'1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)'

-'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'

The best pattern I've found is Simplicity's #9372 (which is actually advertised with a boy with glasses, a boy with red hair and freckles, and a girl holding a wand! Coincidence, no? ( I know for a fact that Simplicity came out with this after the HP Mania started :0)).
Now, you may notice that the pattern isn't exactly like the robes either in the movie or the book. That's ok, this is why we call it a costume. Now, if you want them to be just like the movie, just don't use the zipper or velcro or whatever it is in front.

If you want black robes, get some nice black cotton, wool, or other such, and follow the directions on the packet. I did notice, while going through my trusty (and very dusty) Simplicity pattern book, that the kids have some kind of weird trimming on their sleeves and hoods. Don't feel you have to match the shinyness of it. Use whatever color you want, or use your own! Also, as one of my friends pointed out, she liked a pattern, but didn't like the color they had used. Sewing tip #1- You NEVER have to use the color and trimming they use! NEVER! You can pic a different fabric, different fabric pattern, different colors, different trims- anything. Remember, it's YOUR costume, not theirs. Kk? Just wanted to make that clear.

Next what I did was I got some of that fusible printer paper (you print something out and then iron it on to your fabric), printed out the Gryffindor crest, and ironed it on a peice of the same black fabric I made my robes out of. I did the same with the Hogwarts crest, and then stuck velcro on the backs of the two fabric pieces. Now I can go back and forth from Gryffindor robes to Hogwarts robes! You can also do that with Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Quidditch teams, if it strikes your fancy! And there you go! Your very own Hogwarts/Gryffindor robes! (This pattern works best if you're a kid (or just short, like Meagan :0).)

For teen robes, you can use Simplicity's #9533. It's actually only the over robe, none of that dress under it. Pick your favorite color, follow the instructions for the puffy sleeve, don't attach it to a cuff, just sew a hem, and put a cool clasp on the front to close it. And voila! Robe a la grande.

If you want a hood, cut another piece of fabric in a rectangle, then round one of the edges so you have a shape like this.

Now sew the straight edge to the neckline of the robes, pleating where I've shown..

And you're done!

As always, PICK THE COLOR AND FABRIC YOU AND ONLY YOU WANT FOR YOUR COSTUME. I cannot stress this enough. I've had many people come up to me and say "Well, I'd LOVE this costume, but I don't like the color, so I'll find a different one!" No, No, NO! Your costume, your fabric. And trimmings and ties and hats and wigs and WHATEVER, alright!? And DO NOT, UNDER ANY CURCUMSTANSES, ALLOW YOUR PARENTS TO PICK THE COLOR OF THE FABRIC FOR YOUR COSTUME FOR YOU, AS MUCH AS THEY MIGHT HATE ME FOR SAYING THIS. Parents who might be reading this, I know you've got great tastes, but as I know from personal experience, anything you say could influence your kids to pick a different color than what they originally wanted, and it could ruin the fun of wearing the costume for them. So don't act all upset if they pick the electric green broadcloth over the nice pretty rose patterned velvet you like. They're the ones wearing the costume, it should be their choice.But kids, if it's not for a costume, but for an outfit for something like a wedding or church or Christmas or something, they get final say, alright?

(An added note, though, cause my mum will kill me if I don't say this- your mom probably does know what kind of fabrics will work, so do listen to her if you want her to every buy your fabric for you again, kk?) (*smooches, Mummy!*)

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This page © by Shannon Murray, July 2002