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Hello again and sorry in advance for the lengthy post!

In one of the topics about making an outer robe the pattern for Simplicity 5840 was mentioned as a good start (with heavy modifications). I actually have this pattern from a cloak I did a really long time ago (when I was first learning to sew). I pulled out the pieces tonight and may have an idea of how to modify it to work, but I thought I might ask if anyone has used this one before to see if I'm heading in the right direction.

At a glance, it looks like I only really need the pieces for the front/back, sleeves and yoke.

Front/Back Pieces: Normally this is cut twice so that the front is open and the back has a center back seam. I don't see a center back seam on the reference images. I'm going to guess I need to cut each panel (2 total) on a fold so it's one whole piece?

Sleeves: I think I remember reading that these would become side panels of some sort. They'll need to be extended so it's as long as the front/back panels. I think on the left the sleeve will connect the front/back. On the right I'll attach one end fully to the back panel, but only attach up to about the armpit to the front panel for the opening.

Yoke: Honestly, I don't know if I modify this one or not.

On the lining for the inside would I just be duplicating how I made the outside, sewing with right sides together and then turning it so it's right side out? (I hope that makes sense!)

I plan on making a dummy/practice run out of cotton or a couple old bedsheets to make sure I don't need to take in anything, etc before I go cutting into the nice velvet.

Have I got the right idea? Any advice is totally welcome and much appreciated!

For the RoTJ style with the pattern you are looking at you'll need to modify it to look like this:



For the RoTJ style, you sew together all of the seams with the exception of the right arm slit. This gives you a solid front piece (to which you can add the draping effect if you so choose).

Thank you stripes! This gives me a much better idea

Those two sections towards the top of the drawing...is that to show how the pattern piece (#1 front/back) needs to be arranged to make the solid front piece, or is the back actually in 2 sections? For some reason I thought the back had to be a solid piece too and have no center back seam (hard to tell with all that red in the reference photos). Sorry if this is a silly question...

Looking forward to giving this a try. Thank you again for your help...I really appreciate it!

The back can be in two pieces to add volume to the cloak. This is what helps give the robes more of a flow.

Makes sense to me

When I get the outer (red) section and lining/inner section (burgundy) done, how is the final assembly? Would it be finished so that the seams and hems would be hidden (such as sewing the outer/inner sections right sides together and then turning it so it's correct), or will they be attached in some places and then allowed to hang separately? I hope this makes sense...I can make up something visual or a better explanation if it doesn't

Sorry again for all the questions...without having a finished one to really look at (or more detailed views) to see how it's put together it's hard to know if it's going to come out right. I've modified and adjusted patterns before for other projects, but this is probably the most heavily modified I've worked with to date. I like the challenge though!

Thanks again!

you sew them together inside out and then turn them right side out once completed. To keep the bottom of the robes from puckering do a separate hem for the lining and outer cloak but don't sew them together. You can tack them together in spots if you are concerned about them flying apart independently.

Hopefully that makes sense.

Makes perfect sense to me...I feel like I've got enough info to attempt a practice run before I start my search for the right fabric.

Many thanks!