How to Make a Toga

Guide Note

Whether you need to appear togate for a theatrical production, a school project or a toga party, you'll want be be sure your toga is authentic. This guide to How to Make a Toga will help ensure that your toga will pass muster!

Table of Contents

Toga Tips
  1. When in doubt, buy 12 yards of fabric.
  2. Buy a fabric that drapes well and won't slide around.
  3. Consider pinning the material so it won't fall off.
  4. Use the excess fabric as a hood.
  5. In a pinch, tape two sheets together with white duct tape.

Introduction

(Creative Commons photo by Wendy)
(Creative Commons photo by Wendy)
  • Most homemade togas don't amount to much more than a carefully draped bedsheet, but a true toga takes a bit more effort. Here are a few interesting toga facts:
  1. The toga could only be worn by men who were citizens of Rome. Slaves and other non-citizens were not permitted to wear togas and wore simple tunics instead.1
  2. In early Rome, women wore togas as well. However, by the later republic, togas were not commonly worn by women. Some scholars assert that the only women who wore togas in the later republic and empire were prostitutes, but others maintain that there is no evidence to support that assertion.1 2
  3. Although in the earliest days of the republic the toga was worn alone, by the late republic togas were worn over tunics.3

What You'll Need

  • 10-12 yards of lightweight wool or heavy muslin in a light beige or cream color
  • Matching Thread
  • Scissors
  • Sewing Machine
  • Fabric Marker
  • Tape Measure

Select Your Fabric

(Creative Commons photo by Kevin McCarthy)
(Creative Commons photo by Kevin McCarthy)

Type of Fabric

  • Roman togas were typically made of wool. The rough texture of the wool was important for the drape. You want a fabric with a bit of a nap that won't slip and slide around.4

Size of Fabric

  • Depending on your height, your toga will be approximately 15-16 feet long and 7-8 feet wide.5 The toga is not a simple rectangle; when folded, it's closer to a semicircle. You can view the unfolded shape of the toga here.6
  • In order to determine the dimensions of your toga, you need to know the distance from your neck to the floor, as well as your waist measurement. The directions for determining the dimensions are available here, or you can input the figures into an online calculator which will do the math for you.7
  • If you're shopping before doing the calculations for your toga, plan on purchasing approximately 12 yards of fabric.

Prepare the Fabric

(Creative Commons photo by Ali)
(Creative Commons photo by Ali)
  • As fabric is generally available in 45 inch widths, you'll probably not be able to purchase a piece of cloth in the exact dimensions required.8
  1. In order to get the required width:
    1. Purchase fabric twice as long as the length you've determined you need in the step above.
    2. Cut it in half lengthwise.
    3. Sew the two halves together.
  2. Use a tape measure, mark out the dimensions you calculated.
  3. Cut the toga.
  4. Mark points B, Q and A, as shown on the pattern here.7 You'll use these marks to fold the toga so you can drape it properly.
  5. If it's for more than a one time use, you'll want to bind the edges to prevent fraying

Drape the Toga

(Creative Commons photo by terren)
(Creative Commons photo by terren)
  1. Fold the toga along the line created by points B, Q and A into the traditional semi-circular shape.
  2. Hold the folded toga so one corner falls behind the left ankle at about mid-shin height.
    • The shorter flap of the toga should be against your body, and the crease of the fold should be pointing to the the outside.
    • Make sure it's not touching the ground. You don't want to trip.
  3. Bring the toga up from the back over the left shoulder.
  4. Allow it to fall down your front.
  5. Gather the fabric in your hand and loosely wrap it across your right hip.
  6. Wrap it around your body 1 1/2 times, ending at the back.
    • Make sure it's draped loosely.
  7. Bring the toga up across your back, and over your left shoulder again, allowing it to fall down your front.
  8. Drape the extra fabric over your left arm.
    • Your left arm should stay close to the body to keep the toga from falling off.

Toga Tips and Tricks

  1. Romans did not use pins, but if you don't want to devote your left arm to the sole use of keeping your clothes on, you may want to use pins strategically.
  2. The folds of the toga can be used to create a sinus, or pocket, to hold small items.11
  3. The excess fabric can also be pulled up over your head as a hood or cowl.12

Toga Variations

  1. Toga virilis: Undyed, off-white, everyday toga for an adult male citizen13
  2. Toga praetexta: Toga with a wide purple border worn by government officials and boys under the age of 166
  3. Toga pulla: Dark gray or brown toga worn while mourning14
  4. Toga candida: Bleached white with chalk, worn while running for office1
  5. Toga picta: Deep purple toga with elaborate gold embroidery worn by victorious generals during their triumph and by Emperors at official state events15

Quickie College Toga

(Creative Commons photo by Gerry Thomasen)
(Creative Commons photo by Gerry Thomasen)
  • If you're in a hurry, you may not have the time to create the toga as detailed above.
  1. If there is still time to get to a fabric store before the Toga Party:
    1. Do the measurement calculations detailed above, and buy the widest piece of muslin the store has, in the length you need (No time to measure? Buy 4-6 yards.)16
    2. Drape the toga as described above.
    3. Make sure you're wearing something underneath the toga, as muslin is thin, and you won't have the benefit of a double layer of fabric.
  2. If there is no time to get to a fabric store:
    1. Grab two flat white sheets.
    2. Fasten them together to make a piece of fabric about 12 feet long.
      • White duct tape works well for this.
    3. Fold the fabric so that it is about 5 feet wide.
    4. Drape as above, realizing that it may be a bit shorter than in the example.
  3. If you're REALLY in a hurry, this video gives you a quick tutorial in assembling an approximation of a toga out of one extra long twin bedsheet.17

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References for How to Make a Toga

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Vroma.org: Roman Clothing
  2. ↑ Bryn Mawr Classical Review: Prostitutes and Courtesans in the Ancient World
  3. ↑ Roman-Empire.net: Roman Dress
  4. ↑ UNRV History: Ancient Roman Clothing
  5. ↑ Google Book Search: Fortune's Favorites
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 NovaRoma.org: Toga
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 RabbitOriginals.com: Creating a Toga
  8. ↑ Cheap Threads: Fabric Info
  9. ↑ Domus Latin: Togas, Tunics and Sandals
  10. ↑ BethGalbreath: Togas: Costuming Romans
  11. ↑ LacusCurtius: The Roman Toga
  12. ↑ California State University Long Beach: The Toga for Today (PDF)  WARNING: Opens as PDF
  13. ↑ Wikipedia: Toga Varieties
  14. ↑ Rome Exposed: Clothing of Men and Boys
  15. ↑ Histmyst.org: Wearing Your Own Toga
  16. ↑ HowToMakeaToga.info: How to Make a Toga
  17. ↑ About.com: How to Make a Toga Out of a Sheet  WARNING: Auto-plays video

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