Course Three: Practice 113
HOOD9”CUT
AWAYBt h e top edge for a neck-
hole. This should be
no more than 4” to
each side, for a total
width of 8” (see dia-
gram). Then mark
another cut line
straight down the
right edge, about the
same length (this
can vary, depending
on how deep you
want the neckline).
The final cut mark
will be in the form of
a “T.”
For the sleeves and sides, first inhale deeply and mea-
sure your chest at its widest point. Divide that number by 4,
and add 2”. This is the minimum distance from the right
centerfold to the underarm cut line, and you should make a
little mark at that point, halfway between the top and bot-
tom (A). Now mark out a line from the left and bottom,
starting about halfway up the left side (C) and curving around
as in the diagram to hit the bottom edge (B). Make sure that
the furthest point of the right edge of this line comes just to
the previous chest measurement mark (A). While keeping
the material carefully folded, pin along the inside line of
the underarm sections. Try it on now, just to make sure it
fits. Then cut it out with sharp scissors through all four lay-
ers. Then unpin, and unfold the front fold so it lays out flat
like a shirt. Pin each side again for sewing, and now cut out
the neck “T.” Sew up the sides, and you’re done!
As a final touch, you should hem the bottom edge,
sleeves, and neckline. You might also add trim, if you wish,
at the bottom and sleeves. You can also use the leftover
material to add a hood, outside panels, pockets, etc. A wide
over-belt completes the effect. If your material is cotton, a
“Ghost Dance” style tunic may be made by leaving a couple
inches along your seams, turning the seams to the outside,
and fraying the edges, like so:The Jerkin
Soft leather is a favored
material for a jerkin, but you
may, of course, use anything you
like. The length is the same as for
a tunic. To measure the width, in-
hale deeply and measure your chest
at its widest point. Divide that
number by 2, and add 4”. Because
a jerkin is sleeveless, there is noth-
ing to cut away; just sew up the out-
side, leaving a slit at the bottom and
a foot or so for an armhole. Just as
with the tunic, the neckhole is a
simple “T” cut 8” wide along thetop fold, with the vertical cut in front. I like to
make the front cut much deeper, then fold back
the sides into triangular lapels. I then add grom-
mets and lacing for a very cool look. A wide
belt with an impressive large buckle completes
the effect.Lesson 3: Your Wizard’s Robe
A traditional Wizard’s
“Ankh” robe is very
easy to make. Colors
are associated with the
Wizard’s Path (see “Color-Coded Wizardry” in
1.III, “Foundations of Magick”), and also with
one’s grade. Apprentices traditionally wear
white robes; Journeymen wear robes of their
path color; and Adepts wear pretty much any-
thing they fancy, including robes with stars and
astrological symbols. So you should make your
first robe of white fabric. Then you can wear
your colored tabard over it that you made ear-
lier. Although I prefer the basic design I am de-
scribing here, Simplicity pattern #5840-A,B also
has two somewhat different open-front robe de-
signs, for male and female. And Simplicity
9887-A,B is quite spectacular!
The length should be twice the distanceCUT AWAY -
USE FOR
POCKETS,- Practice.p65 113 1/14/2004, 4:20 PM