Sizing advice

About stole length

There is no hard and fast rule for how long a stole should be.  It is a matter of personal preference. Some people like their stoles to reach just below their knees; others like them to be ankle-length. The only thing that seems to be close to universal is that almost all pastors seem to like their stole to be at least a little bit shorter than the length of their robe or their chasuble.

The easiest way to measure for a stole is to measure the length of a stole that the wearer has and likes, but below are several ways to measure.

You will need one of the following:

  • An existing stole

    a stole that the intended wearer has and considers to be a good fit

  • The person

    the person who will be wearing this stole

  • A stunt double

    a person of approximately the same height and build who is willing to be the stunt double

and one of these:

  • a flexible measuring tape

    (available at fabric and craft stores)

  • string or yarn and a tape measure

  • string or yarn and a yardstick

  • The ruler from a Clapping Tree Stoles planning kit

Measuring using an existing stole:

First, fold the stole in half. Place it on a flat surface and measure from the center back to the end of the stole. (Measure the side that comes closer to the neck rather than the outside of the stole). It is easiest to use a fabric tape measure or the ruler from a Clapping Tree Stoles burlap stole planning kit.

Measuring the person:

Measure from the center back of the neck down to where the wearer wishes the stole to end. Ideally, the wearer will be wearing their robe and other vestments, but this will not generally affect the measurement too much.

IMPORTANT: If you are measuring yourself, do not lean over while determining your stole length. Either have someone else check the measurement, OR use your hand to secure the tape measure to your thigh before bending over to see the length.

Measuring using a size chart

Sometimes, it is just not possible to take a measurement. Below are some guidelines that you can use:

 Height of wearer Knee-length Mid-calf Quite long
5'0"-5'4" 42" 46"-48" 52"
5'5"-5'8" 46" 50"-52" 54"
5'9"-5'11" 48" 52"-54" 56"
6'-6'4" 50" 54"-56" 58"

If all else fails

Go with 50″. This length will be a little long on someone 5’2″, and a little short on someone 6’2″, but will fall below the knee and above the ankle on both. Feel free to contact me if you require assistance determining stole length.