Ravenclaw Harry Potter Robe with Cuddle Suede

Polly here from the Pieces by Polly blog. There are few things that our family loves more than reading and Harry Potter, so I'm here to share our newest Ravenclaw Robe made with Cuddle® Suede.

One of the biggest differences between cheap chain-store costumes and costumes that look and feel real is the fabrics. Good quality fabrics will stand the test of time and add a professional touch to costumes, whether for Halloween or Cosplay or wearing to Comic Con.

Cuddle® Suede has the perfect weight and texture to add authenticity to Harry Potter or other wizard or fantasy themed robes. And adults and children alike will love the smooth soft feel of it.

I used Cuddle® Suede Black for the outer robe and lined the hood and sleeves with Cuddle® Suede Navy for the perfect Ravenclaw look.

I've made several simple robes without a pattern, but I wanted this one to have a more professional drape, so I used the Simplicity Pattern #1582 Misses, Men and Teen Costumes. We used the Hooded Robe B option. My daughter is on the extra small side, so I did shorten the robe and sleeves just a bit, but it was a really excellent pattern to use. The pattern itself didn't call for lined sleeves or hood, but we just cut those pieces out from both the black and navy Cuddle® Suede. I actually think the lining made the robe easier to make since it saved the work of hemming. To add lining to the sleeves, you sew the lining sleeves according to the same directions as the other sleeves. Then sew them together at the hem-line with RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER. Then turn right side out. Top-stitch along the hem and follow the pattern directions to attach the sleeve to the robe as if the lining and the outer sleeve were one piece.

The hood was sewn together at the seam line. Then I sewed the outer hood piece to the robe according to the pattern directions. Then I hand stitched the inner lining over the hood-neck seam.

For the lining in the front around the robe opening, I used the robe pattern pieces and cut strips to match the pattern for just the first 6 inches. That gives the color without lining the entire robe (which could make for a nice look, but I thought might be too heavy for such a small child.)

It makes the perfect protection from the ground for summer reading, and will be warm and snug in the fall and winter when it's chilly.

And Cuddle® Suede makes great Harry Potter themed skirts too. Check out our Wand Skirt with Cuddle® Suede here.

To find shops that carry Cuddle® Suede from Shannon Fabrics, check out the Shannon Fabrics Store Locator. A few shops that carry a wide selection of Shannon Fabrics online are: Fabric.com, Fat Quarter Shop, theminkyboutique.com and Missouri Star Quilt Co.

This project is part of the Happy Harry Potter Celebration at Rae Gun Ramblings....which always has an amazing Harry Potter giveaway every year...and better yet, this year it includes one of my quilts.