SC - sour cherry soup

[Nisha Martin]

KINSALE CLOAK  (sort of)

Get some heavyish fabric., about 2 -  2 1/2  yds

You will be using the fabric like a shawl, sort of, that is, salvage end up 
around your shoulders.  The length of the fabric will go around you.
 
Do you need to shorten the length of the cloak?  That is, one salvage will be 
around your soulders.  Will the other salvage be dragging on the ground?  If 
so, fold up the salvage to make up the required length that you will need and 
hem it with a running stitch.

Cut out a collar- yoke.  Do you have a pattern that has a yoke that fits you? 
 If so, use that to  cut out the yolk for this pattern.

Make a basting (running) stitch along the top salvage of your cloak fabric.  
Gather the fabric into the bottom hem of the yolk until all the cloak fabric 
is fitting into the yoke.  Then sew it down with another row of smaller 
stitches.

Do you want a hood? If so, cut 4 "D" shapes of fabric that are both the same 
size.  The "D" should be 1 and 1/2 times taller then the measurement from 
shoulder to top of your head. (measure straight up - use a yard stick.  How 
many inches is it from the top of your shoulder to the top of your head.  
Then add half as many inches again to make up the total measurement for how 
"tall" you hood must be.

Sew the hood along the curve of the "D", leaving the staight side untouched. 
And the bottom part of the curve untouched.  (The bottom part if the "D" gets 
sewn onto the yoke.) Do this for each set of 2 "D" shapes so that you have an 
inside hood and an outside hood.

Put the two "D"s  wrong side together and sew the straight part of the "D"  
(this is the part that will frame your face)

Sew the hood edge (bottom of the "D") to the neck edge, (use only one side of 
the hood.  The other will be flipped over later.) right sides together.  Turn 
the hood inside and stitch the other  (inside hood)  to the inside of the 
neck.

Add a large hook and eye and / or strings to tie the neck of the cloak 
together.  and Viola'.
OR........

Just get a yard and a half of fabric and use it as a big shawl.

good luck 
Phillipa
PS... please feel free to contact me again for more directions etc.  Hope I 
was clear.