How to Make Irish Garb
- 1). Make the leine. You will need a circle of fabric two yards in diameter. Find the center of the circle and cut a straight line from the edge of the circle to that point. Hem all edges, using a 1/2-inch hem allowance.
- 2). Lay the fabric over your shoulders so the center of the circle is at the nape of your neck. Adjust the fabric so that it feels comfortable, with enough of the fabric in front so that it can overlap. To determine where the arm holes will be, locate the area where it feels natural for your hand to come through the fabric. Mark this area with a pin, one for each hand.
- 3). Cut an opening large enough for your hand to easily come through. Hem this opening. Then use pins to make a sleeve of sorts. Pin along the forearm from the wrist, where your hand is through the opening, to halfway to your elbow. Sew a seam along this pin line on the inside of the fabric. The sleeve needs to be tight enough to stay on, but not so tight that you can't use your arms. To wear the leine, put your hands though the openings and wrap the edges around the front. Hold this together with the wide leather belt. Adjust the fabric until you can move freely.
- 4). Make the mantle. Choose a fabric that suits the season. For cold weather, make a mantle out of wool. If it is warmer, choose a light- to medium-weight linen or cotton. Lay a piece of fabric three yards long on a flat work surface. The top edge of the mantle is straight across, while the bottom edge is arced. You can either eyeball the arc and cut it, or use a marker to draw a cutting line. Most wool and linen fabric is sold at a standard 54-inch width, which is fine for making a mantle.
- 5). Hem all the edges of the mantle. To wear it, the top edge is laid across the shoulders. Bring one of the sides up and pin it to the opposite shoulder. Excess material can drape in front or on the back as desired.
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