https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/easy-cloak • Posted by Kikachu
I'm making cloaks for me and a few of my friends for the Renaissance Faire. For this project I used about 2yds of wool fabric. I would say I spent around 35$ on it. Fabric was about 25$ total (I was required to buy the rest on the bolt) and my clasp was a little pricey. The price will vary depending on what you want and where you get it. yada yada :) I haven't tried making the cloak with thinner fabric so I don't know how it would turn out. I'd love to see if you give it a try!! Send me a message if you find anything confusing or hard to follow >u<
I'm making cloaks for me and a few of my friends for the Renaissance Faire. For this project I used about 2yds of wool fabric. I would say I spent around 35$ on it. Fabric was about 25$ total (I was required to buy the rest on the bolt) and my clasp was a little pricey. The price will vary depending on what you want and where you get it. yada yada :) I haven't tried making the cloak with thinner fabric so I don't know how it would turn out. I'd love to see if you give it a try!! Send me a message if you find anything confusing or hard to follow >u<
First thing you want to do is to make your fabric the width you want. I made my cloak 67in wide (66in after I hemmed). 63in is good if you don't want the front of the cloak to cover you as much. Lay your fabric out flat. Take your yard stick/ruler and place it about 3in in from the cut edge of the fabric. Now measure your 67in and mark it on BOTH selvages. So you'll measure on the top of the fabric too. Next, you're going to draw a straight line down connecting the two marks you just made. This will be your cutting line.
Before you cut on your line, you're going to repeat Step 1 going the opposite way, but measure 67in from the line you made and NOT the cut edge. After you make your second line you can cut both sides off.
On the side you just cut, take your chalk and mark 5/8ths every few inchs. Then fold the edge to meet the 5/8th marking and pin it down. Once you have the whole side pinned you can sew it down! Repeat this to the other cut edge.
Where your neck will be you're going to mark 2in every few inches. Fold the edge in half to meet the 2in marking and pin it down. You're going to sew it at the number "2" marking on your sewing machine.
Now you should have a "neck" band. This next part is like adding waistband to a pair of pajama pants. Take your ribbon and pin a safety pin onto one end. Do the same thing to the other side, but also pin it to the opening on your "neck" band.
Now take the other safety pin, slip it into the neck band and start inching it through to the other side. The motion is a bit like the way a caterpillar moves.
By the time you get to the other end of the opening your fabric should have a gathered look.
Carefully put the cloak on and continue pulling the ribbon through until you have the look you desire. Safety pin the ribbon in place so it won't move.
Now sew the ribbon in place on both sides. Just make sure you're sewing towards the wrong side of your cloak so it won't show on the front.
Almost done! Now put the cloak back on and pin where you want the bottom of the cloak to end. Add 5/8ths onto that for your hem line. This part might be a bit easier with some help.
Take it off and lay it out as flat as you can. Measure from the edge to where you pinned and mark it with chalk. Measure and mark on the other end and in the middle of your cloak.
Draw the line with the yard stick then cut! Now take your chalk and mark 5/8ths every few inchs. Fold the edge to meet the 5/8th marking and pin it down. Sew!
Now all you have to do is attach your clasp! Make sure you place them evenly on both sides! Enjoy!