Basic Sewing for Ritual Clothing (Open)

  • Basic Sewing for Ritual Clothing
    March 10, 2019
    10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Basic Sewing for Ritual Clothing
(Open to all levels)
March 10, 2019
10 AM – 5 PM with a break for potluck lunch
Registration fee is $20; $10 for dues-current WBL members.

Ritual clothing or basic costuming for certain ceremonies is a need we all have.

  • Sometimes what you have no longer fits and you need to make something in a hurry.
  • Sometimes you want to make something very deliberately, with intention, and specifications.
  • Sometimes the commercial stuff available doesn’t meet your needs or doesn’t really fit the way you want or is too expensive and you need to substitute time for money.
  • Sometimes you want pockets.

This workshop will:

  1. Discuss fabric selection.
    • Cotton
    • Linen
    • Silk
    • Wool
    • Rayon
  2. Care and feeding of the selected fabric.
  3. Take your measurements
  4. Go over how to make your own pattern for a basic robe.
    • Pattern layout for plain fabrics.
    • Pattern layout for patterned or sided fabrics.
    • Estimating the fabric amount you need based on the width.
    • Discuss how to add very basic pockets.
  5. Discuss Machine v. Hand v. Hybrid sewing
  6. Go over the assembly of 2 downsized pattern kits (Quick and dirty v. More Efficient)
    • To get the feel of how to assemble things and develop some muscle memory.
  7. Develop the first mock-up of a basic robe pattern

Your materials fee covers:

  1. Packet with:
    • Your measurements recorded
    • Instructions for making a variety of very basic costume clothes
    • Fabric Choice Notes
    • Fabric Care and Feeding Notes
    • Basics of Hand-sewing
  2. Kit with 4 pieces of to-scale fabric and 2 to-scale patterns with sewing instructions.
  3. Mock-up (If you bring inexpensive fabric)

You should bring:

If you want a full size mock-up bring:

  1. 4 yards of inexpensive fabric ($1 per yard as a guideline) or queen or king sized sheets bought at a thrift shop. Note:  cotton or cotton poly blend preferred.  Polyester is not recommended as it is TOO slippery and will drive you insane.
    • If you are over 6 feet tall we recommend 5 yards
  2. (Optional) – Sewing kit and/or machine if you have one.