I have a cloak that I found at the thrift for $8. It's full length for me and I'm 5'8. The entire back, hood, and edges are hand embroidered with flowers. It's one of my most prized possessions.
My son is autistic, and when he was 4 he refused to wear a coat because he hated long sleeves. So I bought a cloak for him off of Etsy. When we went out shopping, a guy complimented his cloak and said he hoped we start a trend and bring cloaks back. I hope this video starts the trend that we couldn’t 6 years ago!
My son is also autistic and wore a cloak (over a Spider-Man costume no less!) for about a year! He’s 20 now and I still have the little cloak he wore and it brings back fond memories every time I see it! Cloaks should definitely come back in fashion!
I ran into a woman with her grand-daughter (who must have been about 6-7) at our local grocery store - The lady stopped me and asked me if I like my cloak, and I told her it's my favorite thing to wear. She looked at her grand-daughter and said, "Honey, if you want to wear yours, wear it. Don't listen to anyone who says it's funny". I still haven't forgotten.
Hello, I am autistic and on days when I'm really struggling with coats having my cloak is a life saver! It's nice to see I'm not the only one who has struggled with coats. I hope you have a great day!
This makes me want a whole Whiskey Family now. "Whiskey young man" "Whiskey Son" "Whiskey Sister" (this last one being a pretty good name for a rock band.)
For over 15 years I was a 16th. cent. Highland Scots re-enactor...one of the first things I really loved about our clothing was our ability to "vanish" in nearly any setting short of extremely modern public parks. There's a few bushes? Bye. Reeds on the bank of the pond? Gone. Natural hillside with a few trees and dried grasses? The trick was learning how to take the tail of a pleated great kilt and pulling it up over our shoulders like a cloak...suddenly even "Technicolor" plaids allowed us to simply disappear like we were wearing modern military camouflage...even more so if we were rocking a plaid with already muted colors like greens and browns. Actually give me a simple grey cloak, a half-circle of wool made from two old military-style blankets? Even with a simple yarn collar and I could suddenly go from "invisibly" napping next to a tree or by a log to suddenly standing there like Ned Stark in a "Winter is Coming" meme.
That is *exactly* how my husband uses the cloak I made him! Although, sometimes he'll put it on, pull the hood around his face, and start saying stuff in a Sith voice about the Dark side of the Force... 🤣
Pro-tip to stop your cloak from weighing on your neck: attach long, heavy-duty strings where you fasten it, then cross those strings over your chest, bring the ends around under your arms and tie them behind your back. Puts all the weight on your chest and shoulders and keeps it in place. Also keeps it closed better. ;) This has been your Renn Fair Advice.
This is the method I used to keep my toddler’s prince cape in place when we went to Disney World. Cape 2.0 (now that he has outgrown the first one) will have me rigging up something that works the same way but fastens in front so he can get in and out of it himself. I know how I’m going to do it, but describing it with any semblance of brevity w/o pictures is escaping me this morning. 😅
When we were kids, my parents read us Lord of the Rings aloud at bedtime, and my little brother (maybe 6 or 7 when we started?) was OBSESSED with Gandalf, to the point that he begged my mom to make him a grey cloak for Halloween (but let's be honest he wore it instead of a sweatshirt or coat whenver he could get away with it). When we reached the climax of the Mines of Moria scene, he literally hid the cloak away in the bottom drawer of his dresser and went into mourning. When Gandalf got his New Look, my brother decided old school was still the best school and happily whipped the grey cloak back out and wore it alllllllll the tiiiiiiiime. TLDR: Cloaks are the best and my brother was adorable.
I used to have an obsession with Lord of the Rings and i remember my big sister teasing my big brother because i had gotten further than him- though honestly i’m surprised by that, usually i have the attention span of 8 seconds and sometimes in those books it just goes on and on and on
My mom read lotr to me as a bedtime story too growing up! She started from when I started speaking, which was pretty early on, so I don't actually remember it. She says I was obsessed with Legolas, which makes sense because I still am
@@TPNsBiggestFan I was labelled dyslexic in elementary school but I was reading Lord of the Rings at the age of 8. 🤪Gotta love public education. But I do remember a lot about descriptions of trees going on and on and on for pages. . . . I read every word. 😁
I worked for this elderly lady as a carer and one day she asks me to hand her the cloak and I was confused and laughed and I said you have a cloak? And she shuffled to her wardrobe and showed me this midnight blue cloak that she use to wear when she wore to dances when she was younger during the war and it made me want to bring it back into fashion.
Another factor nobody mentioned is the effect of the sewing machine. Pre-sewing-machine, most cultures had clothing that were made out of big simple shapes--rectangles and triangles, mostly--with as little sewing as possible because it's easier that way. A cloak requires a LOT less sewing than a coat; they're easier to make. But once you have sewing machines, the difference in labor and time costs to make the two garments is a lot smaller, so you don't have that factor keeping the cloak in play.
Considering the amount of needlework and intricacy in pre-sewing-machine garments I don't think they were afraid of needlework or time spent on making clothes. Also, wouldn't it be harder to make a cloak with the narrower fabric width used before machine-woven fabrics since you'd have more seams to make? Unless they made them of leather, but again... seams. And buttons have been a thing for a loooong time, that's how the form-fitted medieval garments usually opened.
I think it's the other way around, after the industrialization of weaving, the cost of fabric came down, and detailed tailoring was the new way to show wealth instead of extra fabric with maximum poof and fullness.
@@LadySnowfaerie generally: the poorer the person, the simpler the garments. of course rich people had the funds for many more hours of work than needed for a simple skirt/shirt/etc. also, even if the fabric was narrower, aren't straight seams less time-consuming bc they're more repetitive and you get into a flow?
AIUI there were a lot of incremental improvements all through the process from carding to spinning to weaving (and knitting, which is a surprisingly modern invention) to sewing throghout history. But one of the big ones was the spinning wheel, which reached Europe in the 13th century and worked roughly 10 times faster than the drop spindle. Shortly afterwards, we see increasingly fitted clothing.
Speaking as a history nerd, I can actually speak on why people stopped wearing cloaks. People used to just...not spend as much time outside in the winter. Yes, people used to have to do a LOT of work in a day. But a lot of time in the winter was spent in the house, and going outside was pretty much rushing into the barn, rushing to another house, or taking a wagon into town. But because we now have a lot more leisure time spent outside in the winter, as well as large cities that we live in and spend time in, we just have more need for our arms. And when cloaks were popular, those with arm holes were actually unpopular since they let in the cold. However, because we often have controlled heating nowadays, there's no real reason not to wear cloaks anymore. They're actually my preferred outside garment. I mostly wear a coat when I need to do shopping and don't want to open up a cloak and release my heat bubble.
I wonder if you could have flaps that close the arm holes once you tuck in your arms? That seems like it would be the best of both worlds. Plus you'd have like pauldrens of sorts when your arms are out.
There's something about voluminous garments that just loudly proclaim DRAMA! MYSTERY! INTRIGUE! ROMANCE! NOSTALGIA! (e.g. cloaks, mantles, great kilts and earasaids).
I made one for myself in college in 1974. It was the most money I had ever spent on a garment: wool and a thermal kind of silky lining fabric, and I loved that thing! I wore it for several years, loaned it to a friend for her winter wedding, kept it until my daughter grew up, and she now has it. She is a professional photographer and has used it for some photo shoots.
I didn't realize how good the clothing design and fabric was years back because their clothes were stylish, good quality and so nice and warm while now we have to wear ten different jackets, a scarf and mittens just to be decently warm.
Capitalism, despite all the resources we have our clothes are worse. We also heat (or cool) every building which is massively wasteful compared to appropriate clothes
@@spinecho609 that is so true, people would rather ruin the earth and gain money out of it then use the earth's resources sparingly and make a little less money.
Definitely some of that is the damned PLASTIC FABRICS that everything seems to be made of these days. Natural fabrics keep you cooler in summer and warmer in winter than anything polyester. They also last a whole lot longer and as far as I can see, are way way better for the environment. But then people wouldn't buy as many new cheap clothes. Ah capitalism. (Quick note to say that not all capitalism is bad but there are downsides, this being one of them)
@@thegracklepeck It is not ALL capitalism and plastics. There are synthetics that do just as well or better than natural fibers in durability, and arguably in thermal properties too... at just about twice the price haha. The problem is the bargain hunter who does not know their fabrics, you see two coats that look equally good and one is THREE times the price of the other, and you're shopping on your weekend and just want to get OUT and get HOME and you're not paid enough to spend $100 on a coat you can't tell is better anyway. These are all reasonable decisions if you're acting without knowledge. Additionally, cloaks have some downsides, like slow drying of you wear them in the rain compared to plastic fibers that can be waterproof and dry as fast as water evaporates. Additionally, there's regional variation. In cold climates high quality coats are still available and widely bought, though seen as a prestige item. In chicago for example you still see big, high quality wool greatcoats on occasion. I think the more important question though is "why, now that many consumers want coats, are they not available?" And the answer there is clearly fast fashion. Durable high quality garments cannot be produced at the turnarounds and prices demanded by the kind of person who buys off wish, or a discount store, who currently dominate the global view of what is fashionable. They do not allow for the kind of variation that allows a cheaply made product to be distinct.
In my country, capes where forbiden centuries ago because you could hide a knife or a sword under it and people where constantly killing each other. So the King banned them.
this reminds me of one year I was in NYC for Halloween, my costume included a nice flowing cloak and a sword hanging from my side. I went all over the city that night, and it wasn't until the wee hours of the morning until one of my friends noticed the sword. Nobody in authority did at all, which, honestly, was really good because though it was dull, I'm sure it was quite illegal too.
I'm showing this video to my boyfriend after he suddenly asked me "why cloaks aren't in fashion anymore? I would love one, but people would laugh at me", but here we have a community of cloak-lovers that shows him that not everybody would laugh ❤️
My sister has a super pretty cloak and we discovered that if I wear it with my wedding dress, I look like an elven princess. I still desperately want to do a photoshoot with it!
current goal: clear an area to sew a cloak in, and sew it by the time weather requires layers. to school ? yes, they deserve to see my cloak. the grocery store ? yes, the public needs to know. around the house ? yes, i will flare it around me while i play minecraft and it will be amazing.
It's not a Rachel Maksy video unless: a)Rachel shows her foot/feet/leg in the frame b) Frodo disrupts the progress by laying down on a pattern c) all of the above
Love how the cloaks turned out. I wish they make a comeback as they are the best option to wear with long dresses. Also, side note, the reveal footage was so well done, very good composition and image setting.
Not sure why 'we' have to wait for random others to 'trend 'anything .I prefer to be Rachel and make what I want and wear it wherever, whenever. Its really just being afraid of standing out from the crowd versus blending.....god forbid we should be our individual selves!
Basic needs: a hot soup on a rainy day Psychological needs: a group of friends to dramatically run towards an ancient castle while it's storming Self-fulfillment needs: a cloak for said dramatic run that flutters gently in the wind
Why did the bit where she was showing the cloak in the wild,... why'd that give off "young princess running away and becoming a nature witch" vibes.. it's beautiful honestly
@@RobinTheBot also i can see it kinda going against the whole “power of friendship” or whatever thing, with the princess being alone and all that. but in all honesty, i’d definitely watch it.
My oldest cat always specifically does this to black or very dark fabric because he is a black cat but for some reason the roots of his fur are white or lighter at least and you still see all these small little white dots.
As a writer I just wanted to say your channel is a god send, especially since I’m a guy who’s never know any term besides pants (the bottom part) and top or t shirt (the top one, pretty self explanatory). Now I can utterly confuse all my readers describing and detailing parts of clothes I didn’t know existed. *cackles in author*
i just completed a "night watch/john snow" inspired cloak for my husband. we used blackout curtians (lowered the cost of fabric) a faux fur mantle and some leather for a front buckle. $50 and a few hours and it came out wonderful. it was a massive undertaking for me and my machine as well.
Keep that attitude all your life, I am older than the average viewer, so I know, if you aren't living what the so-called gurus deem authentic, drop by drop YOUR LIFE LEAVES YOU, trust me, I am not a vampire either- oh that worked out well (the cape) See Quentin Crisp, Freda Cohelo, Vivienne Westwood...isn't Frodo adorable? I love Rachel's household ...Namaste, Z. Whatever you do keep some fantasy, I don't follow super heroes Rachel often points too BUT, no matter!
I feel like we don't wear them anymore because we use bags and backpacks to carry our stuff. Bring back pockets and cute carry baskets and cloaks will follow!!!
a cross body bag like a satchel or purse, or a belt bag will fit just fine under the average cloak cloak actually helps protect you from pickpocketing as well since it covers the Entire bag
Well for a while we brought back the fanny pack pockets that attach to your thighs which was...well no backpack, but it was some carrying space below a cloak. I think people see that making it look more nerdy when it ends up just being how to practically use both items.
I like those Longchamp Le Pliage bags, and they have a line with a crossbody strap. It's literally the only bag I'm willing to carry anymore. If you're on a budget you can usually find them second hand or in places like Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx. One of the reasons I love it is obviously, it's a crossbody. BUT!!!! The strap detaches so if you really need to you can take it off without taking off your cloak if you're wearing it under it. Sometimes I'll have it on over it and that's fine, but if it's raining, I'm someplace sketchy, etc. it's so easy to put it back under my cape. Bonus is it also has handles so it doesn't just drop to the ground when you unclip it. Definitely hold the handle when you take it off, like, just trust me on that...
The castle I clean for a living has a library, a ROUND library with a ladder I nearly always find pins on the floor. I suspect women force husbands to rent the place JUST so they can sew in there.
my grandmother used to make ALL of her clothes when my mum was a kid, and she had a full length white cloak that she would wear to special occasions. It is gone now, but I think she still has the pattern for it somewhere, one day in the far future, I'm going to ask if I can look through her attic.
I keep telling people we need to bring cloaks back. They give off such a range of vibes. Am i going to a secret cultic meeting? Am I a time traveler? Am I going on a whimsical adventure? Is it Tuesday and I am just cold? Could be any of those.
@@MartiasMuses I want that music. I want to hear the rest of it. ;w; I wish more youtubers would put the music they use in their descriptions, even if it's not necessary for legal reasons. Sometimes I just need to knooowww.
My current thought for clothes nowadays is "just wear it" lol. I've been wearing steampunk, victorian and more in public and it has been extremely fun and now I'm dipping into all sorts of other clothes and "odd" styles compared to our current modern clothing style. It's been fun and even with stares I get a bit of conversation with people asking about it. I didn't do any of it before outside of festivals and conventions until I met a man who was dressed steampunk at my gas station I talked with him about it for a bit and he wears steampunk 24/7, also had the coolest curly mustache. XD I looked him up on Facebook since he invited me to a steampunk group on Facebook and he even has a really cool decked out car that's steampunk themed. Since then I've just gone crazy with wearing whatever I want both modern and old.
We live in one of the wealthiest societies in history, with highly developed technology and global trade, and a reasonable degree of social acceptance… so why are people not wearing what makes them look fabulous? Why is everyone wearing faded jeans and branded t-shirts instead of whatever they can dream of?
I have the same mentality. I made a leather tricorn for a costume, and it turned out really good- good enough I decided to start wearing it instead of my baseball cap. I now wear it or a 4x stetson, and have been wearing carved leather arm guards for a while, as well as an Australian drover jacket made of leather (for when it rains). If it looks good, and doesn't hinder you doing things you want to do, why not wear it?
I was diagnosed with arthritis as a child. For years I've struggled in and out of coats because I just have a hard time with sleeves in general. Getting dressed is something I deal with, but winter time comes with so much dressing/undressing action for the coats depending on how active I am that sometimes I just become a lump because I don't want to deal with coats. A couple years ago, on a whim, I jokingly told my parents I wanted a cloak for Christmas. Well, they got me one. It's been the best thing ever for my arthritic shoulders. I highly recommend cloaks if someone's thinking about them and they have mobility problems as long as they can deal with the extra fabric flapping around them.
Maybe I’m just a little dumb, but I had no idea that kids could get arthritis. 😟 I am so so sorry you have to deal with that, that’s gotta be hard! 🤍🤍🤍💛💛💛 But I’m glad you found a way to make a joke about it; and it ended up being more than a joke! That must be a nice feeling to have! Plus you get to look like a badass worrier Princess/Prince/ Royal at all times and that is 👩🏽🍳😚
@@Drama4Dolls I don't know if kids can get the normal "wear and tear" kind of arthritis, but they can get Rheumatoid Arthritis and that's caused by the immune system. I got the luck of the draw at 10/11 years old and have been living with it for over 20 years now. People see my cloak and say it looks cozy. Plus, if I'm cold at my desk at work, I'm already walking around with an attachable blanket so I just give it a little swirl and get comfy. I've been thinking of making my own for a while just because I want to be able to pick out the fabric, so this video has given me ideas (and fabric yardage 😅).
This is such a great idea! I was diagnosed at age 5. I tend to wear tank tops under my coats because sleeves, but that can be chilly. I'm totally asking my husband for a cloak this year
@@maggiemccarthy8766 It's so nice being able to just put a cloak on and take it off without needing a wide radius to contort and wiggle my arms. I've been stuck in packed places with my jacket on before just sweltering because I can't get enough space to get the jacket sleeves off. I did have to figure out how I would work with the wind blowing the cape open (I just grab the edges and hold it shut as I walk) and I still need to put some interior pockets on the cloak to store gloves, but yeah, I say give it a try and see if it works for you.
@@LinguisticFanatic aww thank you for letting me know! And I’m sorry you you’ve had it for so long. Even if it’s not the exact same as older generations, still sad and must be hard. But heyyy, the cool thing is you have an attitude worthy blanket that you can smack peoples with if you feel the need to. 😂
I totally feel the "It hits different, historical fantasy vibe" of the cloak. I thrifted this grey trench coat that goes almost to the ground and when I walk, it swishes around me and makes me feel like a badass. Who doesn't love dramatic flare?
Dang it I just bought a wool bundle, I’ve never been more grateful for you mentioning casually where you got that because I was actually looking for a place to find cheap fabric literally as I was watching your video
One of my friends wears a cloak over her dress to every single school dance and it does just hit different. She never gets criticism for it or weird glances (that I see at least) and honestly, the group of us that gets ready together beforehand are just jealous that we don't have cloaks
I was a historical interpreter at a park for awhile and the cooler months were my favourite because I could wear my red wool cape, fingerless mitts and blue toque. It was the best and I think about that combo on the regular, 3 years later...
As a person who has been struggling with consiferable weight fluctuation for years, my 'one size fits all' cloak is a true blessing. No matter if I gain or lose weight, it still looks great and I don't need to spend money on another coat. At first, I was worried about the cold air issue as well, but if I pop on an extra layer (like an undergarment or an oversized sweater) and some long gloves, it works wonders. An additional clasp in the stomach area keeps the cloak in place when it's windy. Of course, some air still gets in but I actually find it beneficial - I walk a lot, and I tend to get a little sweaty in heavy, buttoned up coats, but it's not an issue with a cloak.
Rachel, from one floor troll to another you should look into some “tabletop scissors” (the name is misleading as you can also use them on the floor). The blades are bent so you can keep the fabric as flat as possible when cutting. They are immensely helpful when cutting large sections of fabric on the floor!
My sisters made two, one for herself, and one for our little brother. She plans to make one for everyone in the family (there’s 12 of us, but it’ll probably only be the 8 that still life at home.) my sisters also made herself a medieval dress for a medieval festival.
Lemme just say Rachel, that your content creator high from you in the brown cloak and green dress in the mist was completely deserved. You and your cinematography were utter perfection. Your red hair, the green dress, the brown cloak, and that mist! Seriously can't be beat 💖
Cloaks need to be brought back into fashion. Heck! I just got married and instead of a veil, my mom made me a bridal cloak with a hidden pocket! 2021 is the year of cloaks!
I had a cloak my mother made me out of two army surplus blankets. I used it at outdoor sporting events. It had armholes so I could eat or drink. And was long enough to keep me warm from head to toe, which a coat can’t do. I lost it in one of my many moves and I still miss it. WOT series starts in November. I hope it is at least half as good as the books.
I just wanna tell anyone who wants a cloak: you can make a historically accurate cloak with just a blanket. Many cloaks were not specifically sown to be cloaks, but rather a halfcircle, a square, or a rectangle that you put in a certain configuration using a simple pin.
@@corgiw7281 kilts are like blankets but like 2 or 3 times as long if i’m not mistaken. You fold them up in a certain way to put them on (with a belt rather than a pin)
@@the-girl-that-does-stuff not sure where you're located but the cheap tool store Harbor Freight in the U.S. has some decent cotton canvas painters tarps. I have 2. One is used as a cover for our dog's kennel and the other I'm going to be turning into a waxed canvas cloak for farm chores in the rain. I'll probably make a button in removable liner from and old woven cotton blanket (waxed canvas doesn't feel all that nice against the skin).
Weird moment with cloaks: I wore one to work recently and they didn't give me weird looks. They just loved it. I was confused, because I am used to people being confused. Instead they were into it. Even though it was over my work clothes. I legit thought I might have to put it away when I got there but naw they just let me wear it. I was so happy
I sewed a Scarlet cloak a few years ago, everyone calls me Little Red Riding Hood when I'm wearing it 😄 I can definitely appreciate the effort it took you to make your's an Excellent job Rachel ☕😊
@@rachelmaksy it's my favorite thing to put on in the winter and I gave it secret Pockets too 😄I definitely agree people always think I'm in a costume when I'm wearing my cloak 😒
Everything about this is the kind of energy I need in my life. I'm immediately looking into buying several 100 dollars worth of fabric to make my husband and myself each a cloak.
Frodo every. single. time. he sees an inch of nice fabric on the floor: is fabric for me? blanket for Frodo? aw thank you I take a nap here. I take a nap now. Gnight :D And we love that for him
@@JohnSmith-gn3jk truuuue, if more than like four inches of my blanket is hanging off of my bed on the floor, my dog rolls himself into it like a burrito immediately but he’s too cute for me to move him so I sleep a lil colder but it’s okay ☺️💕
My five year old says that all the time to the point she argued with me saying she was infact the real little mermaid so now I just decided to tell her, yes, infact she is indeed the little mermaid but don't tell anyone they will want her to swim. So she always says to me now, " oh mom you watching little mermaid again? But you just watched her yesterday". I said don't you have a favorite princess. Haha
I never ask “why doesn’t anyone wear X anymore”... at 40- my rule is “IM GOING TO WEAR X BECAUSE...”. Thanks for the pattern number! It’s now ordered and I’ll be owning at least three by the end of the year! It has to also look great with a new pixie cut, right?
When I made mine, I couldn't decide on a colour so I lined it to make it reversible the both of both worlds Note: I wasn't using wool I was using polyerfleece. So cheap enough but not environmental (my younger self didn't think)
i think my favourite thing about this channel is, as a teen who's starting to get into sewing, it's really relieving to see that even you make mistakes sometimes and that it's okay!
I made the most rudimentary hooded cloak (no lining or anything) out of purple velvet for my daughter to play in when she was 5. It hung to her feet and had a simple gold toggle-like clasp at the neck for a closure. Flash forward to her teen years and she could (and did)wear it as a cape. I love my fantasy nerd child (now adult). She still treasures her "magical" mom-made purple majestic cloak as an heirloom of her childhood. The cloak I made was fine. The amazing kid I made? Chef's kiss--sublime. Best kid ever.
Cloaks are the best. I wear them around for larp and for regular use, especially in the fall. Also, i have needed to sleep over spur the moment ar a friends house and the cloak makes an excellent blanket/cocoon ☺️ these are lovely!!!
I feel like I should evangelize to you about silk lining on curls. Friend. Wool on curls is frizz and breakage central, protect the curls and line the hood. Though ugh, I totally get it about lining the whole thing. You can just flat fell!
Seconding silk on hair. Maybe just line the hood with silk or something satin? I have straight hair, and like to protect my hair with a silk sleeping cap.
When I started my "goth phase" in the 90s, my mum was not pleased, but when she discovered she could make sure that I was wearing things she approved of by making some clothes for me, she got a little more into it. The first item she made for me? A big black cloak. (Very much like pattern C, actually)
I'm a girl who doesn't just love to dress up, but I love costumes! I was part of a Ren Faire guild for 10 years, I love cosplay. Our wedding theme was Victorian. I made myself a caplet with a hood for my Wedding Day. Our ceremony was outside and reception inside. It was perfect and amazing and I made it! ^.^
Cloak wearing Pro: feeling like a fairytale character while wearing one Con: annoying everyone by talking about how majestic you feel because you're wearing a cloak
Sooo somehow I missed this video when it first came out. I’m so excited to see your interest in Wheel of Time! My dad read the books out loud to the family when I was growing up and it’s been a huge part of my life. I hope y’all have enjoyed it.
I think Bernadette Banner made a Wheel of Time dress, that you might be interested in. I haven't watched the show, read the books, or watched her sewing videos about it but I keep seeing it in the sidebar and thought I'd pass it along. :)
Why haven't anyone mentioned the absolute glory of there being room to hide several peoples in the same cloak? So snuggly. More peoples, more warmth. And so so cozy.
When my family went to the renaissance festivals when i was little, both my brother and i could fit under my dads big brown cloak. It was warm and snuggly😊.
@@WixenBurr I apologize for being off topic, but all of this talk of renaissance faires reminds me of a story: a long while back my family and I were at our local Ren Faire and while waiting in line to pay, there was a bustle from the back: this large group of troubadours came out into the open, most were playing an instrument, violas, lyres, drums, and more were dancing, I think there was a juggler or two. the crowd were clapping along with the troupe as they proceeded into the entrance to the faire, and it was almost at the last guy when an attendant realized "Wait a minute! They never paid!". They were all called back and the Faire got their fee, but that was the time they ALMOST sung and danced their way in. [its possible they were new and didn't know you were supposed to pay, but I think they were trying to pull a fast one.]
I literally just bought two cloaks. The're definitely fashion cloaks that don't keep you warm, BUT on the plus side I feel like an elderly woman who's just inherited her husband's fortune.
This is one of my favorite videos of yours... and it has inspired the birth of several cloaks now. I refer to my sewing machine as, a cloaking device. Make it sew...
I have a cloak that I found at the thrift for $8. It's full length for me and I'm 5'8. The entire back, hood, and edges are hand embroidered with flowers. It's one of my most prized possessions.
Sounds DIVINE!
Sounds wonderful 👏
Wow! That sounds so beautiful!!!
Woooow!!! Lucky!
WHERE
My son is autistic, and when he was 4 he refused to wear a coat because he hated long sleeves. So I bought a cloak for him off of Etsy. When we went out shopping, a guy complimented his cloak and said he hoped we start a trend and bring cloaks back. I hope this video starts the trend that we couldn’t 6 years ago!
This is such a cute story 💞💞💞 I’m gonna cry 😢
I feel between Rachel and Bernadette, cloaks are most definitely coming back!
My son is also autistic and wore a cloak (over a Spider-Man costume no less!) for about a year! He’s 20 now and I still have the little cloak he wore and it brings back fond memories every time I see it! Cloaks should definitely come back in fashion!
I ran into a woman with her grand-daughter (who must have been about 6-7) at our local grocery store - The lady stopped me and asked me if I like my cloak, and I told her it's my favorite thing to wear. She looked at her grand-daughter and said, "Honey, if you want to wear yours, wear it. Don't listen to anyone who says it's funny". I still haven't forgotten.
Hello, I am autistic and on days when I'm really struggling with coats having my cloak is a life saver! It's nice to see I'm not the only one who has struggled with coats. I hope you have a great day!
Last time I was this early Whiskey Grandpa was just Whiskey Dad
LOL
This makes me want a whole Whiskey Family now. "Whiskey young man" "Whiskey Son" "Whiskey Sister" (this last one being a pretty good name for a rock band.)
this is flawless
I'm crackin up over here.....
@@peekaboohidenseeken5722 you don't know how much I want you to be from New York.
For over 15 years I was a 16th. cent. Highland Scots re-enactor...one of the first things I really loved about our clothing was our ability to "vanish" in nearly any setting short of extremely modern public parks. There's a few bushes? Bye. Reeds on the bank of the pond? Gone. Natural hillside with a few trees and dried grasses? The trick was learning how to take the tail of a pleated great kilt and pulling it up over our shoulders like a cloak...suddenly even "Technicolor" plaids allowed us to simply disappear like we were wearing modern military camouflage...even more so if we were rocking a plaid with already muted colors like greens and browns. Actually give me a simple grey cloak, a half-circle of wool made from two old military-style blankets? Even with a simple yarn collar and I could suddenly go from "invisibly" napping next to a tree or by a log to suddenly standing there like Ned Stark in a "Winter is Coming" meme.
Thats so cool
That's exactly like Ranger's apprentice!
@@any14817Ranger’s apprentice for the win
@@any14817one of the reasons I came looking for this!
🎉Lovely 😊
“Basically like carrying a big old blanket around” sound comfy.
That is *exactly* how my husband uses the cloak I made him! Although, sometimes he'll put it on, pull the hood around his face, and start saying stuff in a Sith voice about the Dark side of the Force... 🤣
That’s awesome I love blankets
@@kerriemckinstry-jett8625 He's a keeper.
i read that as basket
@@nightmime 😂🤚 SAME
Pro-tip to stop your cloak from weighing on your neck: attach long, heavy-duty strings where you fasten it, then cross those strings over your chest, bring the ends around under your arms and tie them behind your back. Puts all the weight on your chest and shoulders and keeps it in place. Also keeps it closed better. ;) This has been your Renn Fair Advice.
THANK YOU.
This is the method I used to keep my toddler’s prince cape in place when we went to Disney World. Cape 2.0 (now that he has outgrown the first one) will have me rigging up something that works the same way but fastens in front so he can get in and out of it himself. I know how I’m going to do it, but describing it with any semblance of brevity w/o pictures is escaping me this morning. 😅
Oh my GOD why did I never think of this?? 🙌🏻
This is like the fastening on nurses cloaks
Bless u
When we were kids, my parents read us Lord of the Rings aloud at bedtime, and my little brother (maybe 6 or 7 when we started?) was OBSESSED with Gandalf, to the point that he begged my mom to make him a grey cloak for Halloween (but let's be honest he wore it instead of a sweatshirt or coat whenver he could get away with it). When we reached the climax of the Mines of Moria scene, he literally hid the cloak away in the bottom drawer of his dresser and went into mourning. When Gandalf got his New Look, my brother decided old school was still the best school and happily whipped the grey cloak back out and wore it alllllllll the tiiiiiiiime.
TLDR: Cloaks are the best and my brother was adorable.
I used to have an obsession with Lord of the Rings and i remember my big sister teasing my big brother because i had gotten further than him-
though honestly i’m surprised by that, usually i have the attention span of 8 seconds and sometimes in those books it just goes on and on and on
that's such a cute story
I love Gandalf's original look better than his updated one too. Your brother sounds adorable and I love him!
My mom read lotr to me as a bedtime story too growing up! She started from when I started speaking, which was pretty early on, so I don't actually remember it. She says I was obsessed with Legolas, which makes sense because I still am
@@TPNsBiggestFan I was labelled dyslexic in elementary school but I was reading Lord of the Rings at the age of 8. 🤪Gotta love public education.
But I do remember a lot about descriptions of trees going on and on and on for pages. . . .
I read every word. 😁
Rachel: worried we won’t be entertained by all the sewing videos
Me: casually binges all the sewing videos she has made and wishing there were more.
I worked for this elderly lady as a carer and one day she asks me to hand her the cloak and I was confused and laughed and I said you have a cloak? And she shuffled to her wardrobe and showed me this midnight blue cloak that she use to wear when she wore to dances when she was younger during the war and it made me want to bring it back into fashion.
Absolutely do
She sounds like a sweetheart! 🥺
Hay you have 1k likes thought you would like to know that
@@tarryapplebottom2032 Thank you!!!
@@jf2801 she was really lovely woman, I miss her 😢
Another factor nobody mentioned is the effect of the sewing machine. Pre-sewing-machine, most cultures had clothing that were made out of big simple shapes--rectangles and triangles, mostly--with as little sewing as possible because it's easier that way. A cloak requires a LOT less sewing than a coat; they're easier to make. But once you have sewing machines, the difference in labor and time costs to make the two garments is a lot smaller, so you don't have that factor keeping the cloak in play.
Zippers and buttons made certain clothes less popular
Considering the amount of needlework and intricacy in pre-sewing-machine garments I don't think they were afraid of needlework or time spent on making clothes. Also, wouldn't it be harder to make a cloak with the narrower fabric width used before machine-woven fabrics since you'd have more seams to make? Unless they made them of leather, but again... seams. And buttons have been a thing for a loooong time, that's how the form-fitted medieval garments usually opened.
I think it's the other way around, after the industrialization of weaving, the cost of fabric came down, and detailed tailoring was the new way to show wealth instead of extra fabric with maximum poof and fullness.
@@LadySnowfaerie generally: the poorer the person, the simpler the garments. of course rich people had the funds for many more hours of work than needed for a simple skirt/shirt/etc. also, even if the fabric was narrower, aren't straight seams less time-consuming bc they're more repetitive and you get into a flow?
AIUI there were a lot of incremental improvements all through the process from carding to spinning to weaving (and knitting, which is a surprisingly modern invention) to sewing throghout history. But one of the big ones was the spinning wheel, which reached Europe in the 13th century and worked roughly 10 times faster than the drop spindle. Shortly afterwards, we see increasingly fitted clothing.
Speaking as a history nerd, I can actually speak on why people stopped wearing cloaks. People used to just...not spend as much time outside in the winter. Yes, people used to have to do a LOT of work in a day. But a lot of time in the winter was spent in the house, and going outside was pretty much rushing into the barn, rushing to another house, or taking a wagon into town. But because we now have a lot more leisure time spent outside in the winter, as well as large cities that we live in and spend time in, we just have more need for our arms. And when cloaks were popular, those with arm holes were actually unpopular since they let in the cold. However, because we often have controlled heating nowadays, there's no real reason not to wear cloaks anymore. They're actually my preferred outside garment. I mostly wear a coat when I need to do shopping and don't want to open up a cloak and release my heat bubble.
THIS IS SO COOL
I wonder if you could have flaps that close the arm holes once you tuck in your arms? That seems like it would be the best of both worlds. Plus you'd have like pauldrens of sorts when your arms are out.
A good portion of it is the invention of the car, as they just got in the way.
There's something about voluminous garments that just loudly proclaim DRAMA! MYSTERY! INTRIGUE! ROMANCE! NOSTALGIA! (e.g. cloaks, mantles, great kilts and earasaids).
I made one for myself in college in 1974. It was the most money I had ever spent on a garment: wool and a thermal kind of silky lining fabric, and I loved that thing! I wore it for several years, loaned it to a friend for her winter wedding, kept it until my daughter grew up, and she now has it. She is a professional photographer and has used it for some photo shoots.
That’s a actually super cool! I feel like you would have to be very talented to make clothes : D
It has become a family heirloom. Awesome.
I didn't realize how good the clothing design and fabric was years back because their clothes were stylish, good quality and so nice and warm while now we have to wear ten different jackets, a scarf and mittens just to be decently warm.
Capitalism, despite all the resources we have our clothes are worse.
We also heat (or cool) every building which is massively wasteful compared to appropriate clothes
@@spinecho609 that is so true, people would rather ruin the earth and gain money out of it then use the earth's resources sparingly and make a little less money.
But despite it you still can't feel that one toe.
Definitely some of that is the damned PLASTIC FABRICS that everything seems to be made of these days. Natural fabrics keep you cooler in summer and warmer in winter than anything polyester. They also last a whole lot longer and as far as I can see, are way way better for the environment. But then people wouldn't buy as many new cheap clothes. Ah capitalism. (Quick note to say that not all capitalism is bad but there are downsides, this being one of them)
@@thegracklepeck It is not ALL capitalism and plastics. There are synthetics that do just as well or better than natural fibers in durability, and arguably in thermal properties too... at just about twice the price haha. The problem is the bargain hunter who does not know their fabrics, you see two coats that look equally good and one is THREE times the price of the other, and you're shopping on your weekend and just want to get OUT and get HOME and you're not paid enough to spend $100 on a coat you can't tell is better anyway. These are all reasonable decisions if you're acting without knowledge.
Additionally, cloaks have some downsides, like slow drying of you wear them in the rain compared to plastic fibers that can be waterproof and dry as fast as water evaporates.
Additionally, there's regional variation. In cold climates high quality coats are still available and widely bought, though seen as a prestige item. In chicago for example you still see big, high quality wool greatcoats on occasion.
I think the more important question though is "why, now that many consumers want coats, are they not available?" And the answer there is clearly fast fashion. Durable high quality garments cannot be produced at the turnarounds and prices demanded by the kind of person who buys off wish, or a discount store, who currently dominate the global view of what is fashionable. They do not allow for the kind of variation that allows a cheaply made product to be distinct.
In my country, capes where forbiden centuries ago because you could hide a knife or a sword under it and people where constantly killing each other. So the King banned them.
this reminds me of one year I was in NYC for Halloween, my costume included a nice flowing cloak and a sword hanging from my side. I went all over the city that night, and it wasn't until the wee hours of the morning until one of my friends noticed the sword. Nobody in authority did at all, which, honestly, was really good because though it was dull, I'm sure it was quite illegal too.
😮
How rude of them.
@@dracoargentum9783 you gotta get one of those cosplay foam or wooden ones for next time lol
@@assortedfrogs5879 Actually now I just carry around my plastic practice sword.
I'm showing this video to my boyfriend after he suddenly asked me "why cloaks aren't in fashion anymore? I would love one, but people would laugh at me", but here we have a community of cloak-lovers that shows him that not everybody would laugh ❤️
Everybody would laugh at themselves for only bringing a coat while their knees freeze off
My sister has a super pretty cloak and we discovered that if I wear it with my wedding dress, I look like an elven princess. I still desperately want to do a photoshoot with it!
*DO IT!!* I double-dog dare you! & enjoy it! ;-)
Then come back here and tell us all how wonderful it was!
Omg that sounds so fucking cool!!!
Now I want to wear a cloak on my wedding
Ps. I’m not getting married anywhere in the near future
I just realized that Editing Rachel also has to edit the shots of Editing Rachel. It's an editception. 🤯
haha yeah 😀
Woah wait. Mindblowing 😂😂😂
"Editing 'Editting Rachel' Rachel" 😁👍
Another episode of “Why can’t I be a fairytale character?” And honestly, I can relate 100%.😆
I'm afraid I would be a bridge troll or even less significant a character....I am not going to wish for fairytale character status.
SAME
Do it.
@@roxiepoe9586 bridge trolls are kinda cool, but I would want be an elf or something.
I liked this comment partly because of the pfp
current goal: clear an area to sew a cloak in, and sew it by the time weather requires layers.
to school ? yes, they deserve to see my cloak. the grocery store ? yes, the public needs to know. around the house ? yes, i will flare it around me while i play minecraft and it will be amazing.
Wear everywhere. The craze needs spread, and spread it will.
beautiful, let the public flounder in your glory. you deserve nothing less.
Yes. Same. Except my mom won't let me get one. I'm sad because I want one and I don't have any good blankets to use as substitutes. And I can't sew.
Love it. Im in the process of making a Jedi cloak for daywear
I'm really good at hand sewing plus it's extremely fun, I just need to find some good fabric to use that isn't from Walmart or like 10$ a foot
It's not a Rachel Maksy video unless:
a)Rachel shows her foot/feet/leg in the frame
b) Frodo disrupts the progress by laying down on a pattern
c) all of the above
so true
Don't forget hiding from the neighbors
What about drinking from those covered cups (I have know idea what they are called)
And Frodo being an adorable nuisance
you forgot Rachael hiding from her neighbors in her own house
Rachel: "We're going to get shit done."
Frodo: *I'm about to ruin this lady's entire career*
I think cloaks were more useful when traveling required sleeping outside sometimes and the cloak was basically your traveling blanket.
And to that I say long live the traveling blanket!
Also, if you've ever ridden a horse mobility is key, a cloak provides warmth without restricting your arms
Love how the cloaks turned out. I wish they make a comeback as they are the best option to wear with long dresses. Also, side note, the reveal footage was so well done, very good composition and image setting.
Agree!!!!! That moment when the black bars came in I was like ohhh so excited
Not sure why 'we' have to wait for random others to 'trend 'anything .I prefer to be Rachel and make what I want and wear it wherever, whenever. Its really just being afraid of standing out from the crowd versus blending.....god forbid we should be our individual selves!
Basic needs: a hot soup on a rainy day
Psychological needs: a group of friends to dramatically run towards an ancient castle while it's storming
Self-fulfillment needs: a cloak for said dramatic run that flutters gently in the wind
Every RIGHT thinking person secretly dreams of themselves wearing a cloak with one arm and shoulder exposed so they can readily brandish their sword!
100% I will run with you
Why did the bit where she was showing the cloak in the wild,... why'd that give off "young princess running away and becoming a nature witch" vibes.. it's beautiful honestly
Why doesn't Disney do that version of a princess? She runs away from society and becomes an awesome Witch of the Forest!
@@bugeyedmonster2 i’d watch the fuck out of that-
Merchandising, probably.
@@RobinTheBot also i can see it kinda going against the whole “power of friendship” or whatever thing, with the princess being alone and all that. but in all honesty, i’d definitely watch it.
Why did the music sound like she was the one singing tho
Love cloaks and capelets. They are definitely due for a comeback. Who’s with me?!? #teamcloak
soooo definitely #teamcloak
#teamcloak forever more
#teamcloak
Ooo me✋I’ve been wearing one all winter this year and it has been epic😊
Years later, I keep coming back to this video when I want something cozy to watch. It radiates the perfect amount of cozy-ness!
Frodo lying on the grey material is just his way of blessing it for whomsoever shall receive it! 🐶💜
The lucky winner has the material to clone their own Frodo!
Haha, unless that person is allergic to dog hair, then it’s his way of killing them😅
My oldest cat always specifically does this to black or very dark fabric because he is a black cat but for some reason the roots of his fur are white or lighter at least and you still see all these small little white dots.
Editing Rachel's effort doesn't go unnoticed. She's got my heart
Yes I love the editing Rachel carrots or whatever the heck they’re called she (/you if you see this HIIII) is so funny and cute
Also filming Rachel, that girl did a ton too
As a writer I just wanted to say your channel is a god send, especially since I’m a guy who’s never know any term besides pants (the bottom part) and top or t shirt (the top one, pretty self explanatory).
Now I can utterly confuse all my readers describing and detailing parts of clothes I didn’t know existed.
*cackles in author*
As a aspiring author/illustrator i also find it very helpful for inspiration (especially since i know almost nothing about fashion)
I want to read the baffle please!
As a reader I feel obligated to use some rather colorful language… As an inspiring author myself, heh… HAVE FUN!!!
@@jellyowl2644 *an. You won’t get anywhere with grammar like that! Jk, good luck and I don’t think it matters much… maybe.
This made me giggle thats great 😄
i just completed a "night watch/john snow" inspired cloak for my husband. we used blackout curtians (lowered the cost of fabric) a faux fur mantle and some leather for a front buckle. $50 and a few hours and it came out wonderful. it was a massive undertaking for me and my machine as well.
rachel: i dont give a fluff about what people think about me or what i wear
rachel, seconds ago: noo my neighbour, dont see mee
Lmao😂😂😂😂 Nobody I know what's neighbors up their a$$.. I know I don't
Keep that attitude all your life, I am older than the average viewer, so I know, if you aren't living what the so-called gurus deem authentic, drop by drop YOUR LIFE LEAVES YOU, trust me, I am not a vampire either- oh that worked out well (the cape) See Quentin Crisp, Freda Cohelo, Vivienne Westwood...isn't Frodo adorable? I love Rachel's household ...Namaste, Z. Whatever you do keep some fantasy, I don't follow super heroes Rachel often points too BUT, no matter!
this suggests that their neighbour isnt a people
Just live your life the way you want 🥰
@@MSYNGWIE12 here, here 🥰
I feel like we don't wear them anymore because we use bags and backpacks to carry our stuff. Bring back pockets and cute carry baskets and cloaks will follow!!!
a cross body bag like a satchel or purse, or a belt bag will fit just fine under the average cloak
cloak actually helps protect you from pickpocketing as well since it covers the Entire bag
@@changelingsys Or wear pouch bags that hang from a belt to carry your stuff in...make of fabric or leather, etc.
Well for a while we brought back the fanny pack pockets that attach to your thighs which was...well no backpack, but it was some carrying space below a cloak.
I think people see that making it look more nerdy when it ends up just being how to practically use both items.
@@beckybaur7064 clothing ideas for the tribe of witches that live in the woods of the fantasy dystopian world I created are racing through my head!!
I like those Longchamp Le Pliage bags, and they have a line with a crossbody strap. It's literally the only bag I'm willing to carry anymore. If you're on a budget you can usually find them second hand or in places like Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx. One of the reasons I love it is obviously, it's a crossbody. BUT!!!! The strap detaches so if you really need to you can take it off without taking off your cloak if you're wearing it under it. Sometimes I'll have it on over it and that's fine, but if it's raining, I'm someplace sketchy, etc. it's so easy to put it back under my cape. Bonus is it also has handles so it doesn't just drop to the ground when you unclip it. Definitely hold the handle when you take it off, like, just trust me on that...
05:16 - the most relatable content of all time.
Hehehehehee ❤️
The castle I clean for a living has a library, a ROUND library with a ladder I nearly always find pins on the floor. I suspect women force husbands to rent the place JUST so they can sew in there.
@@rebeccatirrell8321 omg please tell us where this castle is, I want to sew in there!
@@sofiavoudou9021 on a mountain top in Vermont.
@@rebeccatirrell8321 is it the one over in Ludlow? Certainly can't be Wilson castle, she's not on a mountain.
my grandmother used to make ALL of her clothes when my mum was a kid, and she had a full length white cloak that she would wear to special occasions. It is gone now, but I think she still has the pattern for it somewhere, one day in the far future, I'm going to ask if I can look through her attic.
I keep telling people we need to bring cloaks back. They give off such a range of vibes. Am i going to a secret cultic meeting? Am I a time traveler? Am I going on a whimsical adventure? Is it Tuesday and I am just cold? Could be any of those.
I now am dedicated to bringing them back
If we all start wearing them, see how fast everyone will want to be in them!!❤️👍🏻😊
Yes, I agree! Cloaks are so comfortable, warm, and stylish.
I would love to have one 😍
We need cloak clubs so we can gather together mysteriously
MA’AM I WAS NOT EXPECTING A FULL SCALE CINEMATIC PRODUCTION FOR THAT REVEAL 😳
Not going to lie the reveal scene doesn't deserve an Oscar nomination... IT DESERVES AN OSCAR🏆
Seriously! I would pay so much money to see her turn that into a short film!
the music 😍❤😭
Agreed!!
@@MartiasMuses I want that music. I want to hear the rest of it. ;w; I wish more youtubers would put the music they use in their descriptions, even if it's not necessary for legal reasons. Sometimes I just need to knooowww.
@@Seiaeka Exactly!!! :)
"If I want to dress like a full Elven warrior I will"
LOVE
My current thought for clothes nowadays is "just wear it" lol.
I've been wearing steampunk, victorian and more in public and it has been extremely fun and now I'm dipping into all sorts of other clothes and "odd" styles compared to our current modern clothing style.
It's been fun and even with stares I get a bit of conversation with people asking about it. I didn't do any of it before outside of festivals and conventions until I met a man who was dressed steampunk at my gas station I talked with him about it for a bit and he wears steampunk 24/7, also had the coolest curly mustache. XD
I looked him up on Facebook since he invited me to a steampunk group on Facebook and he even has a really cool decked out car that's steampunk themed. Since then I've just gone crazy with wearing whatever I want both modern and old.
We live in one of the wealthiest societies in history, with highly developed technology and global trade, and a reasonable degree of social acceptance… so why are people not wearing what makes them look fabulous? Why is everyone wearing faded jeans and branded t-shirts instead of whatever they can dream of?
@@16semiquavers exactly I agree with you!!
@@16semiquavers I agree
I have the same mentality. I made a leather tricorn for a costume, and it turned out really good- good enough I decided to start wearing it instead of my baseball cap. I now wear it or a 4x stetson, and have been wearing carved leather arm guards for a while, as well as an Australian drover jacket made of leather (for when it rains). If it looks good, and doesn't hinder you doing things you want to do, why not wear it?
fabulous
I was diagnosed with arthritis as a child. For years I've struggled in and out of coats because I just have a hard time with sleeves in general. Getting dressed is something I deal with, but winter time comes with so much dressing/undressing action for the coats depending on how active I am that sometimes I just become a lump because I don't want to deal with coats. A couple years ago, on a whim, I jokingly told my parents I wanted a cloak for Christmas. Well, they got me one. It's been the best thing ever for my arthritic shoulders. I highly recommend cloaks if someone's thinking about them and they have mobility problems as long as they can deal with the extra fabric flapping around them.
Maybe I’m just a little dumb, but I had no idea that kids could get arthritis. 😟 I am so so sorry you have to deal with that, that’s gotta be hard! 🤍🤍🤍💛💛💛 But I’m glad you found a way to make a joke about it; and it ended up being more than a joke! That must be a nice feeling to have! Plus you get to look like a badass worrier Princess/Prince/ Royal at all times and that is 👩🏽🍳😚
@@Drama4Dolls I don't know if kids can get the normal "wear and tear" kind of arthritis, but they can get Rheumatoid Arthritis and that's caused by the immune system. I got the luck of the draw at 10/11 years old and have been living with it for over 20 years now.
People see my cloak and say it looks cozy. Plus, if I'm cold at my desk at work, I'm already walking around with an attachable blanket so I just give it a little swirl and get comfy. I've been thinking of making my own for a while just because I want to be able to pick out the fabric, so this video has given me ideas (and fabric yardage 😅).
This is such a great idea! I was diagnosed at age 5. I tend to wear tank tops under my coats because sleeves, but that can be chilly. I'm totally asking my husband for a cloak this year
@@maggiemccarthy8766 It's so nice being able to just put a cloak on and take it off without needing a wide radius to contort and wiggle my arms. I've been stuck in packed places with my jacket on before just sweltering because I can't get enough space to get the jacket sleeves off. I did have to figure out how I would work with the wind blowing the cape open (I just grab the edges and hold it shut as I walk) and I still need to put some interior pockets on the cloak to store gloves, but yeah, I say give it a try and see if it works for you.
@@LinguisticFanatic aww thank you for letting me know! And I’m sorry you you’ve had it for so long. Even if it’s not the exact same as older generations, still sad and must be hard. But heyyy, the cool thing is you have an attitude worthy blanket that you can smack peoples with if you feel the need to. 😂
I totally feel the "It hits different, historical fantasy vibe" of the cloak. I thrifted this grey trench coat that goes almost to the ground and when I walk, it swishes around me and makes me feel like a badass. Who doesn't love dramatic flare?
Dang it I just bought a wool bundle, I’ve never been more grateful for you mentioning casually where you got that because I was actually looking for a place to find cheap fabric literally as I was watching your video
let's take a moment to apreciate how smooth that transition onto the sporsorship section was. AND THE REVEAL SHOTS?!?!?! O.O
"If I wanna dress like a full elven warrior then I'm gonna DO SO"
This is the energy we all need to bring into 2021! :D I live!
One of my friends wears a cloak over her dress to every single school dance and it does just hit different. She never gets criticism for it or weird glances (that I see at least) and honestly, the group of us that gets ready together beforehand are just jealous that we don't have cloaks
OH MY GOSH!!!!! I have a new plan for prom now lmao
I was a historical interpreter at a park for awhile and the cooler months were my favourite because I could wear my red wool cape, fingerless mitts and blue toque. It was the best and I think about that combo on the regular, 3 years later...
Okay, but that misty footage? GLORIOUS. Absolutely glorious.
Legit made me go from "cloaks are neat" to "I require a cloak this instant."
As a person who has been struggling with consiferable weight fluctuation for years, my 'one size fits all' cloak is a true blessing. No matter if I gain or lose weight, it still looks great and I don't need to spend money on another coat. At first, I was worried about the cold air issue as well, but if I pop on an extra layer (like an undergarment or an oversized sweater) and some long gloves, it works wonders. An additional clasp in the stomach area keeps the cloak in place when it's windy. Of course, some air still gets in but I actually find it beneficial - I walk a lot, and I tend to get a little sweaty in heavy, buttoned up coats, but it's not an issue with a cloak.
Rachel, from one floor troll to another you should look into some “tabletop scissors” (the name is misleading as you can also use them on the floor). The blades are bent so you can keep the fabric as flat as possible when cutting. They are immensely helpful when cutting large sections of fabric on the floor!
Once youve used them you cant go back. Theyre the promised land of snips.
Good tip, thank you!
My sisters made two, one for herself, and one for our little brother. She plans to make one for everyone in the family (there’s 12 of us, but it’ll probably only be the 8 that still life at home.) my sisters also made herself a medieval dress for a medieval festival.
Has she done one for all?
The editing. Can someone PLEASE talk about the editing. Rachel - please never stop.
Amen!
Lemme just say Rachel, that your content creator high from you in the brown cloak and green dress in the mist was completely deserved. You and your cinematography were utter perfection. Your red hair, the green dress, the brown cloak, and that mist! Seriously can't be beat 💖
Cloaks need to be brought back into fashion. Heck! I just got married and instead of a veil, my mom made me a bridal cloak with a hidden pocket! 2021 is the year of cloaks!
Pocket! Can your mom be in charge of all clothes
I had a bridal cloak, too! Though no pockets, as it was veil material
Is there Pictures of this masterpiece?👀👀👀
Yes, bring back cloaks!
Omg. That sounds perfect for a winter wedding.😍
I had a cloak my mother made me out of two army surplus blankets. I used it at outdoor sporting events. It had armholes so I could eat or drink. And was long enough to keep me warm from head to toe, which a coat can’t do. I lost it in one of my many moves and I still miss it. WOT series starts in November. I hope it is at least half as good as the books.
The reveal was just *chef's kiss*. The cinematography, the cloaks, the music, everything.
Yes! And the way the aspect ratio slowly changed, just absolute *chef's kiss* 😍💜
I just wanna tell anyone who wants a cloak: you can make a historically accurate cloak with just a blanket. Many cloaks were not specifically sown to be cloaks, but rather a halfcircle, a square, or a rectangle that you put in a certain configuration using a simple pin.
Check out Living Anachronism's video "BEST Cloak for a Medieval Adventurer"
ua-cam.com/video/ZfaPo-zFZz8/v-deo.html
Thank you, I really want to make one but I don't have access to any fabric stores
You're making me think of great-kilts now.
@@corgiw7281 kilts are like blankets but like 2 or 3 times as long if i’m not mistaken. You fold them up in a certain way to put them on (with a belt rather than a pin)
@@the-girl-that-does-stuff not sure where you're located but the cheap tool store Harbor Freight in the U.S. has some decent cotton canvas painters tarps. I have 2. One is used as a cover for our dog's kennel and the other I'm going to be turning into a waxed canvas cloak for farm chores in the rain. I'll probably make a button in removable liner from and old woven cotton blanket (waxed canvas doesn't feel all that nice against the skin).
"...escorting Frodo [not this one] to Mordor..."
I genuinely needed that side note because I was legit picturing your dog and not the hobbit.
The reveal for this was my absolute favorite. I love how the dramatic music was completely suitable because....CLOAKS! They just are so magnificent.
Weird moment with cloaks: I wore one to work recently and they didn't give me weird looks. They just loved it.
I was confused, because I am used to people being confused. Instead they were into it. Even though it was over my work clothes. I legit thought I might have to put it away when I got there but naw they just let me wear it. I was so happy
I have never clicked so fast. We really to bring cloaks back
hahahaha 'swhat i'm SAYIN!
Oh my gosh, absolutely! I made a grey plaid cape/cloak and it's my favorite thing to wear. They're so fun and swooshy ☺️.
THIS
Yess
Yyyaaasssss cloak crew unite!
I sewed a Scarlet cloak a few years ago, everyone calls me Little Red Riding Hood when I'm wearing it 😄 I can definitely appreciate the effort it took you to make your's an Excellent job Rachel ☕😊
Aww heheehe cute!
@@rachelmaksy it's my favorite thing to put on in the winter and I gave it secret Pockets too 😄I definitely agree people always think I'm in a costume when I'm wearing my cloak 😒
Wow I would love to make a clock of my own when I can sew with sew machine
@@animeboysbereal2951 they are extremely easy. Just cumbersome.
@@Costumerchx oo I didn't know then I will ask my mum if I can buy fabric
Everything about this is the kind of energy I need in my life. I'm immediately looking into buying several 100 dollars worth of fabric to make my husband and myself each a cloak.
Frodo every. single. time. he sees an inch of nice fabric on the floor: is fabric for me? blanket for Frodo? aw thank you I take a nap here. I take a nap now. Gnight :D And we love that for him
lmao for a sec i thought you were talking about Frodo the Hobbit guy haha
I think that is a law in dog land. I mean does anyone have a dog that doesn't do that?
@@ps1hagridoufofcharacter I was absolutely also talking about Frodo the Hobbit, everyone loves comfy fabric 🙏
@@JohnSmith-gn3jk truuuue, if more than like four inches of my blanket is hanging off of my bed on the floor, my dog rolls himself into it like a burrito immediately but he’s too cute for me to move him so I sleep a lil colder but it’s okay ☺️💕
i totally thought u were talking abt LOTR at first haha
My 3 year old saw the reveal shots and said "oohhhh she's pretty and her hair looks like little mermaid!" Trust me, that is the highest praise ever.
My five year old says that all the time to the point she argued with me saying she was infact the real little mermaid so now I just decided to tell her, yes, infact she is indeed the little mermaid but don't tell anyone they will want her to swim. So she always says to me now, " oh mom you watching little mermaid again? But you just watched her yesterday". I said don't you have a favorite princess. Haha
I never ask “why doesn’t anyone wear X anymore”... at 40- my rule is “IM GOING TO WEAR X BECAUSE...”.
Thanks for the pattern number! It’s now ordered and I’ll be owning at least three by the end of the year! It has to also look great with a new pixie cut, right?
i’m sure you’ll look great in it! :)
You need the hood to keep your ears warm!
I love this philosophy 💕
And by 54 I forgot why I had ever asked that lol
Hopefully you found some great fabric for them!
You catching the mist in time was honestly so suspenseful and satisfying!
lining a cloak is a trade-off: SO much more fabric to buy, but SO much less curvy hemming to do!
Compromise: hem facing
When I made mine, I couldn't decide on a colour so I lined it to make it reversible the both of both worlds
Note: I wasn't using wool I was using polyerfleece. So cheap enough but not environmental (my younger self didn't think)
i think my favourite thing about this channel is, as a teen who's starting to get into sewing, it's really relieving to see that even you make mistakes sometimes and that it's okay!
me too! I love sewing and I am getting into different types of clothing that I'd be able to sew
I made the most rudimentary hooded cloak (no lining or anything) out of purple velvet for my daughter to play in when she was 5. It hung to her feet and had a simple gold toggle-like clasp at the neck for a closure. Flash forward to her teen years and she could (and did)wear it as a cape. I love my fantasy nerd child (now adult). She still treasures her "magical" mom-made purple majestic cloak as an heirloom of her childhood. The cloak I made was fine. The amazing kid I made? Chef's kiss--sublime. Best kid ever.
Cloaks are the best. I wear them around for larp and for regular use, especially in the fall. Also, i have needed to sleep over spur the moment ar a friends house and the cloak makes an excellent blanket/cocoon ☺️ these are lovely!!!
Gaawd. Red hair, cloaks and a misty day? THE chef's kiss precision.
How to catch a Rachel: put a big, flat piece of fabric on the floor
Make sure it's brown lol
Might catch frodo as well
LOL!
@@kitten88dm Or Earth-tone Green.🥰
Rachel PLEASE make a Patron!!! I'm sure I'm NOT the only one who would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to be able to support you on Patron!!! Who else agrees?! ❤
I have been sewing for sixty years. Watching you make a cloak was SO entertaining!!!! You are adorable and the dog was a fun too!
Cloak wearing pro tip: use the mini hooks and eyes to close up the front. That way, it won't blow open as easily.
I feel like I should evangelize to you about silk lining on curls. Friend. Wool on curls is frizz and breakage central, protect the curls and line the hood. Though ugh, I totally get it about lining the whole thing. You can just flat fell!
Keep the curls secret, keep the curls safe
Like wool on all hair types is breakage central but especially on curls, protect your hair people.
Seconding silk on hair. Maybe just line the hood with silk or something satin?
I have straight hair, and like to protect my hair with a silk sleeping cap.
Great tip ❤️👍
Yes!!
When I started my "goth phase" in the 90s, my mum was not pleased, but when she discovered she could make sure that I was wearing things she approved of by making some clothes for me, she got a little more into it. The first item she made for me? A big black cloak. (Very much like pattern C, actually)
I'm a girl who doesn't just love to dress up, but I love costumes! I was part of a Ren Faire guild for 10 years, I love cosplay. Our wedding theme was Victorian. I made myself a caplet with a hood for my Wedding Day. Our ceremony was outside and reception inside. It was perfect and amazing and I made it! ^.^
The ultimate warmth: wearing a coat with a cloak over it
Layers!
@@thastump Parfaits got layers...
@@leaarinwarkentine ONIONS HAVE LAYERS
My friend and I did that this past winter. The low was -7° and we went out to frolick in the evening wearing as many layers as possible. 10/10
@@PastelLePanda CAKE! EVERYBODY LOVES CAKE! CAKES HAVE LAYERS
me, watching the reveal: that green dress and those shots .. so majestic. wow.
rachel: ground is frozen, holy SHEEYUTT
Rachel ducks when the neighbor goes by...'Don't look at me!' This is me all the time. Introverts Unite! In your own homes.
The reveal was awesome, you looked like you just stepped through time and had a story to tell about far away lands! Cloaks looked amazing! 💕
Me: Watches video on cloaks. "Why don't I make a cloak?!" Thinks about all the fabric waiting to be turned into skirt for LAST summer... "oh, right."
I made a Star Wars cloak in a day, you can do it!
I felt that on a personal level because Same 😬
the hardest part is getting started. once you have the pieces cut out it's not as hard to finish it
Why are we all like this? 😅
I am *genuinely* envious of how aesthetically pleasing the reveal of the first cloak was. It was spectacular.
And how bright her hair is against the brown cloak. I've watched this before but coming back now, I was like 'wow'
There’s something about swooshing around dramatically that does something for your confidence.
Alot of these old things Rachel does reminds me a lot of my aunt. She loves victorian steampunk styles. And I rock that vibe as well.
The red hair with the cloak gave me Merida vibes at one point. Honestly am here for it though so keep the fantasy escapism coming.
Same!! Such mystical vibes ❤️👌
My little brother saw your notification on my phone and went "RACHEL DAY!!!!"
That's so sweet and wholesome! 😍
@@jennivamp5 ikr :(
He understands my feelings completely.
Heck yes!
I took a nap and my first action upon waking was coming to YT to look for the latest Rachel video.
"Went out of style for the same reason snuggies did"
Me: *looks down at the Mickey mouse snuggie I'm wearing*
So no reason.
I still have my snuggie...
I just bought a new Snuggie
Would we say that were ever...."in style", though? They're no longer booming but that's just because everyone has one who needs one 😄
Your videos bring me so much comfort on my high stress/anxiety days. They are my favorite to rewatch
It's not fair, I wanna be goth queen, glittery rainbow princess, pastel baby, and now whatever fairy god mother vibe you are.
This right here. This is where its at.
Switch and rotate every day?
@@iforgotmynameagain9512 not a bad idea!...too bad I'm poor 😭
Cloak wearing
Pro: feeling like a fairytale character while wearing one
Con: annoying everyone by talking about how majestic you feel because you're wearing a cloak
How is that a con? It effectively gets rid of non-cloak people, leaving only the greatest of peers.
@@mirnafairy A very valid point
Personally I feel magically epic walking around in my cloak 😊
the reveal shots gave me nostalgia for a film that should have been
Well put!
Sooo somehow I missed this video when it first came out. I’m so excited to see your interest in Wheel of Time! My dad read the books out loud to the family when I was growing up and it’s been a huge part of my life. I hope y’all have enjoyed it.
I think Bernadette Banner made a Wheel of Time dress, that you might be interested in. I haven't watched the show, read the books, or watched her sewing videos about it but I keep seeing it in the sidebar and thought I'd pass it along. :)
Why haven't anyone mentioned the absolute glory of there being room to hide several peoples in the same cloak? So snuggly. More peoples, more warmth. And so so cozy.
why, you could hide three gnomes, each standing on another's shoulders in there...
When my family went to the renaissance festivals when i was little, both my brother and i could fit under my dads big brown cloak. It was warm and snuggly😊.
@@WixenBurr I apologize for being off topic, but all of this talk of renaissance faires reminds me of a story:
a long while back my family and I were at our local Ren Faire and while waiting in line to pay, there was a bustle from the back: this large group of troubadours came out into the open, most were playing an instrument, violas, lyres, drums, and more were dancing, I think there was a juggler or two. the crowd were clapping along with the troupe as they proceeded into the entrance to the faire, and it was almost at the last guy when an attendant realized "Wait a minute! They never paid!". They were all called back and the Faire got their fee, but that was the time they ALMOST sung and danced their way in.
[its possible they were new and didn't know you were supposed to pay, but I think they were trying to pull a fast one.]
@@WixenBurr Also reminds me of when I was younger. I loved going to renaissance fairs, they were so fun. :)
I literally just bought two cloaks. The're definitely fashion cloaks that don't keep you warm, BUT on the plus side I feel like an elderly woman who's just inherited her husband's fortune.
cue the Merry Wives of Windsor.... :)
Can we just talk about that reveal footage?? Just the best scenery shots yet on this channel I think.
This is one of my favorite videos of yours... and it has inspired the birth of several cloaks now. I refer to my sewing machine as, a cloaking device. Make it sew...