Pastoral Stole Sewing Patterns

Pastoral Stoles – give a special gift

The Pastoral Stole Liturgical Sewing Patterns: For those in the Northern Hemisphere, it is the middle of July, and if it is anything Minnesota, it is HOT!  The last thing on everyone’s mind on a hot summer day is the Christmas gift-giving season. Yet when it comes to church vestments, must one always wait for Christmas to give our beloved pastors and priests a gift? There are many times throughout the year and during a pastor or priest service to your church or parish when it might be appropriate to give a gift.

Mark a Special Anniversary

Events such as an ordination anniversary – 5 years, 10 years, 15, or even 20 or more years since they were ordained. Or how about the number of years they have been serving in a congregation?  The church may also be celebrating a milestone such as the number of years they have been in a building or the number of years since the church was founded. Is there a special festival or holiday observance coming soon?

If all else fails, there is always the annual observance of Clergy Appreciation.  Clergy Appreciation Day is observed on the second Sunday in October. This year that falls on October 8, 2017. That is still a few months off, but now would be a great time to start planning ahead for something special for your pastor, priest, or minister for that event or for another celebration.

Ways to Show Pastor or Priest Appreciation

How can someone show clergy appreciation? There are many simple ways. Having a card and cake after service on the observed Sunday is always nice. If your pastor or clergy is a friend, maybe take them out for lunch or dinner. They may be interested in a new book for their personal study or something that they have as a hobby (golf or woodcarving?). But another gift that the congregation can give is the gift of a stole or a stole and chasuble set. The gift might be from the altar guild members, the elders, the fellowship committed, or the church as a whole. Some could pitch in with gifts of money to purchase fabric, patterns, or trims, others could offer to do the embroidery, while others could do the actual sewing and construction of a stole or chasuble.

As a gift, a vestment can easily be purchased (whether pre-made or with material to make tie items) if a group of church members would each donate as they are able–i.e. $10, $15, $30, or more. We saw this very thing happen at a conference. A pastor had an idea to buy a stole as a gift for a missionary leaving soon. He asked some of his friends who also all knew the missionary to chip in. All it took was $20 apiece and they easily were able to purchase the gift. How incredibly thoughtful!

The gift of a stole, chasuble, or stole and chasuble set is always something to be appreciated. To help with that, we have developed a variety of stole and chasuble patterns.

Variety in Stole Designs

For stoles, there is a 3 1/2-inch stole as well as a 4 1/2-inch stole. The lines of these stoles are identical. It is the width that is different. The stoles have a gently shaped neckline that fits well and then falls from the shoulder. The stoles are adjustable in length. The short length is 51 inches, and the longest length is 55 inches. There are also adjustment lines to lengthen or shorten the stole further. The stole also has several lines to mark placement for orphrey bands on both the chest and at the hemline. Stoles may be made with or without tassels or fringe at the bottom hemline.

Another traditional look for stoles is a tapered stole. The tapered stole has the same neckline curve as our other stoles. It then falls to a wider width at the lower end. The stole is available in a short length that works with a full surplice or a longer length. There are adjustment lines to customize the length if needed.

V-Neck Stole Sewing Pattern for Clergy

The above illustration is for our V-neck pastor stole pattern. This is a style clergy loves. The V-neck stole is a wider stole that uses the same width down the length of the entire stole. It has a mitered seam at the Center back neckline and requires the use of a chain or small cord to help maintain the correct position of the stole during wear. Consider this style for a concelebration stole.

We hope this might be helpful for those interested in creating something special to show appreciation for your clergy member.

Sola Gloria Dei

4 1/2 Inch Wide Pastoral Stole Pattern

Wardrobes for Clergy: Liturgical Vestments and Pastoral Stoles

How to Make a Clergy Stole: Stole Making

Custom Crafted Ordination Stoles

How to Determine the Correct Stole Length

Pastoral and Priest Clergy Stole Patterns

Clergy Appreciation 2017