Books & Kits for Church Robe Patterns and
Sewing Patterns for Clergy Vestments

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Sewing Church Linens by Elizabeth Morgan
This is the second edition of the book I wrote in 1992. In it I present what is called 'convent hemming', a simple and efficient stitching metod that gives us the small stitches we all value. I give instructions for making mitered corners and also a way to trim squared corners so they are slimmer and easier to care for.  I also discuss embroidery techniques to help beginners achieve handsome results. The cost is $14.50.

COPIES OF HISTORIC LITURGICAL DOCUMENTS

The following books are of particular interest to sewers.  They were all written between the mid-1800s and 1925 - they're contemporary to each other.  I'm delighted to be able to offer this collection.  These copies come to you loose - not bound.  You may want to keep the patterns loose for ease of use and put others in a notebook.

Embroidery Pattern Catalogue
Some years ago this great treasure fell into my hands: a turn-of-the-century British catalogue containing thousands of ecclesiastical embroidery patterns suitable for gold-work embroidery, silk embroidery and embroidery done on linens. The designs that ornament my book, Sewing Church Linens, were taken from this catalogue.

I thought this wonderful collection would be of interest only to sewers. Not so! Parish secretaries use the patterns for clip art in bulletins and newsletters. 150 pages. The cost is $16.

The Girls: Lucy, Lilla, Hinda and Maud   Like the Embroidery Pattern Catalogue, these books are a treasure that will add depth to your sewing library.  Lilla's book, published in 1914, mentions the Embroidery Pattern Catalogue as being an 'excellent resource'.  ‘Lucy’ is Lucy Hayden MacKrille, first Directress of our National Cathedral Altar Guild. Her beautifu work is still displayed at the Cathedral.  ‘Lilla’ is Lilla B. N. Weston.  ‘Hinda’ is Hinda Hands.  And 'Maud' is Maud R. Hall. These four women wrote during the early years of the last century on the topics of constructing ecclesiastical linens and vestments.  Their books contain a tremendous wealth of information, patterns, measurements and marvelous photographs and are also a charming insight into their time period.  I was given these four books early on in my ministry.  Whenever I took on a new project, my first thought was always, “Well, I wonder what The Girls have to say about this.” And I’d get their books and go sit in a sunny chair and read.  They always gave me good advice and information.  As well, each of them does things a bit differently – which is interesting.  Their books are long out of print and not enough people know about them.  These books have been such a valuable part of my ministry that I have copied them completely and offer them to you either individually for $12 each or as a set of four for $40.  About 100 pages in each book.

The Cutters' Practical Guide To Cutting And Making Tailor-Made Garments - Clerical Dress and Robes, Gowns, Surplices, Hoods, Vestments, Etc.  By W.D.F. Vincent

Yes.  That's the title!  Mr. Vincent (who went simply by the name 'Vincent') was a British tailor who published quite a number of pattern books during the 1890s.  At this time, one could not run down to the local fabric store and purchase an envelope of patterns - Simplicity, Vogue and Butterick didn't exist.  This meant that sharing patterns was difficult - if not impossible.  Vincent became quite famous because he developed a 'system' for reducing patterns to a single page in such a way that anyone competent with a ruler and square could re-draw the patterns full size. Using Vincent's system, I could send a new dress pattern to my sister in Denver via Pony Express.  The patterns in Lilla Weston's book utilize Vincent's 'system'.  The surplice pattern I offer was taken from this book.  Not only are the patterns of great interest, Vincent is a very funny man.  His sections on 'corpulent clergy' are delightful.  His experiences as a tailor living in that period are fascinating.  68 pages.  $12

Ecclesiastical Crochet Lace Patterns
A nice collection of very traditional old ecclesiastical patterns. The cost is $5.00.

Instruction Booklets and Patterns

This section contains a group of booklets I have written myself.  I've drawn this information from 30 years of my own experience and - equally important - from the input of students, friends and customers who have kindly given me their own good ideas.  I try very hard to write for the beginner I once was.  (I remember clearly trying to learn from books written by experts who had forgotten what it's like to be a beginner!)  In the process of learning, I made every mistake possible - at least once!  I want to save you from this!

- Constructing Chasubles and Dalmatics - With Notes Concerning Vestments For Hot Climates - $14

- Chasuble Master Pattern - $15

- Dalmatic Master Pattern - $15

- Constructing Stoles - $14  A note here: When a person is thinking about learning to construct vestments, they very often decide to try a stole first because stoles are small and look easy.  This is a mistake.  After struggling with their first stole, many people never try vestment making again.  This is too bad because all you need is to be given the 'tricks of the trade'.  While stoles are not difficult to make, they are picky and tricky.  Your first stole will be a bit of an 'experience'!  However, after you've worked your way through the first one, you'll hold it in your hands and say to yourself: "Ah.  Yes. Now I understand."  And then you'll go right on and make lots of stoles - and have a good time doing it.  I recommend that you purchase one of my teaching stole kits - which includes this booklet, a pattern and all materials. 

- Priest's Stole Pattern - $10

- The 'New' Deacon's Stole Pattern - $10

- Constructing Copes - with pattern for a shaped-shoulder cope - $30  An unfortunate characteristic of copes is that they are not stable on the shoulders - they shift and get crooked.  The slight shoulder shaping in this pattern changes all of that!  This is a five-piece pattern that allows you to adjust the fullness of the cope from very spare to very full. 

- Cathedral Surplice Pattern (round yoke) - $15

- Constructing Pulpit Falls (a primer for constructing frontals) - $8

- Cassock-Alb Master Patterns (email me for a picture) - $40

- Altering Ready-Made Shirts To Fit A Clergy Collar - $8  The selection of clergy shirts available from catalogues leaves a great deal to be desired.  These instructions tell you how to remove the existing collar and recut it so that the shirt or blouse will take a clergy collar - vastly increasing the number of blouse and shirt styles for our clergy.