sewingoflove

My computer is fixed! Horray!!

 Anyway, right down to it! Making Harley’s cowl is a bit of a trial-and-error approach for me. You might want to have a friend with you to help your measurements. Remember that for this technique to work, you MUST use stretch fabric. If you do not have stretch fabric, you’ll have to be a WHOLE lot more careful on your measurements and placements, and will have to install a zipper on the back seam of the cowl. My pattern is designed to be pulled over the top of your head. Oftentimes, I pull mine on and let the ear thingies dangle in front of my chest while I do my makeup. Then I spin it around and pull it up over my hair, which is in two buns right underneath the ear bits. As always, right click and choose “View Image” to see the pictures bigger

 I started by taping together four pieces of paper to be around the size of my head. Half the head anyway. I measured from the center of the head down the side to approximately where the opening for the face ends, and drew a line that length down the middle of my paper. Try to tape (or hold) this measuring tape in place on your head. I called this Line 1 on my diagram. Make a note as to where this line ends. Add on two or three inches for the neck piece. Using a second tape, measure several times from the middle of the back of your head to the measuring tape and draw these lines on your paper in accordance to the first measurement. You’ll end up with a shape that looks like half a face, with a pointed back. Go ahead and use this, cuz you’ll cut the point off when you fit it on your head. Measure the circumference of your neck, and draw this piece on the bottom. Remember to measure and note carefully the distance from the front of the line (your stabilized measuring tape) and what is behind it. You can see what the shape should resemble in the picture to the side. Right click to view it bigger. Add your seam allowances.  When you cut the right angle from the head meeting the neck, make sure you cut an additional Cut this pattern out and hold it up to your head, and have your friend note where the “ear” pieces come off. Approximate a circle there, about two inches in diameter. Cut the circle out, but keep half the circle in good condition.

Go back to your measuring tape, and, keeping the harlequin mask in mind, measure halfway across your forehead (Line 2), and the length from the beginning of the first measuring tape to the measurement you made across your forehead (2b). Draw these measurements out. It will be a quarter-circle shape. Add seam allowances and cut the pattern.

Using the circle that you kept from cutting out of the main cowl piece, trace it onto your paper and draw out how you want your ear tails to look. Make sure you add seam allowance. You’re using the circle to make sure the tails will fit the cowl properly when you get there. Think of looking at it in profile view.  You’re going to cut two of each color of this piece, so you only have to make it look how you want it to from the front. The longer these are, the more “droopy” they’ll be.

 That’s it for the pattern! Tune in next post for construction and fitting woes Any questions? Leave me a comment!

 Happy stitching!

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