Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Go to Page: 1 of 32 of 33 of 3

Seeking a pattern for academic robes Costumer looking for doctoral and graduation robe pattern
Tiger B   Intermediate WI USA Member since 10/1/04 Posts: 202	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/11/07 6:36 PM I need to sew a doctoral robe, complete with hood, and also a graduation robe for a fancy dress event. So far all I've found is choir robe patterns. These are okay... but it might be nice to look at an actual academic robe pattern. Any thoughts on where to find one?
ElsaD   Intermediate AB CANADA Member since 1/7/06 Posts: 179	Login to reply to this post In reply to Tiger B Like this post Date: 10/11/07 7:43 PM Some Protestant ministers use academic gowns when they do worship services i.e. Presbyterian, United Methodist, United Church of Christ, etc. Some may also have been given a hood when they graduated. I'd let you look at mine, if I lived closer -- although the one I had was actually designed from a choir robe. ------ ElsaD
Sophiecat Intermediate OR USA Member since 1/27/06 Posts: 827	Login to reply to this post In reply to Tiger B Like this post Date: 10/11/07 9:47 PM HI Tiger B, Out of curiosity, I googled "academic gowns" with this result: academic gowns While I did not open the multitude of sites, I'm sure there will be photos on most of them. You might look at English sites, since they are much more into using academic gowns that Americans are. Good hunting! Regards, Sophiecat ------ Well-behaved women rarely make history. Laurel Ulrich
Nikki   Advanced MD USA Member since 4/8/02 Posts: 2427	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/11/07 11:14 PM The short answer is that there aren't any patterns. The real things cost hundreds of dollars even for the polyester versions - maybe the robe companies enjoy their monopoly. Do you know a professor who might let you borrow theirs to look at? ------ mmmmm woooool
Aless Advanced AUSTRALIA Member since 11/29/02 Posts: 2084	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/12/07 4:35 AM I found out why they cost so much when I checked my childrens' (hired) gowns.....The work involved was mind blowing.All that tight pleating! ------ Aless(Adelaide,South Australia) You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.- Colette
Tom P   Intermediate NY USA Member since 3/16/07 Posts: 887	Login to reply to this post In reply to Tiger B Like this post Date: 10/12/07 9:47 AM I'm a college professor and Ph.D from the University of Washington. My robe looks very much like view A of Butterick 3820. The cuff has 3 non-working buttons. In addition, there are three velvet stripes across the forearme of each sleeve, and full length velvet trim on either side of the opening. Without having it in front of me, I can't say any more. Regarding the hood, it's a pretty simple design. Again, I can't say more without it in front of me, except that it can probably be constructed from just 4 pieces (more to piece the school colors on the inside). At my commencement, where I got my degree, all the doctoral candidates sat together and got our degrees together. Any variation in the robe would have stuck out like a sore thumb. I wouldn't suggest anyone wear a custom robe to their own commencement (don't know if that's the case here). I also wear my robe at commencements at my current university. At those events, noone else has a UW robe, so it's absolutely fine. The hoods aren't even a standard shape. Finally, I believe commencement robes of the type you're talking about can be purchased in NYC's garment district. The number I heard for a black undergraduate/master's robe was $40. It might be worth trying to find a distributor if black would be ok for the robe (they also come in the school colors). Tom
ElsaD   Intermediate AB CANADA Member since 1/7/06 Posts: 179	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/12/07 11:21 AM Hey, that sounds like really good advice, Tom. Didn't know that the doctoral gowns varied from University to University. I was just going to add about the velvet on the sleeves for doctoral gowns and am glad you included that also. ------ ElsaD
Tom P   Intermediate NY USA Member since 3/16/07 Posts: 887	Login to reply to this post In reply to ElsaD Like this post Date: 10/12/07 11:29 AM It's ok to wear black with a hood in your school colors, but every university also has a version in its colors. Mine has a purple velvet tam instead of the mortarboard!
Tiger B   Intermediate WI USA Member since 10/1/04 Posts: 202	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/12/07 12:09 PM Thanks very much, everybody. Particularly for the doctoral robe info, Tom! The doctoral robe with the velvet bars is for a friend who is a PhD who also officiates at weddings. So his will be basic black. The graduation gown, however, is specifically for a fancy dress party, and the wearer has requested "sequins or a holographic print or something crazy like that" -- so she is not concerned about not blending in. :-D
nosila Advanced Beginner PA USA Member since 1/19/06 Posts: 22	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/24/08 11:17 AM I am working with the Butterick pattern, but adjusting it extensively to make my own doctoral robes. So far it's going pretty smoothly. This is a good base pattern. You can view my progress with this project at: http://sewingtodistraction.blogspot.com Good luck!

Go to Page: 1 of 32 of 33 of 3

Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Printable Version

* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.