Making brown Scapulars 

Shown above are the various styles of brown scapulars and green scapular

If you will be making scapulars for a particular organization, such as The Scapular Guild, or The Fatima Crusaders, you will be instructed by them to make the style of scapular they require. The colors of the cord used may vary. It is not necassary for the scapular to have an image sewn to both sides; a square of brown wool is required, and to gain the graces attached to the Brown Scapular, it must be worn over the shoulders. Catholics must be "invested" in the scapular by a priest.

See information about our new Beginners Kit HERE

Image 1

Some organizations send brown wool already cut into strips; most will send a volume of fabric which first must be cut into strips as shown in the picture below. You will also receive a "page" of images which must also be cut into strips, 8 images wide.  Cut along the dark brown lines outlining each scapular image page creating a number of strips, as shown in IMAGE 1 above.  The method shown throughout these steps has been developed throught the years by experienced scapular makers. You are free to adjust them according to your preference, and according to the style of scapular you will be making.

 A pair of sharp scissors, or rotary cutter, clean cutting surface, an iron and clean ironing surface, a ruler, and a sewing machine are necessary to make Brown Scapulars.

STEP ONE : cutting the wool

 TIMESAVER: Using quilters tools such as a "self-healing" cutting board, large quilters rulers/straightedge,  and a rotary cutter save time and ensure precise measurements and cuts so your scapulars are always uniform.

A

 Iron the wool if wrinkled, with a cool iron.

A: Lay the wool out on your cutting surface. Measure to cut your first strip a width of  1  3/4 inches, using the image strip as a guide, or measuring with a straight edge ruler.

B

B: Above we have highlighted the wool with dotted lines to show the method of cutting each of your wool strips. Using sharp scissors or a rotary cutter ensures a precise cut with little fraying. Cutting the wool strips slightly larger than the scapular image allows room for error and the placement of the cord straps in later steps.

Some organizations supply cords already cut; it is not necessary to make sure that each are exactly the same length. But if a bolt of cord is supplied, you must lay the cord out and cut into strips 21 inches in length. Some organizations require only an 18 inch cord, such as for children's scapulars.

STEP THREE: ASSEMBLING THE "SETS"

  Lay a strip of wool on your ironing surface. Lay a strip of images on the wool as shown. Tuck the ends of cords in under the top edge of the images, making sure they go in and under at least 1/2 inch, far enough to "catch" when you sew the images onto the wool.

Warm the iron to wool or silk setting, no steam.

PRACTICE FIRST on a sample image to make sure your heat is set to keep from overly melting the image.

Warm the iron at the wool setting. Adjust heat control accordingly on a practice image before ironing your set. The image will melt onto the wool and adhere firmly. If white gooey residue oozes out from around the edges of the image, your iron is too hot!

Iron over your set while praying "Our lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us! Saint Simon Stock, pray for us!"

(about 5 -6 seconds)

This is just the right amount of time it takes to melt the images into the wool at the proper adhesion. And it transforms your work into a prayer! If you are ironing more than 8 images at a time, of course you will say the prayers of the Brown Scapular again, until all the images are set.

Call this first side of the scapulars SET A

Repeat the same steps above to complete the other side of your scapulars, SET B.

Make sure each two lengths of cord from one image on SET A lead to the correct image on SET B.  An image of Our Lady on one side, scapular promise words on the other. Make sure the cords lie flat; avoid twisting.

SET A                           SET B

When both sides of your set are completed they should look like the picture above.

STEP FOUR: SEWING THE IMAGES 

Load your machine with dark brown cotton thread for the bobbin, white thread for the top. Use a sharp size 14. Smaller sized needle won't work well with the wool.

A     B

Place your strip set under the needle to sew the bottom edge of one strip set.

In image A we have highlighted the brown lines around each scapular image/words to show the sewing line. On the actual image, it is rather faint; use this line as your sewing line.

On SET A, Sew a straight stitch in a line all the way through all of the images, not stopping to reverse or set the stitches.

On the same strip set, sew the top of the scapular as shown in image B.

Turn your work around and on SET B sew in the same manner.

STEP FIVE: FINISHING CUTS

C  

C: Lay your straightedge alongside the bottom of the scapulars in SET A. A rotary cutter works best for this step. Leave a little wool showing at the bottom of the scapular and cut off the excess in a straight line. Do the same for SET B.

D  

D: Scissors work best for this final step. Cut to seperate both sets into individual scapulars. Brush off any wool lint that may have adhered to the images.

For first time scapular makers only: Hold scapulars up and admire your beautiful work!

 Tie each scapular's cords with a "shoe-lace" bow as shown, or "wrap and tuck" the cords around the scapular.

Or, bundle into groups of 10 or 12 as instructed by your organization.