h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: How To Make A Cloak - A42031586
Author: Malabarista - U1528154

A sewing pattern that *can* be described just in words.

But I'll try to do an illustration for it, too.

Links to follow.

Nice one, Mala. Sounds so easy.

I once (or rather, my sister) sew a cape. It was a lot of work. As you'll see, I took press studs as buttons, and they make for perfect 'sleeves':

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10705508@N05/sets/72157607928954018/

I like the pointy thing, can it be used as a hood?

And those sleeves unfortunately only work if you do use a rectangle - with a round cloak, you'd have 150cm long sleeves

It is round, just the second layer is pointy. Maybe it's shorter than the ones yxou describe? I don't recall how we did it, it was more than 20 years ago.
It's made in three pieces, though, one for the back, two for the front (plus the 'shawls').

Hmmm, it looked elongated in the second picture. But maybe it is just shorter, full-length cloaks haven't been in fashion for quite a while.

Well, there is a way to buy full-length cloaks ready-made and fairly cheaply - through military surplus shops; the Russian officers' mess kit includes (included? They just got those silly new designer uniforms) a black cloak lined with red.

I guess I'm just not good at taking photos. Couldn't get it zoomed out for some reason.

You'll just have to wear it to the next meet

I've added a pic with me wearing it.

Though I'd prefer an excuse for a meet

You can come to Frankfurt anytime.

Right, who needs an excuse?

Links added

Does anyone know the standard width of fabric elsewhere in the world? I'm assuming it'll be 140-150 cm everywhere, but who knows...

I googled a store in the U.S. and found that they mostly have 48" and 53", although some fabrics were available in 43" or 60" widths.

Good Luck on this Excellent Entry!

Canada's seems to be mostly 48" and 54".

Ok, so around that size. Thanks. No precise measurements involved in this, anyway.

That would roughly be between 1.20 (48") and 1.35m (54")

135 and 140 cm isn't much difference, is it? But I'll amend it in the fitting section.

Wait until somebody has told you what width it is in the UK.

True.

I just had a look at Ikea UK and every fabric they sell comes in a width of 1.50m.