Capes/Cloaks

[Ellen Anglin]

No: HPFGUIDX 6353

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer 
<pennylin at s...> wrote:

> I did find their website when I got home, and since their prices 
are I
> think somewhat lower than the company that Peg recommended earlier 
this
> year, I thought I'd pass the info along to you guys.  The prices for
> unlined coats seems very reasonable, and I'm unsure why lining the 
coat
> should jack up the price as much as it seems to do.  Seems to me it
> might be worthwhile to buy it unlined & find a local seamstress to 
slap
> some lining into it ....  


I looked at it, and Imust admit, promptly got sticker shock!  Ouch!

I am a seamstress and I have made, or helped to make many cloaks of 
various styles.  Labor is fairly cheap- they are easy to make, but 
with good quality wools and velvets running upwards of $20 a yard, 
unless you find a really good sale, the average cost of constructiong 
a cloak is easily around $100

In the historic Reinactment group I am in, cloaks sell for from $50 
to $200, on average, for a cloak- price varies depending on material 
and the length and fullness of the cloak.

Lining a cloak properly is tricky- the slippery stuff moves all over 
the place, and has to be cut just <so> to have it hang right.  You 
are basically cutting and sewing a second whole cloak, and then 
joining it together with the first.

Lining an already assembled garment is no picnic either- Most local 
tailors and seamstresses don't like to mess with relining garments, 
let alone drafting a pattern and creating a lining for one that 
doesn't have a lining to copy. If you find someone willing to do it, 
it will probably cost a lot.

I recommend the following seamstress highly- I own several dresses 
made by her, and my sister and nephew own cloaks made by her- Very 
nicely done! (And this from a seamstress who is never happy with her 
own work...) Her prices are so reasonable- I don't know how she does 
it! I compared cloak prices all over the SCA, and she had the best 
combination of quality and price.  She has been doing this for at 
least three years- it is not a fly-by night operation.

http://www.theboredhousewife.com/

Her 100% wool circle cloaks sell for $100 to $120, and her 44 inch 
(Knee length) lined velveteen cloak is only $95.  If you wanted some 
changes, or lining, talk to her, last time I talked to her she was 
quite willing to accomodate special requests.

Ellen Anglin
anglinsbees at yahoo.com