The short phelonion

[Michael Astley]

Is anybody able to provide me with or link me to a sewing pattern?

That's all. Thank you.

Pax,
Michael

[Michael Stickles]

In the FAQ at Krista West Vestments, I found this answer to a similar question:



Question: Where can I find patterns to make Orthodox vestments?

Answer: Vestments are a completely different "animal" than standard sewing. Not only are the fabrics and trims different, but there is a whole host of techniques for dealing with these materials in a traditional fashion. It is a common misconception by those who don't sew that anyone who has the ability to sew can sew anything, but there is a wide variety of skills and techniques used in various types of sewing (upholstery, swimwear, couture, etc.).

As far as books or patterns, there aren't any available. This is because each vestment maker drafts his own "slopers" or master patterns that are then manipulated to each client's measurements. Personally, I direct draft onto the fabric using both my master patterns and my client's measurements, so I'm not able to provide "patterns" like those used in home sewing. Vestment making is a craft with many different facets and techniques that takes years to learn and it's not easy to distill it into a few, brief steps for one or two garments. The equivalent would be to ask for paint-by-number icons: the finished product might look vaguely icon-like, but it wouldn't be an Orthodox icon following the established tradition of the craft. I know this answer may seem discouraging, but it's the reality of an aesthetic tradition built up over many centuries of refinement and use.


Whether that's completely accurate or not, I can say that I had no luck at all in finding a phelonion pattern. In fact, the only vestment pattern I ran across was for a Catholic priest's robe - and even that wasn't for liturgical use, but for a halloween costume.

Long story short, if one is out there, I couldn't find it. Sorry.

In Christ,
Michael

[Michael Astley]

That's ok, Michael. I'm very grateful to you for having tried.

My parish doesn't have one and I was thinking of making a donation. I thought that, if a friend could make a good quality one, (and I've a friend who is willing), it wouldn't seem worth spending a small fortune to have one made by an ecclesiastical supplier, especially as it something that is worn for less than five minutes and then never again.

If what you found is true, there may be no alternative. (sigh).

Thank you so much, though, for your efforts.

In Christ,
Michael

[Father David Moser]

My parish doesn't have one and I was thinking of making a donation. ...
If what you found is true, there may be no alternative.

Why not just borrow an old phelon from your priest and use it to make your own pattern; then just make the whole thing shorter (only about to "heart level" ). If you are adept enough to sew a phelon, you should be able to make a pattern from an existing one.

Fr David Moser

[Michael Astley]

Why not just borrow an old phelon from your priest and use it to make your own pattern; then just make the whole thing shorter (only about to "heart level" ). If you are adept enough to sew a phelon, you should be able to make a pattern from an existing one.

Fr David Moser

This is precisely what I ended up doing. I supplied a friend with fabric, lining, and the means to apply a Cross, and an old phelonion belonging to my parish priest. Thank you so much for your suggestion.

Absolutely nowhere seems to sell these things, although I'm sure that the nuns at Minsk could run one up if asked.

Thank you, again.

Pax,
Michael

[Father David Moser]

Absolutely nowhere seems to sell these things, although I'm sure that the nuns at Minsk could run one up if asked.

I'm pretty sure I recall seeing them in the Sofrino catalog and on other websites of ecclesiastical tailors.

Fr David Moser

[Michael Astley]

Thank you, Father.

I looked at the online catalogues of the suppliers of which I know and couldn't find any. That includes Krista West, Istok, Eastern Christian Supply, and the websites of a few monasteries that supplement their income by making vestments, and I didn't see any.

Sofrino seems to be only in Russian, which I don't have, and the shop on the St Elisabeth convent site is much the same, (although the rest of their website is available in English). I suppose I'm limited in what I have access to. :-(