King Assur-nasir-pal's draped

Shawl Pattern Guideline

This is another representation of the
Assyrian King Assur-nasir-pal. The best
way to understand how the drapery is
assembled is to observe the stages
below right.
Over the long tunic above right,the king would have worn a shawl
drapery. The shawl would have measured 72" X 90".
To drape this shawl, line E to F would have
been folded over so that A to B hangs on
the outside of the body.
The cord was attached just at E to G.
Then hold G at the right side of the waist
in front, whilst throwing the rest of the shawl backwards over the right
shoulder.
Edge E to F was then drawn around the back of the neck and formed a sling
over the left arm.
To finish draping, the edge E to F was passed around the waist towards the right, under the right elbow, then
on around the back until it reached about 6 inches in front of the left side waist. The remainder of the fabric
swathe was folded underneath as seen in the drawing. Finally a cord
was tied around the waist to keep the draped shawl firmly in
position.
The pictures right also show if cord E to G is pulled down so that E
touches the waist, then both the shoulders will be covered by the
fabric. Figure K is the most usual way to arrange the shawl
compared to L, but minor adjustments will create the different looks.
Model M is the back view.
Version P
Model P looks a little more like the costume plate of King Assur-nasirpal above left. The costume pattern is based on a small statue of that King in the British Museum, which uses
a simple under tunic plus two shawls - a square shawl and a half circle shawl.
1. First the wearer must wear a tunic foundation.

2. Next use the Square Shawl

3. The square shawl must measure 60" by 60" as shown in the
diagram.
Fold about one third of the square shawl over and outwards.
Tie a waist cord on the top of the tunic. Now tuck the corner of
the shawl at F deeply into the waist cord at the left side.
4. Next draw the folded shawl tightly around the body to the front.
Take it around again across the back of the waist until the left
side is reached once more.
5. Now double about 6 inches of the square shawl inwards and tuck into the waist cord.
6. The semi circular shawl.
7. Use the semi circular shawl edge G to H, and attach the cord at the end, to another waist cord and
throw backwards over the right shoulder.
8. Arrange as a sling over the arm as before in version K above.
9. The corner H of the semi circular shawl hangs in front about 8
inches towards the left and below the waist.
10. Over this shawl the second waist cord should be tied very tightly
to keep everything in position.
11. Further decoration could be added by using jewellery or other accessories. Tassels like these below
were typical of decorative finish and would be easy to add to theatrical costumes.