually of lighter colors because lighter colors usually discourage bees from stinging.
Step-1:
Start with the upper part or shirt of the beekeeping suit. When it comes to beekeeping suits, the shirt is the trickiest part. First of all, we need a shirt made of thick material such as cotton or denim so that bee stings may not pass through the fabric. We need to take care of all openings where bees may crawl through and get to your skin. For that, follow the steps given below:
- Take a shirt made of thick material and light color, preferably white.
- Cut off all the buttons, and stitch the buttonholes, including the collar and the sleeves.
- Stitch Velcro to the front opening, the collar, and the sleeves, so that you can adjust it accordingly and fasten it tightly to keep the bees and wasps out.
Step-2:
The second step is to make a face veil to protect your face from bee stings. The headgear is usually made of a hat with a wide brim to keep as much safe space around your face and head as possible. Attached to the hat is a veil made usually of nylon mesh or wire mesh that can also provide a clear vision and keep the bees away from your face. For the headgear, follow the steps below:
- Take a hat with a wide brim, such as a cowboy hat or a field hat.
- Measure the mesh around the hat’s brim and then cut the fabric at least an inch wider.
- Carefully sew the nylon or fine wire mesh veil to the edge of the brim of the hat. The veil should sit as far away from your face as possible.
- The mesh should be long enough to be tucked under the collar of your shirt. It should fall at least four to five inches below your shoulder.
Step-3:
Use a pair of pants made of thick material such as denim or sweatpants, preferably of a lighter color. Use pants that are baggy so that the stings may not easily directly reach the skin. When making the pants, please keep these points in mind:
- Use baggy pants made of thick material such as denim or sweatpants.
- The pants should have a tight elastic around the waist and ankles to prevent bees from passing through the gaps.
- Alternatively, you can stitch Velcro to the waist and the ankles of the pants so that you can adjust them to be as tight as possible.
Putting it All Together
The key to putting together a beekeeping suit is to keep everything as tight as possible and make sure there are no gaps where bees or wasps can enter your suit. Put on the bee suit headgear and then put on the shirt. Make sure that you securely tuck the mesh under the neck of your shirt. Now put on the pants and make sure the shirt is securely tucked in the pants. Make sure are the collar, the sleeves, and the ankles of the pants are tight and secure. Now finish it up by adding a pair of thick work gloves, socks, and boots. Tuck the shirt sleeves in the gloves and the ankles in the shoes.
Making your own DIY beekeeper suit can be straightforward, but you can also buy quality beekeeper suits if you don’t have the time. Although more expensive than making your own suit, you can also feel confident about the protection you will have when working with your bees.