For you parents of small children/toddlers... is your child willing to stay in a cloak? I ask because we are going to ORF this saturday and the expected high is 70, but when the gates open it will be much, much chillier. I've got the materials to whip together a simple hooded cloak, but am wondering if it is really worth it. I don't know that he would keep it on, and may be better off just layering a thermal shirt under his ren shirt until it warms up. Also, if you do have a child who wears a cloak, do they wear the full circle cloak, half circle cloak, poncho style, or something tunic style with hands/arms free?
I have not put my children in cloaks before. But seeing that I have a problem just keeping them in regular jackets when it's colder, I just tend to add layers. Best of luck.
My nephews LOVED the cloaks I made them (the day they came it was in the 40s in the morning), so much that they wouldn't take them off even when it got into the 80s later that day. The youngest was 4 at the time, I think. But they were kids who loved costumes, dress-up, and make believe. My SIL had difficulty getting her youngest to wear real clothes sometimes. So obviously YMMV based on your DS's personality.
I just made super-easy polarfleece circle capes, no sew, with clasps at the neck. Here's a site (http://www.dltk-holidays.com/halloween/no_sew_warm_cloaks.htm) with good instructions.
Thanks for that link, Gem, thats even easier than what I was going to do! And seeing as I'm not sure how he will take to a cloak, the easiest & quickest route is probably the best to take ;) No fuss, so if he doesn't like it and refuses to wear it... I've not lost any real time/effort/expensive materials
Better still: if you use polar fleece or sweatshirt fleece (sweatshirt fleece is warmer, IMO), you won't have to hem it! You might want to stay stitch the neck, though, so it doesn't stretch out in wearing. A quick line of trim would do the trick, and look smashing, to boot. And if you used something narrow, like twill tape, it could do double-duty as the ties.
I don't have kids, but from my experience of being a child :), I would have LOVED to have a cloak. I could be a princess, or a super hero, or one of Robin Hood's men, or ...
I was always running around with a towel around my neck after swimming or a bath, pretending to be something or other.
Does the kid in question like super heros? If so, chances are he'll jump at the oportunity to wear a "cape" and pretend he's *insert favorite hero here* :)
No, he hasn't gotten into the super hero kick yet... right now its all cars and trains. He is only 2 (3 in Dec)
ETA: Oh, and Toy Story... but Buzz & Woody wouldn't be of help in the cloak/cape area, lol
Bummer, I thought that I had a picture to share. =( Anyway, my girls LOVE their capes! Both of my "big girls" use red capes that came with two of my "Sexy" Little Red Riding Hood costumes- but they are the perfect length for long capes for kids! (Of course the girls are only 2 and 4 so that helps with lenth!) =)
My daughter has gone through a few cloaks, all fleece. She's worn them to faires, or even to the local Starbucks. I've made half and 3/4 circle ones, both with and without hoods. The fleece is real easy to work with, just draw out a template and cut (especially with 60 inch fleece, you can do it in one peice easily). You can decorate, add trim, or add a hood as you like. Only real trouble with fleece is it doesn't do real well against wind. If you want a little extra warmth, its great, but if you want real warmth, or if its cold (not just cool) and windy, line it with something with a tight weave.
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c154/squisheez/Ren%20Faire/IMG_2996.jpg)
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c154/squisheez/Ren%20Faire/037.jpg)Amara was so proud of this one, she picked the fleece, the trim, and the clasp. She wore it most of this year's faire at Sonora. I felt a little aprehension when she casually walked into court, wearing bright purple, and started talking the everyone.
I've also got a picture somewhere with her modeling a poncho type 3/4 with arm slits that I made for another littel girl, but I can't seem to find it right now.
We really only have two faires we hit that can get cold (one in March, and one in the mountains) but I try to make sure she had a cloak for those even if its not needed. Now that my son is walkable at faires, he'll be getting his first one in the spring.
I put my 3 year old in a polar fleece pirate coat that I made him for halloween last year. Our opning weekend barely cleared the low 40's the whole weekend and he stayed nice and toasty.
For kids cloaks I have a simplicity pattern that I am going to try its number 5512. It looks brain dead easy.
I would use Buzz and Woody fleece to get him to wear it and cover it with a more faireish fabric
I think most kiddies would wonder at being given a cloak. I am trying to get my little cousin to faire and I can just remember her being 2-5 trying to use towels as cloaks and capes and what not.