(Every time WordPress updates it has to tell me how the editor works, even though as far as I can tell, there’s not actually any updates to the editor itself. Who knows.)
What am I going to do? you ask. A fine question. An excellent question.
Another appropriate question might be…are you actually going to do it?
Well, I’m going to try.
All right, enough silliness. I’ve always wanted to make a cloak. I’ve had a pattern for ever (it’s this one, now out of print: https://www.etsy.com/sg-en/listing/615865963/simplicity-9452) and, well, they’re not terribly hard, in the great scheme of sewing garments.
Not sure I’ll actually use this pattern though. It looks kind of costume-y, if you know what I mean, and I’d like something that doesn’t look like I went to my nearest Spirit Halloween.
Actually, I’d like to do something with slits so you could stick your hands through if you’d like. Not arms, though. I’ve done that. Back in college, I made myself some Gryffindor robes to wear for book/movie releases. Fully lined and everything, black on the outside and maroon on the inside.
(Actually, that was an important lesson in fabric choice, because I went with basic cotton for the black but gabardine for the maroon. Gabardine is a much heavier fabric, and so the lining tended to stretch more than the cotton.)
And, because I am a glutton for punishment, everyone gets a cloak! I think the small, mobile ones can have ones made out of fleece. Fleece is a lovely fabric to work with–it doesn’t fray, it comes in every color under the sun, it’s typically affordable.
I would make adult cloaks out of fleece but I suspect that would look a little weird.
Wool is the traditional fabric to make cloaks out of, but I am allergic to wool. Also, wool tends to be very expensive. I mean, it’s like $21 a yard, and you need a lot of fabric for a cloak.
So fabric remains a sticking point. I may just go play with fabric at the store, which is not necessarily the best idea (hooray for spreading germs) but not sure what else to do. It needs to be something heavy enough to keep you warm, with proper swoosh, and not stretch out too much over time. Hmm. Maybe I should look at recommended fabrics on cloak patterns.
Maybe jersey would work. Jersey’s almost as easy as fleece.
I think I’ll line the adult cloaks too. Though that depends on fabric choices. I suppose I could make them out of wool (for a million dollars) and line them with something else, and then maybe I wouldn’t have to worry about touching it.
Have you made cloaks, squiders? Tips? Recommended fabrics? Do you own a cloak that’s super awesome and has a tag that tells you what it’s made out of?
In other news, I’m trying out an art box subscription, the first of which should arrive today. And I’m going to start doing a study of cozy mysteries in preparation for finally trying my hand for Nano.
See you next week!
