Vestment Sewing Tips - How to Sew the Chasuble

The next step in our vestment sewing tips is learning to sew the chasuble.

Buy a Chasuble
Pattern Here!
If you haven't cut the chasuble, then go here. Otherwise, we'll work on stitching the banding. Sewing the banding is one of the trickiest parts of vestment making because it's so easy to get the thing on crooked.

You can try basting it on by hand, although we've found it's just as easy to get the banding crooked by hand basting it as it is by sewing by machine. The method we have found is more efficient and saves time.

After you have pinned on your banding, hang it up and eyeball it make sure it looks straight. Using a fabric with a design will help you make certain your banding is straight.

Then start sewing the banding, pulling it tight on the fabric as you sew it as my mom has demonstrated in the photo below.

Sewing the banding on a chasuble

Once you have finished stitching your banding, make certain it is straight by once again hanging it up and looking at it - one of the more important vestment sewing tips. The banding should follow the line of the design.

chasuble shell with banding sewn on.

The next of our vestment sewing tips is to show you how to put in the lining. We always use satin for our lining. If you have not already done so, press your lining fabric.

Ironing the satin for the chasuble lining.

Then you will need to cut your satin lining. If your satin is sufficiently wide enough (at least 62 inches), then you can cut the chasuble out of one piece. If your satin is only 44/45 inches wide, then you will have to cut it in four pieces, as demonstrated below in our vestment sewing tips.

Cutting the lining.

When you cut your lining you will need to cut an extra inch beyond the pattern to allow for seam allowances. Then pin your pieces together, both in the middle and at the shoulders.

Pinning together the shoulders of the lining.

Then stitch your pieces together. When you are finished, the lining will resemble the chasuble shell, only smaller. Because the lining is satin, you should zig-zag the edges of the lining to keep it from unraveling.

Stitching the lining.

Then lay the lining on top of the chasuble, right sides together.

Chasuble with the lining, right sides together.

Then start pinning the chasuble and lining together all the way around the hem. You will need to ease the lining, as it will not be as wide as the chasuble. We do it this way so the lining will not show on the finished chasuble. Follow these vestment sewing tips and your end result will be a professional-looking garment.

Pinning the chasuble and lining.

Then stitch all around the edge, easing the lining when necessary. Then turn the chasuble right side out and hang it up for 2-3 days. This will reveal if the lining is sagging down and can be seen from the outside. After three days, you will be ready to hand-stitch the neck edges together, pulling in the lining when necessary.

Finishing the Neck

Making the piping for the chasuble neck.

You will need to make piping for the neck of your chasuble by doing the following. Cut a narrow strip of vestment fabric approximately two inches wide and long enough to cover the entire neck.

Lay the fabric down wrong side up. In the center of the fabric, lay a thin piece of roping. Fold the fabric over, covering the roping and stitch close to the roping with a zig-zag stitch. The cut the raw edges with pinking shears. Your end product should look like that in the picture below.

At the neck opening, fold both the satin wrong side together and lay the piping on top of it. The fold the vestment fabric together wrong sides together and pin it to the other side of the piping. Then hand stitch the piping in place.

Then, when you're ready, move on to the next step in our vestment sewing tips!

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Buy a Chasuble
Pattern Here! Before you begin to make vestments, learn about vestment colors.

Then learn these vestment sewing basics before starting to get you off on the right start.

Some vestment fabric facts.

Start by learning how to cut the chasuble.

Then stitch the chasuble, the next in our series of vestment sewing tips.

Learn to make the stole and maniple.

Learn to make the burse.

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Looking for a Chasuble Pattern?

Buy a Chasuble
Pattern Here!

How to Sew Vestments - The Book is Here!

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