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Robe sewing patternDo you want to make your own wizard robe? The simple steps below make it possible for even the most novice sewer to put together their own robe in a matter of hours. This guide is based upon the meditation robe patter of the Servants of the Light.
When selecting your piece of cloth, it is best to avoid man made materials, such as nylon, as these become easily charge with static electricity. Also, a material that is easy to wash and requires minimal ironing is also an advantage. Most importantly, you want a free flowing fabric that will hang nicely. If you're unsure, just ask an assistant at the shop for an appropriate fabric. Your fabric will need to be approximately 150 cm (5 feet) wide. If you would like a better fitting robe, and your fabric comes in a larger size, you could measure the distance from wrist to wrist accross your chest and purchase fabric of that size. The length of fabric required is double your shoulder height, plus a few extra centimeters/inches for a hem. It is recommended that you do the folding and cutting out on the living room floor, as this gives you plenty of room to work.
You should now fold it lengthwise (see Figure B - right) Your fabric will now consist of four layers. It should be as tall as your shoulder height, and half the length of your arm span. At this stage, I suggest you ensure your fabric is flat, and pin around the edges to hold the layers in place. Before we go any further, take the following measurements, and write them on a piece of paper next to the corresponding letters in italics below.
neck - [your neck size (the diameter of your neck)] / 4 - 2cm
Pin along the inside of the lines you have marked. Now, remove the pins you attached around the outside of the fabric layers. Using a sharp pair of scissors, cut along the line d-e-f and the neckline. After unfolding your fabric, you should have the shape below:
Using the guide at right, sew along p-q-r and repeat on the other side of the robe. Turn your robe in the right way, and try it on. Don't force your head through the neck hole, because at this stage it isn't going to fit. This step requires a bit of trial and error. It is best that the neckline comes down lower at the front than the back, so trim 1-2cm from the front neckline, and a smaller amount from the back. Try the robe again. Repeat this until you are just able to get your head through. After hemming the neckline, you will be able to get your head through more easily. Everything's done now, but you will need to adjust the length of your robe and hem it. Wear your robe with your shoes, and ask someone to pin it at the right length. Then, as in Sew it together, press the hem with an iron before sewing along l-m and n-o. Congratulations! You've finished your robe! Feel free to make alterations, such as a pocket, different colour hems on the base and sleeves, etc. It's up to you! |
Flatten your fabric and fold it in half, making it slightly taller than your shoulder height (see Figure A - left)
Using the measurements above, and the pattern at right, use a piece of chalk to mark the following:
Fold back edges h-i and j-k and press with a hot iron. If your material has two sides, ensure the side you want as the outside of your finished product is facing outwards. Sew along both h-i and j-k to hem the ends of your sleeves. Now, fold the material vertically in half again. If your material has two sides, ensure the side you want as the outside in your finished product is now facing inwards.Copyright Derek Whitten 2005-2008 (last updated May 18, 2008)