Rev. Cheryl L. Miner20 Simple and Elegant Vestment Patterns: With Complete Instructions for Pattern Making, Sewing, and Professional Finishing

Don't be put off by having to do a little drawing of your own to make the patterns to use. It's easy.She is very complete and it was well worth my $$$ spent for this book.Small congregations that have a need for new vestments and a limited budget, this is for you. The average sewer that can complete a commercial pattern can do this. If someone has one of the fancy embroidering machines, you can save thousands by doing it yourself... this book will help you do it.If you're really nervous get a few old thrift store sheets and try the pattern that way, but you shouldn't need to.Out of several books that will come up under search or recommendation, this is the one for your $, look no further.Update 6 May 2015After having made a lot of these items, I will add these comments.*No it isn't enlarge or tape together and use patterns. You will have to draw/draft some of your own. It's not difficult to do this. As I said, if you are an accomplished enough sewer to be able to sew up a commercially bought pattern, you can and will be able to make these patterns then sew them.*a lot of clerical garments are based on or descended from medieval style clothing. A lot of that was actually quite simple in construction. An Alb can be quite simple or quite complex. This book has for a fairly simple one. It can still be quite elegant depending on the fabric or fabrics used and how you finish it off and embellish it.*I recommended the old sheets trial, if you are at all not used to sewing things, make your pattern and try it with some old rummage sale or thrift store sheets... in fancier circles it's 'cutting a muslin for fitting'. Muslin is an inexpensive cotton cloth, and used sometimes as the 'dry run' garment to check fit, make alterations, and otherwise sort your pattern before sacrificing the expensive fabric.*prewash fabric if it won't be 'dryclean forever'. That will save you grief and a lot of work. Some stuff does shrink and shrink strangely even if it's said to be 'sanforized'. Also in case the dye isn't colorfast as it should be, washing it separately first will get that sorted.*buy more fabric than you think you need. You may never see that stuff again, they may run out, quit making it, etc. And it can cover you finding a strange issue with shrinkage.*This isn't a first time you ever sewed book of instructions. Sew a few Simplicity patterns first and not the 2 hour wonders or the 'patterns for dummies', if you need to build skills.*no there aren't color pictures. I found the ones in there to be just fine.*yes there's some repeats in the finishing steps. Still.Overall this book has still been worth my $ many times over. I recently sewed up a few quilted stoles from a pattern in here, and they turned out beautifully. Two days and $40 to make four, versus $400 each, order and they show up in a few weeks. (First I made the quilted fabric, then quilted it to the backing, and used the pattern from the book to get the shape of the garment from the fabric I produced. The book just provided the pattern for the fabric after I created it--and yes I sacrificed an old sheet to fit the pattern before I cut the quilted sandwich)

A Great Book with plans for Vestments. though be aware beforehand while titled as being Simple patterns, these are patterns for those who are experienced with sewing outfits and costumes. Luckily I have a friend who likes to make her own clothes and costumes to help me out. If you are a Pastor/Minister/Reverend/Priest/Vicar/etc... and you are looking at new Vestments and want to try and save your church some money making your own or working with your a member of your congregation to sew them will save you and your church money, in addition to giving the Vestments more personal value then purchasing them from a retailer.This also is a great book if you are looking to give your Pastor/Minister/Reverend/Priest/Vicar/etc... a gift with meaning. Use the patterns and instructions within the book to make them a beautiful new stole.This is also a good book if you are looking at plan for plan for a costume such as a Monks Alb (Habit) for a Play/Halloween/Ren Fest/Party/etc...I primarily ordered this book for the plan to make me a couple of Stoles for use when officiating Weddings, Funerals,Baptisms and other services. I am planning on also making a couple Hooded Albs (one will be for a Monk/Friars costume for when I go to the local Ren Fest) and a Chasuble (with some ornate decorations, I do have the plans for a Bishop's Mitre that I got from a fellow Minister, that I plan on making to match the Chasuble, also for use at the Local Ren Fest next year as I have been asked to Officiate a Wedding there). I am also hoping with the help of a friend who make her own costumes to make a couple extra stoles to give as gifts to some of my fellow ministers with the church I am ordained with.You can, if you go to www.VestmentPatterns.com , order the patterns individually (they come with both the instructions for the pattern and the patterns themselves that are printed on a durable material, and not paper like most fabric patterns), though some of the individual patterns that are included in this book cost more if you order just the pattern.Again this is a great book if you are looking at getting new Vestments and trying to save some money, and you also want something that will have more meaning then buying from a retailer, looking for a gift idea for a member of your clergy, or even a costume idea. I definitely recommend a copy of this book for those Clergy members, or for their churches to have if they use any of these Vestments.

This is a pamphlet turned into a book. I admire the author’s intention of enabling people to make the vestments for their churches, as buying them ready made is astoundingly expensive.The “C” button on her computer must be all but worn away given the number of repeated phrases in the book, and it’s almost entirely stoles, one of the easiest things to make. Two lengths of fabric stitched together, kaboom.I was hoping for more on chasibles and maybe a cope? Oh well. Still, the thought is there... you do NOT have to spend $100 on a stole.

Many instructions on making different articles of worship. Just basic construction. You complete as you choose. Very informative.

Great book - but it might be better to look through it first if you are in to seriously advanced stuff

This book delivers what it promises- simple patterns for various church vestments, including quite a few variations on stoles. This book's great for anyone who needs to produce vestments on a budget. Now, it helps to have some knowledge of sewing beforehand, but the instructions are pretty well laid out for each project. They are one size fits all, so individuals taller or shorter than the norm will need to adjust the lengths given, so that the garments hang right and have the right proportions. The alb pattern given here is for a basic t-tunic style of robe, if you want the style with the front overlap, you will have to look elsewhere. But it's got that lovely rolled collar I've seen on various vestments and not been able to figure out how to reproduce.On another note, this book isn't just good for church use- anyone needing clerical garb patterns, such as theater costumers or even cosplayers can benefit from these instructions as well!

Good information.

dozens of identical stole-Patterns, but only one true casule and one alb - that ist not, what you need for the full vestments of a clergy-personpattern-sketches not in measure, thence many adjustments needed

This is a great book with simple but thorough instructions. Information about virtually every vestment a church will ever need. Very pleased.