The Council Robe

: Things To See In Springtime

The Woodcraft Council Robe is something which every one may have, and should make for himself. It may be of any shade, of gray, buff, orange, or scarlet. The best ones are of a bright buff. In size they are about five feet by six feet, and the stuff may be wool, cotton, silk, or a mixture. My own is of soft or blanket cotton.



The Council Robe The Council Robe


p>The robe is used as a wall banner, a personal robe, or a bed spread, and has for the first purpose two or more tag-loops sewn on the top. For the second, it has a head-hole or poncho-hole, an upright slit near one end (hh), and for the last, there are one or two buttons or tie-strings to close the poncho-hole. These are the useful features of the robe.



The ornamental features are the records on it. While these vary with each owner, the following usually appear: The Fourfold fire, near the middle; the Woodcraft shield, the owner's totem, the symbols of each coup and each degree won by the owner.



To this many add a pictographic record of great events or of camps they have visited.





The easiest way to make the robe is to use paints on the cotton fabric.



The favourite way and more beautiful way, is to use appliqués of coloured cloths for the design.



The most beautiful is to embroider in silk or mercerized cotton. But the last is very slow, and calls for much labour as well as some money.



On the preceding page are shown four different styles of robe; you may choose or adapt which you please, except that only a Sagamore may use the one with the 24 feathers in the centre.





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