Middle Earth Ranger Forum

Here's the pattern of a watch cloak I'm working on.

It's inspired by the Bocksten Cloak but has the darts rotated and doubled to fit both shoulders. The size is typical army blanket 60" x 72", and makes a short (mid-thigh) length cloak.

There's more to it, I am adding some internal hooks and adding some bits to make it more serviceable. More discussion and pictures to come.

Interesting - clasped somehow in front? Or just sewn straight up, and pulled over the head?

This is a great idea, I look forward to seeing it finished. Out of all cloak designs have encountered II like the Bocksten the most.

Not finished, but it's been to long since I teased this to not provide an update.

So this comes from my musings on how to make the Bocksten cloak serviceable as a front opening cloak. By pushing the neck hole further back and making the front overlap I solved the choking issues. It is necessarily much shorter because of that, but it works well as a cold weather watch cloak. the weight is further distributed by the Capuchin style hook & eye going all the way back to the shoulder dart seams.

Here are some progress shots:

The first pic shows a drawing of the Capuchin Friar's cloak that inspired the closure, followed by how the double dart, front overlap, and hood is supposed to work. The next two are some photos trying to make sure the hood sits right.

That is looking fantastic. Love it!

Oh goodness - that is coming along well!

I ended up going down a very similar road with my original cloak modeled off your drawing in ages past, overlapping the front rather than fastening it straight down the center.
Thanks for the inspiration.

is that boiled wool with a linen lining? it's looking great, btw. I might have to make something similar for the kansas winters.