Above: Chador pattern, © Shazeeda Shakoor

• Use lightweight cotton material; or as a general everyday outfit, using lightweight silky polyester . . . or other fabric of your choice. Use 60″inch wide material.
• Measure from your forehead, down your back, to the floor. Purchase twice this amount of fabric.
• Fold fabric in half, right sides together, with fold at top.
• Use pins to mark points A-C, approximately 12″inches apart.
• To find the appropriate length for lines A-B and C-D. Measure from the top of your head down to your wrist.
• Place your hand at the edge of the fabric and pin on either side to mark the opening for your hands [Points B-E and D-F].
• Cut as indicated by the solid lines in the Diagram.
• Cut open the fold between A-C.
• Cut the bottom with a large smooth curve.
• The front of the chador needs to be cut shorter than the back. Cut only the top layer of fabric.
• Cut a slight curve between A-C, for a face opening. Cut only the top layer of fabric.
• Sew along lines A-B and C-D.
• Sew down from E-X and F-X. Leaving the opening for your hands. Fold out.
• Try on the chador and check the length. You should be able to pull the chador over your forehead to cover you hair.
• Hem the raw edges and opening as desired.
• You could attach a piece of elastic or binding to either side of the face (Points A-C) and tie these behind your head to prevent the chador from slipping.
• You could also make a triangular underscarf from the excess material to provide more coverage for the forehead.

Find more Islamic Clothing design patterns at Shazeeda Shakoor’s patterns website.