Reenactment Costume Design: How to Make a Cloak
A cloak is an old fashioned sort of cape that men wore to keep warm in cold months or to protect their clothing when they were out riding or traveling. If you're part of a reenactment group, a club that puts on historical displays, you may be in need of a cloak. You can easily make one yourself by hand, which can save costs over purchasing a cloak from specialty shop or costume store.
Things You'll Need
- Fabric
- Measuring stick
- Chalk
- Scissors
- Straight pins
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Cardboard
- Ribbon
Instructions
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1
Lay two yards of fabric flat on the floor. The material you use depends on the reenactment costume you'll be wearing, though most cloak materials were made of a heavy fabric. If you're portraying a rider or huntsman, you might choose leather. If you're portraying a wealthy person or someone of nobility, you may choose a lush fabric like velvet.
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2
Draw a 4-foot horizontal line at the top center of the fabric, using a measuring stick and chalk. Draw diagonal lines down from each end of the horizontal line, making each diagonal line meet the bottom corner of the fabric below it. You should now have a four-sided shape drawn.
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3
Cut out the traced shape and save the remnant pieces. Fold over each edge of the fabric one inch and secure the fold in place with a straight pin, placing one pin about every three inches.
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4
Sew a line along each of the four folded-over sides, making a smooth, clean hem. Remove the straight pins.
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5
Cut a piece of cardboard into a rectangle that is two inches wide and 16 inches long. Cut a rectangle of fabric that is 5 inches wide and 18 inches long.
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Fold the rectangle of fabric in half width-wise and sew the two short edges together. Turn the fabric inside out so you have a sort of pocket. Tuck the cardboard into the pocket and sew a line under the cardboard, so the cardboard is encased in the fabric.
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7
Sew the cardboard collar piece to the center of the top line of the cloak, sewing so that the bottom edge of the cardboard collar is hidden by the inside of the cloak.
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8
Cut two pieces of ribbon to about 12 inches long each. Sew one end of each ribbon to each end of the bottom of the collar piece, so you can tie the cloak around your neck. Choose ribbon in a color that matches the cloak fabric.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
