Paenula

[Matthew Amt]

In the depictions that I've seen (of the cuculus as well as the paenula), the front edge is basically a straight line from the top of the hood to the hem. A semicircular cloak with a semicircular neck opening (and hood attached to that) makes that shape very nicely, but a neckhole set back from the edge, or a keyhole-shaped neck opening, will not. You're going to have extra fabric bunching up at the throat, and it won't look right. Also, a half-circle neck opening is made to fit the neck, whereas a head hole set back from the edge has to be rather larger to allow your head to fit through.

Valete,

Matthew