The paenula has been around since the time of the Roman Empire, worn by legionnaires of the era the design lasted well into the high Middle Ages and beyond. The paenula is a hooded-knee length cloak probably made of wool or leather and judging from iconography of the time it seemed to have been some shade of brown or yellowish-brown in color. This cloak is excellent for quests, mild as well as rainy weather and it is also serves as sufficient bedroll while on campaign.
The paenula cloak is a rather easy first project the pattern here is a semi-circular and should be about knee-length or longer the hood should be about 12 inches wide and 12 long. I would suggest using a wool army blanket as the fabric for your cloak it retains body heat well even when wet and sheds moister away from the body. This pattern is made two pieces sewn together with a flat overlapping seam. All cut edges may be finished with a blanket stitch or whip stitch, though some wool can be left raw-edged without fraying badly. The cloak can be fastened at the neck with a simple broach or points fasten through leather grommets sewn into the cloak.
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