How to Make Medieval Archer Costumes

How to Make Medieval Archer Costumes
Written By
Susan Elliott
Susan Elliott
Published: Jan 1, 2011
Updated: Feb 23, 2021
2 minute read

Grab your nearest tights, pick up your long bow and fashion yourself a medieval outfit worthy of Robin Hood. The medieval archer has been a subject of folklore and legend, and you can become part of that legend when you don your own medieval garb, made with a few T-shirts and some extra fabric.

Things You'll Need:

Things You Will Need

  • Sewing Machine
  • Measuring Tape
  • Scissors
  • 1 1/2 Yards Brown Fabric
  • Chalk
  • Sewing Pins
  • 2 Extra-Long, Green T-Shirts
  • 1 Brown, Formfitting T-Shirt
  • Thread
  • The Archer's Hooded Cowl

    Cut the brown fabric so that it is 24 inches long. Set the remaining fabric aside.

    Lay the trimmed 24-inch section of fabric onto a flat surface. Draw a circle with a 24-inch circumference onto the fabric. Trim the brown fabric into a circle that measures 24 x 24 inches.

    Divide the circle into four equal pieces with chalk; the circle should resemble a pie. This will help you determine the front and back sections, and the neckhole placement.

    Measure the circumference of your head.

    Draw a circle that measures the circumference of your head plus 2 inches directly below the center mark. This hole should overlap the bottom two "pie slices." The two "slices" directly behind the head hole will become the back of the cowl. The back of the garment will be longer than the front.

    Create the hood. Trim the left over fabric so that it is 20 inches long. Fold that piece of fabric in half lengthwise. Cut the top edge of the fabric to resemble a semicircle.

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    Pin the hood to the back of the neckhole, wrong sides together.

    Sew the pieces together with a 5/8-inch seam allowance. Remove the sewing pins.

    Hem the cloak and hood with a 1/4-inch hem.

    Easy Archer's Tunic

    Lay one of the extra-long T-shirts onto a flat surface. Cut the T-shirt straight across the front just beneath the armpits. Keep the cut-off bottom portion and turn it inside out.

    Turn the other extra-long T-shirt inside out. Make sure the side seams are showing on both pieces.

    Pin the cut T-shirt section onto the bottom of the other T-shirt, and sew it in place.

    Cut away the neckband, and cut a V shape in the front of the T-shirt.

    Create a belt. Measure 8 inches from the bottom of the brown T-shirt and make a vertical cut straight across the T-shirt.

    Susan Elliott

    Susan Elliott teaches studio art and creative writing to home schooled students. She is a graduate of Northwest Arkansas Community College and the Memphis School of Preaching Student Wives Program. She has written for Christian Woman…

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