Sewing a Sith Robe
Materials & Tools
- Fabric: 4 to 6 yards of heavy, textured fabric (wool, linen, monk's cloth, or rustic cotton). Avoid shiny or lightweight synthetic materials. Black or dark crimson are standard.
- Matching thread.
- Sewing machine (or a lot of patience for hand-sewing).
- Fabric scissors, pins, and a measuring tape.
1 Measure and Cut the Body
Measure from your shoulder down to the floor. Double this measurement. Cut a massive rectangle of fabric to this length, with a width that spans from shoulder to shoulder plus a few extra inches. Fold the fabric in half (so the fold sits at your shoulders) and cut a half-moon shape in the center of the fold for your neck.
2 Cut and Attach the Sleeves
Cut two large rectangles for the sleeves. The length should be from your shoulder down to your fingertips, and the width should be wide enough to create that iconic bell shape (usually 20-25 inches wide). Lay the body fabric flat, unfold it, and sew the top edge of the sleeves to the shoulder edges of the body.
3 Sew the Side Seams
Fold the robe back in half at the shoulders so it looks like a T-shirt. Pin along the bottom of the sleeves and all the way down the sides of the body to the floor. Sew this continuous line on both sides to close the robe.
4 Craft the Oversized Hood
Cut a rectangle about 36 inches wide and 24 inches tall. Fold it in half to make a 18x24 square, and sew along the top edge to close the back of the hood. Gather the bottom edge of the hood so it matches the circumference of the neck hole on the robe, pin it right-sides together, and sew it on.
5 Hem and Finish
Try the robe on while wearing your boots. Pin the bottom hem so it hovers about an inch off the ground to prevent tripping. Hem the bottom, the sleeve cuffs, and the front opening edges of the robe for a clean finish.