Cloak Wearers - Step Forward
- Thread starter TeeDee
- Start date
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forestwalker
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
My Birrus Britanncus.......it gets a fair bit of use
How is the cut of the hood? Is the slit a plain T, or is it more of a key-hole? Is the neckhole centered, or (like it looks) a bit off center towards the front?
Great looking, BTW!
OK - I like it - can you give us a schematic for making one...or a link to a site that can...pretty please!My Birrus Britanncus.......it gets a fair bit of use
cheers,
Toddy
I used to use a U.S Army quilted poncho liner as a cloak,i had a slit sewn in the middle. I could also use it under the U.S waterproof poncho as well. As usual the poncho liner retired with age and i never got around to replacing it.
Darren
Darren
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fancy-Scottis...Textiles_SM&hash=item45f3102f75#ht_760wt_1137
it even says good for cloaks!!!
it even says good for cloaks!!!
I drew out cloak patterns and scanned them into the computer a little while ago. I need to find them and then I'll post them.
Basically the Birrus Britannicus is one length of wide fabric (join two lengths if it's not wide enough ) It is longer at the back to carry rain away past your thighs and just long enough at the front not to soak your knees.
The corners are rounded off so that they don't trail. The neckline on mine is an oval, slightly deeper at the front.
The hood is deep enough to come right round to within two inches of the front facings so that it's warm at my throat even when the leaf brooch I use is fastened through the two layers.
A more authentic fastening would be a ring headed pin or a carved bone, wood or antler pin with a hole and a cord. The pin goes through the two layers and back out again and then the cord is wrapped figure of eight style to keep it secure.
Try to cut the hood so that there is no seam over the top of your head. This way there are no shoulder or head seams to let rain through and no shoulder seams to rub under a pack.
To free your arms entirely both fronts are thrown backwards over your shoulders.........think Roman squaddie or knight in armour style
If you wish to belt it into a tunic bring the back edges forward, fasten a belt loosely over the top and then raise your arms pulling fabric comfortably upwards through the belt. Then fasten it a little tighter to keep things there.
cheers,
Toddy
Basically the Birrus Britannicus is one length of wide fabric (join two lengths if it's not wide enough ) It is longer at the back to carry rain away past your thighs and just long enough at the front not to soak your knees.
The corners are rounded off so that they don't trail. The neckline on mine is an oval, slightly deeper at the front.
The hood is deep enough to come right round to within two inches of the front facings so that it's warm at my throat even when the leaf brooch I use is fastened through the two layers.
A more authentic fastening would be a ring headed pin or a carved bone, wood or antler pin with a hole and a cord. The pin goes through the two layers and back out again and then the cord is wrapped figure of eight style to keep it secure.
Try to cut the hood so that there is no seam over the top of your head. This way there are no shoulder or head seams to let rain through and no shoulder seams to rub under a pack.
To free your arms entirely both fronts are thrown backwards over your shoulders.........think Roman squaddie or knight in armour style
If you wish to belt it into a tunic bring the back edges forward, fasten a belt loosely over the top and then raise your arms pulling fabric comfortably upwards through the belt. Then fasten it a little tighter to keep things there.
cheers,
Toddy
Thanks Toddy!
That is all I need - and more!
I wonder if I will be wearing a Birrus by the Moot?
That is all I need - and more!
I wonder if I will be wearing a Birrus by the Moot?
The only issue is how wide you want it to be. Most modern woollens are 54 or 60" wide. By the time you drape that across your shoulders it'll reach just past your elbows. Very practical but folks seem to want it long enough to cover their hands 
It just gets in the way then I think, but then I use my hands all the time, I hate things fankling them up.
If the cloak *is* wanted wider, it could be seamed across the shoulders and that would use less fabric than two full lengths sewn so the seam runs down the centre back.
It's a very adaptable style, from ancient Brit to Roman to Elvish
atb,
M
It just gets in the way then I think, but then I use my hands all the time, I hate things fankling them up.
If the cloak *is* wanted wider, it could be seamed across the shoulders and that would use less fabric than two full lengths sewn so the seam runs down the centre back.
It's a very adaptable style, from ancient Brit to Roman to Elvish
atb,
M
My current cloak (given a very rude name by Will!) is a double bed blanket, cunningly folded and pinned with a penanular broach to give full body coverage, plus a deep reveres/hood/cape. I have curved off two corners and overlocked the raw edge(last night!) so that they do not drag in the dirt but yet leave the blanket almost full size for sleeping - a major consideration for me.
The Birrus looks like it could equally be used as a blanket if you fastened the opening before retiring
Now to hunt out some more charity shop blankets.....
The Birrus looks like it could equally be used as a blanket if you fastened the opening before retiring
Now to hunt out some more charity shop blankets.....
Damn!
You see Cats, I just can not make one of these myself!!
I need to ask around my village and see if I can find someone with the skills!
Beautiful work Toddy, thanks for all this info!
Chris.
You see Cats, I just can not make one of these myself!!
I need to ask around my village and see if I can find someone with the skills!
Beautiful work Toddy, thanks for all this info!
Chris.
forestwalker
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Unless you wear heavy tweed suits I'd think that suit fabric is too thin to make a good one. As for the waterproofing, get the re-lanolizing stuff (I use the kind intended for cloth diaper outer pants). Won't make it into Gore-Tex, but will make it shed light rains (it will also take a while before it seriously wets through).
Mary
Looking good. I'm wondering about a shorter version like that in Ventile...
I have a longer cloak and am wondering...
How do you stop the cloak trying to slip off shoulders?
Is there a way of pleating them to provide fill for the shoulders or something?
Mark
Looking good. I'm wondering about a shorter version like that in Ventile...
I have a longer cloak and am wondering...
How do you stop the cloak trying to slip off shoulders?
Is there a way of pleating them to provide fill for the shoulders or something?
Mark
Ah, right. This is where the pattern making matters.
If the pattern is unbalanced, i.e. the back is heavier than the front, or the hood constantly 'pulls' the cloak against the front of your throat, then it needs a bit more tailoring.
A collar can be used to create a stable attachment that will allow the cloak to sit on the shoulder and not pull uncomfortably either back or forwards.
Sometimes something as simple as more front fastenings, perhaps like those on duffle coats, is enough to redress the balance.
To give more stability it is possible to make a shoulder yoke and hang the body of the cloak from that.
Pleating is used to give extra warmth at the shoulders and to somewhat contain the volume of fabric that allows for very full cloaks without leaving the wearer looking like Quasimodo.
cheers,
Mary
If the pattern is unbalanced, i.e. the back is heavier than the front, or the hood constantly 'pulls' the cloak against the front of your throat, then it needs a bit more tailoring.
A collar can be used to create a stable attachment that will allow the cloak to sit on the shoulder and not pull uncomfortably either back or forwards.
Sometimes something as simple as more front fastenings, perhaps like those on duffle coats, is enough to redress the balance.
To give more stability it is possible to make a shoulder yoke and hang the body of the cloak from that.
Pleating is used to give extra warmth at the shoulders and to somewhat contain the volume of fabric that allows for very full cloaks without leaving the wearer looking like Quasimodo.
cheers,
Mary
Aaarrrggghhh you're talking in code again,
I'd certainly like to have a go at one but I'm going to have to talk to Mary in single sylable words at the Moot. If I can picture it cut from paper, I reckon I'll be in with a fighting chance.
Cheers all
Ogri the trog
I'd certainly like to have a go at one but I'm going to have to talk to Mary in single sylable words at the Moot. If I can picture it cut from paper, I reckon I'll be in with a fighting chance.
Cheers all
Ogri the trog
while I don't regualy wear it, my current scouts camp blanket has a head hole, so I can wear it as a cloak/poncho. I only really wear it if there's a proper scouts campfire (everyone sitting round singing ect)
I'm planning to pick up a proper south american poncho or two while I'm in peru in the summer, assuming I see any. Chances are one will become my new camp blanket, my current one isn't holding up too well.
I'm planning to pick up a proper south american poncho or two while I'm in peru in the summer, assuming I see any. Chances are one will become my new camp blanket, my current one isn't holding up too well.
