making vestments

Posted by Sparafucile on May 4, 2009, 12:10 am

Hi,

                Knowing the diverse experience of the folks on this group, I thought
I'd ask if anyone has made any.

        I'm interested in trying to make a chasuble and stole; I'm
Episcopalian (Anglican to Europeans), but the vestments are the same
as Catholic priests wear.

        Fabric & trim is easy to find here in the NYC garment district;
patterns and instructions are sketchy and often have conflicting
information....

        TIA
--
Ciao,

Serge

                ´I love cats because I take pleasure in my home; and little by
little, the cats become its visible soul.¡
                                Jean Cocteau, 1889-1963

        5/4/2009 12:04:38 AM

Posted by BEI Design on May 4, 2009, 4:18 am

Sparafucile wrote:
show/hide quoted text

Serge, I cannot find the person's name at the moment, but
I'm pretty sure someone on the SewBiz list sews vestments.
SewBiz is a private subscription e-mail list:
http://www.quiltropolis.net/maillists/maillistsdetail.asp?catid=Business

If you have problems, Sharon H. is managing the list at
present she will probably be along to help.

--
Beverly
http://ickes.us/default.aspx

Posted by BEI Design on May 4, 2009, 4:21 am

BEI Design wrote:
show/hide quoted text

show/hide quoted text

Serge, I found the name, but I'm not willing to post it to a
public newsgroup. If you want to contact me by e-mail, I'll
try to put you in touch:

beidesign [at] comcast dot net

--
Beverly
http://ickes.us/default.aspx

Posted by Olwyn Mary on May 4, 2009, 11:41 am

Sparafucile wrote:
show/hide quoted text

First of all, take a deep breath and don't panic. I remember when I
first made ecclesiatical items, I was so worried about making things for
holy people to wear in holy places, out of frightfully expensive fabric
(silk). (Actually, the people may or may not be holy, and the garments
are just pieces of cloth until after they have been blessed for use.)

Patterns and instructions are sketchy because so many of these things
are made to measure. A 6'2" priest needs a different size chasuble than
a 5'4" priest! Also, very traditional Gothic style churches usually
want very traditional vestments and hangings - lined, interlined, heavy,
whereas more contemporary style churches frequently want something
lighter and more floaty.

If you can find any of the books by Beryl Dean - she is THE authority -
it will help. Possible sources are your parish or diocesan library, or
your public library who should be able to get them for you on
inter-library loan.

Remember that until they have been accepted and blessed, a cope is just
a floor-length cape, a chasuble is just a large poncho, a dalmatic is an
over-the-shoulder apron as worn by clerks in many retail establishments,
a stole is just a long, woven scarf and an altar frontal is just a wall
hanging.

Some practicalities: if you are a professional seamstress, you probably
have everything you need, particularly if you do bridal work. If, OTOH,
you are a home sewist like me, you will find it helpful if you can put
your sewing machine well away from a wall, with a clean sheet on the
floor underneath it, and a card table or such next to the machine to
support the weight of these huge amounts of fabric. Also, after you
have cut them out, take the scraps and practice, practice with fabric,
interlining and lining until you are comfortable with them.

If I can be of further help, don't hesitate to come back with your
questions.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Posted by Sparafucile on May 5, 2009, 12:34 pm

On Mon, 04 May 2009 10:41:11 -0500, Olwyn Mary wrote:

show/hide quoted text
Hi, Olwyn Mary and Sarah!

        Yes, I do have a question or two. But first: should I take this to
email, or is anyone else interested in this thread?

        In any event, first: I don't have a pattern for the stole, just
"suggestions". So how do you "round" the neck portion so that it lays
comfortably around the neck? I know the Eastern Orthodox miter it into
a "V", but Episcopalian/Roman Catholic priests that I have spoken to
don't like that,yet their greatest complaint is about the neck.

        Second: do you have a source for trim (orphrey, galoon and applique
crosses and the like)? Yes, I can get them in NYC for a good price,
but they all have a minimum order, and I want to make one stole before
commiting to a large order. I'm particularly looking for appliques.

        Thanks to both of you!
--
Ciao,

Serge

                ´I love cats because I take pleasure in my home; and little by
little, the cats become its visible soul.¡
                                Jean Cocteau, 1889-1963

        5/5/2009 12:27:32 PM

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