How to Make a Graduation Robe

A graduation cap, a diamond-shaped hat with a hanging tassel, usually accompanies graduation robes.

A graduation robe is a type of academic dress traditionally worn during a student's graduation from high school, college, graduate school, law or medical school. These long, flowing gowns -- worn over clothing -- have wide sleeves and extend to the ankles. Graduation robes are usually made of synthetic polyester and are often in black, white or a combination of the school's colors.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Pattern paper
• Scissors
• Ruler
• 5 yards black polyester fabric
• Tailor's chalk
• Jacket zipper
• Black thread
• Sewing machine
• Zipper foot

Instructions

1. Take body measurements with a measuring tape. Measure the length of the shoulders, the sleeve length (from the shoulder to the wrist), and from the top of the shoulder to the ankles. Make note of each measurement.

2. With a pencil, draw the shoulder-pattern piece on pattern paper, sketching two rectangles that measure a quarter of the shoulder width plus 1 inch. Draw the body of the robe by making a long rectangle piece that is the length of the shoulder to the ankles plus 1 inch. For instance, if the length of the shoulders is 44 inches and a person's height is 50 inches from shoulder to ankle, draw a rectangle that is 12 by 51 inches. Draw two rectangle pieces for the sleeves. Cut out the pattern pieces with scissors.

3. Fold the polyester material in half. Place the pattern pieces on the material's fold. Pin to the fabric. Cut out each fabric pattern piece. There should be three fabric pieces, with two pieces for each fabric piece. These include two shoulder pieces -- four in all, the sleeve pieces and the rectangular body pieces.

4. Place one pair of rectangular shoulder pieces together with the right sides facing each other. Pin along the longer side of the rectangle and sew together, leaving a 1/2-inch seam. Leave 10 inches at the top of the body piece for the sleeves. Repeat with the second rectangular shoulder pieces on the other side.

5. Pin the front body piece to the front of the shoulder pieces. Pin the back body piece to the back shoulder pieces. Sew each side at the shoulder pieces' edges.

6. Fold each sleeve piece lengthwise and pin together. Stitch together at the long edge, leaving a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Do this for both sleeves.

7. Pin the zipper to one narrow-shoulder rectangle. Using the zipper foot on the sewing machine, sew the zipper to the narrow rectangle. Sew the zipper to the other narrow rectangular shoulder piece.

8. With the gown's right side facing in, insert the sleeve pieces through the armhole on each side with the right side of the sleeves facing the gown's right side. Sew the sleeves to the armholes on the armholes' edges.

9. To hem the sleeves' edges, fold them under 1 inch and sew along the edge. To hem the body of the gown, fold the gown edges under by 1 inch and sew.

References

• MadeMan; How to Make a Graduation Gown; Emily Weller