02-14-2009, 04:03 PM
It would probably "work", but realize that the neck hole you've drawn is not in the center of the circle that describes the edge of the cloth. That will make the front hang down further than the back. This gives the appearance of the cloak being "too short" in the back, or if you make it long enough there, the front will drag the ground.
The dynamics of the body's shape is that the neck does not come straight out the top, it leans a little forward (or in some cases a lot forward), making the upper back a longer line than the chest, measured from the shoulder down to the knee. Of course, if we had perfect posture, shoulders back, spines straight, chins up, military "attention" style, all the time, the distances would be more nearly equal. In other words, the back needs to be cut a little longer than the front. The cloak, if it's a paenula, ought to be at least knee length. If you're in a cold climate (you are, at least part of the year, right?) maybe mid calf would be a better length.
With the making of your beautiful subarmalis, you already gave away the fact that you can sew. If you have to make the garment from two pieces, with a seam at the top, running down the arm, be sure to capture the edges of the wool so it will not unravel at the critical seam. The ones I make from blankets require this, and I also turn under about 4 or 5 cm down the front center, and up over the front of the hood. This gives a nicer finished look, and removes a little width from the front panel. I compensate for this by putting a pleat at the top center, under the hood, thus adding some needed fullness over the shoulders. Pictures of explanation available on request.
The dynamics of the body's shape is that the neck does not come straight out the top, it leans a little forward (or in some cases a lot forward), making the upper back a longer line than the chest, measured from the shoulder down to the knee. Of course, if we had perfect posture, shoulders back, spines straight, chins up, military "attention" style, all the time, the distances would be more nearly equal. In other words, the back needs to be cut a little longer than the front. The cloak, if it's a paenula, ought to be at least knee length. If you're in a cold climate (you are, at least part of the year, right?) maybe mid calf would be a better length.
With the making of your beautiful subarmalis, you already gave away the fact that you can sew. If you have to make the garment from two pieces, with a seam at the top, running down the arm, be sure to capture the edges of the wool so it will not unravel at the critical seam. The ones I make from blankets require this, and I also turn under about 4 or 5 cm down the front center, and up over the front of the hood. This gives a nicer finished look, and removes a little width from the front panel. I compensate for this by putting a pleat at the top center, under the hood, thus adding some needed fullness over the shoulders. Pictures of explanation available on request.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
