Cassock-Albs | Surplice Pattern | Vestments | Samples | Patterns and Instructions
Instruction Pamphlets | Stole Kits | Workshops

Email me for an up to date Online Vestment Kit Catalogue or the Online Ecclesiastical Fabric Catalogue. obunny@roadrunner.com

Cassock-Alb Pattern Sets @ $40.

The cassock-alb was designed in the 1950s as being more versatile than the combination of alb and amice worn over a cassock. The cassock-alb is an extremely useful vestment because it may be worn, not only by clergy - priests and deacons - but also by acolytes, and other altar persons as well as by the choir. This is a 'double breasted' vestment - both fronts cross over to attach at the opposite shoulder - to give an easy, graceful fit. The shoulders are pleated which gives the garment a simple, linear appearance. It may be worn with or without cincture and may have a clergy collar or a hood. Having a set of graded patterns enables a parish to construct these vestments from quality fabrics at minimum cost.  This set contains patterns in four sizes: medium child, small and medium adult and extra-large adult.  This group of sizes is intended to be the basis for an entire suite of graded patterns. The instructions also include a simple method for altering the patterns to attractively accommodate fuller figures.

(I would note, however, that, if you intend to construct only one cassock-alb, you’d be better off getting Beryl Dean’s book Church Needlework from the library and using her gridded pattern.)

Surplice Pattern @ $15

A surplice is an essential piece of clerical apparel, not difficult to make – and quite expensive to purchase ready-made. This is a good, simple, full-size pattern taken from Lilla Weston’s excellent book of patterns. The size is medium. The yoke is round. ( I hope to have a pattern for the square yoke surplice soon.) For those of you who do smocking, I have seen surplices with two inches of smocking done below the yoke. I’ve always thought that this simple decoration was very effective and graceful. While I would prefer to see the smocking done in white, colors may be appropriate.

Vestments

Vestment makers face two problems relating to fabric:
• Finding the correct fabric in the correct color
• Finding the correct fabric in the correct color at a price we are able to pay

It is my intent to help you with these problems by:
• Offering a substantial selection of fabrics in our liturgical colors in all price ranges
• Providing a comprehensive set of instruction booklets covering each type of vestment.
• Offering all design and construction support through email, by phone and through workshops.
• Establishing a remnant exchange that allows poorer parishes to decorate their vestments with orphreys of expensive fabrics and enables all of us to decorate a stole without the necessity of purchasing a large piece of expensive fabric.

My intent, for myself, is to continue a ministry through which I have witnessed to Christ and His church. This ministry has given me great satisfaction for many years. You're not working so much with a businesswoman as you are a Christian who has enjoyed making vestments and has really enjoyed teaching other people to enjoy it, too.

Fabric Types

I am offering several types of vestment fabrics and I define them by their prices. The first group runs $12/yard. The second group runs between $15 and $20/yard. The third group runs from about $35/yard to about $190/yard. These are all fabrics that I have used over the years; they’re good friends. Each of them does an excellent job and offers both quality and versatility.

Fabrics for around $12/yard: These fabrics are 100% polyester and come 58 inches wide – a lot of fabric for your dollar! They are wrinkle free – which is a big plus!  The colors are: Dark green, lighter green, Roman purple (the liturgical red-purple), indigo (the liturgical blue-purple), red, white, off-white and rose.

Black Poly/Wool - This is a recent addition; a light but substantial, poly/wool fabric that does not wrinkle and drapes nicely. I recommend using this fabric to construct cassocks. (See my Cassock-Alb Master Pattern) 

When constructed of black fabric, the cassock-alb becomes what is known as an 'Anglican Cassock'. The Anglican Cassock is the equivalent of the Roman Cassock (the one with all the buttons down the front). 58 inches wide. $20/yard

Note: For those of you who want a pattern for the Roman Cassock, see Butterick's  pattern #6844.  Also see Vincent's patterns in The Cutter's Guide.

Fabrics for around $20/yard: These fabrics are Dupioni silk (sometimes known as ‘Shantung’ or ‘Thai’ silk). Dupioni silk is an excellent vestment fabric. It has a wonderful crisp body and a natural sheen that makes vestments glow. Dupioni is not a ‘smooth’ fabric; it always looks a bit wrinkly. On the other hand, it doesn’t hold wrinkles either. While I have often used Dupioni for all vestments, I especially like it for copes. It’s wonderful for copes! Dupioni comes in an amazing range of colors – which makes it applicable for contemporary designs.  Dupioni is also an outstanding stole fabric.  Because dupioni is often woven of two different color fabrics, if you cut the stole into pieces and turn the pieces 90, you'll get a lovely 'tone on tone' effect.  45" dupioni - $15/yard.  54" dupioni - $20/yard.

Fabrics for between about $30 to about $190/yard: This group of fabrics includes the ecclesiastical damasks, brocades and tapestries. (A damask fabric is all one color with the pattern woven into it. A brocade is also one color but the pattern is emphasized with metallic threads. A tapestry is a multi-colored fabric.) We are so accustomed to seeing only a few of the many beautiful ecclesiastical patterns. There are so many more! I think you will enjoy seeing this collection. To see them, go to this link (http://www.churchlinens.com/vestment_fabrics.htm)

Note on color: Wonderful though the Internet is, it does not transmit colors accurately.  Please!  The pictures of my 'traditonal' fabrics are meant only to show you the patterns; NOT the colors!

If you are interested in this group of fabrics, please email me and request my 'Online Fabric Catalogue'. I'll email it to you.  You can print it out and compare the information to the photographs at your leisure. The reason I do it this way is it's just too much information to put on a website.  Please, when you email me, give me some information about your project: Which vestments you will be constructing, the color and your price range. 

Samples

I am happy to send samples. However! As you can imagine, providing samples can become an expensive undertaking. Because of this, I do request a sample deposit. When you return my samples to me, I will refund your sample deposit to you.

Instruction Pamphlets and Patterns:

• Cathedral Surplice Pattern (round yoke) - $15

• Constructing Pulpit Falls (A Primer for Constructing Frontals and
  Super-Frontals) - $8

• Altering Ready-Made Shirts To Fit A Clergy Collar - $8

• Constructing Frontals and Super-Frontals (This book is still in the 'not yet')

Stole Kits

I offer stole kits in a much wider variety than indicated here or on the order form. Each stole kit contains a pattern for EITHER a priest's stole (rounded neck shape) OR a deacon's stole (the New Deaacon's Stole or the boring old pointed neck shape that requires miters).  Please remember to tell me which you want. The kit also includes my booklet 'Constructing Stoles' (it's not necessary to order this booklet separately - it's included!)  The kit includes all materials necessary to complete the stole.  Fringes or tassels may be added. The materials for orphreys and/or ready-made appliqués may also be added. Please email me for more information about embellishing your stoles.

Children Of The World Stole Kit @ $40. This is one of my 'teaching kits'. Stoles are fun to make. Stoles look easy to make - but, they're a bit picky. Working your first stole from a kit is a good idea. This kit shows you an entirely different way of making stoles than you will find anywhere else. Additionally, the instructions show you how to go on to make any style of stole - and , stoles come in many, many styles. The fabric is 'The Children Of The World' tapestry. If you prefer, I can make up this same kit in either the polyester fabric ($35) or silk ($40) in any of the liturgical colors - Red, White, Green or Purple. Please be sure to tell me whether you want the priest's pattern or the deacon's pattern. Email me and request more information on this kit. I will include photographs. obunny@hvwisp.net

Stole Sets: One of each of all four colors - Your choice of priest's or deacon's pattern. Polyester @ 130. Silk @ 150.

Note: During the time that I was blessed to serve as the Diocesan Altar Guild Directress for the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, we were asked to take on the project of providing a set of stoles for every newly ordained Deacon. The stole sets were given as a gift of the Diocese. The stoles we made were secured at the hip with a handsome ecclesiastical pin that we purchased from museum stores. These pins were given by family or friends or by the parish. These sets of stoles became an ongoing project. At all times, there were women throughout the diocese working on these stoles. Not too long ago I was speaking to one of our Deacons who explained to me how she had received her lovely stole, how much she appreciated it and how much it meant to her that her Diocese would give her such a lovely gift. She had no idea that I had had anything to do with the project – which made me chuckle! This is a graceful project and I recommend it to your diocese.

Ely Crown Damask Stoles @ $60. Available in the liturgical colors - Red, White, Green, Purple with either a priest's or a deacon's pattern. Ely Crown is a lovely, traditional small damask pattern appropriate for stoles. This kit includes fringe and materials for tapestry orphreys. This makes a handsome traditional stole. I recommend that you work my Children of the World kit before embarking upon this project.

Lectures, Seminars, Retreats and Workshops

I do not charge for the workshops I give.  How could I charge for something that gives me such pleasure??) I do require that my expenses be paid. I am flexible as to topics – we can work this out to suit your goals. I can teach as a skilled Altar Guild member. I can teach linen construction. I can teach vestment construction.

Note: I have a two-day workshop coming up April 23rd and 24th in Greenwood, South Carolina.  Please contact me if you might be able to join us.  I’m sure you would be welcome.